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24 April 2025
California Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Dubuque, Iowa, pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Juan Jose Ruiz, age 29, from California, was convicted of conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Ruiz admitted that between January 2021 and December 2021, he agreed with others to distribute methamphetamine. On December 14, 2021, in Clear Creek County, Colorado, law enforcement officers stopped Ruiz as he was driving to Dubuque. Officers found over 25 pounds of ice methamphetamine in his car. Ruiz intended to distribute the methamphetamine to a co-conspirator in Dubuque.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ruiz remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Ruiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $10,000,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-1006.
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Butte County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a ChildRead the Press Release
Kevin Leslie Gipson, 58, of Oroville, pleaded guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, in July 2024 Gipson communicated with an individual he believed to be the father of a 10-year-old girl, but who was in fact an undercover officer. Gipson communicated his desire to perform sex acts on the child and planned to meet the undercover officer and child at a hotel room to do so. Gipson purchased various sex items in preparation for the meeting and bought a stuffed animal with the intent to provide the stuffed animal to the child. When Gipson approached the undercover officer with the stuffed animal, he was arrested by law enforcement officers.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Delaney is prosecuting the case.
Gipson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Feb. 5, 2026. Gipson faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Brooklyn, NY Woman Sentenced to 4 Years for Aiding and Abetting Armed Robbery of Hyde County Family Dollar StoreRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A Brooklyn, NY woman was sentenced Wednesday to 4 years in prison for aiding and abetting in the armed robbery of a Family Dollar in Swan Quarter. On November 13, 2024, Victoria Michelle Cyren Clarke, 32, pled guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and aiding and abetting.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Hyde County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) received a call about an armed robbery at the Family Dollar, located at 13065 US Highway 264 in Swan Quarter. Two individuals entered the store brandishing firearms while demanding money. After retrieving over $2000 in cash from the store, the two individuals left and got into a car being driven by Clarke. A deputy with HCSO attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle after it was observed leaving the area at a high rate of speed. A high-speed chase ensued for approximately 18 miles with speeds in excess of 100 mph before the vehicle was finally stopped. In addition to the two armed robbers and Clarke, two children were unrestrained in the vehicle. Subsequent investigation revealed that Clarke bought both firearms used in the robbery and rented the get-away car.
“The Hyde County Sheriff's Office is committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and businesses,” said Sheriff Guire Cahoon. “The armed robbery at the Family Dollar in Swan Quarter was a serious crime that put innocent lives at risk, and we are grateful for the quick response of our deputies which resulted in the apprehension of the individuals involved, and we are grateful for the assistance of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work on the case. Violent crime has no place in our community, and we will continue working tirelessly to protect the people of Hyde County.”
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Hyde County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-12-FL-RJ-3.
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Bridgehampton Man Charged with Immigration Fraud for Concealing His Role as a Perpetrator of Rwandan GenocideRead the Press Release
CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging Faustin Nsabumukunzi with visa fraud and attempted naturalization fraud for lying on his applications for a green card and for United States citizenship by concealing his role as a local leader and perpetrator of violence during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Nsabumukunzi was arrested this morning on Long Island and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States District Judge Joanna Seybert.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Darren B. McCormack, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the arrest and charges.
“As alleged, Nsabumukunzi repeatedly lied to conceal his involvement in the horrific Rwandan genocide while seeking to become a lawful permanent resident and citizen of the United States,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “For over two decades, he got away with those lies and lived in the United States with an undeserved clean slate, a luxury that his victims will never have, but thanks to the tenacious efforts of our investigators and prosecutors, the defendant finally will be held accountable for his brutal actions.”
Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the United States Interagency Human Rights Violators & War Crimes Center, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor for their work on the case.
“As alleged, the defendant participated in the commission of heinous acts of violence abroad and then lied his way into a green card and tried to obtain U.S. citizenship,” stated Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “No matter how much time has passed, the Department of Justice will find and prosecute individuals who committed atrocities in their home countries and covered them up to gain entry and seek citizenship in the United States.”
“This defendant has been living in the United States for decades, hiding his alleged horrific conduct, human rights violations, and his role in these senseless atrocities against innocent Tutsis,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge McCormack. “The depraved conduct of which the defendant is accused represent the worst of humanity. As demonstrated through the tireless work of HSI New York agents, analysts, and task force officers, we will never tolerate the safe-harboring of individuals linked to such unimaginable crimes.”
As set forth in court filings, Nsabumukunzi served as a local leader with the title of “Sector Councilor” in Rwanda in 1994 when the genocide began. Between April 1994 and July 1994, members of the majority Hutu population persecuted the minority Tutsis, committing acts of violence, including murder, rape, and sexual violence. An estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed during the three-month genocide.
As alleged in the indictment, Nsabumukunzi used his leadership position as Sector Councilor to oversee the violence and killings of Tutsis in his local sector of Kibirizi and directed groups of armed Hutus to kill Tutsis. He set up roadblocks during the genocide to detain and kill Tutsis and participated in killings and violence. For example, Nsabumukunzi ordered a group of armed Hutus to locations where Tutsis were sheltering and the Hutus killed them. Nsabumukunzi also facilitated the rape of Tutsi women by verbally encouraging Hutu men to do so. According to court filings, Nsabumukunzi has been convicted of genocide in absentia by a Rwandan court.
As further alleged, Nsabumukunzi applied for refugee resettlement in the United States in August 2003, applied for and received a green card in November 2007, and later submitted applications for naturalization in 2009 and 2015. Nsabumukunzi lied to United States immigration officials to gain admission to the United States as a refugee, by falsely denying in the applications under penalty of perjury that he ever engaged in genocide. He repeated those lies in his subsequent applications for a green card and for naturalization. As a result of his ongoing efforts to conceal his actions during the genocide, Nsabumukunzi has been able to live and work in the United States since 2003.
The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on all counts, Nsabumukunzi faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section and the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Alessi and Katherine P. Onyshko and Paralegal Specialist Erin Payne are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Brian Morgan from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions (HRSP) Section, with assistance from HRSP Senior Historian Dr. Christopher Hayden.
The Defendant:
FAUSTIN NSABUMUKUNZI
Age: 65
Bridgehampton, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-138 (JS)
nsabumukunzi_indictment.pdfBrazilian National Pleads Guilty to Selling Firearms Without a License and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who was living in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and dealing firearms without a license.
Lucas Henrique Moreira DePaiva, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2025. Moreira DePaiva was arrested and charged on Sept. 17, 2024.
Between Feb. 28, 2024 and Sept. 17, 2024, Moreira DePaiva sold 15 firearms across 10 dates in exchange for cash. In addition to firearms, Moreira DePaiva also sold ammunition and magazines. In February 2024, he also conspired with another to sell one of these firearms.
The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy to engage in the same provides for a sentence for each of up to five 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Weymouth and Malden Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
Brazilian National Pleads Guilty to Selling Firearms Without a License and ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brazilian national, who was living in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2025 in federal court in Boston to conspiracy and dealing firearms without a license.
Gideoni De Oliveira Moutinho, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for May 22, 2025. De Oliveira Moutinho was arrested and charged on Sept. 17, 2024.
Between Jan. 2, 2024 and Aug. 30, 2024, De Oliveira Moutinho sold seven firearms on different six dates in exchange for cash. In February 2024, he also conspired with another to secure the sale of one of these firearms.
The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy to engage in the same each provide for a sentence of up to five 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Weymouth and Malden Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Crowley and John J. Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
Box Elder woman sentenced for trafficking fentanyl on the Rocky Boy's Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder woman who distributed fentanyl in northern Montana and on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced today to time served to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Dai Shawn Whitford, 33, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement received information that Whitford’s co-defendants were working together to bring drugs from Washington to distribute on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and nearby locations. On at least one occasion, Dai Shawn Whitford helped distribute on behalf of the co-defendants.
In May 2023, a confidential source paid a co-defendant $800 for 30 fentanyl pills. The co-defendant directed the confidential source to pick up the fentanyl at a residence on Rocky Boy’s. The informant went to the house and was provided approximately 30 fentanyl pills from Dai Shawn Whitford.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Tri-Agency Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Billings woman sentenced to 5 years in prison on drug chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings woman who possessed methamphetamine was sentenced today to 60 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Lynda Diane Good, Jr., 60, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on or about April 3, 2024, an undercover officer conducted a controlled purchase of four ounces of methamphetamine from the defendant, Lynda Diane Good, at her residence in Billings. Following this purchase, on April 11, 2024, police obtained a warrant to search Ms. Good’s residence. During the search, they recovered 434 grams of methamphetamine and multiple firearms. Ms. Good admitted to possessing approximately one pound of methamphetamine and to selling the drug.
An Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the ATF, Billings Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Bank General Counsel Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for $7.4 Million Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES BLOSE, 56, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from a decade-long embezzlement scheme at banks where he served as General Counsel and held other high-ranking positions.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately 2013 to January 2022, Blose was an attorney and held high-ranking positions, including General Counsel, at Hudson Valley Bank and Sterling National Bank. From approximately January 2022, when Webster Bank acquired Sterling National Bank, until February 2023, Blose served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Webster Bank.
From approximately 2013 until Webster Bank discovered his scheme and his employment was terminated in February 2023, Blose defrauded his employers (“The Bank”) in various ways. In certain commercial loan transactions where The Bank was the lender, Blose fraudulently retained for himself portions of closing costs, including legal fees. In certain real estate transactions in which The Bank was the seller, Blose retained portions of the sale proceeds for himself. For some of the real estate transactions, Blose created false documents in order to hide his theft from The Bank. Blose also stole from The Bank in other ways.
As part of the scheme, Blose used his attorney trust accounts to make personal expenditures, and to transfer funds to accounts in the names of business entities he created and controlled, and then used those funds for his personal benefit. Through this scheme, Blose stole approximately $7.4 million from his employers, and used the stolen funds to purchase a vacation property on Kiawah Island in South Carolina, for construction of his Connecticut home, and for luxury vehicles, jewelry, private jets charters, multiple country club memberships, and other expenses.
Judge Chatigny will determine restitution after additional court proceedings.
On December 20, 2024, Blose pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions.
Blose, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 23
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s Office of the Inspector General. Financial crimes investigators from Webster Bank assisted the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.
Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Fentanyl and Cocaine ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Freddie Anthony Curry, 54, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Special Agent in Charge William DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; and Postal Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division.
In May 2024, the FBI and DEA began investigating Curry in connection with suspected fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in the Baltimore area. During their investigation, they verified Curry’s vehicle and residence. Authorities then executed federal search warrants on Curry’s residence and vehicle. During the search, investigators recovered approximately 980 grams of fentanyl, 1,040 grams of cocaine, digital scales, drug-packaging materials, and a Glock 19 9-millimeter handgun. Curry is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions.
The parties have agreed that if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Curry will be sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. Sentencing is set for Monday, June 30, 2025, at 2 p.m.
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 is part of a Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations to reduce drug-related and/or gang violence in the Baltimore metropolitan and surrounding areas. The Baltimore Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, DEA, and USPIS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Associate of Violent Gang Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Drug Distribution and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton man associated with Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang, was sentenced today for trafficking drugs and firearms.
Steve Depina, 38, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 66 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2024, Depina pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
During the investigation, Depina was identified as an older associate of the Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation.
In February 2022, Depina was recorded by law enforcement as he sold approximately 58 grams of cocaine to a cooperating witness, whom he believed to be a fellow Cameron Street member, near his workplace. In March 2022, Depina sold approximately 60 grams of cocaine base as well as a 9-millimeter pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition to the same cooperating witness. During a search of Depina’s residence in April 2022, an additional quantity of cocaine base as well as another firearm were seized.
At the time of the offenses, Depina was on state probation for a 2018 conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Plymouth Superior Court, for which he was sentenced to 3-5 years in prison. He is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ashland Man Charged with Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ashland man has been arrested and charged with transportation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Brent Vreeland, 36, was arrested and charged yesterday with one count of transportation of child pornography. Following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, Vreeland was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, Vreeland was flagged for secondary screening at Boston’s Logan Airport upon arrival from Reykjavik, Iceland in October 2024. It is alleged that during a review of Vreeland’s cell phone, images and videos depicting CSAM were found in his Telegram Messenger app. A subsequent forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed approximately 30 media files depicting CSAM in direct messages with other unknown Telegram users. It is further alleged that Vreeland received and distributed three such videos in October 2021, depicting the abuse of minor victims between the ages of four and 10 years old. In one exchange, Vreeland allegedly asked another user to trade CSAM files for “the youngest [they] hve [sic].”
The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Patrol, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm 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.
Arrest in Chinatown Results in Illegal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Vankese Russell, 26, a resident of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge as part of the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Make D.C. Safe Again is a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Russell is charged in an indictment in federal court with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, MPD officers from the First District Crime Suppression Team arrested a man in the Chinatown area on Jan. 28, 2025, following the public consumption of marijuana and subsequent discovery of an illegal firearm.
Court documents say that while on foot patrol near 7th and H Streets NW, officers observed smoke and detected the odor of burning marijuana behind a Metrobus stop. The individual, later identified as Vankese Russell, attempted to extinguish and discard a hand-rolled cigarette upon noticing the officers.
During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun from Russell's waistband. Russell was convicted of a felony in 2018, and thus, he was not permitted to possess the firearm.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.ocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Arkansas Woman Sentenced to 36 Months in Federal Prison for Stealing over $300,000 from Elderly Customers at a New Hampshire Credit UnionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An Arkansas woman was sentenced today in federal court for stealing over $300,000 from elderly customers at a New Hampshire credit union, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack and U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross announce.
Tyra Brown, 27, of Benton Arkansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas to 36 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On January 23, 2025, Brown pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Arkansas to one count of wire fraud.
“The defendant deliberately abused her position of trust and chose to target elderly account holders, knowing some of whom were unfamiliar with electronic banking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney McCormack. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners are vigilantly working to protect Granite Staters from fraudsters like the defendant.”
“Tyra Brown had no compunction about swindling elderly victims out of their hard-earned money. What she did isn’t just cowardly, it’s cruel,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will never stop working to shut down elder fraud schemes like this one.”
Brown was a customer service representative for a New Hampshire credit union. Because of her job, Brown could access customers’ personal identifying information, security questions and answers, and account balances. She was only permitted to access customer account information for business purposes, such as to answer customer questions on calls. Brown used that access to steal $301,674.89 from at least 10 elderly victims and attempted to steal $428,526.85 in total. Brown used wires, electronic debits, and Zelle to transfer victim funds to other accounts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Hampshire led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen of the District of New Hampshire and Katie Hinojosa of the Eastern District of Arkansas prosecuted the case.
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Ardmore Resident Sentenced for Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Antonio Lamar Ford Jr., age 31, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 96 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
On November 21, 2024, Ford pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 16, 2023, Ford crashed his Dodge Challenger into another vehicle on Interstate 35 while attempting to pass in the right lane of travel. The force of the collision ejected Ford’s passenger from the vehicle. That passenger died on the scene. Prior to the crash, Ford was driving at speeds in excess of 140 mph with a blood alcohol content above .08. The crime occurred in Love County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ford will remain in 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. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
Alice man sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for methamphetamine conspiracyRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 39-year-old Texas man has been ordered to prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Thomas East pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2024.
U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered East to serve 132 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
East claimed he was a minor participant and deserved a lesser sentence. At the hearing, however, Judge Morales found he had a larger role and, specifically, that he made multiple trips to get methamphetamine. In addition, he stood to gain from the conspiracy by receiving some of the methamphetamine to sell on his own.
The investigation began in February 2024 when authorities discovered East and his co-conspirator, Diana Contreras, were making trips to San Antonio to acquire large amounts of methamphetamine.
On one of those occasions, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and discovered nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine along with a firearm. Contreras and East admitted they agreed to take the trip to San Antonio to get the narcotics. Contreras planned to sell the drugs in and around the Alice area, while East planned to take smaller portions to sell on his own.
East has been in custody since where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Contreras, 37, also from Alice, had pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 156 months in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Promotes DEA Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Law enforcement from across the Northern District of West Virginia will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard encourages residents to use this opportunity to rid their homes of unused and unneeded prescription medications, reducing the risk of misuse.
“The Drug Take Back program is an excellent opportunity to take inventory of the leftover and outdated prescription drugs that are stored in your home,” stated Bernard. “Providing the unused drugs to the DEA as part of the program is a great way to make your home a safe place for those you love. It safeguards our children and prevents abuse of the drugs by others. It also keeps the discarded drugs out of landfills and our water.”
Law enforcement will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers. Take Back Day locations will accept vaping devices and cartridges if the lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.
There are 4,500 collection sites nationwide. To find one near you, go to https://www.dea.gov/takebackday
4 Southern California Siblings Sentenced to Federal Prison Terms for Their Roles in $1.1 Million Unemployment Benefits Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Kern County man and three of his sisters were sentenced today to federal prison terms for participating in a scheme in which they created nonexistent businesses and then claiming more than $1.1 million in unemployment benefits for purported employees of those fake businesses.
United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt sentenced the following members of the same family:
- Evelyn Taylor, 41, of South Los Angeles, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison;
- Laron Taylor, 38, of California City, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison;
- Latrice Taylor, 42, of Buena Park, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison; and
- Raschell Taylor, 35, of San Bernardino, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
The defendants were ordered to pay $567,334 in restitution.
At the conclusion of a six-day trial in July 2024, a jury found each of the Taylors guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
From February 2013 to July 2016, the Taylor defendants, along with their co-conspirators, stole $1.1 million in unemployment insurance benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD). The Taylors created and registered fake companies with EDD – typically using the names of clothes cleaning services – with no real business or real employees – and submitted fraudulent unemployment claims in their own and others’ names, sometimes using stolen identities; and withdrew cash using different EDD-funded debit cards from numerous ATMS across the greater Los Angeles area.
In total, the defendants fraudulently obtained approximately $1,106,282 in unemployment insurance benefits.
The United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division investigated this matter, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Marshals Service.
The Taylors are the second set of defendants to be sentenced for participating in this fraud scheme. Catrina Gipson, 49, of Moreno Valley, in February 2023 was sentenced to 54 months in prison; and Vernisha Jolivet, 32, of Ripley, was sentenced in May 2022 to six months in federal prison.
Assistant United States Attorney Solomon Kim of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.
23 April 2025
Zuni Man Sentenced for Armed Standoff and Shootout with Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni Pueblo man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison following an armed standoff with law enforcement.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on July 6, 2024, law enforcement responded to a disturbance at a residence in Zuni, where Eric Bowannie, 28, barricaded himself inside his home and fired multiple rounds at responding Zuni Police Department officers. During the incident, Bowannie charged an officer with an ax, retrieved a shotgun and a rifle, and repeatedly fired at officers positioned outside the residence. FBI agents arrived on scene and also came under fire as they attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender.
After a prolonged standoff and multiple exchanges of gunfire, Bowannie attempted to flee the area but was apprehended by local law enforcement without further incident. A subsequent search of the property recovered 57 spent casings and five spent shotgun shells.
On November 13, 2024, Bowannie pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and to using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Upon his release from prison, Bowannie will be subject to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Assistant United States Attorney Kirk Williams are prosecuting the case.
White House ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan Visits USAO-DCRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. welcomed White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations Thomas Homan, on April 16, 2025, to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office was honored to welcome Executive Associate Director Homan to our space,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “We had a productive conversation, he had the opportunity to brief our staff and take their questions, and it was great to have him here.”
Executive Associate Director Homan met today with members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to discuss immigration issues, crime, and President Donald J. Trump’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia handles a wide variety of federal crimes that include those committed by members of violent transnational criminal enterprises. For more information on the office and its work, go to https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc.
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Thomas Homan align on strategies to enhance public safety in the district of Columbia. As the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Martin has unique responsibilities for cases in both Superior Court and District Court.
Von Ormy Tax Preparer Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Von Ormy woman was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to two years in prison for aiding or assisting the filing of a false tax return.
According to court documents, Sandy Gonzalez, 44, operated at least two different tax preparation services in San Antonio—SV Tax and JNC Tax Professionals—between Jan. 1, 2018 and April 15, 2021. During that time period, Gonzalez knowingly and intentionally caused the submission of false tax returns to the IRS by preparing Forms 1040 for clients, which she was aware contained false and fraudulent information. Primarily, she reduced the amount of her clients’ reportable income by deducting losses on Schedule C for businesses that were either inflated or did not exist whatsoever. Her actions had the effect of improperly reducing the clients’ tax burden and/or increasing the amount of their tax refund.
Gonzalez was indicted for 10 counts on April 3, 2024, and pleaded guilty to one count in December 2024. In addition to her two-year imprisonment, Gonzalez was ordered to pay $297,777 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung prosecuted the case.
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Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Ashburn, Va., man plead guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing just over a kilogram of cocaine while traveling by bus from Nevada to Virginia.
Kareem M. Strong, 33, plead guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to possessing cocaine to distribute.
On December 13, 2023, Strong was found in possession of a black backpack containing a heat-sealed brick of white powder with an imprint of “ROLEX” on it, while at the bus station. Strong was traveling from Nevada to Virginia when encountered by interdiction task force members and subsequently arrested. The brick, which was submitted to the Kansas City Police Crime Laboratory for testing, weighed 1,004.73 grams and contained cocaine, in the salt form.
Under federal statutes, Strong is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.
Vault Agrees to Pay $8 Million to Settle Allegations of Billing False Claims to the COVID-19 Uninsured Program for Patients with Health InsuranceRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Vault Medical Services, P.A. and Vault Medical Services of New Jersey, P.C. (collectively “Vault”), have agreed to pay the United States $8 million to resolve allegations that Vault violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting or causing the submission of false claims to the Health Resources & Services Administration COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured Program (the “Uninsured Program”) for patients who had health insurance, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Between approximately May 2020 and April 2022, the Uninsured Program reimbursed eligible providers for COVID-19 tests, testing-related items and services, treatment, and vaccines performed on uninsured individuals. During the public health emergency, Vault provided various COVID-19 related services to patients across the country, including specimen collection services and vaccine administration. Vault provided these services via telehealth and at in-person testing sites, and specimens were sent to laboratories for processing. The settlement announced resolves allegations that Vault knowingly submitted or caused the submission of claims for these services to the Uninsured Program for patients who had active health insurance.
Specifically, the United States alleges Vault was aware of data integrity issues with patient information collected at the point of service but failed to substantively address those issues, and did not ensure the collection of complete patient information, including demographic and insurance information. The United States further alleges that Vault failed to properly confirm whether certain patients had health insurance coverage, and disregarded insurance information for individuals for whom Vault had valid insurance information on file, including confirmation through an insurance verification process, before submitting claims to the Uninsured Program.
“The Uninsured Program provided critical support for testing and treatment for uninsured Americans during the height of the pandemic. Our office will not tolerate the alleged fraud, abuse, and waste of these funds.”
- U.S. Attorney Alina Habba
“Individuals and entities that participate in the federal healthcare system are required by law to preserve the integrity of program funds,” stated Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “The settlement in this case involves a provider that knowingly sought reimbursement for federal funds to which they were not entitled, and by doing so jeopardized the provision of services for the uninsured.”
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from HHS-OIG.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kruti Dharia of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit and Trial Attorneys Lindsay DeFrancesco, Elizabeth J. Kappakas, and James Nealon in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section).
The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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vault.agreement.pdfUpstate Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Daniel Turner Widner, 26, of Roebuck, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material. *
Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing established that Widner was the moderator of an online chat group focused on the trading of child sexual abuse material. An undercover law enforcement officer infiltrated the group and posed as an 11-year-old girl. Widner sent the officer multiple images of child sexual abuse material. Believing he was chatting with a minor, Widner asked the undercover officer to be his girlfriend and to send him compromising pictures.
Further investigation led authorities to discover Widner’s home address, and a search warrant was conducted. All of Widner’s electronic devices were seized and law enforcement found over 80,000 images of child sexual abuse material on his devices.
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Widner to 15 years' imprisonment and lifetime supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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NOTE: The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”
Union County Teacher Admits to Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man who was employed as a New Jersey high school teacher, admitted to producing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Michael Hamilton, 53, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to one count of producing child pornography.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Hamilton admitted to meeting a minor victim and engaging in sexual conduct with that victim, which Hamilton recorded on video. Law enforcement seized a copy of that video during the search of his home in October 2023. Hamilton also admitted to receiving and possessing sexually explicit messages, pictures, and videos of two other minor victims.
The charge of production of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Habba also thanked the Springfield Police Department and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The government is represented by Rebecca Sussman and Robert Taj Moore of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Randy Davenport, Esq.
hamilton.information.pdfU.S. Online Marketplace Operator Charged with Trafficking Deadly Synthetic Opioids Stronger Than FentanylRead the Press Release
Today, an indictment was unsealed in the District of Columbia charging eWorldTrade LLC (eWorldTrade), a U.S. company, with conspiracy to distribute synthetic opioids for unlawful importation into the United States. Law enforcement authorities also seized eWorldTrade’s website domain, which was allegedly used to operate an online business-to-business marketplace that facilitated the distribution of synthetic opioids such as isotonitazene and carfentanyl, both significantly more potent than fentanyl.
According to the indictment, from March 2024 through March 2025, eWorldTrade conspired with others to distribute isotonitazene, a Schedule I controlled substance, and carfentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, knowing that the controlled substances would be imported into the United States.
eWorldTrade is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for unlawful importation into the United States. If convicted, the company faces a maximum fine of $50,000,000.
On the same day of the unsealing of the indictment, law enforcement authorities seized eWorldTrade’s website and shut down its operation. The website now displays the following warning messages to the public.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Office made the announcement.
The HSI Knoxville Office, in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Chattanooga Office, investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Jayce Born of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section is prosecuting the case. Former Trial Attorney Ann Daniels and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee provided valuable support.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Men Responsible for Running Hawala Scheme Involving More Than $65 Million Sentenced to Three Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MOHANAD AL-ZUBAIDI and SHAKER SALEH MOHAMMED HAUTER were both sentenced to three years in prison for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business that was responsible for illicitly moving more than $65 million between the United States and countries in the Middle East, including Yemen, Turkey, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. AL-ZUBAIDI and HAUTER previously pled guilty on January 15, 2025, before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who imposed yesterday’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “Mohanad Al-Zubaidi and Shaker Saleh Mohammed Hauter ran an underground financial network that illegally transferred tens of millions of dollars between the United States and the Middle East. The sentences imposed yesterday send a clear message that those who operate these unlawful financing networks will be held accountable.”
According to the Indictment, plea agreements, and statements made in court:
Between in or about 2018 through at least in or about 2022, AL-ZUBAIDI and HAUTER operated an unlicensed money transfer business that was responsible for illicitly moving more than $65 million between the U.S. and countries in the Middle East. AL-ZUBAIDI and HAUTER facilitated hundreds of illicit money transfers, with each transfer ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. For the illicit transactions they completed, AL-ZUBAIDI and HAUTER typically earned a commission of between one and six percent of the total amount transferred. To facilitate these illicit transfers, AL-ZUBAIDI and HAUTER worked with other members of an international network of money brokers to transfer money through an informal money transmitting system known as “hawala,” which is frequently used by money launderers and other criminals to transfer criminal proceeds abroad.
* * *
In addition to the prison terms, AL-ZUBAIDI, 37, of Piscataway, New Jersey, and HAUTER, 52, of the Bronx, New York, were both sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $385,000 and $430,000, respectively.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. Clayton also recognized the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. King and Amanda C. Weingarten are in charge of the prosecution.
Three Prison Guards Plead Guilty to Violation of Rights Under Color of LawRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brandon Montanari, age 34, Rohail Kahn, age 28, and Michael Williams, age 38, have each pled guilty to depriving an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility of his rights under color of law. 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.
In pleading guilty, Montanari, Kahn, and Williams admitted to assaulting an inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility in April 2023, including punching and kicking him without cause, causing bodily injury. Each defendant admitted further that he agreed with the others to lie about the assault during an internal investigation.
At the sentencings scheduled for late July and August, each defendant faces a maximum imprisonment term of 10 years, a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case.
Three Pittsburgh Residents Charged in Superseding Indictment with Conspiracy, Defacing and Damaging Religious Property, Making False Statements, and Possession of Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh returned a Superseding Indictment against three residents of the Pittsburgh area on charges of conspiracy, defacing and damaging a religious building, making false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Executive branch of the United States, and possession of destructive devices, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The nine-count Superseding Indictment named Mohamad Hamad, 23, of Coraopolis, Tayla A. Lubit, 24, of Pittsburgh, and Micaiah Collins, 22, of Pittsburgh, as defendants. Hamad and Lubit were previously indicted for their roles in defacing Jewish religious property with pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist graffiti (read the Indictment news release here).
According to the Superseding Indictment, Hamad enlisted with the United States Air Force, Pennsylvania Air National Guard (PAANG) in 2023. Hamad was assigned to the 171st Maintenance Squadron of the PAANG, stationed in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, near the Pittsburgh International Airport. The 171st Maintenance Squadron is a part of the 171st Air Refueling Wing, the primary mission of which is to provide in-flight refueling to Department of Defense (DoD) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aircraft.
In connection with his enlistment, Hamad sought a Top-Secret security clearance. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) investigated Hamad to determine if he should be granted that clearance. Hamad had three in-person interviews as part of his background investigation and, as alleged in the Superseding Indictment, made a series of false statements as part of that process.
The Superseding Indictment also alleges that, during this same time period, Collins conspired with Hamad to manufacture and possess a destructive device, and discussed the potential uses for the devices that they were building and testing. After Hamad and Collins detonated a device, Hamad built additional destructive devices, including two pipe bombs, and detonated those as well.
“As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Mohamad Hamad lied about his loyalty to the United States, among other false statements, in an attempt to obtain a Top-Secret security clearance,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti. “During that time, he openly expressed support for Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Hamas. In addition to his previously charged role in defacing Jewish religious property, he also conspired with others named in this Superseding Indictment to manufacture and detonate destructive devices. Our office remains resolute in its commitment to working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate crimes like these and to safeguard both the Jewish community and the public at large.”
“Protecting the American people is spelled out in the Mission of the FBI. That includes all our communities,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The FBI and our partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who reportedly choose to lie about being loyal to this country and instead engage in dangerous, menacing, and illegal activities.”
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of, for Hamad, 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; for Collins, five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and for Lubit, one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Vasquez Schmitt and Carolyn J. Bloch are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government, with assistance from the Department of Justice National Security Division, Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment.
A Superseding Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three Members of the Highs Street Gang Convicted of RICO Conspiracy and Premeditated MurderRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Following a three-week trial, a federal jury in Minneapolis convicted three Minnesota men today of RICO Conspiracy and Premediated Murder for their involvement in the violent Minneapolis criminal street gang known as the Highs and the August 7, 2021, gang-related murder of Darryl Wells.
“Minneapolis criminal street gangs have inflicted devastating harm on our community for far too long. Three years ago, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced our federal violent crime initiative to address the skyrocketing and completely unacceptable rates of violent crime in Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Since then, we have brought large RICO cases against three criminal street gangs—charging them as the violent enterprises they are. Make no mistake: we will not stop. Criminal street gangs in Minneapolis will continue to see federal justice. The citizens of Minnesota—the many victims of these crimes—deserve no less.”
“These defendants participated in a senseless murder and other acts of violence that terrorized their community,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s conviction holds accountable members of a violent gang and shows the Department’s commitment to hold accountable criminal enterprises that use murder and intimidation to exert power. We remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantle violent gangs and secure justice for the victims and their loved ones.”
"This was cold-blooded, calculated violence meant to control through fear," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "They believed violence gave them power — but today’s conviction proves that justice is stronger. The FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, are committed to dismantling these criminal enterprises and holding violent offenders accountable."
“Today’s conviction sends a strong message that violent street gangs will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle, of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “Through the power of the RICO statute, ATF agents, in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement, have been able to target the violent criminal activity of the Highs gang. This conviction is a direct result of the tireless work by our agents who are committed to dismantling these criminal organizations and ensuring that those who use violence to control neighborhoods are held accountable. ATF will continue to lead efforts to take down street gangs and protect the citizens of Minneapolis.”
“Minneapolis has seen a significant drop in violent crime, especially gun violence, thanks to the outstanding work of MPD officers and our law enforcement partners. Most notably, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been instrumental in helping us target the small number of individuals driving violence, without causing harm to the broader communities we serve. Together, we're not just reducing crime — we're rebuilding trust,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.
“Today’s verdict marks a decisive victory in the fight against violent criminal organizations,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Reducing violence in this community has required a change in tactics and IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are perfectly poised to support our law enforcement partners in this effort. Our agents will continue to apply their financial expertise and investigative skills to bring justice to those who endanger our communities and threaten our way of life.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Keon Pruitt, 22, Dantrell Johnson, 32, and Gregory Hamilton, 29, each of Minneapolis, were all members of various “cliques” or subsets, of the Highs—a criminal enterprise that controlled territory north of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Evidence at trial proved that members of the Highs committed murders, narcotics trafficking, weapons violations, burglaries, assaults, and robberies on behalf of the enterprise. As members of the Highs, the defendants were expected to retaliate against the rival Lows gang, which operated south of West Broadway Avenue.
Evidence produced at trial showed that, on August 7, 2021, a prominent Highs member was shot and killed by a Lows member at the Winner gas station, a Highs hangout. The following day, August 8, 2021, Highs members organized a memorial for the deceased member at the gas staF. App’x tion, where they distributed firearms and encouraged one another to retaliate against Lows members for the murder. Defendants Pruitt, Johnson, and Hamilton were all in attendance at the memorial.
Later that day, Johnson and Hamilton drove to a Lows hangout—Wally’s Foods—and shot a Lows associate, who survived his injuries. Approximately two hours later, Johnson, Hamilton, and Pruitt drove to Skyline Market, another known Lows hangout, to shoot another Lows member. They mistakenly believed Darryl Wells was a Lows member and the store’s cameras captured them shooting Wells inside the store. Wells ran from the store and into the street. Pruitt, who was driving two juveniles in a stolen Porsche, let the juveniles out of the car. They then chased Wells into a nearby alley and fired additional shots at him. All told, Wells was shot at least eight times.
The jury convicted Pruitt, Johnson, and Hamilton of Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy and Using a Firearm to Cause Death. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled in the near future.
This is the first of several trials in this case, which charged a total of 28 defendants with RICO Conspiracy, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, and other charges related to their activities as members and associates of the Highs gang. Sixteen defendants are pending trial.
The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation through reports or evidence control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Lopez-Calhoun, Albania Concepcion, and Rebecca Kline of the District of Minnesota, and Trial Attorney Brian Lynch of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section, tried this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla Baumel and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein also worked on the investigation and trial.
Thoreau Woman Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Fatal Drunk Driving Incident on Navajo NationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Thoreau woman has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after driving while intoxicated and fatally striking John Doe with her vehicle following an altercation.
According to court records, on the morning of May 28, 2023, Nora Abeita, 50, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and several others, including the victim, John Doe, consumed alcohol together. After an altercation with John Doe, Abeita attempted to leave the residence with a friend. While driving away, Abeita struck John Doe with their vehicle. She did not immediately realize she had run over him until alerted by others. John Doe died from his injuries.
Abeita’s blood alcohol concentration was measured at .16 approximately five hours after the incident—more than double the legal limit in both New Mexico and the Navajo Nation.
At sentencing, Abeita faces up to eight years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Abeita will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Syracuse Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Diquan Hall, age 26, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 110 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Hall admitted that he repeatedly sold fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Syracuse area in January and February 2024. Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Hall to serve a four-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.
This case was investigated by ATF, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Syracuse Police Department Intelligence Division, and the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Commandeur and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick prosecuted the case.
Syracuse Man Sentenced to 100 Months for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Ricardo Lane, age 43, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Lane admitted that from April 2021 through July 2022 he conspired with others to distribute cocaine in Onondaga County. Lane had a prior 2007 federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base.
Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Lane to serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison.
This case was investigated by the DEA, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), HSI, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Syracuse Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey Brown and Michael Gadarian prosecuted the case.
This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Suburban Chicago Police Officer Charged with Covid-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – A suburban Chicago police officer has been indicted for allegedly fraudulently obtaining Covid-relief loans and concealing the proceeds in his bankruptcy case.
An indictment returned Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges WILLIAM FREDERICK REED, 41, of Hazel Crest, Ill., with making false statements in U.S. Small Business Administration loan applications, bankruptcy fraud, and tax offenses. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
According to the indictment, Reed worked as a police officer in Dolton, Ill., and Robbins, Ill., and was also self-employed as a security guard. In 2020 and 2021, Reed applied for and obtained loans pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) to provide financial relief for small businesses during the Covid pandemic. A PPP loan allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spent a certain amount of the proceeds on essential expenses, such as payroll. The charges allege that Reed falsely represented in his applications that he was qualified to receive the loans based on inflated and falsified average monthly payrolls for his “off duty security” job. In all, Reed fraudulently obtained three loans, the indictment alleges.
In 2022, Reed filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago. The indictment alleges that during the bankruptcy case, Reed made false statements and provided false documents to conceal his receipt of the PPP loans and submitted a fraudulent 2021 individual income tax return to cause the U.S. Trustee, the Chapter 7 Trustee, and his creditors not to inquire further into his financial affairs.
The tax charges accuse Reed of underreporting income and falsifying withholdings in his 2021 individual tax return and failing to file any individual returns in 2022 and 2023.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, Sheldon Shoemaker, Deputy Inspector General of the SBA’s Office of Inspector General, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Trustee Program. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Julien and Hayley L. Altabef, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Netols.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving Covid-19 can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721 or by filing an online complaint here.
reed_indictment.pdfSex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation Offense, ThreatsRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GREGORY BUTTS, 54, formerly of Sprague, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense and related threats.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2016, Butts was convicted in Connecticut state court of illegal sexual contact with a child.
In November 2020, family and friends of two missing juveniles in Colorado posted information about the missing juveniles on social media pages and included a phone number asking the public to call with information. Butts, with his own phone number blocked, called the number and spoke to a female friend of the missing juveniles, who recorded the conversation. Butts stated that he was with the missing juveniles and had had sexual contact with them. He threatened to harm the missing juveniles if the conversation were recorded or if law enforcement were contacted, and threatened the female friend who answered the phone. He then said that he would return the missing juveniles if the female friend would have sexual intercourse with him. Shortly after the juveniles had been reported missing, they returned home. They were not harmed and had not been kidnapped.
Investigators determined that the call emanated from a lightly-populated area in Sprague, Connecticut, and that Butts was a registered sex offender living in the area who was on probation following a state conviction for illegal sexual contact with a minor. After a Connecticut probation officer identified Butts’ voice on the recording, probation officers searched Butts’ residence and another residence where he also had been staying and seized a computer, storage devices, multiple cell phones, and other items.
Forensic analysis of the seized items revealed more than 10,000 images and videos of child pornography, and downloaded conversations Butts had with minors on Snapchat and other social media applications. In the chats, Butts engaged in sexually explicit conversations, made numerous threats, and demanded, and sometimes received, sexually explicit photos.
Butts has been detained since March 4, 2022. On January 17, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession of a child pornography.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Haven, Connecticut and Loveland, Colorado, with the assistance of the Connecticut Office of Adult Probation, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford and Daniel E. Cummings.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New London for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com
Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison in One of Rhode Island’s Largest Fentanyl SeizuresRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Jorge Pimentel, a/k/a “Big Head,” 36, of Cranston, has been sentenced to twenty years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Pimentel previously admitted to a federal judge that he ran a highly productive drug lab and a stash house in Pawtucket from which 19,315 fentanyl-laced pills made to resemble pharmaceutical grade Percocet pills and nearly 9 kilograms of powder fentanyl were seized by law enforcement. The seizure of a combined total of over sixteen kilograms of fentanyl-laced pills and fentanyl powder, an industrial grade high-speed pill press, and twenty-eight thousand grams of cutting agents used in the manufacturer of the fake pill seized in September 2023, is among the largest seizures of fentanyl in Rhode Island.
The fentanyl powder and already cut mixture seized in this case represented the potential production of more than 633,000 fentanyl-laced pills.
Court documents detail that Pimentel was already a “well-established, large scale fentanyl trafficker” when, on multiple occasions between May 31, 2023, and September 29, 2023, he brokered sales of a total of approximately 34,000 fentanyl-laced pills for which he was paid $37,000.
Pimentel was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 240 months of incarceration to be followed by five years of federal supervised release. He pleaded guilty in December 2024 as charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. No plea agreement was filed in this case.
The matter was investigated by the FBI’s Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force. The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.
The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the Providence Police Department and the DEA for their partnership.
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.
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government_sentencing_memo.pdfRaytown Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machine GunsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Raytown, Mo., man plead guilty in federal court today for possessing and transferring two machine gun conversion devices.
Darius R. Harris, also known as “D” and “D2,” 22, plead guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana M. Counts, to two counts of illegally possessing machine guns.
On October 30, 2023, Harris sold a silver, Glock-type switch to an undercover agent for $350. On November 9, 2023, Harris sold a Glock 9mm handgun, Glock-type switch, extended magazine and twenty-three rounds of ammunition to an undercover agent for $960.
On April 1, 2025, Harris’ brother, Demetrius Harris, also known as “Meech,” 24, plead guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris, to one count of illegally possessing machine guns. On Jan. 24, 2024, Demetrius Harris sold an AR-style firearm containing an auto sear, two additional auto sears, and ammunition to an undercover agent for $1,060. Demetrius Harris is awaiting sentencing.
Machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law. It is therefore illegal to possess, sell, or use machine gun conversion devices.
Under federal statutes, Harris is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Randolph County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – William Durnal, 60, of Elkins, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 100 months in federal prison for methamphetamine possession and distribution.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Durnal was part of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Morgantown, West Virginia. A search of his home recovered hundreds of grams of methamphetamine. Durnal has a criminal history that includes theft, forgery, burglary, battery, and passing counterfeit money.
Durnal will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley and Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the Mon Metro Drug Task Force and the Mountain Region Task Force, both HIDTA-funded initiatives.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Randolph County Man Admits to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Nelson Cortes, age 50, of Beverly, West Virginia, has admitted to the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Cortes was selling methamphetamine, sometimes from his home.
Cortes is facing up to 20 years in federal. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Unemployment and COVID-19 BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Lomax, 33, of Hurricane, pleaded guilty today to theft of public money, property or records. Lomax admitted that he fraudulently obtained $13,312 in unemployment benefits, including COVID-19 supplementary funds.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 24, 2020, Lomax applied for unemployment compensation after he was laid off as a sales manager at a St. Albans auto dealership when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Lomax legitimately received unemployment benefits until the week ending April 25, 2020, when he returned to work.
Lomax admitted that from at least April 25, 2020 through at least July 18, 2020, he continued to apply for unemployment benefits that he knew he was not entitled to because he had returned to work. Lomax fraudulently obtained approximately $13,312 in unemployment benefits, including supplementary funds provided by the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
WorkForce West Virginia administers the unemployment compensation program for the State of West Virginia. Lomax admitted that as part of his scheme, he falsely certified on the WorkForce West Virginia website for 13 consecutive weeks that he was entitled to unemployment benefits. Lomax submitted the false certification answers while using his personal electronic device in St. Albans.
Lomax admitted that he used the fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits to make purchases and pay his bills.
Lomax is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Lomax also owes $13,312 in restitution.
Two of Lomax’s co-workers – his father Gary Lomax, 63, of Hurricane, and Christopher Grant, 41, of Buckhannon – previously pleaded guilty to similar pandemic-related unemployment compensation fraud schemes. Gary Lomax was sentenced on November 19, 2024, to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $29,592 in restitution for theft of public money, property or records. Grant was sentenced on November 25, 2024, to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $35,168 in restitution for conspiracy to steal public money, property or records.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the WorkForce West Virginia Integrity Section, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG), the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
NASA OIG is an active member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys J. Parker Bazzle II and Andrew J. Tessman are prosecuting the case.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-57.
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Pontiac Man Pleads Guilty in $4M Identity Theft and Unemployment Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Pontiac man has pleaded guilty to committing aggravated identity theft and wire fraud as part of large-scale, multi-state Unemployment Insurance benefit fraud scheme in which he and co-conspirators fraudulently obtained debit cards loaded with more than $4 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today.
Joining in the announcement were Megan Howell, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent-in-Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, Charles Miller, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Douglas Zloto, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Sean McStravick, Acting Inspector-in-Charge, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, and Director Jason Palmer, State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Terrance Calhoun, Jr., 36, of Pontiac, Michigan, pleaded guilty to committing aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and to possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, all in relation to acts of unemployment insurance fraud.
According to his plea agreement, Calhoun Jr., and others, used stolen personal identification and filed hundreds of false unemployment claims with state unemployment insurance agencies in Michigan, Arizona, and Maryland over a six-month period in the names of other individuals without their knowledge or consent. Those false claims resulted in hundreds of debit cards loaded with over $4 million in unemployment insurance funds being mailed to addresses controlled by Calhoun Jr. and his co-conspirators. Roughly $1.6 million dollars in purchases and cash withdrawals were then successfully made from the cards.
As described within a prior complaint, when agents executed search warrants at the principal mailing addresses used for the fraudulent unemployment insurance benefit claims, including the residence of Calhoun Jr., agents seized numerous documents containing the personal identification information of other individuals, multiple debit cards in the names of numerous other individuals, and firearms.
Calhoun now faces a possible sentence of up to 20-years’ imprisonment for each of the wire fraud counts to which he has pleaded guilty, a possible sentence of up to 10-years’ imprisonment for possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, and a mandatorily consecutive 2-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft charge to which he has pleaded guilty.
Sentencing is set for August 27, 2025 before United States District Court Judge Judith E. Levy.
“Taxpayer money diverted into the pockets of criminals means less money going to Michiganders who actually need help getting through difficult financial times and who follow the rules when seeking assistance,” said Acting US Attorney Beck. “These charges reflect our office’s ongoing commitment to the community by investigating such schemes and bringing those who commit these crimes to justice.”
“Terrance Calhoun Jr and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud state workforce agencies in Michigan, Arizona, and Maryland by filing hundreds of fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims. As a result, Calhoun enriched himself by stealing taxpayer resources intended for unemployed American workers. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI program from those who seek to exploit it,” said Megan Howell, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.
“Individuals who commit identity theft and unemployment insurance fraud of this magnitude deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Charles Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Terrance Calhoun, Jr. and Jermaine Arnett demonstrated a blatant disregard of the integrity of the multiple states’ unemployment insurance systems and caused immeasurable hardship to innocent victims. IRS-CI remains committed to the pursuit of identity theft and financial fraud, and together with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will hold those who engage in similar crimes accountable.”
"The FBI in Michigan, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in protecting the community and investigating individuals who violate federal law,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea by Terrance Calhoun, whose involvement in a multi-state fraud scheme, is a clear reminder that bad actors will be stopped, and we will ensure integrity will prevail.”
The case was jointly investigated by agents from the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, and the State of Michigan -Unemployment Insurance Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Carl D. Gilmer-Hill and Jessica A. Nathan.
Pittsburgh Man Charged with Hobbs Act Robbery and Firearm ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Hobbs Act robbery and violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The three-count Indictment named Yamin A. Harris, 31, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on December 29, 2024, Harris committed a Hobbs Act robbery at a Monroeville, Pennsylvania, fast food restaurant, carrying and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of the robbery, and unlawfully possessing that firearm as a previously convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Monroeville Police Department, and Pitcairn Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Physician at Veterans Affairs Medical Center Arrested for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A physician employed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Bedford, Mass. has been arrested and charged with receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sven Knudsen Ljaamo, 70, is charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Ljaamo was arrested this morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for April 29, 2025.
According to the charging documents, law enforcement received a CyberTip reporting that over 100 files of suspected CSAM files had allegedly been uploaded to Ljaamo’s Google account. When Ljaamo spoke to investigators, he allegedly admitted to viewing, downloading and saving pornographic material involving female minors. It is further alleged that several CSAM files, along with tens of thousands of pornography files, were found during a review of Ljaamo’s devices, including on a cell phone Ljaamo kept in his office at the VA Medical Center.
The charges of receipt and possession of child pornography each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The charge of receipt, specifically, provides for a sentence of at least five years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Lowell and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
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.
Philadelphia Businesswoman Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison for Multiple Fraud Schemes That Caused over $600,000 in LossesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Nyesha D. Paris, aka Nyesha D. Henderson and Nyesha D. Jackson, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Joel H. Slomsky yesterday to 20 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for orchestrating a series of business fraud schemes. The Court also ordered Paris to pay victim restitution of $545,993 and a forfeiture money judgment of $84,008, and to complete 150 hours of community service.
Paris was indicted in February 2023 and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and health care fraud in January 2024.
Between at least 2018 and 2023, Paris engaged in multiple fraud schemes, which caused over $600,000 in losses to 15 different victims. In one scheme, Paris joined others in stealing over $40,000 in merchandise and gift cards from Lowe’s Home Improvement through use of a shell company and fraudulent business accounts.
In another scheme, Paris fraudulently obtained multiple pandemic assistance loans totaling over $120,000 through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) by inflating payroll, submitting fake documents, and falsely certifying that her companies were in operation in February 2020, when they were not.
In a third scheme, Paris fraudulently billed Medicaid for nearly $150,000 in home health services allegedly provided by her business, but which were never actually provided.
In total, Paris committed more than a dozen fraud schemes, including some that took place after the FBI confronted her with evidence of fraud and informed Paris that she was under investigation.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David Ignall and Samuel Dalke.
Penn Hills Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Distributing Cocaine and FentanylRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 252 months in prison, to be followed by ten years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Leon Ford, Sr., 58, stating that Ford’s conduct placed the “Greater Pittsburgh community at substantial risk of harm and that the community deserves to be protected.”
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around March 2021 to in and around September 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Ford conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Further, on or about September 16, 2021, Ford possessed with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Ford was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of cocaine and fentanyl that he distributed to others.
“Thanks to the diligent and collaborative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, McKeesport Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement, a recidivist trafficker of fentanyl—a lethal substance—has been removed from our streets for a significant period of time,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Our communities are much safer as a result.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Thomas Hodnett stated: “The sentencing of Leon Ford should send a powerful message: justice will prevail against those who threaten the safety and stability of our communities. This investigation was a testament to the commitment and collaboration between federal and local law enforcement.”
Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Jordan and Jonathan Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. On September 23, 2024, following a jury trial, Ford was found guilty of all counts of the Superseding Indictment.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ford. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the McKeesport Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Penn Hills Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
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.
Ohio Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Possessing Fentanyl and Cocaine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Jamill H. McDonald, 43, of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, has been sentenced to 35 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after a federal jury found him guilty of possessing distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.
According to court documents, on Oct. 18, 2023, McDonald contacted law enforcement to report that someone was breaking into his apartment. When officers arrived, McDonald granted them entry into his residence. The defendant showed officers his cellphone to view the video footage from his external security camera. The videos showed a male attempting to break into McDonald’s apartment. Officers did not find any other occupants inside the defendant’s apartment. However, as officers continued to check the apartment for signs of intrusion, they found a package in one of the bedrooms which they suspected contained narcotics. The defendant was shown the package in question, and he then informed officers that he had never seen the package before and did not know what they contained. The defendant was subsequently detained by the officers.
During a search warrant execution of the defendant’s residence, authorities confiscated a number of suspicious items from the kitchen. They found baggies filled with various amounts of either marijuana or white powder, and a scale with residue. In the defendant’s bedroom, officers recovered three cellphones, a box with two large packages containing white powder, and two men’s jackets. In one jacket, investigators found three additional baggies that contained suspected narcotic pills. In the other jacket, investigators found $10,200 cash.
Laboratory tests conducted on the suspected narcotics found in McDonald’s residence were confirmed to be fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Collectively, the seized drugs weighed in at approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine, and 310 grams of fentanyl and heroin, and were calculated to have a street value of more than $30,000.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that McDonald had at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or controlled substance offenses. Because of the defendant’s significant criminal history, Judge Adams designated him as a career offender, therefore making him eligible to receive an enhanced penalty at sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Mayfield Heights Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.
Oakland Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Federal Prison for Unlawful Firearms and Ammunition PossessionRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Michael Tatum was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence.
Tatum, 35, of Oakland, pleaded guilty on Jan. 23, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). In pleading guilty, Tatum admitted that, during a search of his residence in February 2022, law enforcement found that he illegally possessed five loaded firearms, including two loaded assault rifle-style firearms, two firearms loaded with high-capacity magazines, and one stolen firearm, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Law enforcement also seized $148,531.05 in U.S. currency from Tatum’s residence. At the time, Tatum had a prior felony conviction.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement.
In addition to the 70-month prison term, Judge White ordered Tatum to serve a three-year period of supervised release and to forfeit his interest in the recovered firearms, ammunition, and currency. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on July 22, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Dahlke and Charles Bisesto prosecuted this case with the assistance of Laurie Worthen and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI and California Highway Patrol.
Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty to $10 Million Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Nigerian man has pleaded guilty in connection with a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
Yomi Jones Olayeye, a/k/a “Sabbie,” 40, of Lagos, Nigeria, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Senior United States District Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Aug. 13, 2025. Olayeye was arrested in August 2024 upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport and remains in federal custody.
Between March and July 2020, Olayeye and, allegedly others, defrauded three pandemic assistance programs administrated by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance and other states’ unemployment insurance agencies: traditional unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
Olayeye, and allegedly his co-conspirators, used personally identifiable information (PII) they purchased over criminal internet forums to apply for UI, PUA and FPUC – falsely representing themselves to be eligible state residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly used the same fraudulently obtained PII to open U.S. bank accounts and prepaid debit card accounts to receive the assistance payments. Olayeye, and allegedly his co-conspirators, recruited U.S.-based account holders to receive and transfer the fraud proceeds via cash transfer applications. Olayeye, and allegedly his co-conspirators, then used the fraudulent proceeds to purchase Bitcoin via online marketplaces. Olayeye, and allegedly his co-conspirators, concealed the conspiracy’s connection to Nigeria by leasing Internet Protocol addresses assigned to computers located in the United States for use in the fraudulent transactions.
In total, Olayeye and his co-conspirators allegedly applied for at least $10 million in fraudulent UI, PUA and FPUC from Massachusetts, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Montana, Maine, Ohio and Washington and received more than $1.5 million in assistance to which they were not entitled.
The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, forfeiture and restitution. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the wire fraud charge. 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; Special Agent in Charge Randy Maloney of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth B. Kosto and Meghan C. Cleary of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting 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 https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
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.The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New York Attorney and Administrative Officer Pleads Guilty to Attempted Smuggling of Firearms, Ammunition to HaitiRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On April 18, 2025, Marcel Pierre Denis, 58, pled guilty to a two-count information charging him with April 2022 and October 2022 attempts to smuggle firearms from Miami to Haiti.
In connection with the plea, Denis admitted that, in April 2022, law enforcement conducted an inspection of outbound cargo at a shipping warehouse in Miami-Dade County and discovered an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, a rifle magazine, and rifle ammunition in a cargo box manifested for shipment to Haiti. Denis was listed as the shipper on a shipping invoice for the box. Employees of the shipping carrier otherwise identified and recognized Denis as a frequent customer who had previously submitted cargo for shipment to Haiti. In a May 2022 interview, Denis acknowledged that he had attempted to ship the firearm and ammunition for Haiti and that he had not obtained any export permit or license for the shipment.
In October 2022, law enforcement again conducted an inspection of outbound cargo at a shipping warehouse in Miami-Dade County. During this inspection, law enforcement encountered a cargo box manifested for shipment to Haiti that contained, among other items, a semiautomatic pistol that had been wrapped in duct tape and then concealed inside of a coffee container. Denis was again listed as the shipper on the shipping invoice for the box. Employees of the shipping carrier again identified Denis as the individual who had dropped off the cargo for shipment and filled out the shipping forms. Law enforcement conducted a trace and obtained purchase records for the pistol, which reflected that Denis had purchased the pistol from a retailer in the Southern District of Florida.
In a November 2022 interview, Denis acknowledged his interactions with law enforcement after the April 2022 shipment, acknowledged his purchase of the pistol concealed among the October 2022 shipment, and stated that he intended to ship the firearms to an associate in Haiti for protection of a retail business.
In connection with the plea, Denis admitted that he was aware of his need for an export license or permit to ship firearms or ammunition to Haiti, and that he was otherwise licensed to practice law and serving as an administrative hearing officer in the State of New York at the time of each shipment.
U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez is presiding over the case. Denis faces a maximum term of ten years’ imprisonment as to each count. The sentencing hearing has been set for July 7, 2025. Judge Martinez will sentence Denis after a review of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division, announced the guilty plea.
HSI investigated the case. Customs and Border Protection provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr- 20139.
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Monongalia County Man Sentenced for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Todd Matthew Houston, 36, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 51 months in federal prison for to conspiring to straw purchase firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were called to a home in Morgantown on a domestic violence incident involving Houston and a firearm. Officers later found Houston attempting to pawn more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition at a pawn shop. The vehicle Houston was driving was searched and officers found a pistol. Investigators determined the firearm had been purchased by someone else for Houston in exchange for heroin. Houston is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions that include domestic battery, drug trafficking, robbery, and grand larceny.
Houston will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rhee prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.