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16 April 2025
Former FAA Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Acting as an Agent of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Former Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) contractor Abouzar Rahmati, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, pleaded guilty today for acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the United States, without prior notification to the U.S. Attorney General and conspiracy to do the same.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Supervisory Official Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2025. Rahmati faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General, and up to 5 years in prison for conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, Rahmati worked with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to act on their behalf in the United States, including by meeting with Iranian intelligence officers in Iran, communicating with Iranian intelligence officers and government officials using a cover story to hide his conduct, obtaining employment with an FAA contractor with access to sensitive non-public information about the U.S. aviation sector, and obtaining open-source and non-public materials about the U.S. solar energy industry and providing it to Iranian intelligence officers.
“The brazen acts of this defendant – acting against the United States while on U.S. soil – is a clear example of how our enemies are willing to take risks in order to do us harm,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “We want to remind anyone with access to our critical infrastructure about the importance of keeping that information out of the hands of our adversaries. I want to commend our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who secured a guilty plea that will keep our country safer.”
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the FBI’s zero tolerance policy for the Government of Iran’s repeated attempts to undermine U.S. national security,” said Assistant Director in Charge Jensen. “Mr. Rahmati’s case should serve as a warning to Americans with access to sensitive U.S. critical technology that Iranian intelligence services see them as a target—particularly those with information regarding our aviation sector. The FBI and our partners will continue to relentlessly identify and disrupt hostile actors’ efforts to target our aviation and other infrastructure, which is vital to keeping our citizens safe.”
In August 2017, Rahmati offered his services to the Iranian government through a senior Iranian government official who previously worked in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and with whom Rahmati had previously attended university. Four months later, in December 2017, Rahmati traveled to Iran, where he met with Iranian intelligence operatives and government officials and agreed to obtain information about the U.S. solar energy industry, to provide that information to Iranian officials, and to conduct future communications under a cover story based on purported discussions about research with fellow academics.
Upon returning to the United States in early 2018, Rahmati obtained various private and open-source materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry and provided them to an official from the office of Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology in response to tasking from Iranian government officials.
In response to tasking from Iranian officials, and in furtherance of his role as an agent of the Government of Iran, Rahmati exploited his employment as an FAA contractor, working for U.S. COMPANY 1, by downloading at least 172 GB of U.S. COMPANY 1 files, which included sensitive access-controlled FAA documents related to the National Aerospace System (NAS), NAS Airport Surveillance Radar systems, and radio frequency data. Rahmati stored those files on removable media, which he took to Iran, where he provided sensitive documents to the Government of Iran in April 2022.
Also in April 2022, in response to tasking from Iranian government officials, Rahmati sent additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control towers to his brother, who lived in Iran, so that he would provide those files to Iranian intelligence on Rahmati’s behalf.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with significant assistance from the FAA’s Office of Counterintelligence and Technical Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Former FAA Contractor Pleads Guilty to Illegally Acting as an Agent of the Iranian GovernmentRead the Press Release
Former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor Abouzar Rahmati, 42, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act and acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the United States without prior notification to the Attorney General.
According to court documents, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, Rahmati worked with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to act on their behalf in the United States, including by meeting with Iranian intelligence officers in Iran, communicating with Iranian intelligence officers and government officials using a cover story to hide his conduct, obtaining employment with an FAA contractor with access to sensitive non-public information about the U.S. aviation sector, and obtaining open-source and non-public materials about the U.S. solar energy industry and providing it to Iranian intelligence officers.
In August 2017, Rahmati offered his services to the Iranian government through a senior Iranian government official who previously worked in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and with whom Rahmati had previously attended university. Four months later, in December 2017, Rahmati traveled to Iran, where he met with Iranian intelligence operatives and government officials and agreed to obtain information about the U.S. solar energy industry, to provide that information to Iranian officials, and to conduct future communications under a cover story based on purported discussions about research with fellow academics.
Upon returning to the United States in early 2018, Rahmati obtained various private and open-source materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry and provided them to an official from the office of Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology in response to tasking from Iranian government officials.
In response to tasking from Iranian officials, and in furtherance of his role as an agent of the Government of Iran, Rahmati exploited his employment as an FAA contractor, working for U.S. COMPANY 1, by downloading at least 172 GB of U.S. COMPANY 1 files, which included sensitive access-controlled FAA documents related to the National Aerospace System (NAS), NAS Airport Surveillance Radar systems, and radio frequency data. Rahmati stored those files on removable media, which he took to Iran, where he provided sensitive documents to the Government of Iran in April 2022.
Also in April 2022, in response to tasking from Iranian government officials, Rahmati sent additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control towers to his brother, who lived in Iran, so that he would provide those files to Iranian intelligence on Rahmati’s behalf.
Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26. Rahmati faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government without prior notification to the Attorney General, and up to five years in prison for conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office is investigating the case, with significant assistance from the FAA’s Office of Counterintelligence and Technical Operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Kimberly Paschall for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case, with significant assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Former Corrections Officer Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes in Exchange for Smuggling Narcotics into Rikers IslandRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GHISLAINE BARRIENTOS, a former corrections officer, was sentenced today to six months in prison, to be followed by six months of home detention, for her participation in a scheme to accept bribes in exchange for smuggling narcotics and other contraband into Rikers Island. BARRIENTOS previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods, who imposed today’s sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Ghislaine Barrientos smuggled drugs and other contraband into Rikers Island in exchange for more than ten thousand dollars in bribes. Barrientos not only abused her position of public trust as a corrections officer, she made Rikers Island less safe for inmates and officers alike. Corrupt corrections officers have no place in our jail facilities, and this Office will continue to work to rid our jails of those who take advantage of their positions to enrich themselves.”
As reflected in the Complaint, Information, and statements made in court:
BARRIENTOS, a former New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) correction officer, conspired with others to smuggle contraband, including cocaine, smokeable synthetic cannabinoids (known as “K2”), and food to inmates housed at the Robert N. Davoren Complex on Rikers Island in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribe payments.
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In addition to the prison sentence, BARRIENTOS, 37, of Mount Vernon, New York, was ordered to forfeit $11,866.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption and Narcotics Units. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Coyle is in charge of the prosecution.
Former Corporate Lawyer from Scott Township Sentenced to More Than 12.5 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Scott Township, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 151 months of imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, on his conviction of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on James France, 62, on April 15, 2025. A federal jury found France guilty of the charge in March 2022.
According to information presented to the Court, France was a lawyer with an Ivy League degree who worked for several Pittsburgh-based law firms before turning to a life of methamphetamine distribution. On March 16, 2015, France was arrested in Illinois after a search of his car revealed approximately 1,344 grams of methamphetamine along with scales, packaging material, syringes, and more than $4,700 in U.S. currency. In May of 2016, an arrest of one of France’s conspirators by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Rochester, New York, led to the identification of France as a major methamphetamine supplier from the Pittsburgh area.
In late June of 2016, the DEA effectuated a controlled purchase of $2,000 worth of methamphetamine from France at France’s Scott Township residence. A laboratory analysis of the drugs following the controlled purchase found it to be 55 grams of methamphetamine.
At approximately 1:38 a.m. on July 29, 2016, Scott Township Police responded to a report of a home invasion in progress at France’s residence. When the police arrived, they encountered an individual who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and reported that six armed men attempted to break into the residence. The officers called out for anyone inside the house to come to the door and, when no one responded, officers entered to clear the residence.
Based on the condition of the home, officers believed that the residence could be a methamphetamine laboratory and contacted the DEA, who determined that the house was not a methamphetamine laboratory and obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the search, officers recovered what later laboratory analysis determined was approximately 430 grams of pure methamphetamine, approximately $8,000 in U.S. currency, and other evidence of methamphetamine distribution.
France was on bond for other offenses when local police officers arrested him on June 30, 2017, after executing another search warrant at his residence. That search resulted in the seizure of a methamphetamine smoking apparatus, syringes, scales, packaging material, large sums of U.S. currency, and quantities of methamphetamine.
Throughout the judicial proceedings, the defendant attempted to obstruct justice by lying to the Court, violating the conditions of his bond, threatening to beat a person’s grandparents “to within an inch of their lives,” and verbally abusing his court-appointed counsel.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and Scott Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of France.
Florissant Sex Offender Admits New Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A registered sex offender from Florissant, Missouri on Wednesday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material.
Christopher A. Wheetley, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted that 470 images and one video containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were found on his computer, as well as internet searches consistent with an interest in CSAM. The computer also contained 1,081 images and four videos in which children appeared to be depicted but their ages could not be determined.
The CSAM was found on the computer after a St. Louis County Police Department detective conducting an online “peer-to-peer” investigation discovered CSAM on Sept. 12, 2023, that was linked to an IP address that traced back to Wheetley’s home. That home was the subject of an earlier investigation after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on Nov. 10, 2020, received a cyber-tip that 40 files containing CSAM had been uploaded to Kik in October from an IP address matching Wheetley.
The day before the tip was received, Wheetley pleaded no contest to one count of possession of child pornography in California Superior Court in Pomona. When detectives arrived at his Florissant address to investigate the tip, he was in California to complete his term of probation for the child pornography conviction.
Because Wheetley was previously convicted of distribution of child pornography, he faces at least 15 years in prison for the crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Wheetley’s lawyer will recommend 15 years at the time of his sentencing, which is set for July 17.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Florida Man Sentenced to over 33 Years for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A South Florida federal district judge this week sentenced a 30-year-old Jacksonville, Florida man to 405 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for producing and transporting visual depictions involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
David Wayne Currin Jr. pleaded guilty to the crimes on Jan. 23.
On Oct. 30, 2024, Currin arrived at the Miami Seaport from The Bahamas aboard a cruise ship. During a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) inspection, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and HSI Jacksonville special agents discovered 260 images and 26 videos of CSAM on Currin’s smartphone, including a sexually explicit video of a minor victim and material depicting the abuse of an infant or toddler. Between March 2024 and Oct. 30, 2024, Currin used his smartphone to record sexually explicit conduct involving a minor.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence.
HSI Miami and HSI Jacksonville investigated the case with assistance from CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ilana Malkin prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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-20494.
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Felon Indicted for Discharging a Firearm in a School ZoneRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a previously convicted felon with gun charges after he allegedly possessed and discharged an AR-15 style rifle within a school zone. The defendant is restricted from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Carson Moffitt, 40, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was charged by complaint on April 3, 2025.
According to court documents, on April 2, 2025, South Salt Lake City Police Department officers responded to a call of shots fired at Granite Park Junior High School in South Salt Lake, Utah, at 7:15 p.m. After officers arrived, they discovered AR-15 style shell casings in the middle of the road near the school. Surveillance cameras, provided by Granite School District law enforcement, captured the suspect’s vehicle, a Subaru WRX. Shortly after, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper observed a Subaru WRX speeding more than 100 miles per hour near 6000 South and I-15. UHP attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Moffitt, fled and continued speeding up to 130 miles per hour before exiting Redwood Road and I-215 in Taylorsville. The pursuit was terminated. A run of the vehicles license plate showed the vehicle was registered to Moffitt. UHP troopers responded to the address on the vehicle’s registration and while troopers were working to make contact with Moffit, multiple shots were fired from inside the residence. A witness inside the home advised law enforcement Moffitt had a rifle. Moffitt eventually opened the garage door and fled in the Subaru. A Taylorsville City Police Department Officer intercepted and crashed into Moffitt’s Subaru, disabling the vehicle. Moffit was taken into custody. Officers seized an AR-15 style rifle with a drum magazine and ammunition from inside the vehicle.Moffitt is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm within a school zone, and discharge of a firearm within a school zone. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for April 17, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the Utah State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Valuable assistance was provided by the Granite School District law enforcement, South Salt Lake Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol, and Taylorsville City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Felon Convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer Sentenced to More than 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – In November 2024, Preston James Campbell, 42, was convicted by a jury for Assault of a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle sentenced Campbell to 130 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He further ordered Campbell to serve this sentence consecutively with a 21-month sentence previously imposed for violating his supervised release, for a total sentence of 151 months in federal prison.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Campbell was previously convicted in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Campbell violated the terms of his supervised release in 2024, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Body camera video presented to the jury showed that when Marshals attempted to arrest Campbell, he ran towards a Deputy with a knife in his hand. The deputy was able to block and deflect the knife, preventing serious injuries.
Campbell will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The U.S. Marshals, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, Bristow Police Department, and Kellyville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Jiang and Elliot Anderson prosecuted the case.
Federal jury convicts would-be smuggler of three-year-old childRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - A 25-year-old Laredo woman has been convicted of conspiracy to transport, attempting to transport and bringing in and attempting to bring a minor alien to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Salma Galilea Veliz guilty late April 15 after a two-day trial.
Law enforcement first encountered Veliz at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo Nov. 14, 2024, with a three-year-old male. At that time, she presented a Texas birth certificate and claimed the minor was her son.
Veliz eventually admitted the child was actually not her own and that she had picked him up in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. She claimed she did not know the boy’s name or where she was taking him, just that a person known as “Malandro” was bringing him to her.
Veliz planned to have the boy assume the identity of her biological son in an effort to smuggle him into the United States. In exchange, she would be paid $2,500.
During trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding his true identity, which included the minor child’s original birth certificate indicating Mexico as his place of birth. Testimony also revealed there was no record in existence pertaining to the minor child that would indicate he had ever been authorized to enter the United States.
The defense attempted to convince the jury the boy had claims to citizenship through an unidentified father. However, evidence revealed the minor is a Mexican citizen and had no claim to enter the county. The jury ultimately found Veliz guilty as charged.
“This verdict demonstrates that those who think they can make a quick buck by trafficking human beings—particularly children—are sorely mistaken,” said Ganjei. “The facts of this case are a reminder of the tremendous human cost of weak border security. There is no telling who or what awaited that three-year-old boy had he been successfully snuck across the border. Due to the quick thinking and thorough work of law enforcement, that child will be returned to his home, rather than face an uncertain—and possibly dangerous—fate in the hands of unknown persons."
U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen presided over trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Veliz faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State and Department of Health and Humans Services - Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa A. Lopez and Tory Sailer prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Federal judge finds Alexandria man guilty of child pornography offensesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge convicted an Alexandria man, who worked for the Department of Commerce, yesterday on charges of receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rafferty Daniel Kelly, 40, worked for the Patent and Trademark Office. In March 2022, a federal CSAM investigation involving an Internet-based, peer-to-peer file sharing service led federal agents to execute a search warrant at Kelly’s home where they seized multiple devices. A review of those devices revealed that over a period of at least two years Kelly had downloaded and stored over 50,000 of images of CSAM and child erotica, including images of infants and prepubescent children. Kelly also possessed a handbook on how to groom children.
At the end of the bench trial, U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff found Kelly guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Kelly is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Judge Nachmanoff returned the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa K. Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz for the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation & Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-246.
Federal Judge Finds a Virginia Man Guilty of Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a district court judge convicted a Virginia man, who worked for the Department of Commerce, of possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rafferty Daniel Kelly, 40, of Alexandria, worked for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In March 2022, a federal CSAM investigation involving an internet-based peer-to-peer file sharing service, a program used by the defendant to obtain CSAM, led federal agents to execute a search warrant at Kelly’s home, where they seized multiple devices. A review of those devices revealed that, over a period of at least two years, Kelly had downloaded and stored over 50,000 images of CSAM and child erotica, including images of infants and prepubescent children. Kelly also possessed a handbook on how to groom children.
At the end of the bench trial yesterday, the Honorable Michael S. Nachmanoff found Kelly guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Judge Nachmanoff will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Drug Traffickers from Kalamazoo County and Kent County Sentenced to Decades in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Four defendants were sentenced this week in different cases for trafficking significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine, including counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills
GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew B. Birge today announced that the following defendants were sentenced to federal prison, each in their own individual case, for possessing and intending to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and/or other controlled substances. Specifically:
- Rene Arnold Ruiz, 52, of Kent County, was sentenced on Monday to 192 months, or 16 years, in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Ruiz previously pleaded guilty on January 13, 2025. (Case No. 1:24-cr-122-PLM)
- Thomas Charles Davis, 50, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced on Tuesday to 210 months, or 17 ½ years, in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Davis previously pleaded guilty on December 18, 2025. (Case No. 1:24-cr-119-RJJ)
- Lonnie Laronn Morrow, 33, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced on Tuesday to 188 months, or 15 years and 8 months, in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Morrow previously pleaded guilty on December 2, 2024. (Case No. 1:24-cr-98-HYJ)
- Dyland Edward Hughes, 32, of Kalamazoo County, was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Hughes previously pleaded guilty on December 19, 2024. (Case No. 1:24-cr-127-HYJ)
“These cases -- all resolved this week -- individually and collectively demonstrate the serious, on-going threat posed by the trafficking of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine, here in west Michigan and across the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Birge. “Thanks to the strong partnership with our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, our office will continue to prosecute these cases, and commit resources to disrupting the flow of these dangerous drugs into our communities.”
According to plea agreements and other information available on the public dockets, each defendant possessed large quantities of drugs—primarily fentanyl and methamphetamine—that they intended to sell.
Specifically:
In March 2024, during a traffic stop in Kalamazoo County, Morrow possessed 10,863 counterfeit pills designed to look like Oxycodone 30mg pills (“M30s”), but in fact cumulatively contained over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, shown in the picture below. During a search of Morrow’s apartment the same day, officers located over 170 grams of cocaine, over $12,000 in U.S. currency, amphetamine and morphine pills, and three firearms. During Morrow’s sentencing, Chief. U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou noted that “fentanyl in and of itself is dangerous,” but when found in pill form, the fentanyl is “disguised,” which creates an additional danger in the community.
10,863 counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills seized from Lonnie Laronn Marrow in Kalamazoo
In May 2024, in a storage unit in Kent County, Ruiz possessed and intended to distribute 8,558 counterfeit pills, which were also designed to look like M30s, but in fact cumulatively contained over 900 grams of fentanyl, along with over 400 grams of heroin. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney described Ruiz’s offense as “grave,” and that “the amount of fentanyl attendant to this case is staggering and presents a significant threat to the public.”
In July 2024, after previously selling pounds of methamphetamine to an informant, Davis possessed approximately 18 pounds of methamphetamine and 70 grams of cocaine in his Kalamazoo County apartment. At the time Davis possessed those drugs and intended to sell it, he was serving a term of federal supervised release for a 2008 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base. (Case No. 1:08-cr-165-RJJ) The Court imposed a consecutive 30-month prison sentence on Davis for violating the terms of supervised release by continuing to traffic drugs.
Also in July 2024, Hughes possessed over 500 grams of fentanyl and over 100 grams of cocaine in a bedroom in his mother’s house in Kalamazoo County. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou found Hughes’ offense to be “quite serious in terms of the amounts being brought into the community,” in addition to the threat posed by fentanyl.
“Taking criminals off the streets who are providing deadly amounts of fentanyl is a priority of our office,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton. “These cases show that DEA and its law enforcement partners will ensure that criminals who deal deadly substances are held responsible for the harm they cause.”
“These cases highlight the fine work being done every day by the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) in conjunction with our federal partners,” said Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Captain Michael Ferguson. “Our message is clear: if you deal drugs, carry guns illegally, or commit violent crime in our community, we will come after you at the date and time of our choosing.”
“Fentanyl is driving overdose deaths in our community, and we are committed to stopping it at the source,” said Kent County Sheriff Michelle Lajoye-Young. “The Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team’s (KANET) work continues to uncover dangerous drug operations and stop fentanyl from reaching our neighborhoods. We value our strong partnership with the DEA and other federal agencies, which allows us to take meaningful action to protect lives and keep these poisons off our streets.”
“In Southwest Michigan, we lose nearly twice as many lives to drug overdoses than we do to fatal car crashes,” said Michigan State Police Detective First Lieutenant Rick Pazder. “The Southwest Enforcement Team (SWET) is committed to saving lives and bringing accountability to the drug trafficking organizations that sell lethal narcotics in our communities, robbing us of the lives of our sons and daughters. The lengthy sentences given in these cases are just, and we applaud the United States Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts and strong commitment to justice.”
According to the DEA, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid typically used to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance that is like morphine, but about 100 times more potent. As little as 2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past drug usage. Cumulatively, Morrow, Ruiz, and Hughes possessed over 2 ½ kilograms of fentanyl, which is enough to kill over a million people who are “opioid naïve,” or have little to no tolerance for fentanyl. For more information about fentanyl, please visit: http://dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
“Everyone in the community needs to be aware: one pill can kill,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Birge. “We know that criminal drug networks are mass-producing fake pills and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription pills to deceive the American public, much like the almost-20,000 counterfeit pills that Mr. Morrow and Mr. Ruiz possessed and intended to sell.”
In 2024 alone, the DEA seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills, and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, which is the equivalent of more than 377 million lethal doses. To learn more about DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” community outreach campaign, and to find more resources you can share with your loved ones, please visit: http://dea.gov/onepill.
According to the DEA, methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that can come in pill, powder, or crystalized form. High doses of methamphetamine may result in death from stroke, heart attack, or organ failure. For more information on the dangers of methamphetamine, please visit: http://dea.gov/factsheets/methamphetamine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Southwest Enforcement Team investigated these cases, and Assistant United States Attorneys Alexia A. Jansen and Daniel T. McGraw prosecuted them.
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Delaware Woman Admits Role in COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Delaware woman admitted to conspiring to obtain more than $1 million of federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Adrienne Ponzo, 50, of Bear, Delaware, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to one count of wire fraud conspiracy.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The CARES Act also authorized the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses that were experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To obtain a PPP or EIDL loan, a qualifying small business was required to submit an application and provide information on its operations, including the number of employees and revenues or expenses. In addition, businesses generally had to provide supporting documentation such as tax returns and bank statements.
Adrienne Ponzo conspired with others to defraud the SBA and the PPP program. Ponzo’s co-conspirators recruited individuals who owned companies with little or no operations and introduced them to Ponzo. Ponzo prepared fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications for these businesses and caused them to be electronically submitted to the SBA and PPP lenders. Ponzo prepared fraudulent bank statements and tax returns for companies that did not have them. Ponzo received a portion of the loan proceeds for her role in the scheme. 14 loans totaling nearly $1,500,000 were part of the scheme.
The count of wire fraud conspiracy is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 26, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Regional Office; special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs in Philadelphia; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to this guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel A. Friedman and Attorney-in-Charge Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Troy A. Archie, Esq., Cinnaminson, New Jersey
ponzo.indictment.pdfCranberry Township Resident Sentenced to Prison for Assault of Girlfriend During CruiseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to 12 months of incarceration on his conviction of assault by striking, beating, or wounding, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Quintin Owens, 28, also ordering Owens to pay a $5,000 fine.
According to information presented to the Court, on or about October 11, 2022, Owens violently assaulted his girlfriend, also a resident of Western Pennsylvania, by punching her, throwing her to the ground, and strangling her in a choke hold while the two were aboard a cruise ship. The federal district court has jurisdiction over the assault in part because the crime was committed on the high seas.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Stickman spoke to the severe impact domestic violence crimes have on victims and promised that such crimes will be taken seriously in federal court.
Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Owens.
Colorado Springs Man Charged with Making Threats Regarding Tesla Owners and the Presidential CabinetRead the Press Release
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that defendant Carl Howard Payne, Jr., of Colorado Springs, was charged with Interstate Communication of Threats.
According to the criminal complaint, on or about March 20, 2025, threatening emails were sent from [email protected] to various news media outlets across state lines. The emails detailed a “Declaration of War” against the 47th Presidential Cabinet of the United States and further described how Tesla owners would be murdered on April 17, 2025, and thereafter, until the death of Elon Musk.
Also on March 20, 2025, Payne sent the same email to ProPublica and Thomson Reuters, both in New York, from Signal user “c”. And on or about April 2, 2025, Payne deposited or caused to be deposited similar threatening letters for delivery by the Postal Service to several insurance companies. The return address on the letters indicated they were from “The White House,” but the letters were postmarked in Denver.
A review of Internet Protocol (IP) address information from Proton Mail, along with other information, indicates that Payne is the user of the Proton Mail account and the Signal account from which the threatening emails originated.
The investigation is being handled by the Denver Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jasand Mock.
The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Case Number: 25-mj-00081-NRN
Charges Filed in Assault on Metro Transit Police OfficerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Erik Schleehauf, 43, of Washington, D.C., was charged in Superior Court with assault of a police officer while armed and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the April 15, 2025, attack of a Metro Transit Police Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD).
Schleehauf made an appearance in court today and was ordered held without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18, 2025, before Superior Court Judge Robert A. Salerno.
According to documents filed with the court, at approximately 2:26 p.m., on April 15th, at the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro Station, an MTPD Sergeant observed Schleehauf attempting to evade his fare by standing up on the fare machine and jumping over the glass gates. The MTPD Sergeant, followed the defendant as he walked towards the escalators and tried to stop him from exiting. Schleehauf pulled out a sharpened, pointed tool, which he had hidden on his person, and began to stab the MTPD Sergeant in the face, causing puncture wounds. The MTPD Sergeant suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Schleehauf was arrested at the scene.
This case is being investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck.
Charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Canastota Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Drug Conspiracy and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Andrew Snyder, age 46, of Canastota, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and a heroin/fentanyl mixture, and for possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Snyder admitted that from approximately October 2020 through May 17, 2022, he conspired with his wife, Jessica Snyder, to distribute both methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl mixture to others out of the garage of their home in Madison County. Snyder further admitted that on May 17, 2022, while he was an unlawful user of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, he possessed two 9mm handguns and ammunition.
Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Snyder to serve a 4-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. Jessica Snyder is currently scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2025.
This case was investigated by ATF and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas R. Sutcliffe and Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.
Buffalo man pleads guilty to defrauding hundreds of victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollarsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nicholas Janes, 26, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to mail fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2023, law enforcement learned of many suspicious United States Postal Service Express Mail overnight flat-rate envelopes being mailed to the defendant’s address in Buffalo. The envelopes were addressed to variations of Janes’s name, or what appeared to be different law offices. Most of the address labels were hand-written, and the envelopes were mailed by individuals residing throughout the United States. A search of Janes’s address in various consumer complaint databases revealed a pattern of alleged debt collection fraud victims from throughout the United States. The names “Nicholas Janes,” “Nicholas James,” “The Nichols Law Group,” “The Nicholas Law Group,” and variations of the business name, The Offices of Pachulski, Mueller and Barnes (Muler, Muller, Burns, etc.) were consistently associated with Janes’s address. The defendant also controlled business mailboxes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he received mail as a result of the fraudulent scheme. That mail was then forwarded to his residence in Buffalo.
As part of his fraudulent scheme, Janes contacted various individuals from around the country by telephone, advising them that they had a debt due on an alleged unpaid loan. He claimed that he was a local sheriff’s deputy, and would threaten the victims with criminal charges, if they did not immediately repay the alleged debt owed. Janes also pretended to be an attorney at fictitious law firms, so victims thought they were negotiating with a legitimate entity. He advised victims to make payment by USPS money orders payable to him, and send them via USPS, Federal Express or United Parcel Service overnight service to various addresses that he controlled and monitored the mail.
In total, Janes victimized more than 500 people for $420,812.92.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2025, before Judge Sinatra.
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Bronx Man Charged with Violent Sex Trafficking of Multiple WomenRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael Alfonso, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging RALPH WALLACE, a/k/a “Chase,” a/k/a “Prize,” with sex trafficking multiple women by force, fraud, and coercion. WALLACE was arrested this morning in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave in Manhattan federal court. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Ralph Wallace systematically exploited and abused women, using horrific violence to force women to engage in prostitution against their will. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who engage in sex trafficking. If you have been a victim of the alleged crimes perpetrated by Wallace, we urge you to come forward by contacting 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.”
HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said: “This defendant’s arrest signals the beginning of a long journey toward freedom for women who for years have endured unimaginably cruel violence and abuse. Today’s charges are a direct result of these victims’ continued strength, despite Ralph Wallace’s alleged inhumane treatment and manipulation. I thank them for their bravery when faced with the unknown, and pledge that HSI New York and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to ensure justice is served.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment:[1]
Between at least in or about 2021 and in or about 2025, WALLACE, a self-declared “pimp,” recruited multiple women to engage in commercial sex for his personal benefit and enrichment. WALLACE took nude photographs of the women and posted advertisements. He instructed the women how to dress, how to act, and how much to charge and then he took all of the proceeds.
On multiple occasions, including when women did not want to engage in commercial sex, WALLACE used violence and coercion to force them to continue doing so. This included, for example, beating, punching, choking, and dragging women on multiple occasions. WALLACE also withheld from the women money for basic necessities, such as food and toiletries, unless they agreed to continue engaging in commercial sex on his behalf.
* * *
WALLACE, 36, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and one count of transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the HSI New York/New York City Police Department Human Trafficking Task Force.
If you believe you are victim of a crime perpetrated by WALLACE, please contact HSI at [email protected] or via their mobile tip-line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP and reference this case.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Madison Reddick Smyser and Getzel Berger are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._wallace_indictment.pdf
[1] The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bridgeport Gang Member Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
LUIS GARCIA, also known as "Ebk Lou," 27, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a violent Bridgeport street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. Garcia was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities.
Text messages and social media posts reviewed during the investigation confirmed that Garcia possessed and sold narcotics and firearms, stole vehicles, and was involved in related violent criminal activity alongside other O.N.E. members and associates.
On August 9, 2018, O.N.E. members stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee in Newburgh, New York, and drove it back to Bridgeport. In the following days, O.N.E. members conspired to use the car to kill East End gang members and their allies who they had learned through social media were at a deli on Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport. Although that plan fell through, in the early morning hours of August 13, 2018, Garcia, Ta’Ron Pharr, and Lorenzo Carter drove the stolen Jeep to Stratford and Union Avenues in Bridgeport where they shot and killed Len Smith, 25, who they mistook for a rival East End group member, and shot and seriously wounded Smith’s female companion, both of whom were seated in a parked car. After the shooting, O.N.E. members transported the Jeep to Indian Wells State Park in Shelton where they burned the vehicle in an effort to destroy evidence of the murder.
O.N.E. members committed other violent crimes, including murder.
Garcia has been detained since his arrest on September 8, 2021. On September 6, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity.
Approximately 47 members and associates of multiple Bridgeport-based gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders.
Pharr pleaded guilty and, on August 30, 2022, was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment. On November 21, 2023, a jury found Carter guilty of racketeering conspiracy. He awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Waterbury Police Department, and Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis, Stephanie T. Levick, and Rahul Kale.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Boulder man sentenced to over 6 years in prison on gun chargesRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Boulder man who possessed a firearm while being a prohibited person was sentenced today to 78 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Paul Anthony LaFournaise, 59, was found guilty of prohibited person in possession of a firearm in December 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris presided.
At trial, the government presented evidence that LaFournaise has multiple previous felony convictions, and as a result is prohibited from using, owning, possessing, transferring, or controlling any firearms or ammunition. LaFournaise was aware of this prohibition. On May 11, 2024, a relative of LaFournaise reported to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office that he was threatening family members at their home. LaFournaise was ultimately arrested for partner or family member assault, and his relative then revealed the cause of his agitation: he had returned from work to discover that his bag—which contained a handgun and drug paraphernalia—was missing. A family member had found the bag earlier that day and had hidden it from LaFournaise upon discovering the gun inside of it. The gun was identified as a Kel-Tec 9 mm pistol.
When LaFournaise was interviewed by law enforcement, he admitted he received the gun from a friend and was holding on to it. The friend was interviewed and confirmed giving the gun to LaFournaise because LaFournaise needed it “for protection” when getting drugs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the ATF, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Berkeley County Woman Admits to COVID 19 FraudRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Beverly Ashbaugh, age 51, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to wire fraud involving COVID 19 funding.
According to court documents, Ashbaugh filed claims seeking Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) when the pandemic impacted her employment in March 2020. Ashbaugh went back to work but continued to file PEUC claims. Ashbaugh collected nearly $30,000 in fraudulent benefits.
Ashbaugh is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Salem is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
Workforce West Virginia investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.
American Falls Housing Authority Executive Director Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
POCATELLO – Bruce Hauber, 72, of American Falls, was sentenced to five years of probation for federal program theft after embezzling $129,022.38 from a federally funded public housing authority, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, the American Falls Housing Authority (AFHA) is a federally funded public housing authority that manages public housing in American Falls. Between 2019 and 2023, Hauber was employed as the Executive Director of AFHA and was tasked with paying bills, purchasing supplies, collecting rent, and managing bank accounts.
Beginning in spring 2019, Hauber began to make purchases on AFHA credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses, such as meals, airplane tickets, utilities for his home, medical expenses, and purchases at retailers. In total, between spring 2019 through 2023, Hauber made $129,022.38 in unauthorized personal expenses. Hauber used AFHA funds to make payments for those personal expenses. To conceal the embezzlement, Hauber wrote fictitious checks to venders and entered the checks into AFHA’s internal accounting system.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Hauber to pay $79,022.38 in restitution and imposed eight months of home detention with location monitoring as a condition of probation.
“Our office will vigorously investigate and prosecute cases involving theft of public money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott. “Bruce Hauber stole from the American taxpayer and deprived American Falls residents vital public housing funds.”
“Hauber deliberately orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to embezzle more than $125,000 in federal funds designated to provide housing assistance for elderly and disabled residents in American Falls, Idaho—a community of roughly, 4,500 people,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “The theft was especially harmful given the limited resources available to support the community. HUD OIG remains committed to working alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement and oversight partners to aggressively pursue individuals who compromise the integrity of HUD programs and exploit communities in need.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Jack Haycock prosecuted the case.
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11 Defendants Sentenced for Their Role in a Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl from the Mexico Border to IdahoRead the Press Release
BOISE – A large-scale Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation and prosecution resulted in the conviction of 11 Idaho defendants on federal drug trafficking charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. The investigation involved the cooperative efforts of 10 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
According to court records, beginning in early 2023, Idaho State Police (ISP) detectives received a tip that Austin Lee was distributing large quantities of fentanyl in southern Idaho. In coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies, ISP detectives worked quickly to investigate Lee and identify the source of these drugs. Investigators conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Lee and other co-conspirators, to include Jamie Coltrin, Jenika Johnson, Brandon Dana, Tina Morris, and Daniel Coltrin.
In July 2023, the investigation expanded to include Lee’s Mexico-based drug supplier and other co-conspirators. The investigation revealed that recent parolees were recruited into the conspiracy prior to their release from prison. These conspirators helped traffic fentanyl from the United States/Mexico border to distribute in Idaho. Additional conspirators accepted payment for the drugs. From this, investigators identified additional co-conspirators Arafat Ramirez, Rosa Ramirez, Laila Ramirez-Martinez, Sammy Martinez, and Rachel Dixon.
The investigation was extensive and resulted in the seizure of over 48,000 fentanyl pills and four pounds of methamphetamine. This significantly hindered the flow of fentanyl into Idaho, and the Magic Valley area.
As part of this OCDETF investigation, the following individuals have been sentenced for federal drug violations:
- Austin Chad Lee, 29, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl;
- Arafat Ramirez, 43, of Jerome, was sentenced to 140 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
- Brandon Aaron Dana, 37, of Leadore, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
- Tina Jane Morris, 46, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 97 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine;
- Sammy Davey Martinez, 49, of Nampa, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
- Jamie Lee Coltrin, 36, of Rupert, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
- Jenika Ann Johnson, 31, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for distribution of fentanyl;
- Daniel Ross Coltrin, 40, of Paul, was sentenced to 25 months in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl;
- Rosa Ramirez, of Jerome, 64, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
- Rachel Dixon, 36, of Boise, was sentenced to 3 years’ probation for distribution of fentanyl; and
- Laila Vanessa Ramirez-Martinez, 35, of Jerome, was sentenced to two years’ probation for false statement.
“The success of this investigation is the direct result of cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. “Protecting Idahoans from dangerous drugs flowing up from the Mexico border is one of our highest law enforcement priorities, and I commend each of the agencies involved for their outstanding work achieving justice in this case.”
“We are proud the State of Idaho works so well with our federal partners to protect the public,” said Governor Brad Little. “The goal of our Operation Esto Perpetua initiative is to equip law enforcement with the training and tools they need to keep Idaho safe. Today’s announcement about the conviction of 11 drug traffickers demonstrates what Idaho is doing is working.”
"The DEA and our partners will work tirelessly to stop drug traffickers from flooding our communities with drugs and violence," said David. F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. "Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose. The amount of fentanyl seized in this case had the potential to kill more than 46,000 people, that would more than fill the football stadium at Boise State."
The cases were primarily investigated by the Idaho State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition to the work of these agencies, Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott thanked the following agencies for assisting in the investigations and arrests of the above-named individuals: Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Minidoka County Sheriff’s Office, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Garden City Police Department, and the Idaho Department of Correction.
These indictments are 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.
Since the inauguration of President Trump, the Department of Justice is playing a critical role in Operation Take back America, a nationwide initiative to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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15 April 2025
Yatahey Man Faces Federal Charges for Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Yatahey man is facing charges in federal court in connection with a violent sexual assault.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2025, Jane Doe reported that she has been sexually assaulted the day before by Fernando Brown, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Following the assault, Jane Doe was transported to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment. When questioned by law enforcement, Brown allegedly admitted to continuing sexual activity after Jane Doe repeatedly told him to stop and also disclosed prior instances of physical violence against Doe.
Brown is charged with aggravated sexual abuse and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Brown faces up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Wilmington Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Joseph Lee Barnes, 35, of Wilmington, N.C. was sentenced to 151 months in prison today for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Upon his release from prison, Barnes will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. also ordered Barnes to pay $89,000 in restitution.
Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, in February 2024, Barnes was in a private chatroom on an encrypted messaging platform that is dedicated to the exchange of CSAM and discussions of the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Barnes shared with the chatroom three files that contained CSAM. An undercover agent monitoring the chatroom also received those files. The undercover agent then began to chat one-on-one with Barnes. During their communications, the undercover agent claimed to be an adult with access to a child. Barnes expressed an interest in engaging in illicit sexual acts with the child and arranged to meet with the undercover agent and have sex with the child. Barnes also told the undercover agent that he had previously sexually abused children in the United States and overseas.
According to court documents, the undercover agent and Barnes continued to communicate via text messages and online over the next few weeks, and Barnes continued to send the undercover agent additional CSAM. On March 14, 2024, Barnes traveled from Wilmington to Western North Carolina for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child. Law enforcement arrested Barnes at the pre-arranged meeting location. Law enforcement also seized Barnes’s phone and tablet and discovered child pornography images and videos on it. On the same day, HSI agents in Wilmington executed a search warrant at Barnes’s apartment, seizing additional electronic devices and two external hard drives. A forensic analysis of the items seized revealed that Barnes maintained an extensive library of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children.
On October 30, 2024, Barnes pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI for their investigation of the case and thanked the USMS Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force
and the Waynesville Police Department for their invaluable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexis Solheim of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Violent Carjacker Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
BOISE – Jordan L. Davis, 34, of Nampa, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for carjacking and unlawful possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced.
According to court records, on July 31, 2024, Davis and another individual entered the victim’s home in Nampa, Idaho. Once inside, Davis entered the victim’s bedroom, drew a firearm, pointed it at the victim’s head, and threatened to kill him if he did not comply with Davis’ demands. Davis stole several of the victim’s personal belongings and his vehicle.
After the victim called 911, law enforcement found Davis driving the stolen vehicle on the freeway. Davis ignored law enforcement’s attempts to stop him and led officers on a high-speed chase, that at times exceeded 100 mph. Law enforcement eventually stopped Davis after performing a PIT maneuver. When officers approached Davis, they saw him holding a firearm. Davis refused to comply with officers’ repeated commands to drop the firearm and get out of the car. After a nearly 20-minute standoff involving multiple law enforcement agencies, Davis eventually surrendered.
“Thanks to the heroic efforts of the Nampa Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police, no one was injured during this dangerous incident.” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott stated. “This sentence appropriately reflects the serious nature of the crimes and ensures that a violent felon is no longer free to victimize members of our community.”
“This case is a stark reminder of how quickly violent crime can escalate and put lives at risk,” added Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “I’m proud of the courage and professionalism our deputies showed that day, working alongside our law enforcement partners to bring this dangerous individual into custody without anyone being harmed. I appreciate the work of Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott and his team for their work in prosecuting this case and putting this dangerous individual behind bars.”
U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Davis to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay over $37,000.00 in restitution.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Nampa Police Department, the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police, which led to Davis’ arrest and subsequent charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse prosecuted this 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 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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Ventura Man Arrested on Federal Grand Jury Indictment Alleging Fraudulent Representations Regarding Helicopter PartsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County man was arrested today on a 10-count federal grand jury indictment alleging his company and he defrauded customers by misleading them as to the nature of helicopter parts, making the customers believe that the parts had fewer service hours than they in fact had.
Jared Michael Swensen, 48, of Ventura, is expected to make his initial appearance and be arraigned on the indictment this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Also charged in the indictment is Swensen’s Oxnard-based company, J&J Enterprises LLLP, which did business as “Light Helicopter Depot.” Both Swensen and his company are charged with two counts of wire fraud and eight counts of fraud involving aircraft parts.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on April 10, Swensen and Light Helicopter solicited and accepted work to overhaul and maintain helicopters. In performing the overhaul work, the defendants were expected to remove helicopter parts that had reached or were approaching their life limit and to replace them with new parts, parts that had just been overhauled or parts that had substantially fewer hours in service.
After removing helicopter parts – including main rotor blades and main rotor spindles – that were substantially used or near their life limit, the defendants allegedly installed older, not overhauled parts that in some cases were closer to their life limit than they represented. If these parts failed, a helicopter likely would crash.
Swensen and his company allegedly made materially false entries in the helicopter’s maintenance logbook and fraudulently altered sales orders and packing slips to correspond with the false entries – misrepresenting the age of the helicopter parts as being years newer than their actual age.
The defendants also fraudulently altered Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) release certificates – used to certify that an aircraft part was airworthy – to falsely claim that the certificate was issued more than two years after its actual issuance date.
Swensen and Light Helicopter then sent invoices and received payments in connection with this work. The indictment alleges two such fraudulently induced payments from customers in February and May of 2023.
The indictment further alleges the defendants made a series of fraudulent representations related to helicopter parts that involved false writings, entries, and records from April 2020 to August 2023.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Swensen would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 15 years in federal prison for each count of fraud involving aircraft parts. Light Helicopter Depot, if convicted, would be fined up to $10 million for each aircraft parts fraud count and up to $1 million for each wire fraud count.
The United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General is investigating this matter. The FAA provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Dennis Mitchell and Danbee Kim of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section are prosecuting this case.
United States Attorney’s Office Announces Departure of Delia L. Smith as U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper is now Acting U.S. Attorney
St. Thomas, VI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today the departure of Delia L. Smith as U.S. Attorney.
Under the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper is now the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands. As Acting U.S. Attorney, he is the chief federal law enforcement official in the territory of the Virgin Islands.
Sleeper is a career prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office. He has served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney and as Appellate Chief.
Sleeper received an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and a law degree from Cornell Law School. Before joining the Department of Justice, he clerked for Judge Curtis Gómez of the District Court of the Virgin Islands and Judge Joel Carson III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He also worked as an associate in the Boston, Massachusetts office of an international law firm.Tyler tax preparer sentenced to federal prison for role in tax refund fraud schemeRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler tax preparer has been sentenced to federal prison for her role in a tax refund fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Karistha Johnson, 38, pleaded guilty to making false and fraudulent statements on a tax return and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 15, 2025. Johnson was ordered to pay $1,244,934 in restitution.
“The Eastern District of Texas is committed to prosecuting tax preparers who engage in return preparer fraud schemes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. “Schemes like this threaten to disrupt the orderly administration of the income tax system for law-abiding taxpayers, and taxpayers ultimately end up paying the bill.”
“Ms. Johnson, in her role as a tax preparer, took advantage of those seeking assistance by filing fraudulent returns,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “By fabricating deductions and business expenses, she filed hundreds of false returns, resulting in more than $1.2 million in fraudulent refunds. The women and men of IRS-CI remain dedicated to safeguarding our tax system and ensuring that individuals who engage in fraudulent activities face the full consequences under the law.”
According to information presented in court, Johnson was involved in a multi-year return preparer fraud scheme involving the submission of tax returns containing false and fraudulent statements. Johnson prepared and filed 610 returns from 2017 through 2019 and received $1,244,934 in fraudulent refunds.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
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Two illegal aliens and a Laredoan charged with various firearms offensesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – Three men are in custody on charges related to the discovery of various weapons and ammunition at a Laredo residence linked to another crime, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Erick Lopez-Rivera Sr., 37, and Marcos Lora-Morales, 24, both illegal aliens unlawfully residing in Laredo, and Erick Lopez Jr., 18, Laredo, are expected to make their appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
The investigation began March 21 when law enforcement discovered the location of a firearm allegedly used in a crime, according to the charges. During execution of search warrant at the residence, authorities allegedly discovered two machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) and a backpack that contained magazines and ammunition that Lopez had been storing.
MCDs convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons.
According to the complaint, authorities also located .38 special and .22LR ammunition linked to Lopez-Rivera Sr.
Upon further investigation, they allegedly found a grey backpack containing a 9mm S&W handgun Lora-Morales had purchased and a Mexican passport that belonged to him in a detached structure on the property. According to the complaint, Lora-Morales had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States.
Lopez-Rivera Jr. is charged with possession of a machine gun, while Lopez-Rivera Sr. and Lora-Morales are facing charges of alien in possession of ammunition and alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition, respectively. Lopez-Rivera Sr. is also charged with felony reentry of an alien.
Possession of a machine gun carries a possible 10-year prison sentence, while alien in possession of ammunition and alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition have maximum penalties of 15 years. Illegal reentry after removal has a maximum 20-year-term of imprisonment. All three men could also be ordered to pay up to $250,000 in fines, upon each count of conviction.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Two Romanian Men Sentenced, One Pleads Guilty to Installing Skimmers throughout Southern District of MississippiRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, 28, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, 29, were both sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for possession of device-making equipment, also known as skimmers. Their codefendant, Bogdan Gabriel Radu, 22, pleaded guilty today to possession of device-making equipment. All three defendants are Romanian nationals who entered the United States illegally.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning on June 21, 2024, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division began receiving reports from various agencies regarding the discovery of skimmer devices being located at various stores in central Mississippi. The Cyber Fraud Task Force began investigating leads that would determine the location of installed skimmers throughout the Southern District of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
Gheorghe, Neacsu, and Radu could be seen on surveillance video at various stores throughout the Southern District of Mississippi placing skimming devices on point-of-sale machines in June and July 2024. The skimmers were adhered using double-sided tape and were equipped with electronics that captured or recorded bank card magstripe track data and PIN numbers, stored the skimmed card data, were Bluetooth capable for remote connectivity, and were powered by lithium batteries. Gheorghe and Neacsu would install the skimmers while making a small purchase using a gift card. Radu was primarily responsible for retrieving the stolen data from the skimmers.
Included in the information skimmed or stolen by these defendants were SNAP benefits totaling over $85,000, for which the defendants will be required to pay restitution. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. These stolen SNAP benefits were used in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can be traced back to the skimming devices in Mississippi.
A criminal complaint was filed against Gheorghe and Neacsu on August 2, 2024. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against them on August 13, 2024. Thereafter, a superseding indictment was filed on November 6, 2024, adding Radu as a codefendant. Radu is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025, and faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As the defendants entered the United States illegally, they may be subject to deportation upon their release from prison.
“This scheme stretched across the United States and was clearly targeting families that rely on financial assistance to put food on the table,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their partnership throughout this investigation. Together, we were able to stop international criminals from defrauding Mississippi taxpayers and protect these benefits for those who need them the most.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe:
- Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible.
- Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.
Two Men Admit Roles in Armed Robbery of U.S. Postal Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – Two Essex County, New Jersey men admitted their roles in an armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service employee, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Dyshawn Williams, 28, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to one count of conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of assaulting certain federal officers or employees. Karieem Stamps, 26, also of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In November 2023, three individuals – including Williams – robbed a U.S. Postal Service employee at gunpoint in Newark, New Jersey. The assailants stole the victim’s cell phone, keys, and wallet – including a credit card and debit card. The robbery impeded the victim from delivering mail, which interfered with interstate commerce. Shortly following the robbery, two individuals – including Stamps – used the stolen debit card to make purchases. Both transactions passed through servers located outside of New Jersey.
On August 1, 2024, Stamps – who was convicted of a felony offense in 2020 – possessed a Glock 29 Gen5 handgun bearing serial number CCRT895 with an extended magazine and 26 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition.
As to Williams, the counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and assaulting or impeding a federal employee carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As to Stamps, the count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine; the count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence; and the count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation. She also thanked special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, deputies of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of United States Marshal Juan Mattos Jr., police officers and detectives of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, officers of the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr., and special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Jacobs of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel:
Williams: Laura K. Gasiorowski, Westfield, New Jersey
Stamps: Joseph Z. Amsel, Newark, New Jersey
dwilliams.information.pdf stamps.information.pdfTwo Bremerton, Washington women indicted in massive identity theft and bank fraud schemeRead the Press Release
Tacoma – A Bremerton, Washington woman was arraigned today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on a 14-count indictment charging conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Heather Marquis, 36, entered pleas of ‘not guilty’ on all counts. Marquis remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac. Marquis’ co-defendant Emily Vranic, 33, was arraigned and released to the custody of her parents last week. Trial is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on June 16, 2025.
“With an estimated 278 victims, these defendants left a broad swath of damage across Kitsap and Mason Counties,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The Bremerton Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office did important work with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to identify victims and trace the financial harm they suffered in this case.”
According to records filed in the case, between April 2019 and November 2024, Vranic and Marquis would steal identities in several different ways. Most often, they would steal victims’ mail and use personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim’s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address.
Armed with their victims’ identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make their monthly mortgage payments. In one instance, the pair attempted to transfer $35,000 from a vulnerable victim’s account, after a successful transfer of almost $33,000 from the same account. When the transfer was rejected, they repeatedly called the bank posing as the account holder to try to get the fraud alert removed.
The estimated loss from their financial fraud is approximately $620,000.
“The U.S. Mail remains one of the most trusted forms of commerce and communication in this country. Working to protect the mail system and the citizens it serves from those who wish to harm others while enriching themselves remains our steadfast mission,” said Tony Galetti, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The allegations made against Vranic and Marquis are staggering. The process to undo the harm done to members of our community, not just financially but emotionally, can be agonizing. From fixing bank accounts to rebuilding credit reports, the harm lasts far longer than the initial crime. I thank Bremerton PD and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office for the assistance in this case; partnerships across all levels of law enforcement are what bring these kinds of results.”
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and bank fraud are punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison for each count to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.
Texas Man Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Carlos Eduardo Pineda-Morales, 34, of Denton, Texas, with receipt of child pornography and access with intent to view child pornography.
According to an indictment unsealed today, Pineda-Morales used a communications application, a cloud storage service, and digital devices that he owned to receive and access child pornography between Oct. 7, 2024, and Oct. 30, 2024.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. for the Eastern District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI Dallas Office – Frisco Resident Agency and the Denton Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Stamford Man Charged with Narcotics Distribution and Ammunition Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a five-count indictment charging SAMUEL ELIE, 48, of Stamford, with narcotics distribution and ammunition possession offenses.
The indictment was returned on April 3, 2025. Elie appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on January 22, 2025.
It is alleged that law enforcement made three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Elie in December 2024 and January 2025. On January 22, 2025, Elie possessed approximately 142 grams of fentanyl, approximately 212 grams of cocaine, and 50 rounds of ammunition.
It is further alleged that Elie’s criminal history includes felony convictions for firearm, drug, robbery, and other offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
The indictment charges Elie with three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; and one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary G. Vitale.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
St. Augustine Convicted Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 27 Years for Filming A Video of Himself Sexually Abusing A 13-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Christopher Lee Smith (43, St. Augustine) to 27 years in federal prison for producing a child sex abuse video. Smith was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and pay $4,000 in restitution to a child victim. Smith is a registered child sex offender, having been previously convicted on January 10, 2012, of traveling from Georgia to St. Johns County to meet an 8-year-old child for sexual activity. Smith was arrested on September 2, 2021, and has been detained since that time. Smith pleaded guilty on March 18, 2024.
According to court documents, on June 28, 2021, Smith engaged in a text conversation on a social media application (app) with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as the parent of a minor “child.” Smith advised the undercover agent that he wanted to have sex with the “child” and discussed in detail the sexual acts that he wished to perform on the “child.” On August 30, 2021, Smith and the undercover agent engaged in more online conversations on the app. Smith advised that he had twice sexually abused a particular child and sent a video to the undercover agent that depicted this child being sexually abused. Through further investigation, FBI agents confirmed the identities of both Smith and the 13-year-old victim.
On September 2, 2021, FBI agents arrested Smith and seized his cellphone. A search of the phone revealed that Smith had been exchanging sexually explicit text messages with this 13-year-old child for several months. The phone also contained videos and photos depicting children being sexually abused. Further investigation revealed that on July 31, 2021, Smith drove to meet this child at a retail store in St. Johns County and took the child back to Smith’s residence in St. Augustine. While at the residence, Smith used produced a video depicting him sexually abusing the child. Later, Smith distributed several clips of the video to the child by text message.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Sixth Member of Salinas-Based “Murder Squad” Pleads Guilty to Role in 2017 Killing SpreeRead the Press Release
SAN JOSE – Andrew Alvarado, a member of a Salinas-based Norteño criminal street gang, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering.
Alvarado, 34, of Salinas, was indicted along with multiple co-defendants by a federal grand jury on Oct. 15, 2020. According to court documents, Alvarado was a member of the self-proclaimed “Murder Squad,” a crew of Salinas-based Norteño criminal street gang members falling under the Monterey County Regiment Enterprise affiliated with the Nuestra Familia prison gang. The squad would go on “hunts,” shooting and killing rival gang members or those perceived to be rivals. The squad would often use military-style tactics, traveling in a convoy of vehicles with a designated shooter vehicle and a designated security/spotter vehicle, all of which were in constant communication via conference call. The security/spotter vehicles would patrol the streets, find a target, and transmit their location to the shooter vehicle. The shooters in the shooter vehicle would drive up, exit, fire at the victims until their magazines were empty, and speed away. The security/spotter vehicles would follow behind, ready to distract or intercept law enforcement and allow the shooter vehicle to escape.
In pleading guilty, Alvarado admitted that he personally participated in six of these hunts between January 2017 and May 2017. He was the shooter in three of those hunts, resulting in the deaths of three victims and the wounding of a fourth. In one instance, the hunt began at a gathering to remember a co-conspirator’s family members who had been killed in a car accident, during which the gang members agreed to go hunting for rival gang members to kill. Alvarado also admitted that he was in the security/spotter vehicle in three other hunts, resulting in the deaths of three victims, the wounding of four victims, and the near-miss of one victim. Each additional “body” increased Alvarado’s status and prestige within the gang.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement.
Five of Alvarado’s co-defendants pleaded guilty in May 2024 to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. The five co-defendants were sentenced in September 2024 to between 25 and 41 years in prison.
Alvarado, who remains in custody pending sentencing, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine for racketeering conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5). Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
This prosecution was brought by the Violent Crime Strike Force and 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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Hageman and Mari Overbeck are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Nina Burney and Lakisha Holliman. The prosecution is the result of a yearslong investigation by HSI and the Salinas Police Department.
San Antonio, Texas Woman Indicted for Fraudulently Selling Thousands of Counterfeit Coupons Causing Losses to Retailers Across the United States in Excess of $17 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey returned a six-count indictment against a San Antonio, Texas woman for fraudulently creating and selling over $17 million worth of counterfeit retail coupons used at various retail stores across the United States for the purchase of household items, United States Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Janet Bernal, 48, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. According to the Indictment:
From June 2020 through August 2024, Bernal orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to produce and sell fraudulent, counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores. In furtherance of her scheme, Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly used Internet cloud-based messaging application. Members subscribed to the group, paid the monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download.
Members paid the monthly fee via mobile cash accounts that Bernal directly controlled. Over the span of the scheme, members downloaded thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at retail stores throughout New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States. In total, the loss to the retail stores and to the manufacturers whose products were covered by the counterfeit coupons was in excess of $17 million.
The conspiracy and wire fraud counts carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense, per count.
United States Attorney Alina Habba credited postal inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, in Newark, with the investigation leading to the indictment.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Coppotelli of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Carol Dominguez, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender
bernal.indictment.pdfRockford Man Sentenced to Eight and a Half Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to eight and a half years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms.
JOSEPH GARZA, 40, pleaded guilty last year to two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston imposed the sentence on Monday during a hearing in federal court in Rockford.
Garza admitted in a plea agreement that in 2017 and 2018 he illegally possessed and sold seven firearms, utilizing two co-defendants as brokers for the sales. Garza set the price for the firearm sales and delivered the guns to the co-defendants, who then conducted the sales with the buyer, who was working as a confidential informant for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF Chicago Field Division. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Registered Sex Offender Admits Possessing Gun, Approaching ChildrenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A registered sex offender caught with a pistol after a road rage shooting pleaded guilty to a firearm charge Tuesday.
Leroy Richard Walker Jr., 54, also admitted approaching and speaking with two children who were waiting for the school bus on Nov. 28, 2023, in Franklin County. The children told a parent, who called police. As a registered sex offender, Walker knew he was not allowed to be near a school bus stop.
On May 14, 2024, Walker pulled up in front of a high school in Franklin County, Missouri and began speaking with a 16-year-old girl who was also waiting for the school bus. He offered her a ride home and dropped her at a commercial business. On the way, he put his arm around the victim. The victim told authorities that she got into Walker’s car because she felt pressured by him and believed he could grab or hurt her. Walker admitted as part of his plea agreement that knew he was not allowed to be near a school.
The firearm incident occurred on Nov. 25, 2022, when a driver passed Walker and then pulled in front of him. Walker pulled in front of the other vehicle, began hitting his brakes and then slowed down, pulled alongside the other driver and waved a Taurus pistol. Walker pulled to the road’s shoulder and the victim drove past as Walker fired a shot from the pistol. Walker was then pulled over by Pacific Police Department officers and admitted being both a felon and a registered sex offender and knowing that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Walker has prior felony convictions for first-degree assault, attempted forcible rape, armed criminal action, burglary, tampering, stealing a motor vehicle and escape.
Walker, of Franklin County, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16. The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Pacific Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
Preston County Convicted Felon Admits to Firearms ViolationRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Pedro Antonio Pacheco, age 46, of Kingwood, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Pacheco was stopped for a traffic violation. The officer noticed a firearm laying on the passenger seat. Pacheco is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony drug convictions.
Pacheco is facing up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christie Utt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Panamanian Doctor Pleads Guilty in Criminal Fraud Case Expected to Save U.S. Government $25MRead the Press Release
Based on assistance provided by the United States, Panamanian authorities have obtained a criminal plea from Dr. Rolando Chin, a surgeon residing in Panama, in connection with a widespread fraud scheme perpetrated against the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by Dr. Chin and others in Panama.
The Department of Justice, the Department of State, and VA initially uncovered rampant fraud perpetrated by various medical doctors and pharmacies in Panama making claims to the VA’s Foreign Medical Program (FMP), which supports vital medical care for U.S. veterans living abroad. The agencies found evidence that Panamanian doctors and pharmacies were submitting false and inflated claims to the FMP, including claims for services never rendered or medicines never received, as well as deceptive billing for services performed.
“The Department is committed to combating fraud against the United States wherever such conduct occurs,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Our efforts in this case have not only recovered funds on behalf of the American taxpayers, but have also prevented significant future losses. We are grateful to our Panamanian colleagues for their ongoing cooperation and collaboration in this matter.”
In December 2022, the United States filed a criminal complaint with Public Ministry of Panama against almost 40 Panamanian defendants, including doctors, pharmacies, corporations, and a hospital, for aggravated fraud and money laundering. Working closely with the Department of Justice, Panamanian prosecutors subsequently initiated an investigation, and in August 2023, brought the first set of formal charges based on the U.S. complaint. Earlier this year, the Panamanian prosecutors successfully obtained the first guilty plea from Dr. Chin to certain fraud charges, which led to a contemporaneous restitution agreement with the United States. Panamanian prosecutors are continuing to pursue proceedings against the other indicted individuals, as well as their investigation of the other defendants named in the U.S. complaint.
Following the United States’ filing of its complaint in Panama, the VA instituted a government-wide suspension of the defendants, which took effect in August 2024. As a result of this suspension, the VA projected that its FMP expenditures in Panama for Fiscal Year 2025 will be cut in half from the previous year. This represents a projected savings of almost $25 million.
This ongoing matter is a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice’s Office of Foreign Litigation (OFL) and the VA, with support from the VA Office of Inspector General, as well as the U.S. Department of State. OFL’s Attorney-in-Charge of Latin American Litigation Christine Brennan and Assistant Director Kiesha Minyard are handling the case.
Owner of New Jersey Businesses Admits to Fraudulently Obtaining over $3.2 Million from the Paycheck Protection ProgramRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – An owner of several New Jersey businesses admitted to fraudulently obtaining over $3.2 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Daniel Dadoun, 48, of Israel, formerly of South Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch to an information charging bank fraud and money laundering.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2020 through August 2022, Dadoun engaged in a scheme to illegally obtain over $3.2 million in PPP loans for his New Jersey businesses by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications. After receiving the PPP loan proceeds, Dadoun sought to keep the money by submitting false and fraudulent PPP loan forgiveness applications that misrepresented payroll expenses and the number of employees at his companies. In support of the loan and forgiveness applications, Dadoun submitted falsified tax documents and altered bank statements.
The charge of bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The charge of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for August 13, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office, under direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., special agents of the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, Boston New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark.
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Defense counsel: Anthony J. Pope, Jr., Esq.
dadoun.information.pdfOrleans Parish Man Indicted for Firearm and Narcotics ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – KEITH CALDWELL (“CALDWELL”), age 41, of New Orleans, was charged on January 31, 2025, in a recently unsealed, three-count indictment, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. Count 1 charged CALDWELL with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). Count 2 charged him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count 3 charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to the indictment, on September 28, 2024, Louisiana State Police troopers and federal agents arrested CALDWELL for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act while he was in possession of firearms. Further investigation determined that CALDWELL was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his prior felony conviction(s).
If convicted, CALDWELL faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least 3 years of supervised release for Count 1; a mandatory minimum of 5 years up to life imprisonment to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed , up to a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release for Count 2; and up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count 3. CALDWELL also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to all three counts.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Omaha Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Threating Multiple Federal Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha, Nebraska man was sentenced, March 11, 2025, to 37 months in federal prison for threatening a federal law enforcement officer.
According to public court documents, Larry Eugene Burns, 36, while on federal supervised release, left threatening voicemail message for his assigned United States Probation Officer. Once in custody, Burns threatened United States Marshal deputies, including using racial epithets.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Burns will be required to serve three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the United States Probation Office and United States Marshal’s Service.
Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute 100 Grams or More of Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Allen Green, 73, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 15, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Green to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Green is released from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
After receiving information that Green was involved in distributing controlled substances, law enforcement obtained a court order allowing them to get precision location information from his phone. On December 15, 2023, law enforcement obtained data from Green’s cell phone that he had traveled to Chicago, Illinois, from Omaha and after a short time began to travel immediately back to Omaha. Iowa state troopers pulled Green over near Des Moines, Iowa, for several traffic violations. In the vehicle, law enforcement located 280 grams of fentanyl analogue in powder form. The lab confirmed the fentanyl and the powder also contained heroin and Xylazine. Green admitted that the fentanyl was going to be distributed in the Omaha area.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Ohio Resident Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minor and Coercing Adult Female to Engage in Commercial SexRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Euclid, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 14, 2025, to charges of sex trafficking of a child and coercion and enticement of an adult with the intent that they engage in commercial sex, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Donte Lashawn Cole, 40, pleaded guilty to the two counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Cole transported the minor and an adult from Ohio to a hotel in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, to engage in commercial sex. Investigators located condoms, lubrication, cleaning wipes, pregnancy tests, and only a few pieces of clothing in the room used by the minor and similar items in the room used by the adult.
The investigation determined that Cole used online advertisements to market the victims for commercial sex services in Western Pennsylvania and elsewhere from April 2023 to October of 2023. Cole directed the victims to engage in these acts and then, immediately afterwards, report all amounts of money earned to him. Cole also controlled access to food, refusing to provide the minor anything beyond fast food if she did not earn him enough money.
Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for August 18, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schupansky and Special Assistant United States Attorney Summer Carroll (Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General) are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Section and Homeland Security Investigations-Pittsburgh, with valuable assistance also provided by the Monroeville Police Department and Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If you are the victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. To submit a tip to the NHTRC online, please visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.
Office Furniture Supplier Vari Agrees to Pay $1.1 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims for Overcharging Federal AgenciesRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Varidesk, LLC and Vari Sales Corporation, two Texas companies that do business under the name VARI, have agreed to pay $1,100,000 to resolve allegations that VARI violated the False Claims Act by failing to give the United States matching price discounts VARI provided to other customers as required by VARI’s contract with the General Services Administration (GSA), while falsely representing to the United States that VARI had complied with those contractual requirements.
“Companies must deal honestly with federal agencies and comply fully with the requirements of their federal contracts,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “The False Claims Act is a critical tool to deter and hold accountable contractors who misuse public funds, and we will vigorously enforce it when taxpayers are overcharged.”
“GSA contractors should not overcharge federal agencies at the expense of the public fisc,” said GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert Erickson. “I appreciate the efforts of the special agents, auditors, and attorneys who worked on this case.”
In 2016, VARI entered into a Multiple Award Schedule contract with GSA, which provided a streamlined process for federal government purchasers to buy office furniture from VARI at discounted prices and required VARI to comply with specific conditions. VARI promised that GSA would receive discounts that were equivalent to those VARI provided to other customers in the “basis-of-award” category defined by the contract. Under the contract’s price reduction clause, whenever VARI provided discounts to basis-of-award customers that were greater than those given to GSA, VARI was required to disclose promptly those discounts to GSA and provide price-matching refunds.
The settlement announced today resolves the government’s allegations that, from Dec. 8, 2016, through June 30, 2019, VARI knowingly failed to provide GSA with price discounts that it provided to other customers in the basis-of-award category, in violation of its contract with the federal government, and thus knowingly caused false or fraudulent claims for payment to be made to GSA.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by Elliot Balis (Relator), a former VARI sales executive. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, Relator will receive $187,000 as part of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Balis v. Varidesk LLC, et al., 22-cv-09146-JCS (N.D. Cal.).
Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeVito handled this matter for the government. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and GSA-OIG.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
Vari Settlement Agreement
Nashville Felon on Probation for Homicide Now Federally Charged with Firearm and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Dejuan Bell, 33, of Nashville, has been charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and cocaine, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“Our efforts in Operation Bond Watch are designed to keep those with violent histories from possessing firearms and putting our community at risk,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “A person previously and recently convicted of killing someone should not have a handgun – period.”
According to court documents, on the afternoon of March 18, 2025, Metropolitan Nashville Police Department detectives monitoring Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) cameras saw Bell arrive at the James Cayce Homes. The detectives were familiar with Bell because of his involvement in a 2018 homicide in Nashville. They saw Bell get out of the driver’s seat of a Nissan Altima and walk up to several people who were on porches. Bell was on the MDHA “No Trespassing” list, and he had a suspended driver’s license.
On the MDHA cameras, the detectives saw Bell approach the driver’s side door of a black truck that was stopped on South Sixth Street. Bell and the truck’s driver exchanged pills and a plastic bag, then Bell put the pills and plastic bag in his pant pockets and walked back to the James Cayce Homes porches. Bell went back to the Nissan Altima several times. When the detectives attempted to make contact with Bell, he fled on foot. While running from detectives, Bell threw away a firearm that had been in his pants waistband. The firearm, a Glock 23 Gen5, .40 caliber pistol, was recovered, and a search of the firearm’s history revealed that it had been reported stolen. Detectives caught Bell, and during a search incident to his arrest, detectives discovered $2,180 cash and 4.2 grams of suspected oxycodone pills in a plastic bag in Bell’s pants pockets.
The Nissan Altima smelled of marijuana and detectives conducted a probable cause search of the car and discovered individual plastic bags of a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, a plastic bag containing 4.5 grams of a white/grey powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine, and a digital scale in the car’s console.
After being read his Miranda rights, Bell agreed to answer questions. Bell admitted he had a manslaughter conviction for which he was on probation. Bell told detectives he had marijuana and cocaine for sale. Bell admitted to purchasing the firearm in the Cayce area approximately two weeks earlier, and that he ran from the detectives because he had the firearm on him.
Bell has three prior felony convictions in Davidson County Criminal Court: for Reckless Aggravated Assault, for which he received a two-year sentence; Evading Arrest by Motor Vehicle, for which he received a one-year sentence; and Voluntary Manslaughter, for which he received a six-year sentence, and was placed on probation October 27, 2023.
If convicted, Bell faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge, up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine on the drug charge, and 5 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine on the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime charge.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel M. Stephens 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 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.
A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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