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Wednesday 26 February 2025
Morgantown Physician Sentenced for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – David M. Anderson, age 64, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to six months in federal prison for filing false tax returns.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Anderson, a physician, filed false tax returns that understated his taxable income and made false claims to lessen his tax burden, causing a loss to the IRS of $143,599 over a four-year period.
Anderson will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to More than Nine Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of a U.S. Postal CarrierRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced a Montgomery man for the robbery of a U.S. Postal carrier, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Acting Inspector-in-Charge Mona Hernandez, Houston Division.
U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Anthony Darryl Barber, Jr., 24, to 109 months in prison. In October 2024, Barber pleaded guilty to robbery of a U.S. Postal carrier and using or carrying a firearm during a violent crime.
According to the plea agreement, on May 3, 2023, a U.S. Postal carrier was delivering mail at an apartment complex in Huntsville. Barber approached the carrier, pointed a gun, and took the arrow key – a specialized key used by postal carriers to open U.S. Postal Service mailboxes. Barber then fled the scene. A Morgan County Sheriff’s Office sergeant was on patrol in the area when dispatchers advised of a stolen car tag affixed to a white Nissan Altima. The tag had been reported stolen in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 30, 2023. The sergeant conducted a traffic stop on the white Altima, which Barber was driving. When the sergeant asked Barber to pull the vehicle into a gravel driveway to clear the roadway, Barber sped away. The sergeant pursued Barber in a high-speed chase, which ended with Barber stopping and getting out of the car at the officer’s command. The sergeant found a Glock 27, Gen 5 .40 caliber pistol in the right front pocket of Barber’s pants. A search of the vehicle revealed a beige ski mask and postal arrow key.
The USPIS investigated the case along with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Barlow prosecuted the case.
Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 75 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Makai Boyce, 19 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Boyce was sentenced to 75 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in December 2023, Boyce possessed a stolen handgun with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device, or “switch,” capable of firing multiple bullets automatically. Boyce fired the machinegun and struck an occupied residence. Two days later, he led police on a lengthy foot chase during which he discarded the machinegun in a backyard doghouse surrounded by children’s toys.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the South Bend Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph P. Falvey and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
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.
Miami Man Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Connected to Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
MIAMI – This week, South Florida’s United States Attorney charged a 20-year-old Miami man with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, and with one count of possession of a machinegun in the form of a “Glock switch” machine gun conversion device. (A Glock switch is a small device that, when attached to the rear or slide of a semi-automatic pistol, can convert the pistol into a fully automatic weapon).
According to allegations in the information, from at least as early as January 2024, through October 30, 2024, Domenic Pedre conspired to distribute fentanyl in South Florida, including the fentanyl dose associated with the August 2024 overdose death of a victim in Miami-Dade County.
Pedre faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The United States has further alleged that Pedre is subject to forfeiture of $105,563 in cash proceeds related to the fentanyl distribution conspiracy.
Pedre also faces a maximum term of up to 10 years in prison for possession of the Glock switch machinegun conversion device.
The charges contained in the information are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the DEA, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the City of Miami Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit, with assistance from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections, Probation Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson.
Synthetic drugs such as fentanyl are poisoning the nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida.
For more information visit: https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html#; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.
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-20077.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
BOISE – Jose Salvador Alcaraz-Curiel, 31, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for being a deported alien found in the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.
According to court records, Alcaraz-Curiel is a native and citizen of Mexico and is not a citizen of the United States. The United States lawfully removed Alcaraz-Curiel from the country in October 2018 and September 2020. After his second removal from the United States, Alcaraz-Curiel again re-entered the United States illegally and without lawful authority. Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered Alcaraz-Curiel in Canyon County in March 2024. Alcaraz-Curiel has history of state misdemeanor and felony convictions in Idaho, as well as a 2020 federal conviction in the District of Arizona for being a deported alien found in the United States.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the efforts of ICE for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis J. Zebari prosecuted this case.
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Meridian Man Sentenced to 220 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi, man was sentenced today to 220 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Jarvis Jermaine Hampton, 28, sold methamphetamine on two occasions in January and February of 2024. After those sales, a search warrant was executed at Hampton’s residence where agents discovered pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, a pill press, and a machinegun.
Hampton was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 10, 2024. He pled guilty on October 22, 2024, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case with assistance from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
Man Convicted of Fraud Offenses in 2017 Sentenced to 2 More Years in Prison for Violating Conditions of Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARC ANTHONY ALEXANDER, 44, recently residing in Milford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 24 months of imprisonment, the statutory maximum sentence, for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed prior convictions for conspiracy offenses related to two separate fraud schemes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2017, Alexander was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 96 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a scheme related to the theft and negotiation of postal money orders that defrauded the U.S. Postal Service of more than $300,000, and his role in a separate scheme that involved the fraudulent sale of financed vehicles, which defrauded lenders of more than $1 million. Alexander was released from federal prison in February 2023.
In February 2024, while on supervised release, Alexander was arrested by Stamford Police for illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance, and failure to drive in a proper lane. In November 2024, Alexander is alleged to have used a bank statement he manipulated with false information to facilitate the purchase of a vehicle from a car dealership in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Alexander also falsely reported his address to his probation officer, left Connecticut without permission, and opened nine new lines of credit, all in violation of the terms and conditions of his supervised release.
Alexander, whose criminal history includes convictions for additional fraud offenses, has been detained in federal custody since January 13, 2025.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Local felon sentenced for sexual exploitation of pregnant minor and conspiracies for drug trafficking and alien smugglingRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to prison for sexual exploitation of a pregnant 16-year-old while in custody for other crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Luis Andres Serna pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor Sept. 23, 2024, and to the human transportation and drug conspiracies June 23, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Serna to serve a total of 15 years in federal prison. Serna must also register as a sex offender pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. At the hearing, the court heard additional information that the minor victim had had given birth to a child which she claimed Serna fathered. Serna disputed that claim.
“The defendant’s conduct in this case was absolutely reprehensible, and that the fact that it continued even while he was in custody underscores just how dangerous he is,” said Ganjei. “From alien smuggling, to drug trafficking, to sexual exploitation of a minor, the defendant took every opportunity to harm his community. Fortunately for the people of Laredo, he is now behind bars for a long while.”
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a deterrent to those involved in sexual exploitation, alien smuggling and drug trafficking,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “ICE-HSI remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice criminals which harm individuals and communities. Through our dedicated efforts and strong partnerships with law enforcement, we will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable victims from exploitation and abuse.”
On April 5, 2022, law enforcement encountered Serna after he picked up an illegal alien from downtown Laredo and transported him to an apartment building. At that time, a 16-year-old pregnant minor was his passenger.
Later that day, authorities discovered 37 illegal aliens and approximately 1,032 kilograms of marijuana within several apartments linked to Serna and others and eventually arrested him for drug trafficking and conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens.
While in federal custody for the pending charges, he gained access to a tablet video system and contacted the same pregnant girl. The investigation revealed Serna provided the minor’s name and a phone number to initiate video calls but did not disclose she was a minor.
The facility’s communication system automatically records the displays of both parties during every video call. Law enforcement reviewed several hundred telephone calls and tablet video visits Serna initiated while detained.
The investigation revealed he was in regular video communication with the minor victim.
On June 24, 2022, he had her perform sexual acts while he watched. The minor victim used her personal cellphone to record herself performing the acts and played the video for Serna over the course of several days.
Serna will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol and other private companies.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case along with the assistance of former Special AUSA Terence A. Check Jr. and former AUSA April Ayers-Perez, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Lexington Man Sentenced for Armed Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington man, Sam Connor, Jr., 30, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 180 months, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to his plea agreement, on April 27, 2023, law enforcement officers received information that Connor was a possible supplier of fentanyl in Fayette County and had arranged a sale of 500 pills containing fentanyl. Upon contacting Connor, law enforcement found a stolen firearm on his person, and Connor admitted to possessing drugs as well. Officers then found a plastic bag on Connor’s person containing pressed fentanyl pills, and located an unloaded firearm and digital scales in his vehicle.
Connor admitted to being in possession of the firearm and knew that he had been convicted of a felony, robbery second degree in Fayette Circuit Court in 2015, and was prohibited from possessing the firearm.
Under federal law, Connor must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; AJ Gibes, Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, Acting U.S. Attorney McCaffrey coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Laredoan and two illegals charged in firearms and related conspiracyRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned a 14-count indictment against three people on various federal firearms, drug trafficking and immigration offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Fernando Patinio, 31, Laredo, and Albert Garcia-Guajardo, 32, and Jose Hernandez-Garza, 25, both illegal aliens unlawfully residing in the country, were previously in custody on charges originally filed in a criminal complaint. They are expected to make an appearance on the allegations in the indictment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.
The charges allege Patinio and Garcia-Guarjardo had allegedly sold cocaine and a large number of weapons, to include several machine guns, over the course of an approximately month-long undercover investigation.
During the initial transaction involving a pistol, Garcia-Guajardo had also indicated he and Patinio could also offer drugs for sale, according to the charges.
On Jan. 2, Patinio and Garcia Guajardo allegedly sold the first of two machine guns - a model 22 Glock equipped with a machine gun conversion device. The charges further allege that in the following weeks, Patinio and Garcia-Guajardo arranged to sell cocaine and another machine guns.
On Jan. 31, authorities executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo where they found Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza, according to the charges. Law enforcement also allegedly discovered several more firearms, various narcotics, a scale and many more rounds of ammunition.
The charges allege Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza were both determined to be illegally present in the United States. Garcia-Guajardo was allegedly ordered removed from the country two times, most recently in July 2024. According to the allegations, Hernandez-Garza originally had a B1/B2 visa issued to him, but it had expired. Both not lawfully in the United States, they are not permitted to possess any firearms per the charges.
Over the course of the undercover investigation, law enforcement has allegedly seized two machine guns, eight pistols - one of which had a filed-off serial number – drum-style magazines, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and several rounds of .40 S&W caliber and 9 mm caliber rounds.
If convicted, Garcia-Guajardo and Patino face a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic machines guns in the course of drug trafficking offenses and use of a machine gun in drug trafficking, while Hernandez-Garza faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. All could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory R. Sailer and Brandon Scott Bowling are 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.
Lake Charles Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jeremy Wade Denegall, 45, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced by United States District Judge David C. Joseph to 144 months (12 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, on drug trafficking charges.
On February 22, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Denegall’s vehicle for a traffic violation on Interstate 10. Denegall was the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle. When officers approached the vehicle, they detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside and a search was conducted. Inside the vehicle they found a plastic baggie with a substance consistent with crack cocaine, a plastic bag containing a large amount of a crystal-like substance determined to be methamphetamine and also fentanyl. In addition, two firearms and a magazine with 19 rounds of ammunition and two digital scales were found.
Denegall was charged and pleaded guilty on November 15, 2024, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.
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Kokomo Woman Ordered by Federal Court to Repay over $200,000 in Stolen Retirement Benefits from Deceased Husband’s AccountRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Rebecca Fields, 70, of Kokomo, has been sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading guilty to making a false statement to illegally receive Social Security benefits. Fields has also been ordered to pay $231,203.10 in restitution.
According to court documents, beginning around July 1985, Rebecca Fields’ husband, “L.F.” began receiving Social Security retirement benefits. On December 4, 2002, Rebecca requested to be added as L.F.’s representative payee, which the Social Security Administration (SSA) ultimately approved.
When a qualified retirement beneficiary lacks the capacity to manage his or her own benefits, the SSA may approve a “representative payee” to receive the beneficiary’s benefits and to use them for the beneficiary. In such an instance, the SSA requires the representative payee to annually certify a continuing relationship with the beneficiary and how the representative used the beneficiary’s program benefits on his or her behalf.
On April 10, 2006, L.F. died. Nonetheless, not only did Fields fail to report that fact to the SSA, but she also completed at least 13 Representative Payee Reports between 2007 and 2022 on which she falsely claimed that L.F continued to live with her. These reports also contained false claims that she had spent his retirement benefits on his behalf to maintain his health and well-being. The lies were aimed at deceiving the SSA into continuing to pay her money that she was not owed. As a result, Rebecca Fields received approximately $231,203.10 in L.F.’s social security benefits- of which she was not entitled after he passed away.
“For over a decade, Fields brazenly stole not only from the United States government, but also indirectly from taxpayers who diligently pay into the Social Security retirement fund. Fields’ conduct also indirectly preyed on the vulnerable, elderly beneficiaries who ultimately depend on the program’s payments upon their retirement from the workforce,” said John E. Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence should serve as a stark warning to potential fraudsters who may believe they can cheat the system- you will pay the price.”
The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Corbin D. Houston, who prosecuted this case.
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KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Ammunition, Assaulting OfficerRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who rammed into a federal agent’s vehicle while attempting to escape arrest was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing ammunition and assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.
Charles D. Jackson, also known as “Grove Street” and “C Jackem,” 31, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole.
On June 13, 2024, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.
On Aug. 24, 2023, agents and task officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant at Jackson’s residence, one of multiple residential search warrants being executed for evidence related to federal violations committed by various individuals associated with an alliance of three street gangs: the Click Clack Gang, the Park Side Greasies and the South Benton Gang.
As several officers approached Jackson’s residence on foot, an ATF agent pulled her Jeep into the driveway to pin in a black Kia sedan that was backed into the driveway and still running. All of the agents and officers were wearing clearly marked body armor identifying them as “ATF Police.”
The officers announced themselves and the ATF agent activated the red and blue flashing lights on her Jeep, which was hood-to-hood with the Kia. Jackson, who was fully reclined in the driver’s seat, popped up and put the car in drive. He rammed into the front of the ATF vehicle, then backed up and drove forward several times in an apparent attempt to escape, nearly striking another ATF agent on foot. However, the ATF agent pushed the Kia into the garage with her Jeep, immobilizing it. Jackson must pay restitution for the damage he caused to the government vehicle.
On the floorboard of the front’s driver’s seat where Jackson had been sitting, agents located a loaded AR-style 5.56-caliber pistol with no serial number and with an extended magazine, which contained 39 rounds of ammunition.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jackson has a prior felony conviction for first degree robbery.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Assault with Significant Bodily Injury & Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John Brown III, 32, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of assault with significant bodily injury related to an incident that took place in Southeast Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict was returned on February 25, 2025, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, where the defendant was also found guilty of three counts of obstructing justice and seven counts of contempt for coordinating subsequent coercive outreach in an attempt to discourage the victim’s participation in the court process, The Honorable Deborah Israel scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2025.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 4, 2023, the victim hosted a small game night attended by Brown, the father of her five-year-old son. When the party ended, all of the victim’s friends, but one, went home. While the remaining friend prepared to sleep on the couch, the victim went into her room and found Brown waiting for her. When she came in, the defendant started to berate her—even though Brown and the victim were no longer a couple, he was furious she had had a relationship with one of his friends. He repeatedly punched the victim in the face, then started to strangle her. The victim’s friend heard the noise and came running, tackling Brown and urging the victim to run. The victim tried but the defendant grabbed her ankle. Brown chased after the victim and struck her, causing her to fall onto the floor of her bathroom where she hit her head and passed out. Even after she woke up, the defendant continued to assault her until she and her friend were able to escape and call police. The complainant was taken to the hospital, where she was treated for injuries to her face, neck, and the blood vessels in her eye.
Although a Court ordered Brown to have no contact with the victim, directly or through third parties, he quickly started urging friends and family members to contact the victim and pressure her to drop the charges. He told one friend to tell the victim he would CashApp her that day if the charges were dropped; asked a family member to reach out to the victim daily to tell her to get the case thrown out; and even spent months urging his five-year-old son to “tell mommy to drop the case so dada can come home.” This pressure campaign against the complainant resulted in multiple convictions for obstructing justice and for violating the Court’s Stay Away Order.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Roessler and Amanda Swanson, from the Domestic Violence Felonies Unit, who prosecuted the case.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Cocaine ChargeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jamie Green, age 47, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General intercepted a package containing more than two pounds of cocaine mailed from Los Angeles, California, to Green’s address in Jefferson County, West Virginia. Investigators arrested Green at his home. He has prior convictions for drugs, aggravated assault by a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, and firearms convictions.
Green will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the West Virginia State Police, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Jamaican Felon Facing Federal Charges in El Paso for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A Jamaican national with multiple felonies was arrested at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Dwight Donovan Moulton, 43, allegedly presented a Texas identification card to a Customs and Border Protection officer (CBPO) and claimed that he was a United States citizen traveling to El Paso after visiting his girlfriend in Mexico. The CBPO recognized facial discrepancies between Moulton and the photo ID, and escorted Moulton to the Passport Control Secondary (PCS) office for further inspection. At the PCS, he allegedly stated his true identity and admitted to being a citizen of Jamaica. A criminal complaint also alleges that Moulton admitted to finding the ID card he had presented and intended to use it to travel to El Paso.
Further investigation revealed that Moulton had been previously removed to Jamaica from Houston, most recently on or about Sept. 22, 2005. Additionally, his criminal record included three felonies, including a firearm offense and sale of a controlled substance.
If convicted, Moulton faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Customs and Border Protection is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss – A Jackson man was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a machinegun.
According to court documents, Johnny Ragsdale, 21, was found in possession of an illegal machinegun after an attempted traffic stop on a vehicle in Jackson. Ragsdale, the driver, failed to yield to law enforcement and led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase. The chase ended after Ragsdale collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol was recovered from the vehicle, and a machinegun conversion device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol.
Ragsdale was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 21, 2024, for illegal possession of a machinegun. He pled guilty on October 24, 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. The rapid fire of firearms converted to machineguns presents a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement. According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there was a 570% increase in the number of machinegun conversion devices taken into ATF custody between 2017 and 2021.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Capitol Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones prosecuted 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.
Honduran National with Three Violent Crime Convictions Arrested for Illegal Re-Entry in Del RioRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Honduran national was arrested near Eagle Pass on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Daniel Antonio Borjas-Flores, 29, was previously removed from the United States through Alexandria, Louisiana on Nov. 4, 2024. Borjas-Flores has three prior convictions—two for assault, including one domestic violence charge, and a third for cruelty toward a child.
If convicted, Borjas-Flores faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Honduran National Indicted for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – AMANDO ANTONIO VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA (“VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA”), age 29, was indicted on February 14, 2025 for reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to the indictment, VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA, reentered the United States after being previously deported on October 28, 2019. If convicted, VELASQUEZ-GUEVARA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – A Honduran citizen was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for illegally returning to the United States after being deported.
According to public court documents, Francisco Antonio Santos Martinez, 35, had previously been deported three times from the United States. In February 2024, Minnesota law enforcement encountered Santos Martinez when he was arrested for disorderly conduct. He was released from Minnesota state custody. In August 2024, Santos Martinez was encountered by Iowa law enforcement and later convicted for public intoxication in the Iowa District Court for Polk County.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Santos Martinez will be surrendered to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings and will also be required to serve a one-year term of supervised release.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Honduran Man Indicted for Violations of Federal Controlled Substances Act, Federal Gun Control Act, and Reentry of Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on February 14, 2025, MIGUEL ANGEL SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ (“SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ”), age 37, was indicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in Count One of the indictment, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in Count Two, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon in Count Three and, reentry of a removed alien in Count Four, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c),924(a)(2), 922(g), and Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a), and 1326(b)(2), respectively.
According to the indictment, on or about January 29, 2025 SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ possessed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine; possessed a firearm, a Taurus Model G2C, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; knowingly, unlawfully possessed a firearm, having been previously convicted of a felony in the State of Mississippi, and was officially deported and removed from the United States on or about July 9, 2010.
If convicted of Count One, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces up to twenty years imprisonment , a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. If convicted of Count Two, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces a minimum term of five years up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. If convicted of Count Three, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces up to fifteen years imprisonment , a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted of Count Four, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ faces up to twenty years imprisonment , a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. As to each count, SOLORZANO-DOMINGUEZ also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. 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 is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Border Patrol, Kenner Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Gretna Major Crimes Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
High-Ranking Sinaloa Leader Extradited to El Paso, Faces up to Life in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – A high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was extradited from Mexico to El Paso, indicted for criminal charges related to his alleged federal racketeering, narcotics, money laundering, firearms, and continuing criminal enterprise offenses.
According to court documents, Daniel Franco Lopez aka “Micha” aka “Neon” aka “Fer,” 40, of Mexico, allegedly coordinated the shipments of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and thousands of kilograms of marijuana into the United States, along with the pickup of drug proceeds, and kidnappings and murders.
Lopez was indicted in April 2012 along with Joaquin Guzman Loera aka “Chapo,” Ismael Zambada Garcia “Mayo,” and over a dozen other codefendants. He was arrested Aug. 14, 2012, and remained in Mexican custody until his extradition. Lopez made his initial appearance in federal court Monday.
“The extradition of this defendant is one of many significant pieces in a very large cartel case that spans more than a decade,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Not only are we grateful for the enduring and successful efforts of our federal law enforcement partners at the DEA, FBI and ATF, but I want to emphasize our goal to put an end to these organizations is shared by this U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department and our counterparts in Mexico.”
“Daniel Franco Lopez was defendant #16 on DEA’s RICO indictment that included Joaquin ‘Chapo’ Guzman and Ismael ‘Mayo’ Zambada,” said Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “This extradition demonstrates that the men and women of DEA will never tire of pursuing the most violent, drug traffickers responsible for thousands of deaths in our country. We thank our domestic and international partners for their assistance on this case.”
“The extradition is one more step towards dismantling and ending violence perpetrated by criminal drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso. “The FBI and our partners will endlessly pursue and prosecute cartel members and associates who attempt to control and intimidate their communities through violence. This extradition starts the justice process to all of those who have suffered as a result of Franco Lopez’s criminal actions as a member of the Sinaloa Cartel.”
“This case reads like a Hollywood movie script. You know the film…cartels, guns, drugs, money, feds,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C Boshek II for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas Field Division. “Fortunately for the citizens of the United States, the good guys prevailed in this one. Mr. Lopez, an alleged underground criminal mastermind, left a path of destruction in his path. The American people are safer with this bandit in handcuffs and behind bars.”
Lopez is charged with one count of RICO conspiracy; two counts related to conspiracy to possess and import over five kgs of cocaine and over 1,000 kgs of marijuana; one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and aid and abet; and one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise in furtherance of drug trafficking. If convicted, Lopez faces up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The DEA, FBI, and ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Franco, Kyle Myers and Susanna Martinez are prosecuting the case for the Western District of Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Lopez.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Hardin County, Kentucky Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Mailing Threats to Kill and ExtortRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY - A Hardin County, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 4 years in prison for mailing letters with threats to kill and extort.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Chief Jeremy Thompson of the Elizabethtown Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Kyle Miller, 21, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release, for mailing threatening communications with threats to kill and extort. On July 6, 2023, August 28, 2023, and October 16, 2023, Miller mailed letters to a victim containing threats to kill. On January 28, 2024, Miller mailed letters to a victim containing threats to kill and extort. On October 13, 2023, Miller mailed a letter to a victim containing a threat to kill.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI, KSP and Elizabethtown Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case.
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Guatemalan Citizen Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry into U.S.Read the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Anastacio Hernandez-Us, 46, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on February 7, 2025, Hernandez-Us was found in western Pennsylvania after having been removed from the United States in September 2010.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Founder of Cryptocurrency Financial Services Firm “Gotbit” Extradited to the United States to Face Charges of Market Manipulation and Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Russian national residing in Portugal has been extradited to the United States for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to allegedly manipulate cryptocurrency markets on behalf of client cryptocurrency companies.
Aleksei Andriunin, 26, was arrested in Portugal on Oct. 8, 2024 and extradited to the United States on Feb. 25, 2025. He appeared in federal court in Boston today and was ordered detained pending a hearing to be scheduled at a later date. On Oct. 31, 2024, Andriunin was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. The indictment also charges Gotbit and two of its directors, Fedor Kedrov and Qawi Jalili.
According to court documents, Gotbit was a well-known “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry. It is alleged that between 2018 and 2024, Gotbit provided market manipulation services to create artificial trading volume for multiple cryptocurrency companies, including companies located in the United States. Aleksei Andriunin was Gotbit’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. In a 2019 interview, Andriunin allegedly described how he developed a code to “wash trade” cryptocurrencies to artificially inflate trading volume for the purpose of getting cryptocurrencies listed on CoinMarketCap (a website that published information about “trending” cryptocurrencies) and trading on larger cryptocurrency exchanges. Andriunin and Gotbit’s employees, including Jalili (Gotbit’s Director of Sales) and Kedrov (Gotbit’s Director of Market Making), allegedly marketed these wash trading tactics to prospective clients and explained how Gotbit used multiple accounts to avoid detection of the wash trades on the public blockchain. Gotbit allegedly made wash trades worth millions of dollars on behalf of clients and received tens of millions of dollars in proceeds in connection with these fraudulent services. It is alleged that Andriunin transferred millions of dollars of Gotbit’s proceeds into his personal Binance account.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 to twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Legal Attaché (Madrid) and Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria European Network of Fugitive Active Search Team (ENFAST). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated with Portuguese authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Andriunin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Former School District Employee Charged with Using AI Technology to Produce Sexual Abuse Images of Children in his Care, and Possession and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Defendant William Michael Haslach, 30, a former employee of Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale) and ISD #834 (Stillwater), has been charged with receipt and possession of child pornography as well as production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, defendant Haslach, of Maplewood, Minnesota, occupied several positions of trust with children. From August 2021 until January 2025, Haslach, 30, served as a lunch monitor and traffic guard for Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale). From 2021 through 2024, Haslach also served as a paraprofessional and later as a youth summer programs assistant for Independent School District #834 (Stillwater). Haslach used his access to children to take non-explicit photos of children in his care. Haslach then used those images to produce morphed/AI photos of those minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. As detailed in the indictment, Haslach also possessed and received child pornography involving children that were abused by others.
“Prosecuting the predators who walk amongst us—in our neighborhoods, our communities, and particularly in our schools—will always be the top priority in the District of Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “My thoughts are with the many Minnesota parents who will be horrified to learn how Haslach used AI advances to victimize schoolchildren in his care. Rest assured, my office will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Every child is entitled to a secure upbringing, and this case highlights the powerful collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in their mission to safeguard them,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Cybert, U.S. Secret Service – Minneapolis Field Office.
The federal indictment charges Haslach with five counts of receipt of child pornography, five counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of production of an obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse. Haslach made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Judge Tony N. Leung. He was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing on Monday, March 3, before Judge Douglas L. Micko.
Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation. If your child has been in close contact with Haslach, and/or if you or your child is aware of Haslach taking a photo of your child, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or email [email protected].
If you are a parent of a child that has at any point been under the care of Haslach, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has set up a website to provide you with resources and further information about this case: Haslach Child Exploitation 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. 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.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Maplewood Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Baumel is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
haslach_indictment_2.26.25.pdf
Former NYCHA Superintendent Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Bribery and ExtortionRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOY HARRIS, a former superintendent for the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”), was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for soliciting and accepting over $50,000 in bribes from contractors in exchange for awarding those contractors at least approximately $500,000 in contract work. HARRIS’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, who also presided over a one-week trial after which HARRIS was convicted of bribery and extortion under color of official right.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Joy Harris was given a position of public trust in New York City. She used that position to demand bribes in exchange for approving important repair work at NYCHA buildings. As today’s sentence shows, those who abuse positions of public trust—at any level of government—to seek personal gain will face a harsh penalty.”
According to the Indictment, public court filings, statements made in court, and evidence presented during trial:
NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to New Yorkers across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) every year. When repairs or construction work at NYCHA housing require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process. However, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold, designated staff at NYCHA developments, including superintendents, could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids. With either type of contract, a NYCHA employee needed to certify that the work was satisfactorily completed in order for the contractor to receive payment from NYCHA.
HARRIS, an assistant superintendent and superintendent at four different NYCHA developments in Manhattan from 2015 through 2021, demanded and accepted cash bribes in exchange for NYCHA contracts. She demanded contractors to pay bribes up front in order to be awarded the contracts and accepted bribe payments after the contractor finished the work and needed a NYCHA employee to sign off on the completed job so that the contractor could be paid by NYCHA. HARRIS typically demanded 10% of the contract value—between $500 and $1,000 depending on the size of the contract. In total, HARRIS demanded and accepted more than $54,150 of dollars in bribes in exchange for awarding no-bid contracts or approving payment on previously awarded contracts worth more than $500,000.
Of the 70 individual NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion offenses who were arrested in February 2024, 61 have pled guilty, and three have been convicted after trial. HARRIS is the first of the three NYCHA employees convicted after trial to be sentenced. The cases of the six remaining defendants, who are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, remain pending.
If you believe you have information related to bribery, extortion, or any other illegal conduct by NYCHA employees, please contact [email protected] or (212) 306-3356. If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at [email protected].
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In addition to the prison term, HARRIS, 49, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $54,150 and forfeit $54,150.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the HUD Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Catherine Ghosh, and Meredith C. Foster are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Jayda Foote and Nandita Vasantha.
Former Missoula credit union employee sentenced to prison for embezzling $389,000 by swapping real money for fake currencyRead the Press Release
MISSOULA — A former Missoula credit union employee who admitted to embezzling approximately $389,000 from the vault by swapping real money with fake funds was sentenced yesterday to six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $389,000 restitution, Acting U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot said.
The defendant, Edward Arthur Nurse, 35, of Missoula, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to an indictment charging him with theft from a credit union.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court also sentenced Nurse to six months of home confinement and to perform 600 hours of community service. The court allowed Nurse to self-report to prison.
In court documents, the government alleged that from about July 2023 to June 2024, Nurse embezzled from his employer, Park Side Credit Union in Missoula. In June 2024, an employee discovered $340,000 in cash in the credit union’s vault had been replaced with fake funds from a company that provides fake currency as props for movies and entertainment productions. Nurse used his position as “team lead” for the vault to swap the credit union’s cash with fake money he purchased specifically for this purpose. Nurse hid his conduct from security cameras, auditors and his colleagues by putting real money at the front and back of bundles of fake money. Nurse made multiple purchases of fake money and stole the real cash from his work at different times over a seven-month period.
After the credit union discovered the thefts, Nurse claimed to an FBI special agent that he did not usually carry much cash and, aside from a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada, he had not made any recent large purchases or cash deposits. However, records show that Nurse made at least nine cash deposits of over $10,000 each in 2024 into his personal account. The investigation also determined that during the first six months of 2024, Nurse had purchased $410,000 in fake currency from a prop money company. The credit union was later informed that approximately $50,000 in fake money had been received by the Federal Reserve in July 2024. Those funds were returned and determined to be fake bills from the prop money company.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, with assistance from the Missoula Police Department, conducted the investigation.
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Former Middle School Teacher Admits Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former St. Louis County, Missouri middle school teacher on Wednesday admitted possessing hundreds of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material.
Scott R. Ellis, 38, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession of child pornography. Ellis admitted possessing 72 images containing child abuse material on his cell phone and about 700 videos and more than 900 images in his Mega cloud storage account.
The investigation began with two cyber tipline reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography in Ellis’ Google account.
Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
The FBI and the St. Louis County Police Department Bureau of Special Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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.
Former Executive Director Is Sentenced for Stealing Thousands of Dollars from Gastonia Non-ProfitRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Stephanie L. Roberts, 55, of Gastonia, N.C., was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for stealing thousands of dollars from a non-profit corporation for cancer patients, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Roberts was ordered to serve two years under court supervision, and to pay $157,722.69 in restitution to the non-profit victim and $62,612 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron is joined by Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), Jason Krizmanich, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Trent Conard of the Gastonia Police Department in making today’s announcement.
“Roberts treated a nonprofit organization meant to support cancer patients as her personal piggy bank, stealing funds intended to help those in need of resources and services during a health crisis. Roberts will now be held accountable for her reprehensible actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron.
According to court documents and court proceedings, Roberts was the executive director of Cancer Services of Gaston County, a non-profit corporation that provides support and resources for cancer patients. Beginning no later than January 8, 2016, through January 21, 2022, Roberts embezzled more than $136,000 from the non-profit corporation. Roberts also admitted that she failed to pay more than $200,000 withheld from the paychecks of the non-profit corporation’s employees for federal income, Medicare, and Social Security taxes to the IRS. In addition to the embezzlement scheme, Roberts made and subscribed, under penalty of perjury, U.S. Income Tax Returns that falsely stated the amount of tax withheld from her wages, and falsely claimed that amount was paid to the IRS.
On March 22, 2024, Roberts pleaded guilty to theft in connection with health care; failure to truthfully account for and pay over trust fund taxes; and making and subscribing a false tax return. Roberts will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron commended IRS-CI, USPIS, and the Gastonia Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Former CBP Officer Convicted of Smuggling Cocaine from the U.S. Virgin Islands to AtlantaRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Following a five-day jury trial, Ivan Van Beverhoudt, 45, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, has been convicted of importing and possessing with intent to distribute more than 16 kilograms of cocaine.
“Van Beverhoudt used his trusted position as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to circumvent the law and smuggle dangerous drugs into our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Thanks to the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, Van Beverhoudt is now being held accountable and faces time in federal prison.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: On January 10, 2020, Van Beverhoudt, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, boarded a commercial flight from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands to Atlanta with 16 bricks of cocaine in two carry-on bags. To avoid TSA screening in St. Thomas, Van Beverhoudt traveled in his official capacity with his loaded CBP-issued firearm. Upon arriving at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, en route to his final destination of Baltimore, Maryland, a trained narcotics K-9 officer in the jetway alerted to Van Beverhoudt’s luggage, resulting in the discovery of the cocaine.
At the conclusion of his jury trial, Van Beverhoudt was convicted of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, importation of cocaine into the United States, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel B. Milam also contributed to the prosecution of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Florida Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client FundsRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and commit wire fraud. He also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for tax shelter clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes.
In reality, as Mellinger knew, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and other co-conspirators, who then sent the money — less a fee — right back to a different bank account that the client controlled. In this way, tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.
In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million.
Mellinger and a co-conspirator who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from promoting the scheme.
In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were being investigated and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and a relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million of funds from some of those clients, some of which he used to buy a home in Delray Beach.
Mellinger is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS and commit wire fraud, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague, and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) are prosecuting the case.
Florida Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Promoting Illegal Tax Shelter and Stealing Client FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Florida man pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a nearly decade-long scheme to promote an illegal tax shelter and commit wire fraud. He also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns for tax shelter clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stephen T. Mellinger III, of Delray Beach, was a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker operating in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Beginning in late 2013, Mellinger conspired with others to promote an illegal tax shelter whereby clients would claim false tax deductions for so-called “royalty payments” to fraudulently reduce their taxes.
In reality, as Mellinger knew, the “royalty payments” were merely a circular flow of money designed to give the appearance of genuine business expenses. Typically, a client would send money to bank accounts controlled by Mellinger and other co-conspirators, who then sent the money — less a fee — right back to a different bank account that the client controlled. In this way, tax shelter participants retained control of the money they transferred, while falsely deducting the transfers as business expenses on their tax returns.
In total, Mellinger and his co-conspirators helped clients prepare tax returns that claimed over $106 million in false tax deductions, which caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $37 million.
Mellinger and a co-conspirator who was a relative, collectively earned approximately $3 million in fees from promoting the scheme.
In January 2016, Mellinger learned that several of his clients were being investigated and that the United States had started seizing their funds. Mellinger and a relative subsequently stole more than $2.1 million of funds from some of those clients, some of which he used to buy a home in Delray Beach.
Mellinger is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS and commit wire fraud, and three years in prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, and Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon for the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Richard J. Hagerman, William Montague, and Matthew Hicks of the Tax Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Jasmin Salehi Fashami of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) are prosecuting the case.
Felon Sentenced for Possessing Firearms and Transporting Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
A man with fifteen prior felony convictions who used a stolen motorcycle to drive from Minnesota to Iowa and broke into a Winneshiek County home to steal firearms and other items was sentenced February 24, 2025, to more than seven years in federal prison.
Steven Michael Current, age 58, from Canton, Minnesota, received the prison term after an October 15, 2024, guilty plea to one count of possession of firearms as a felon and one count of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle.
In a plea agreement, Current admitted that he had fifteen prior felony convictions, and on September 26, 2022, he broke into a rural Winneshiek County home and stole eight firearms. Current also admitted that he drove a stolen 2004 Harley Davidson Motorcycle from Canton, Minnesota, to the burglary scene in Iowa on September 26, 2022. This motorcycle was stolen from a home in Rochester, Minnesota, on June 9, 2022. Current admitted that, during the burglary, he dropped two unscratched Minnesota lottery tickets from his pocket. Current was identified by images captured on a home camera system, and by images from the Minnesota store where Current purchased the lottery tickets.
Current was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Current was sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to make $500 in restitution to the original owner of the motorcycle and $6,031.31 to the insurance company that paid for the loss of the vehicle. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Current is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and investigated by Winneshiek County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office, Fillmore County, Minnesota, Sheriff’s Office, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-02050.
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Felon Convicted of New Drug and Gun Charges at TrialRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis, Missouri who was caught twice with guns and drugs was found guilty Wednesday of all seven charges that he faced.
Jurors found Antonio Dixson, 37, guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a defaced firearm.
Evidence and testimony at trial showed that on Dec. 1, 2020, Dixson was stopped in Wentzville, Missouri in a Honda SUV that had fled from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers two weeks earlier. When Dixson stepped out of the rear seat of the vehicle, a Glock pistol fell from his waist to the ground. A Taurus Judge revolver was visibly protruding from his pocket. Police then found ammunition and drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, PCP and cocaine, in his pockets.
After Dixson was indicted for the Wentzville incident, he was arrested on Feb. 25, 2021, by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers who spotted a Mercury Villager driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Officers found two guns and drugs in the pockets of Dixson’s pants.
Dixson is a convicted felon and is thus barred from possessing firearms.
Dixson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3. He faces a sentence of at least 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wentzville Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Dunkel and Hal Goldsmith are 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.
Federal Jury Finds New Haven Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found WILLIE FRANCO, 36, of New Haven, guilty of narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. The trial began on February 20 and the guilty verdicts were returned this afternoon.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2016, Franco was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine and heroin. The investigation also revealed that, in January 2015, Franco distributed heroin to an individual in East Haven who died after ingesting the drug. Franco was released from federal prison in December 2020.
In December 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating resumed narcotics trafficking activity by Franco and his then girlfriend, Daniella Fox. The investigation revealed that, beginning in approximately July 2021, parcels originating in Arizona and California that likely contained narcotics had been mailed to addresses associated with Franco and Fox. Investigators also determined that two overdose deaths in August 2021 in Branford and Guilford, and one overdose death in September 2021 in Milford, were connected to Franco’s drug activities.
According to the evidence introduced during the trial, in early March 2022, investigators intercepted a U.S. Postal Service parcel destined for an address in East Haven associated with Franco and Fox. A court-authorized search of the parcel revealed approximately one kilogram of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl. On March 7, 2022, investigators made a controlled delivery of the intercepted parcel to the East Haven address. Franco and Fox, who were waiting in a car that was parked on the street, were arrested after Fox retrieved the package. A subsequent search of Franco and Fox’s New Haven residence resulted in the seizure of more than one kilogram of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine, digital scales and other narcotics packaging paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 pistol with an obliterated serial number, a drum extended magazine for a high-capacity rifle, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, and more than $300,000 in cash.
Subsequent analysis of cellphones seized from Franco revealed hundreds of videos, several of which were entered into evidence during the trial, depicting Franco’s drug trafficking activity and possession of firearms.
The jury found Franco guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Franco faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.
Franco has been detained since his arrest.
Fox previously pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Haven Police Department, East Haven Police Department, and Connecticut State Police. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, and Town of Groton Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Hal Chen.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four Men for Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on February 19, 2025, charging four Jefferson County, Kentucky men with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, between at least May 1, 2023, and November 14, 2023, Anthony Phillips, 61, Aubrey Walker, Sr., 50, William Walker, 49, and Robert Lewis, 44, conspired to defraud a victim company by falsely representing they were representatives of the company’s small business clients to make purchases from the victim company and charge them to the client accounts. The defendants are also charged with several counts of execution of this wire fraud scheme. In executing this scheme, the defendants caused wires to be transmitted in interstate commerce from the Western District of Kentucky to outside of Kentucky. Anthony Phillips is also charged with transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification of another person, without lawful authority, during and in relation to the wire fraud.
The defendants made their initial court appearances this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Anthony Phillips faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 26 years in prison. If convicted Aubrey Walker, Sr., William Walker, and Robert Lewis each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the IRS CI and the Jeffersontown Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fayetteville Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding the U.S. Department of Education in $5 Million Student Loan ScamRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Cynthia Denise Melvin, age 59, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the theft of millions from the federal student aid program. At sentencing later this year, Melvin faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Melvin will also be required to pay restitution.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, between approximately 2016 and 2023, the Defendant organized, led, and conspired with a ring of over 70 “straw students” to fraudulently apply for financial aid at multiple community colleges in the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina. Investigators estimate that the scheme resulted in more than $5 million in fraudulent financial aid disbursements.
Federal Student Aid (FSA), an office within the U.S. Department of Education, is responsible for administering financial aid programs to assist qualified students in their pursuit of post-secondary education, including grants, loans, work study funds, and other disbursements. FSA also develops, distributes, and processes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or “FAFSA”. After a school applies a financial award to a student’s tuition and fees, any remaining balance is refunded to the student for education-related expenses.
According to the investigation, Melvin collected personal identifying information (PII) of straw students in North Carolina and used that information to submit applications for admission at the targeted schools. Thereafter, Melvin attempted to make it appear that the straw students were attending classes, completing coursework, and communicating with the targeted schools when, in fact, Melvin impersonated the straw students for these and other purposes. To obtain financial aid, the Melvin submitted FAFSA forms for the straw students through FSA’s website and in so doing concealed her identity as the preparer of the documents. As a result of the scheme, the straw students were awarded tuition, which was wired from the United States Treasury to the targeted schools in North Carolina. The straw students also received student loan refunds, which the schools disbursed after collecting the tuition cost. As the ringleader of the scheme, Melvin received a substantial portion of the refunds.
During the execution of a federal search warrant at Melvin’s residence, Office of Inspector General investigators recovered documents and other evidence establishing the operation and mechanics of the scheme, including PII and coursework for the straw students, FSA account usernames and passwords, and bank account and routing numbers.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after Chief Judge Richard E. Myers, II accepted the plea. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-14-M.
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Farrell Resident Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Armed Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Farrell, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for committing firearm and drug trafficking crimes, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Tylon Cousin, 39, who previously pleaded guilty in this case to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Stickman also ordered Cousin to serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
According to information presented to the Court, in January and February 2023, Cousin engaged in armed cocaine dealing from his Farrell residence. Cousin previously served a 60-month federal prison sentence on a 2012 conviction for similar cocaine dealing that took place between 2009 and 2011.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Cousin.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years After Agents Seize over 15 Kilograms of Fentanyl and Six Firearms from Phoenix ResidenceRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jefferson Alejandro Lopez Alcaraz, 45, of Phoenix, was sentenced on February 13, 2025, by United States District Judge John T. Tuchi to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, to run consecutive to the 60-month sentence Lopez Alcaraz is currently serving in CR-21-00451-TUC-JCH. Co-defendant, Jaime Solorio-Torres, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on March 20, 2023.
According to court documents, on February 1, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration was surveilling a residence in Phoenix when agents observed a Toyota Prius arrive and park on the street. Agents then observed Solorio-Torres exit the Prius carrying a white and blue cooler. He then met with Lopez Alcazar inside the residence before exiting with the cooler and placing it back inside the Prius. After Solorio-Torres drove away, agents stopped the Prius and found 6.5 kilograms of fentanyl pills inside the cooler.
Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence and seized approximately 9 kilograms of fentanyl pills, 248 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 239 grams of Xanax pills, 6.6 grams of cocaine, and $26,532 in U.S. currency, along with a drug ledger and cache of six firearms. Two of the firearms had been reported stolen at the time they were seized.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Phoenix East Valley Drug Enforcement Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart J. Zander, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-22-00103-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-023_Lopez Alcaraz# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Crescent Township Resident Charged with Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Glenwillard, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Aidan Harding, 20, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment and other information presented to the Court, on or about December 11, 2024, Harding possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, including videos containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent minors.
On January 27, 2025, Harding was charged by criminal complaint and, at a February 12, 2025, detention hearing, ordered to be held without bond pending trial after the United States introduced evidence that Harding committed the charged offense and possessed additional materials depicting violent sexual assaults. In addition, in support of its contention that Harding presented an unacceptable danger to the community, the United States presented testimony and documentary evidence that Harding adhered to a racially-motivated violent extremist ideology, possessed more than 20 firearms, had targeted Pittsburgh’s Jewish community with antisemitic fliers, and made statements online about his interest in “political and revenge driven” mass casualty events, including references to the shooter who murdered 11 congregants at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. The evidence also established that Harding, who had been previously adjudicated delinquent for terroristic threats after discussing online his desire to commit a “high kill count” attack, possessed videos of mass shootings from the United States and other countries, and had filmed himself re-enacting the Columbine mass shooting at a memorial honoring the victims of that attack.
The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
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.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Court Sentences Mobile Man to 105 Months in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – On February 18, 2025, United States District Court Judge William H. Steele sentenced Sheldon Terrell Peters to 105 months imprisonment for cocaine trafficking. The sentence was comprised of 75 months for the charged offense of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and 30 months for Peters’ violation of his supervised release conditions from a a 2017 federal conviction for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.
Documents filed with the Court established that between September and October 2022 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Violent Crimes Task Force used an undercover informant to make three separate controlled buys of 47.5 grams of crack cocaine, 46.3 grams of crack cocaine, and 105.6 grams of crack cocaine from Peters at his home in Mobile.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A repeat convicted felon was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm, multiple rounds of ammunition and fentanyl intended for distribution while on federal supervised release.
Francisco Gabriel Diaz, 33, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In July 2024, Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Diaz was charged by criminal complaint in December 2021.
On June 24, 2021, a search of the residence where Diaz was staying resulted in the recovery of a black Taurus G2S 9mm firearm, a 9mm magazine containing seven live 9mm rounds, a 9mm magazine containing one live 9mm round, over 40 grams of fentanyl, several plastic bags containing crack cocaine, a box of sandwich bags and a digital scale. Diaz was on federal supervised release at the time of the search.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Colorado Springs Man Sentenced to 27.5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jose Baeza, 41, of Colorado Springs, was sentenced to 330 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, one count of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Baeza also pleaded guilty to one count of murder in the second degree in Otero County Court.
According to the plea agreement, Baeza, also known as “Terco” shot a person in La Junta, Colorado, in March 2022, over a drug debt owed to the drug trafficking organization to which he belonged. The person Baeza shot died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
“Violent drug dealers have no place in our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “I am grateful to our partners for removing this dangerous criminal from our streets and placing him behind bars for many years to come.”
“I commend the work of DEA’s Colorado Springs Resident Office and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado for bringing justice to Jose Baeza,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “Those involved in drug trafficking and murder have no place in our society, and DEA will continue to be relentless in its pursuit of individuals and criminal organizations who break the laws of the United States.”
United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the sentencing.
The Drug Enforcement Administration handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Alyssa Christine Mance and Talia Bucci handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 22-CR-00345
Check Fraudster Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kenyata Wilson, 36, of Memphis, has been sentenced to federal prison for leading a check fraud ring in Memphis from 2022 to 2023. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, between May 2022 and February 2023, Wilson obtained stolen checks and deposited them into the bank accounts of his co-conspirators. His co-conspirators would transfer most of the funds back to Wilson and retain a small portion as their payment. Wilson was seen in surveillance footage at different ATM locations in Memphis depositing the stolen checks into an account used to receive the stolen funds. Wilson was responsible for passing over $42,000 in stolen checks.
On November 18, 2024, Wilson pled guilty before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and eleven counts of bank fraud. He was sentenced on February 20, 2025 to 24 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency.
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, and the law enforcement partners who assisted in the investigation of the case.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Charlotte Man Convicted at Trial of Illegal Firearm Possession Is Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Daniel Wood, 48, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.
According to evidence presented at Wood’s trial, witness testimony, and filed court documents, on May 1, 2022, Wood attempted to enter a Charlotte nightclub with a loaded firearm in his pants pocket. The security of the nightclub found the firearm when they patted down Wood prior to entering the club. Security removed the firearm and turned it over to an off-duty CMPD officer. While the CMPD officer was in his patrol vehicle examining the firearm, Wood spoke to the officer and explained that he received the gun from someone else and that he had forgotten it was in the pocket of his pants. Court records show that Wood has prior felony convictions, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Wood will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prison.
The ATF and CMPD investigated the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) William Wiseman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Pack of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Mr. Wiseman is a state prosecutor with the office of the 26th Prosecutorial District and was assigned by District Attorney Spencer Merriweather to serve as a SAUSA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Mr. Wiseman is sworn in both state and federal courts. The SAUSA position is a reflection of the partnership between the District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The 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. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website.
Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in COVID-19 Relief Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Wendy Ann Thomas, 47, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting money laundering. Thomas admitted that $20,833 in proceeds from a criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), was deposited into her personal checking account.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the $20,833 was deposited into Thomas’ personal checking account on June 22, 2021. Thomas admitted that she allowed another individual to direct the PPP loan proceeds to her account, that she knew the deposited PPP loan proceeds were criminally derived, and that the PPP loan was issued in the name of an individual Thomas does not know. Thomas further admitted that she withdrew $17,000 from her personal checking account on June 23, 2021, and knew the cash withdrawal represented most of the criminally derived PPP loan proceeds.
Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Thomas also owes $20,833 in restitution.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-172.
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Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Allen Rhule, 44, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2024, Rhule was on parole for prior felony convictions when parole officers conducted a search of his residence as a condition of his supervision and found a Taurus model PT-140 Millenium G2 .40-caliber pistol and a Palmetto State Armory model PA-15 multi-caliber rifle in his bedroom.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Rhule knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his prior felony convictions for attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 3, 2022, and attempted grand larceny in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 31, 2023.
Rhule is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of West Virginia Parole Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin 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 copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-157.
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Bronx Former Attorney Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Large-Scale Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that KOFI AMANKWAA, a Bronx-based former immigration attorney, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for immigration fraud in connection with his supervision of a multi-year scheme to file fraudulent immigration documents under the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”). AMANKWAA pled guilty on September 17, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who imposed today’s sentence.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Kofi Amankwaa, a former immigration attorney,made a mockery of the U.S. immigration system and VAWA — a law that provides noncitizen victims of domestic abuse a path to lawful permanent residence status — by filing thousands of immigration documents falsely alleging that his clients were victims of abuse by their children or other family members. Amankwaa repeatedly filed these false applications without telling his clients that he was doing so, and pocketed thousands of dollars from each client he victimized. Amankwaa now faces a significant prison sentence for his crimes.”
According to the allegations in the Information, public filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:
From September 2016 through November 2023, AMANKWAA and others at his direction met with clients and instructed them to sign fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions falsely stating that the clients were abused by their U.S. citizen children. AMANKWAA also signed the petitions, under penalty of perjury, as the attorney preparer.
AMANKWAA used the filing of the fraudulent Form I-360 VAWA Petitions, among other filings, as a basis to request for his clients advance parole travel documents — documents that enable individuals without legal status in the U.S. to travel abroad temporarily and return. AMANKWAA then directed his clients, upon obtaining the advance parole travel documents, to travel abroad and return to the U.S. Last, AMANKWAA used the fraudulently procured advance parole as a basis for his clients to apply for lawful permanent resident status.
AMANKWAA carried out this illegal scheme knowing that his clients had not, in fact, been abused by their children or without asking whether any such abuse occurred. Moreover, AMANKWAA was often unsuccessful in obtaining lawful permanent resident status for his clients because the clients’ immigration applications were denied on the basis of fraud, among other reasons. AMANKWAA typically charged his clients between $3,000 and $6,000 for his services, plus administrative fees.
In November 2023, following numerous complaints by clients regarding the fraudulent abuse allegations, AMANKWAA’s license to practice law in the State of New York was suspended, and in August 2024, AMANKWAA was disbarred.
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In addition to the prison term, AMANKWAA, 70, of South River, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $13,389,000. As part of his plea agreement, AMANKWAA has also agreed to pay $16,503,425 in restitution to his victims. If you believe you or your family member is a victim of VAWA fraud who may be entitled to restitution from AMANKWAA, please contact [email protected].
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the Newark Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security for their support in this investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Z. Margulies is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Samantha Roberts.
Berkeley County Man Admits to Role in Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – James Reyes, age 55, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to working with others in a large-scale drug operation in the Eastern Panhandle.
Reyes pled guilty to the distribution of cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Reyes was selling drugs for the drug trafficking organization
Reyes is facing 20 years to life 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 Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force was the lead investigative unit. Other investigative agencies that assisted include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including the Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Department; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.