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21 March 2025
Jury Finds Physician Guilty of Operating a Pill Mill from His D.C. Medical PracticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, M.D., 65, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was found guilty today by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in connection with illegally distributing prescriptions for narcotics in exchange for cash from his Northwest Washington D.C. medical clinic.
The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.
The jury found Okafor guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (outside the practice of medicine), maintaining a drug-involved premises, and 22 counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances (oxycodone and promethazine with codeine). U.S. District Judge John D. Bates scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 20, 2025.
According to court documents and evidence at trial, between May 2021 and April of 2023, Okafor was the sole practitioner and owner of Okafor Medical Associates, an internal medicine clinic in Northwest, Washington, D.C. The USAO and FBI began investigating Okafor for illegal distribution of controlled substances after it received information from law enforcement agencies nationwide regarding prescriptions from Okafor being connected to local drug trafficking networks.
Between February 18, 2022, and November 30, 2022, the FBI sent confidential sources and undercover agents into Okafor’s medical practice for walk-in appointments. Each individual was prescribed opioids by Okafor after minimal examination. Further investigation revealed that Okafor was operating a nationwide drug distribution scheme, whereby he would prescribe opioids to numerous individuals using false identities, whom Okafor knew to be diverting the medication.
Okafor’s conduct spanned at least 45 states and resulted in hundreds of thousands of units of oxycodone and promethazine with codeine liquid prescribed nationwide. Okafor was convicted of distribution of opioids to undercover sources, numerous uncharged co-conspirators, and to a civilian patient J.V. Okafor was also convicted of conspiracy and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Evidence at trial further established that, after Okafor was notified by the D.C. Board of Health that J.V.’s family member filed a complaint against him, he created backdated medical records for J.V. in an attempt to justify his prescribing.
The investigation also resulted in the immediate suspension of Okafor’s DEA registration number in September 2023 as he was deemed to be a threat to public health and safety.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department gratefully acknowledge the Apex, North Carolina Police Department, the Warsaw, New York, Police Department, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy, and the Noble County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office for their extraordinary efforts, support, and cooperation during the investigation and trial.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith Mayer-Dempsey, Trial Attorney Kathryn Furtado and paralegals Rebecca Walton, Dillon Clark, and Matthew McClarnon of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section. The team also extends its deep appreciation to Michael Goodrich, Lead Travel Analyst of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section.
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Johnstown Woman Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin and CrackRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Sandra Box, 59, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan on March 19, 2025.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around February 2021 to in and around April 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Box conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of heroin and crack. Box was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that she distributed to others.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2025. The law provides for a total maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, 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 Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Box. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Janesville Man Sentenced to 7 ½ Years for Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cedric Sanders, 26, Janesville, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 ½ years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution and possessing firearms as a felon. Sanders pleaded guilty to these charges on December 5, 2024.
In November 2023, Sanders sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on two occasions and to an undercover officer on two occasions. In December 2023, officers searched three homes and two vehicles connected to Sanders. During those searches, officers found two firearms, firearm magazines, ammunition, a firearm suppressor, and a high-capacity firearm drum magazine. They also found $12,960 in cash and 4,545 pills (approximately 396 grams) of fentanyl. Sanders is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions.
At sentencing, Judge Conley found that the dangers of distributing fentanyl combined with Sanders’s illegal possession of two firearms warranted a significant prison sentence.
The charges against Sanders were the result of an investigation conducted by the Janesville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Remington and William Levins prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Jamestown man pleads guilty to meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Aaron Miller, 31, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Miller bought and sold methamphetamine and cocaine for profit and for his own use. He received large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from co-defendant Jun Martinez, a Jamestown drug dealer, and from others. Miller then distributed the drugs to other individuals in the Jamestown area, for profit.
Co-defendants Jun Martinez, La Huynh, and Antasia Babcock were previously convicted and awaiting sentencing.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Jackson Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Jackson, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 1 year and 1 day in prison and a $1,000 partial fine for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Jessie Dewayne Terry, 42, was found in possession of a firearm at a night club on February 23, 2024. He had previously been convicted of multiple offenses including armed robbery and house burglary.
A 2-year term of supervised release will follow his term of imprisonment.
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control, Capitol Police, Jackson Police, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and other state law enforcement partners investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Honduras Man Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Honduras pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served and removal from the U.S. on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Saul Enrique Padilla-Mejia, 38.
According to information presented to the Court, Padilla-Mejia was previously removed from the United States on August 13, 2019, and returned to Honduras. On February 4, 2024, the Pennsylvania State Police charged Padilla-Mejia in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County with various traffic offenses as well as driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .16% and greater. Those charges remain pending, according to the public docket. Immigration authorities determined that Padilla-Mejia was illegally present in the United States and took him into immigration custody on October 30, 2024. Padilla-Mejia will remain detained until his deportation from the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Padilla-Mejia.
Honduran National Sentenced to 2 Years’ Imprisonment After Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara today sentenced Jose del Carmen Sanchez-Garcia (42), a Honduras national, to two years in federal prison for illegally reentering the United States without authorization by federal immigration officials. Sanchez-Garcia pled guilty on December 27, 2024.
According to court documents, federal law enforcement learned that Sanchez-Garcia was in the United States on February 1, 2023, after Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested him on state criminal charges. Sanchez-Garcia had no permission to be in the United States and had previously been removed from the United States four times before. He had previously been convicted for illegal reentry to the United States after deportation once before, in 2017.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.
Hollywood Hills Man Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Federal Prison for Paying Nearly $2.9 Million in Kickbacks for Drug Addiction Patient ReferralsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Hollywood Hills man was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for paying illegal kickbacks for patient referrals to his addiction treatment facilities located in Orange County.
Casey Mahoney, 48, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who also fined him $240,000.
At the conclusion of a nine-day trial in September 2024, a jury found Mahoney guilty of one count of conspiracy to solicit, receive, pay, or offer illegal remunerations for patient referrals and seven counts of receiving illegal kickbacks for patient referrals.
“This defendant illegally profited millions of dollars off of addicts who desperately needed help,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “Bribes and kickbacks compromise the integrity of substance abuse treatment facilities and undermine patient care. As the sentence imposed today demonstrates, those that engage in body brokering will go to federal prison.”
The charges relate to Mahoney’s operation of two addiction treatment facilities: the Huntington Beach-based Healing Path Detox LLC, and the San Juan Capistrano-based Get Real Recovery Inc.
From at least October 2018 to December 2020, Mahoney paid nearly $2.9 million in illegal kickbacks to so-called “body brokers” who referred patients to Mahoney’s addiction treatment facilities. Those body brokers in turn paid thousands of dollars in cash to patients. Brokered patients sometimes were dropped off at motels in Orange County and introduced to drug dealers. Some of these patients later overdosed and died.
Brokers also arranged for patients to receive drugs to make them eligible for more lucrative levels of care at Mahoney’s facilities. Mahoney paid one broker $140,000 per month for additional patients despite knowing that brokers offered to get some patients high. Mahoney also requested that his employees send brokers to track down former patients with lucrative insurance policies, which he called his “most wanted list.”
Throughout the scheme, Mahoney concealed the illegal kickbacks by entering into sham contracts with the body brokers which purportedly required fixed payments and prohibited payments based off of the volume or value of the patient referrals.
In reality, Mahoney and the brokers negotiated payments based on the patients’ insurance reimbursements and the number of days Mahoney was able to bill for treatment.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The California Department of Insurance provided valuable assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Nandor F.R. Kiss of the Orange County Office and Justice Department Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted this case.
Mahoney’s conviction arose out of violations of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA). EKRA was enacted in October 2018 as part of comprehensive legislation designed to address the opioid crisis and to target the rise in body brokering and substance abuse facility profiteering.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24.7 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Hialeah Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for $20 Million IRS FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Today, the owner of a South Florida tax preparation business who pled guilty in December 2024 to aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns was sentenced to almost five years in federal prison and one year of supervised release post-prison. She was also ordered to pay over $20 million in restitution to the IRS.
Beatriz Toledo, 61, owned Immigration and Tax Service Group LLC. For tax years 2017 through 2021, Toledo, through her company, willfully prepared false and fraudulent tax returns for clients, which included false claims for the Residential Energy Credit (allowing taxpayers to claim a credit for qualified energy-saving expenses), false itemized deductions for state and local sales taxes, and false business expenses. Through these false claims, Toledo’s clients’ taxable income decreased, leading to bigger tax refunds.
During the scheme, Toledo submitted about 7,800 tax returns with fraudulent claims for residential energy tax credits, resulting in her clients’ underpayment of about $20 million in federal taxes. Toledo’s company received approximately $7.1 million in tax preparation fees that it took directly out of clients’ refund checks.
Toledo engaged in this criminal conduct in violation of a permanent injunction previously entered against her by a federal district judge in 2010. Case No. 09-cv-21987-COOKE. In that civil case, the United States sued to bar Toledo from preparing false tax returns. Toledo agreed to a permanent injunction, which the district court entered on July 26, 2020. The injunction prohibited her from engaging in the conduct described above. Despite the injunction’s prohibitions, Toledo continued to prepare false tax returns and was indicted in 2024.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
IRS-CI, Miami Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will J. Rosenzweig is prosecuting it.
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 24-cr-20147.
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Henry County Resident Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun at HospitalRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A Henry County man who had a stolen Glock 9mm handgun with a loaded 30-round extended magazine capable of converting to a fully automatic weapon while at the Labor and Delivery unit of a hospital has pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun.
Terrell Monquez Searcy, 21, of McDonough, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a machinegun before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self on March 20. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2025, in Athens. There is no parole in the federal system.
“All those found in possession of machineguns and with illegal conversion devices in the Middle District of Georgia will be held accountable for breaking federal law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “This case exemplifies how law enforcement effectively engages to remove illegal firearms from the streets and hold criminals accountable as we work together to make our communities safer.”
“Machinegun conversion devices enable a conventional semi-automatic pistol to function as a fully automatic firearm which is illegal,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Anyone possessing these illegal machinegun conversion devices will be facing felony charges. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep them off our streets.”
According to court documents, the stipulation of facts and other statements made in Court, Monroe Police Department officers were dispatched to Piedmont Walton Hospital on Aug. 17, 2023, after a nurse observed Searcy in a Labor and Delivery room with a handgun, which is prohibited in the hospital. When hospital security came to the room, Searcy admitted he did have a handgun and that he put it under the couch cushion. He gave the firearm—a Glock Model 17 9mm handgun with a loaded 30-round extended magazine—to security and remained in the room. Hospital security noticed that a full auto sear pin appeared to have been attached to the rear of the slide, making the firearm a machinegun, prompting the call by hospital security to police. Police ran the serial number on the firearm and found out it was reported stolen from Walton County, Georgia. Searcy was taken into custody.
ATF agents tested the firearm and confirmed it did function as a machinegun. Further investigation revealed that Searcy, a rapper known as Quez 2RR, had showcased a pistol with what appeared to be a machinegun conversion device in music videos on a YouTube channel. In a music video titled “Traffic,” Searcy rapped, “I pop out a switch on the back of my Glock” and “I put a switch on the back of my Glock, just to clean up the street when it’s time for that action.” At one point in the video, Searcy’s holding a pistol in his waistband with what appears to be a machinegun conversion device attached to the back.Following the federal indictment charging Searcy with possessing a machine gun in August 2024, agents located Instagram messages between Searcy and a female law enforcement officer with the Clayton County Police Department. Between January and March 2023, Searcy asked the police officer to run his information to see if there were any warrants for his arrest. The police officer also provided information to Searcy regarding an active homicide investigation. During an interview with Clayton County Police Department detectives, the officer admitted to providing Searcy with information on an active homicide investigation and advising Searcy when she located active warrants for his arrest.
On Feb. 11, 2025, members of the ATF, McDonough Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Office executed a federal search warrant at Searcy’s residence in McDonough, Georgia. Searcy and two other men were in the home along with several firearms. The defendant told agents that he had been living at the residence for a couple of months, that he slept with a Draco firearm under his bed and that the Glock 17 found in the living room belonged to him. ATF agents submitted test fires from both firearms to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to determine if either firearm had been used in other crimes. The Micro Draco recovered from Searcy’s bedroom returned with several NIBIN leads, including two from the DeKalb County Police Department. Both DeKalb County incidents indicated that the Micro Draco was used in a drive-by shooting in DeKalb County where four people, including two juveniles, were shot inside their homes. Each shooting occurred within just days of Searcy receiving information from the Clayton County police officer on the active Clayton County homicide where his friend was shot and killed.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, with assistance from the City of Monroe Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, McDonough Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the Dekalb County Police Department and the Piedmont Walton Hospital Security Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Grant County Woman Admits to Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Theresa Marie Lipkey, age 43, of Petersburg, West Virginia, has admitted to the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Lipkey’s vehicle was searched during a traffic stop when she was driving from Morgantown to Petersburg. The search resulted in the seizure of 129 grams of methamphetamine.
Lipkey is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Gadyaces “Gady” Serralta Nominated to Key Post at United States Marshals ServiceRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice congratulates Gadyaces “Gady” Serralta on his nomination to be the next Director of the United States Marshals Service (USMS).
Gady Serralta (USMS Director Nominee)
Beginning his career as a Miami Patrol Officer in 1990, Mr. Serralta has dedicated over 34 years of his life to serving in law enforcement. Mr. Serralta has spent the last six years as the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida after being confirmed in 2018. As the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, Mr. Serralta faithfully served millions of residents by managing operations across several counties and in multiple courthouses. Prior to becoming a U.S. Marshal, Mr. Serralta was a Major in the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Police Chief for Palmetto Bay, Florida. Mr. Serralta has extensive experience in handling criminal investigations and tackling organized crime.
Mr. Serralta received a B.S. in Criminal Justice Studies from Florida International University and a M.S. in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Fresno-Based Bank Fraud Scheme Recruited Participants on FacebookRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Abreiana Rogers, 29, of Los Angeles, made an initial appearance in federal court in Fresno Thursday for charges stemming from her participation in a year-long bank fraud scheme that sought to defraud credit unions of nearly $1 million, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
Five co-defendants in the scheme made their initial appearances in November 2024: Fresno residents Nyric Hinton, 26; Zion Brewer, 39; Zorian Temple, 23; Davonntae Barfield, 30; and Harry Cooper Neal, 29.
All six defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Rogers was also charged with four counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Hinton was charged with one count of bank fraud. Temple and Barfield were also each charged with two counts of bank fraud.
According to court documents, between April 2022 and Jan. 31, 2023, the defendants used Facebook and Facebook Messenger to recruit bank account holders, promising these account holders a cut of any fraudulent funds deposited into their accounts. The defendants then used those individuals’ bank accounts to deposit stolen and fraudulent checks. Brewer, a U.S. Postal Service employee, assisted by stealing mail containing checks and other financial information, and by providing that information to his co-conspirators.
The defendants and others would then rapidly deplete the fraudulently deposited funds from the account holders’ accounts using electronic transfers and cash withdrawals. The defendants then shared the proceeds among themselves and other co-conspirators. To circumvent financial institutions’ fraud protection systems, the defendants shared information about known weaknesses in the financial institutions’ fraud protection systems. To conceal the fraud, the defendants instructed account holders to claim that their accounts had been compromised if contacted by the financial institutions about the fraudulent deposits.
The defendants are alleged to have attempted at least $1 million in fraudulent transactions with financial institutions, fraudulently used over 100 bank accounts, and obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars from the financial institutions.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
The case is set for a status conference on June 4, 2025.
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and for any count of bank fraud. Rogers also faces a two-year mandatory consecutive prison sentence for aggravated identity theft if convicted. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Seattle tech worker sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding employer, government programs, and former significant otherRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 31-year-old Seattle resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison for two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft related to his three different fraud schemes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Westcott Francis-Curley has been in custody since March 2024, following his indictment in August 2023. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez imposed three years of supervised release and ordered $689,675 in restitution to the three victims.
“Mr. Francis-Curley’s fraud spiral stemmed from greed,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “After his employer discovered his theft, he stole from a program designed to keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. And when those proceeds were gone, he committed identity theft against his former romantic partner. This sentence is an important step to break the cycle of fraud.”
According to records filed in the case, the first scheme began in 2019, when Francis-Curley embezzled money from his then-employer by misusing cloud computing resources and accounts available to him as an employee. Francis-Curley used employer funds and his employee work authorizations to purchase cloud computing resources, then sell or lease them back to the company—paying himself with company money—at many times their market value. Through this scheme he obtained more than $550,000, and he was caught while attempting to obtain another half-million dollars. He spent significant portions of the proceeds on extravagances, such as trips on private jets, luxury hotel stays and a penthouse apartment at Seattle’s Harbor Steps complex. Even after Francis-Curley was caught and fired, he emailed customer service and corporate executives in an effort to receive an additional half-million dollars.
In 2020, Francis-Curley defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a COVID assistance program designed to help small businesses and their employees weather the pandemic. Francis-Curley filed paperwork claiming that two companies he controlled qualified for assistance, when in fact they had no payroll and did not qualify for relief. He obtained nearly $100,000 and spent much of it on personal goods and services. Program funds were limited, meaning his theft deprived other applicants of the needed assistance.
Finally, in October 2022, Francis-Curley applied for and obtained a credit card in the name of his former significant other. Francis-Curley used the card for more than $1,000 in personal expenditures. The unpaid bill means the damage from the identity theft continues to impact the victim.
In asking the court for the three-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney David T. Martin wrote of Francis-Curley, “He had a comfortable life and a lucrative job, but that wasn’t enough. Leveraging a bit of Google research and the trust of his employer, Francis-Curley—in his own words—'found a way to make as much money as’ he wanted. Within weeks of commencing the scheme, he was living large: private jets, luxury hotels, cash gifts to friends and family, monthly credit card bills approaching six figures—the list goes on. In two months, he went from paying himself $13,000, to a quarter-million dollars, to—he hoped—a half-million dollars. Only getting caught stopped that unabashed escalation.”
Francis-Curley has agreed to pay restitution to his former employer, to the Small Business Administration, and to the person whose identity he used to obtain the credit card for fraud.
The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David T. Martin.
Former Louisville Middle School Teacher Sentenced to over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A former middle school teacher in Louisville, Kentucky was sentenced today to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for multiple child pornography charges.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement.
“I commend the FBI’s outstanding work during the investigation of this case and that of AUSA McKiness for his tireless effort in prosecuting it,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Combatting the sexual exploitation of our children is a priority of this office and working with our law enforcement partners we will continue to identify, arrest, and aggressively prosecute those who victimize our most vulnerable citizens.”
“Jordan Fautz chose to abuse his position of trust by egregiously violating the privacy of innocent children. His sentencing marks a critical step in our efforts to combat the exploitation of children,” said Special Agent in Charge Stansbury. “With the emergence of offenders using cutting-edge technology to inflict harm and pain on one of our most vulnerable populations, law enforcement will exhaust all of its available resources and expertise to ensure those who choose to abuse children in any way face justice.”
According to court documents, Jordan Fautz, 40, was sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release, for three counts of distribution of child pornography, two counts of distribution of the obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, one count of production of the obscene visual representation of child sexual abuse, and one count of possession of child pornography. Fautz used an online chatting application to distribute child sexual abuse material to an undercover law enforcement officer. Fautz also produced and distributed photoshopped images depicting minors’ faces on the bodies of people engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Fautz also possessed material depicting child sexual abuse on his computers and cell phone.
Fautz was also ordered to pay $28,130 in restitution to victims.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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Former Culpeper Sheriff Sentenced to 10 Years on Federal Bribery ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The former sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for appointing numerous Northern Virginia businessmen as auxiliary deputy sheriffs within his department.
In December 2024, a jury convicted Scott Howard Jenkins, 53, of Culpeper, Virginia, of one count of conspiracy, four counts of honest services fraud, and seven counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds.
“Scott Jenkins violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “We hold our elected law enforcement officials to a higher standard of conduct and this case proves that when those officials use their authority for unjust personal enrichment, the Department of Justice will hold them accountable. I am grateful to the FBI for their tireless work on this investigation.”
“Every law enforcement officer takes an oath to serve and protect the community-- that includes following the law they’ve sworn to uphold. I am proud of the diligent work our investigative team did on this case to bring Jenkins to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Stanley M. Meador.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jenkins accepted cash bribes and bribes in the form of campaign contributions from co-defendants Rick Rahim, Fredric Gumbinner, and James Metcalf, as well as at least five others, including two FBI undercover agents.
Rahim, Gumbinner, and Metcalf have all pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy.
In return for the bribes, Jenkins appointed each of the bribe payors as auxiliary deputy sheriffs, a sworn law-enforcement position, and issued them official Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office badges and credentials. The bribe payors were not trained or vetted and did not render any legitimate services to the Sheriff’s Office or the citizens of Culpeper County.
In addition, Jenkins pressured other local officials to approve a petition filed in Culpeper County Circuit Court by Rahim, a convicted felon, to restore his right to possess a firearm and which falsely stated that Rahim resided in Culpeper County.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith for the Western District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys Celia Choy and Lina Peng of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) prosecuted the case.
Federal jury convicts Virginia Beach man for auto loan scheme and identity theftRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Virginia Beach man today on 19 charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false representation of a social security number.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Dion Lamont Camp, 40, spent years conning numerous women into romantic relationships and then leveraging those relationships to obtain fraudulent loans and credit cards. He would show the women fake tax documents and ask for their help, claiming that the IRS had frozen his accounts and promising to repay the money when the matter was cleared up. Camp caused six fraudulent loans from a national credit union in 2020 through 2022 for cars that were either ghost purchased, meaning the car was never purchased at all and there was never any collateral securing the loan, or double financed, meaning Camp procured financing both from the credit union and from the car dealership for the same car, thereby obtaining the credit union loan proceeds and the car.
As part of the scheme, Camp opened shell businesses with names closely resembling that of actual used car dealerships in Hampton Roads. He then persuaded two women, identified as Jane Doe (JD) 2 and JD5, to open corresponding business bank accounts. Once those accounts were open, Camp persuaded JD2, JD5, as well as four other women, JD3, JD4, JD6, and JD7, to apply for automobile loans in their own names at the credit union. Camp convinced the women he could not obtain a loan himself because his accounts were erroneously frozen and promised to pay them back.
After the credit union approved the loan applications and provided checks to the women for the dealerships, they gave the checks to Camp. Camp, using a call spoofing service to make it appear as if he were calling from the legitimate car dealership, called the credit union, impersonated employees at the dealership, and pretended that the loan was being used for various luxury vehicles. Providing the vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for those cars, he successfully obtained the code from the credit union necessary to release the check, which he then negotiated and funneled through the business accounts. JD2 and JD5 withdrew the loan proceeds from those accounts and gave the money to Camp.
The four ghost-purchased cars were located across the country and never at the businesses in Hampton Roads. They were never purchased by Camp or the women using the credit union checks, depriving the credit union of its collateral to secure the loans. Camp also conned JD4 and JD7, who had already gotten loan checks from the credit union, to purchase two other luxury cars at a dealership in northern Virginia using in-house financing for over $100,000. Again, Camp cashed the credit union checks, and the credit union was deprived of having the cars as collateral for the loan as the cars were double financed.
For two of these fraudulent automobile loans, Camp obtained not only the money from the loan check, but also induced the women to trade in their own cars to help fund the credit union loans. He then sold their cars at local dealerships and kept that money as well.
As part of his fraud, Camp also purchased a car in his own name from CarMax as repayment for a friend of the family who gave him money for a car years earlier. To obtain financing, Camp used false information, including that he had been a UPS employee for more than a decade. After Camp was arrested in this case and housed at Western Tidewater Regional Jail, the family friend feared the BMW would be repossessed. Camp called the finance company on a recorded jail call, using another inmate’s account to avoid detection, and convinced the finance company to give him a payment extension on the loan so long as he was still employed at UPS, which he falsely affirmed that he was.
Camp also defrauded banks to give personal loans. In 2019, JD8 and JD11 each had little income, so Camp provided them with fraudulent paystubs with inflated income to support personal loan applications to another local credit union. JD8 and JD11 each gave the loan proceeds to Camp, which again he had falsely promised to repay.
Camp obtained an American Express credit card using JD3’s personal identifying information without her knowledge. He also obtained supplemental American Express credit cards from the accounts of JD5, JD3, and JD10 using the Social Security number of an individual identified as R.D. R.D., who testified at trial, has never met or had any relationship with Camp.
The final charge for which Camp was convicted involved his application for a property rental in Virginia Beach using a false Social Security number, a fake credit report with a highly inflated credit score, and a false IRS business tax filing that showed that his alleged house flipping business, Camp Investments LLC, made hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. In truth, Camp’s business bank account rarely had any significant balance, and Camp never filed taxes for Camp Investments.
The evidence at trial revealed that, during the scheme, Camp defrauded both women and banks out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Camp faces a minimum of two years and up to 392 years in prison when sentenced on Sept. 12. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Michael Feinberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Gantt and Elizabeth M. Yusi are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-63.
Federal jury convicts Arapahoe man of abusive sexual contactRead the Press Release
Kendall Joseph Moss III, 35, of Arapahoe Wyoming, was convicted by a federal jury on March 20, of abusive sexual contact with a minor. The trial lasted four days and was held before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl in Casper.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, an investigation began in connection with a minor witness’s disclosure to a student advocate and school resource officer at her elementary school of sexual abuse by the defendant in 2021. Dr. Gail S. Goodman, PH.D., a Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Davis testified at trial on the dynamics of child sexual abuse, including that victims often delay disclosing the sexual abuse or make piecemeal disclosures of the abuse over time. The victim was interviewed twice over two years and provided more details of the sexual abuse in her second interview. The defendant made statements to law enforcement indicating the victim was not lying in her allegations against him. The jury’s verdict found the defendant guilty of touching the minor victim in her genital area over her clothing with the intent of sexual gratification.
Sentencing has been set for June 10, 2025. Moss faces a term of any number of years up to life in prison with no less than five years and no more than life of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case.
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 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.
Case No. 24-CR-00165
Federal grand jury indicts Jamestown woman for her role in Jamestown drug conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Latika Saintkitts a/k/a Tika, 34, Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between 2018, and May 26, 2022, Saintkitts conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others, to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Jamestown area. Co-defendants include Andres Pizzaro Campos, Max Pizzaro Campos, Cindy Frank, Edward Leeper, and Jaquez L. Thomas. Joseph Zaso was previously charged and convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
Saintkitts was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and released.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Federal Way, Washington woman indicted for bank and wire fraud for fake investment schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 52-year-old Federal Way, Washington woman was indicted this week by a federal grand jury for three counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Jenni Yoon Jeong Lee allegedly held herself out to elderly members of the Korean community as an investment advisor. In reality, the investments went into accounts controlled by Lee and were used for her personal expenses. Lee allegedly defrauded at least 28 victims of over $3 million that was used for her expenses, her family’s expenses or to pay off earlier investors in the style of a Ponzi scheme.
“Ms. Lee held herself out as an experienced investment advisor offering her victims a guaranteed return on the funds they placed with her,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “However, the indictment notes that none of the money was invested and in fact, nearly $1 million of investor funds were accessed and spent at area casinos.”
According to the indictment, Lee created various business entities with names that made it seem they were financial investment companies. Lee opened and controlled bank accounts for these shell companies.
Lee held herself out as a financial advisor employed at the shell companies. She claimed both orally and in writing that she would place victim investments in funds that would guarantee a safe return, sometimes as high as 10%. She often represented that the principal was fully guaranteed so there was no risk associated with the investment.
Lee allegedly got the victims to write checks to one of the shell companies for ‘investment,’ or she induced the client to fund a self-directed IRA at a legitimate financial services company and give Lee access to manage the account. Lee would sometimes provide the financial services company with a promissory note to make it appear the client was loaning money to one of Lee’s shell companies. In this way she gained control of the investor funds.
In all Lee took in at least $3 million. Some money was paid back to investors making the full loss amount approximately $2.2 million. Of that, over $900,000 was withdrawn and spent at casinos.
The three counts of wire fraud are for specific transfers of funds from self-directed IRA accounts. The two counts of bank fraud are for depositing client checks into one of the shell corporation accounts. These counts are representative acts of the alleged scheme.
The charges in the indictment are punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean H. Waite
Federal Law Enforcement in Chicago Seizes $214 Million in Alleged “Pump and Dump” Investment Fraud Investigation; Seven Defendants IndictedRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — Seven individuals have been indicted on criminal charges as part of a federal investigation that disrupted an alleged “pump-and-dump” investment fraud scheme and resulted in government seizures of approximately $214 million.
From November 2024 to February 2025, the defendants engaged in misleading promotion and coordinated trading of shares of China Liberal Education Holdings, Ltd., a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands that purported to provide educational services in China, according to an indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The scheme, known as a “pump-and-dump,” allegedly involved individuals in China posing as U.S.-based investment advisors on social media and messaging platforms and falsely promising significant returns from investments in the company. The misleading promotion and coordinated trading caused the stock price to artificially rise, at which point the defendants sold thousands of shares and made millions of dollars in profits, the indictment states. The stock price ultimately decreased significantly, at the expense of other investors, some of whom lost almost the entirety of their investment.
Charged with wire fraud and securities fraud are LIM XIANG JIE CEDRIC, 50, of Malaysia, MING-SHEN CHENG, 36, of Taiwan, KO SEN CHAI, 57, of Malaysia, KING SUNG WONG, 39, of Malaysia, SIONG WEE VUN, 37, of Malaysia, CHIEN LUNG MA, 54, of Taiwan, and KOK WAH WONG, 56, of Malaysia. The defendants are not in custody and warrants have been issued for their arrests.
During the investigation, federal law enforcement seized approximately $214 million in alleged proceeds from the fraud scheme. The funds are currently in U.S. custody. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago on Thursday filed a civil complaint seeking to have the money permanently forfeited to the United States, which would allow the government to return the money to victim investors.
The indictment and forfeiture complaint were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the SEC’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten represents the government.
Each count of securities fraud is punishable by up to 25 years in federal prison, while the maximum sentence for each count of wire fraud is 20 years. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you believe you or someone you know may have been victimized by the fraud scheme charged in the indictment, you are encouraged to notify the FBI by completing this online form or calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
cedric_et_al_forfeiture_complaint.pdf cedric_et_al_indictment.pdfFederal Grand Jury Indicts Tompkinsville, Kentucky Man for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an indictment on March 12, 2025, charging a Tompkinsville, Kentucky man with distributing methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Director Ron Lafferty of the Barren River Drug Task Force made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Brandon Gearlds, 41, was charged with distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine on October 23, 2023. Gearlds was also charged with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on October 26, 2023, and April 24, 2024.
The defendant made his initial court appearance on March 18, 2025, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendant detained pending trial. If convicted, Gearlds faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life 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 DEA - Paducah Post of Duty and the Barren River Drug Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, 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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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Four Chinese Nationals for Possessing Counterfeit Access DevicesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned two indictments on March 19, 2025, charging a total of four Chinese nationals with possessing more than fifteen counterfeit and unauthorized access devices as part of gift card tampering schemes.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Barry S. Wilkerson of the St. Matthews Police Department made the announcement.
According to the first indictment, Zhiqiang Huang and Chaoming Lin were charged with possessing more than fifteen counterfeit and unauthorized access devices following their arrest on October 19, 2024. That day, Kroger security personnel observed Lin placing gift cards on the rack at a Kroger store in Louisville. Later, following a stop by St. Matthews police, Huang and Lin were found to be in possession of approximately 5,000 gifts cards. A subsequent analysis of those gift cards indicated 2,000 were likely altered.
According to the second indictment, Huixing Yu and Tianlong Chen were charged with possessing more than fifteen counterfeit and unauthorized access devices following their arrest on October 19, 2024. That day, Kroger security personnel observed Chen placing gift cards on the rack at a Kroger store in Louisville. Later, following a stop by St. Matthews police, Yu and Chen were found to be in possession of approximately 650 gifts cards. A subsequent analysis of those gift cards indicated 250 were likely altered.
Gift card tampering is a form of organized retail crime. Gift card tampering involves stealing gift cards from retail stores, tampering the gift card to steal sensitive information, and then placing the gift card back into commerce at a retailer to be sold to unsuspecting consumers. When a consumer purchases the tampered gift card and loads funds onto the gift card at the point of sale, the funds are diverted and stolen.
Individuals and organizations engaged in gift card tampering often target brands that can be redeemed for goods, or items that can be easily liquidated on digital marketplaces. Large retailers are primary targets due to the high levels of consumer traffic and quick inventory turnover.
If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to 10 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 HSI, FBI, and St. Matthews Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser is prosecuting this case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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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Essex County Man Admits to Committing Firearms Trafficking and Narcotics OffensesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man admitted to several firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.
Carlo M. De Leon De Jesus, 28, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an Information charging him with one count of dealing firearms without a license, one count of transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident, one count of firearms trafficking, and one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics. De Leon De Jesus’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2025.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On multiple dates between July 2023 and September 2023, De Leon De Jesus sold firearms and narcotics to law enforcement, including one pistol, one semiautomatic handgun, one short barrel rifle, one AK variant style rifle, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
The count of dealing firearms without a license and transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident each carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The count of gun trafficking carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.
U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, and Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Field Division, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Taj Moore of the Narcotics/OCDETF in Newark.
deleondejesus.information.pdf
Ellenton Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in Fentanyl and Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Alexis Soto Escalante (20, Ellenton) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to, and possessing with the intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of cocaine. Soto Escalante faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on May 22, 2024, Soto Escalante sourced 55.9 grams of fentanyl to his co-defendant, Traveous Anderson, that was recovered by agents upon Anderson’s arrest. Later the same day, Soto Escalante traveled to Anderson’s apartment to collect payment for the fentanyl delivery where he was also arrested. Agents recovered 641 grams of cocaine and 3.7 grams fentanyl in the vehicle Soto Escalante was driving. Agents subsequently executed a search warrant at Soto Escalante’s residence and found an additional 14.03 grams of cocaine in his bedroom.
Anderson’s case is still pending trial.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bradenton Police Department and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Eden Prairie Man Charged with Coercion, Enticement of a Minor and Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Michael Bruce Gillis, an Eden Prairie man, has been charged via federal criminal complaint with coercion and enticement of a minor and production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to the criminal complaint, on March 2, 2025, the Mounds View Police Department received a report of a missing 15-year-old male. In an effort to locate the missing juvenile, his family members reviewed his personal electronic devices and discovered recent chat communications between Minor Victim A and an individual identified as “Nick Miller.” In their chat thread, Minor Victim A specifically identified himself as being “young” and still in high school, to which “Nick Miller” responded that he “like[s] younger guys” and that he was “okay with it.” From there, the chat transitioned to Minor Victim A and “Nick Miller” exchanging sexually explicit messages and graphic photos. The pair then made plans to meet, but because Minor Victim A was too young to drive, “Nick Miller” ordered an Uber to pick him up and drive him to the meetup location.
A few hours after the electronic communications between “Nick Miller” and Minor Victim A, law enforcement conducted a welfare check at the address “Nick Miller” had provided. Law enforcement officers discovered Minor Victim A walking on foot a short distance from the indicated residence. Minor Victim A reported that “Nick Miller” had sexually assaulted him, and that he had escaped from the house after “Nick Miller” had fallen asleep. Law enforcement officers subsequently apprehended “Nick Miller” at the address he had provided, and positively identified him as Michael Bruce Gillis, 35. A subsequent records check revealed two other pending matters involving allegations of child exploitation, one in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and the other in Polk County, Florida.
“As this case demonstrates, child predators are clear and present dangers to the children of Minnesota,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “We have federal tools at our disposal—including significant mandatory minimum sentences—that appropriately take predators like this off the street for decades. As Acting U.S. Attorney, I have directed my office to continue to prioritize these abhorrent crimes—to send a strong deterrent message and to protect our community.”
“The allegations in this case are horrific. His deliberate, predatory behavior led to the sexual assault of a child, causing significant harm and trauma” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will use every resource available to ensure those who prey on the most vulnerable are brought to justice.”
Gillis was charged by criminal complaint today in U.S. District Court with one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of production of child pornography. He is currently detained.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Eden Prairie Police Department, Mounds View Police Department, and the Bloomington Police Department.
"I am glad we are working with our federal partners to get these child predators off the street," said Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges. "I am confident this partnership will help keep our communities safe."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Duluth Climbing Coach Sentenced to over Six Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – Lucas Matthew Kramer, a Duluth man, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possessing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. He also was ordered to pay restitution to his victims and a $7,500 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act of 2018.
“Few crimes are as heinous as the sexual exploitation of minors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kirkpatrick. “My office will continue to prioritize charging predators who hold positions of trust in our community. Coaches, daycare providers, and others in positions of trust who prey on children will face federal justice.”
“The sentencing of Lucas Mathew Kramer concludes a successful investigation focused on those who seek to exploit our children. HSI will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who target our young people,” said ICE HSI Saint Paul Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt. “We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners and stand by our commitment to protecting our communities and securing our homeland.”
According to court documents, on September 23, 2022, law enforcement received a tip that an online individual with the username “northernboy35” had used the Kik messenger application to upload 19 videos of child pornography to the internet. Less than a week later, the same username uploaded five additional child pornography videos to the internet. Law enforcement quickly determined that the uploaded files originated from Duluth, Minnesota, and linked the email and IP address for the “nothernboy35” moniker directly to Lucas Mathew Kramer, 45, a longtime collegiate climbing coach.
Law enforcement proceeded to execute a search warrant at Kramer’s residence and discovered that he had knowingly possessed over 600 images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on numerous electronic devices. His CSAM collection included the graphic sexual abuse of prepubescent children—some as young as toddlers—and included videos depicting children being physically forced into sexual compliance. Kramer admitted that he downloaded and traded his CSAM collection with others on the internet. Law enforcement also discovered evidence of sexually explicit chats between Kramer and self-identified prepubescent minors, where he engaged the self-identified minors in sexually explicit conversations and encouraged them to take and send nude images of themselves.
Kramer pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on October 11, 2024. He was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Eric C. Tostrud on March 19, 2024. When handing down the sentence, Judge Tostrud remarked that Kramer’s conduct was “deeply troubling” and that his collection of CSAM materials “reflected depravity” and showed a “callous indifference” to the humanity of his victims.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Duluth Police Department. “The Duluth Police Department appreciates its partnership with Homeland Security Investigations in holding this offender accountable to the highest standards,” commented Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa.
The 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.
District of South Carolina to Prosecute 1 of 14 Major Drug Smuggling OperationsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — The U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday the seizure of 45,600 pounds of illicit narcotics from smugglers in the Eastern Pacific Ocean worth more than $517 million. One of 14 mentioned interdictions will be prosecuted in the District of South Carolina.
On March 10, the USCGC Stone, utilizing their Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) aircrew, detected a suspect vessel in international waters approximately 234 miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands. The HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics to stop the vessel, and Stone’s boarding team interdicted the go-fast vessel, apprehended two suspected smugglers and seized approximately 4,000 pounds of cocaine.
The two smugglers aboard the vessel, Carlos Armando Cedeno, 29, and Jorge Augusto Mero Figueroa, 60, both of Ecuador, were arrested. Their case has been transferred to the District of South Carolina for prosecution due to an ongoing international drug trafficking investigation by federal law enforcement in Charleston.
"We’re proud to partner with the Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard to combat transnational criminal organizations bringing dangerous narcotics into the U.S,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “The coordinated effort, culminating in arrests and the transfer of this case to the District of South Carolina, demonstrates the effectiveness of our interagency collaboration in disrupting the flow of illicit narcotics. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our borders and keep our communities safe."
Cedeno and Figueroa are charged with possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to United States’ jurisdiction; and jettisoning (dumping into ocean) property that is subject to forfeiture under federal drug laws. Both defendants face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard with operational leads generated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service’s (CGIS) Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Division and Southeast Field Office in Miami, Florida who all cooperatively spearheaded efforts against foreign cartel threats along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case for the District of South Carolina.
All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Cryptocurrency Financial Services Firm "Gotbit" and Founder Plead Guilty to Market Manipulation and Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Gotbit Consulting LLC (Gotbit), a financial services firm known in the cryptocurrency industry as a “market maker,” and its founder pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to criminal charges relating to Gotbit’s fraudulent manipulation of cryptocurrency trading volume on behalf of client cryptocurrency companies.
Aleksei Andriunin, 26, of Russia and Portugal, and Gotbit, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. Andriunin was arrested in Portugal on Oct. 8, 2024 and extradited to the United States on Feb. 25, 2025.
Gotbit and Andriunin were indicted by a federal grand jury on the same charges in October 2024. The indictment also charges two of Gotbit’s directors, Fedor Kedrov and Qawi Jalili.As alleged in court documents, Gotbit was a well-known “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry. 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 and companies whose cryptocurrencies traded on platforms available to investors located in the United States. Andriunin was Gotbit’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. In a 2019 interview, Andriunin 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 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 made wash trades worth millions of dollars on behalf of clients and received tens of millions of dollars in payments from clients.
In connection with its plea, Gotbit admitted that it engaged in manipulative trades to artificially increase the trading price and volume of tokens for clients that included Robo Inu and Saitama. Leaders of those cryptocurrency companies were charged in separate cases unsealed in October 2024.
As part of today’s criminal resolution, Gotbit agreed to cease all operations and forfeit approximately $23 million in seized cryptocurrency. Pursuant to the plea agreement with Andriunin, the government will recommend a sentence of up to two years in prison.
Gotbit is the third market maker to resolve criminal charges relating to wash trading in the cryptocurrency industry. In October 2024, the founder of MyTrade pleaded guilty in connection with providing an unlawful wash trading service identified through an undercover law enforcement operation. In January 2025, CLS Global FZC LLC pleaded guilty in connection with offering illegal “volume support” services uncovered by the same operation.
The Securities & Exchange Commission brought a related civil enforcement action against Gotbit alleging violations of the securities laws.
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 Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Legal Attaché (Madrid) as well as Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria and Procuraduría General de la República. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is handling the forfeiture matter.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.Cleveland Man Sentenced to 147 months for Fentanyl and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – Jarvis Wright, 46, was sentenced today to 147 months in prison following his guilty plea to distribution of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense in Bolivar County, Mississippi.
Wright was sentenced following a guilty plea to a multicount indictment which charged him for the sale of a substance containing fentanyl to a confidential informant in Cleveland, Mississippi in 2022. Wright also pled guilty to a separate possession of fentanyl with intent charge. In that instance, Wright possessed a handgun at the time of his arrest. He admitted as part of his plea that he possessed the handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Wright to 147 total months imprisonment followed by a 60-month term of supervised release. 60 months of the total sentence imposed was for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. That charge requires that a mandatory minimum sentence be imposed.
“The distribution of fentanyl and other illegal drugs has had a devastating impact on the Mississippi Delta region and our country. The risks that these poisons hold is amplified when drug dealers carry firearms.” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “This prosecution and sentence should send a message that those who distribute poison into the community will be held to account and punished accordingly. Fentanyl cannot be tolerated in our state.”
“This sentence sends a clear message: those who peddle deadly fentanyl in our communities, especially while armed, will face severe consequences,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “We are dedicated to protecting the citizens of Mississippi from the devastating impact of these narcotics. This lengthy sentence reflects our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable and restoring safety to our neighborhoods.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotic and the Drug Enforcement Agency investigated this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted the case.
Christopher Reese Convicted of Fraud and Unauthorized Practice of LawRead the Press Release
Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury convicted CHRISTOPHER REESE, a/k/a “Christopher Eugene Thomas,” yesterday for his participation in a scheme to defraud criminal defendants and their family members out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees paid to REESE, who is not a lawyer, to perform unlicensed legal services in federal court. REESE, who is already in federal custody in connection with a separate case, will be sentenced on June 26, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Christopher Reese committed fraud through his bogus legal practice. He promised his victims that he would get their family members out of prison when he knew he had no way to guarantee that outcome, and induced them into paying him for legal services he knew he wasn’t authorized to provide. As a unanimous jury has now found, Reese’s promises were lies designed to enrich Reese at the expense of his victims. Running an unlicensed law business is a crime, and Reese now faces serious federal prison time for his fraudulent conduct.”
According to the Indictment and the evidence at trial:
For years, REESE ran a scam targeting federal inmates, their family members, and friends. To carry out his fraud scheme, REESE promised favorable results in criminal cases that he could not actually obtain, rendering legal services he was not authorized to provide in exchange for hefty fees. REESE styled himself as a “legal assistant” or “paralegal,” but worked without the supervision of a licensed lawyer and offers services that only a lawyer is authorized to provide, including drafting and submitting legal filings in federal courts. REESE brought in business by promising beneficial outcomes to prisoners and their family members that he cannot guarantee, while knowing—but failing to disclose—that his unlicensed legal practice was illegal.
REESE induced victims—criminal defendants and their family members—to pay him thousands of dollars per legal filing. He did this, for example, by promising that defendants would be “immediately released” based on motions REESE would file in exchange for fees in the thousands of dollars. Sometimes REESE also offered to provide a refund if his motions were unsuccessful; but when they failed, REESE kept the money. And when his fraud succeeded, and inmates or their family members paid REESE his fees, REESE engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, by making a business of drafting and filing legal motions and briefs in federal cases, including cases heard by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit at 40 Foley Square in Manhattan, a federal enclave where New York State’s prohibition on the unauthorized practice of law applies via the Assimilative Crimes Act.
REESE earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from this scheme. And REESE committed additional crimes in connection with these fraud proceeds. First, REESE was on supervised release in connection with a separate federal criminal case in this District during most of the scheme. And in connection with his supervision, and in order to avoid paying criminal restitution that he owed, REESE made false statements to the U.S. Probation Office. Second, REESE laundered the proceeds of his scheme by using a co-conspirator to engage in financial transactions designed to conceal the source and movement of the fees REESE collected from his victims.
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REESE, 57, of East Meadow, New York, was convicted of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; unauthorized practice of law in a federal enclave, which carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison; making false statements to the U.S. Probation Office, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. REESE was found not guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josiah Pertz, Kingdar Prussien and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Illegal “Ghost Guns” and 3D Printed Gun PartsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jimmy Franklin King, Jr., 35 of Charleston, has been sentenced to 115 months in federal prison for possessing seven firearms as a convicted felon, several of which were unregistered and untraceable “ghost guns.”
Evidence obtained during the investigation established that King imported firearms parts and components to his North Charleston residence from China, including an illegal silencer. A search warrant was executed on his home and agents discovered illegal firearms, ammunition, and 3D printed firearm components, including a machine gun conversion device, which is commonly used to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun. Also located in King’s residence were two 3D printers and a computer that contained software programs for 3D printing machine gun conversion devices. As a result of these discoveries, King was arrested in September 2023. During his arrest, agents found two more unregistered firearms on his person.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced King to a sentence of 115 months in prison—the maximum sentence called for by the United States Sentencing Guidelines. King’s term of incarceration will be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon is prosecuting the case.
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Buffalo man pleads guilty to child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alexander J. Weidner, 35, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, who is handling the case, stated that on February 28, 2023, a federal search warrant was executed at Weidner’s residence as a result of child pornography uploaded to Snapchat and Instagram accounts, both associated with Weidner. Investigators seized two cellular telephones, which contained approximately 4,843 images and 371 videos of child pornography. Some of the images depicted minors under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, on two occasions, Weidner used the Session application to upload and share a video file containing child pornography with another Session user.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Birmingham Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham has pleaded guilty to gun and drug charged, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.
Isiah De’Monte De’Mario Henley, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge John H. England to distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a machine gun, and being a felon in possession a firearm.
According to court documents, in July and August of 2024, Henley sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential informant on three occasions. On August 8, 2024, Henley sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to an informant in Birmingham. When agents attempted to arrest Henley following the drug transaction, Henley ran from the police into a nearby residence, dropped a bag, and ran out the front door. As Henley exited, agents noticed that he was armed with a black handgun with an extended magazine. Henley was ordered to drop the firearm, and he threw the gun into a vacant lot covered in tall grass before being apprehended. Law enforcement recovered the gun and found that it was altered to include a Glock switch and that the extended magazine was fully loaded. The bag Henley left inside the residence contained 465 grams of methamphetamine and over seven grams of fentanyl.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Vestavia Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany T. Byrd is prosecuting the case.
Birmingham Heroin Supplier Sentenced to 365 MonthsRead the Press Release
Court documents showed that Harding was a heroin supplier in Birmingham who was introduced to a conspirator from Baldwin County, Alabama, by another conspirator in Birmingham. As a result of the introduction, ounces of heroin were transported from Birmingham to Daphne, Alabama, where they were distributed to local heroin dealers. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) obtained a court-authorized wiretap on two of the local conspirators and identified Harding as the primary supplier for heroin. One of the drug shipments being discussed by the conspirators in the monitored phone calls was intercepted on I-65 in Baldwin County by Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies. The deputies seized approximately 205 grams of heroin hidden in the trunk of a rental car. The driver of the car, identified as Quantis Clark, was arrested and indicted separately. Clark pled guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances during June of 2019. He was sentenced on August 30, 2022, to five years imprisonment.
When FBI agents involved in the Baldwin County investigation were preparing to arrest Harding in Birmingham, they discovered that Homeland Security agents and Alabama Law Enforcement agents were also investigating Harding on drug charges. In September of 2019, a search warrant was executed on Harding’s Birmingham residence and agents seized eight firearms, two kilograms of heroin, and additional amounts of cocaine and crack cocaine. In October of 2019, Harding was arrested on the indictment returned in the Southern District of Alabama.
Court documents also showed that Harding occupied a leadership role in the drug conspiracy. Court documents further showed that Harding had a long and significant criminal history with prior felony convictions spanning four decades. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the 365-month sentence at the sentencing hearing on March 19. The judge ordered that the prison sentence will be followed by a four-year term of supervised release. Harding will undergo testing and treatment for drug abuse. The judge also imposed a special condition that the probation office may search Harding’s person or property upon a showing of reasonable suspicion that he is in violation of any of the conditions of his supervision. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Harding pay $100 in special mandatory assessments.
The FBI, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Baldwin County Drug Task Force, the Foley Police Department, the Daphne Police Department, Gulf Shores Police Department and the Bay Minette Police Department, and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office all participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organization 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.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to More Than 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting Multiple MinorsRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Delroy James Scott, 25, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 32 years in federal prison, followed by 50 years of supervised release, for the coercion and enticement of a minor and sexually exploiting six minors.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department; Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger; Chief Charles H. Hinnant, Cumberland Police Department; and Allegany County State’s Attorney James Elliott.
According to his guilty plea, between November 2021 and May 2022, Scott exploited six minor females between the ages of 9 and 14. Scott, who used an alias and pretended to be 16, utilized mobile phones and online applications to meet and communicate with the minor victims. He then persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced the minor victims to meet him to engage in sex acts and/or to produce sexually explicit images and videos. Scott also had victims send him explicit images and videos and threatened to expose some of the victims to coerce them to produce explicit videos and engage in additional sex acts.
Scott traveled to the apartment of Minor Victim 1, age 9, on two separate occasions and coerced the victim to engage in sex acts. He pressured Minor Victim 2, age 11, to send explicit videos and images, and then threatened to expose her to her parents if she didn’t meet Scott in person to engage in sex acts. Scott convinced Minor Victim 3, age 13, to provide the address to her Alleghany County residence where he climbed into her bedroom window and sexually assaulted her.
The defendant traveled to the middle school of Minor Victim 4, age 12, on three separate mornings, and coerced the victim to engage in sex acts by threatening to expose her with videos he claimed he made of them. He coerced Minor Victim 5, age 10, to produce and send him explicit videos and then coerced her to send additional explicit videos by threatening to tell her mother.
Scott recorded he and Minor Victim 6, age 15, engaging in sexually explicit conduct on multiple occasions. Additionally, according to facts presented at sentencing, between 2017 and 2022, Scott engaged in similar unlawful conduct with multiple minor victims between the ages of 12 and 16.
This case is 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Learn more about Internet safety education by clicking on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office, Cumberland Police Department, and Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Armed Franklin County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 19 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Youngsville man was sentenced Thursday to 19 years in prison for armed drug trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana. On June 10, 2024, Samuel McCoy Oakley, Jr., age 47, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of marijuana, distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in September 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in conjunction with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, initiated an investigation into a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC). Investigation through digital and physical surveillance, cooperating sources, and wire intercepts determined that Oakley and his co-conspirators were responsible for distributing various narcotics sourced from New York and New Jersey.
On multiple occasions during the investigation, law enforcement observed unidentified males, with bags, arrive at Oakley’s residence, stay for a brief period, and leave. Vehicles stopped after leaving Oakley’s residence were found with marijuana and cash. Wiretap interceptions included calls where Oakley was discussing the sale of cocaine and fentanyl with his co-conspirators. In one instance, in May of 2023, he discussed purchasing “knowledge,” which referred to fentanyl branded with that name. The next day, a man used by Oakley as a courier drove from Charlotte to Oakley’s house and stayed only a couple of hours before returning to Charlotte. The following day, the courier took a flight to New York. Geo-location data show that the courier was in New York and New Jersey for a couple of days before driving back to North Carolina where he was stopped by law enforcement. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a “trap” that contained 5,012 grams of cocaine and 600 grams of fentanyl. The packages of fentanyl were stamped with the word “Knowledge.”
On July 19, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Oakley’s residence and more than 2,000 grams of cocaine were seized from the attic insulation. In addition, two 9mm handguns, including one that was loaded, a semiautomatic rifle, several rounds of ammunition and more than $35,000 in cash were recovered.
Based on the investigation, between July 2022 and July 2023, law enforcement determined that Oakley was responsible for a total of over 168 kilograms of cocaine, over 7 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 4 kilograms of marijuana.
This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The DEA, the Henderson Police Department, Franklin County Sherriff’s Office, and the State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey L. Peaden 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. 5:23-cr-00247-BO-RN.
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Arkansas man arrested, charged with enticing a minor in West SenecaRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Brayden Storey, 21, of West Fork, Arkansas, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on June 13, 2024, the West Seneca Police Department received a report from a minor victim of an incident involving an individual that she met online. The victim said that Storey first contacted her on Instagram in September 2022, when she was 13 years-old and he was 19 years-old. He also communicated with the minor victim through the social media platform Discord and text message. Between September 2022, and September 2023, they talked about video games and anime shows. At times, Storey made sexual comments, but in October 2023, the sexual communications that Storey sent to the minor victim significantly increased. Storey sent the minor victim a nude image of himself and repeatedly asked her to send him sexually explicit images. Between October 2023, and March 2024, Storey and the minor victim exchanged sexually explicit images.
In March 2024, the minor victim blocked Storey on all social media applications. As a result, he created another Instagram account to contact her. In April 2024, Storey called the minor victim approximately 50 times in a two-day span, but she did not answer the calls and blocked Storey’s phone number so that he could not contact her. In May 2024, Storey sent the minor victim a four-page letter in the mail at her residence, writing about his suicidal ideations and his desire to be in a relationship with her, regardless of their age difference. Along with the letter, Storey provided a lock of his hair. a search of the minor victim’s phone recovered nude images of Storey and child pornography.
Storey made an initial appearance in the Western District of Arkansas and was detained. He will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Cosgrove, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Additional assistance was provided by the Little Rock Office of the FBI, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Arkansas.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Arizona Brothers Plead Guilty for Roles in Conspiracies to Fraudulently Obtain Nearly $109 Million in Covid-Relief FundsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Two brothers from Sedona, Arizona, pleaded guilty for conspiring with one another and others to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) out of nearly $109 million in loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eric Karnezis, 43, pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to commit wire fraud. Today, in a separate but related case, Anthony Karnezis, 43, also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud.
According to court documents, from January 2021 until at least March 2022, Eric Karnezis carried out a scheme whereby he conspired to gather false and fraudulent business information from customers and used the information to submit at least 350 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications through Blueacorn, a lender service provider, to Capital Plus Financial, a lender participating in the PPP. To facilitate the scheme, Eric Karnezis and his co-conspirators created fictious documents to support the fraudulent loan applications, including false payroll information and tax documents.
In total, Eric Karnezis submitted or caused to be submitted at least 1,300 PPP applications, which together attempted to obtain at least $178 million from Capital Plus Financial, of which approximately $105 million in loans were funded in response to the fraudulent applications. Additionally, Eric Karnezis required applicants to pay a fee for his role in the conspiracy and he received approximately $3 million for submitting the fraudulent applications.
Anthony Karnezis carried out a related scheme through at least March 2022, whereby he conspired with his brother, among others, to gather fraudulent business information from customers and used the information to submit at least 140 fraudulent PPP loan applications, through Blueacorn, to Capital Plus Financial. Based on the false and misrepresented information, more than $3.9 million in loans were funded in response to these fraudulent applications. Anthony Karnezis also required applicants to pay a fee for his role in the conspiracy and he received more than $957,000 for submitting the fraudulent applications.
On August 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 23-count indictment charging Eric Karnezis and other defendants with conspiring to commit and committing wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering.
On February 19, 2025, Anthony Karnezis was charged by criminal information with conspiring to commit wire fraud.
Each faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release and will both be sentenced on June 20, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Karin J. Immergut.
As part of their plea agreements, Eric Karnezis agreed to pay between $25 million and $65 million in restitution to their victims, and Anthony Karnezis agreed to pay between $3.5 million and $9.5 million in restitution to their victims. They have also agreed to forfeit any criminally-derived proceeds and property.
This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). It is being prosecuted by Meredith Bateman and Robert Trisotto, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture proceedings are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Jarett, also of the District of Oregon.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
35-Year Sentence for Man Convicted of 2023 Stranger Rape and Kidnapping That Followed Robbery AttemptRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricky McNeil, 51, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for a July 2023 attempted robbery in which he kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and sexually assaulted her, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
On December 11, 2024, a Superior Court Jury found McNeil guilty of kidnapping while armed, first-degree sexual abuse with aggravated circumstances, robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon (knife), possession of a prohibited weapon (knife), and assault with significant bodily injury. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe ordered five years of supervised release and ordered McNeil to register as a sex offender for life upon release from prison.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 26, 2023, as the victim was walking past the defendant, a stranger to her, on Benning Rd, NE, he asked her for a cigarette. She told him she was going to the store and would buy him one. McNeil then snatched her purse off her arm and ran toward the door of his nearby apartment. When he was entering, the victim tried to grab her purse back from McNeil, at which point he grabbed her wrist, pulled her inside and barricaded the sole door to the apartment. When the victim ran to a nearby window and yelled for help, McNeil grabbed her, threw her down and began punching her. He then took the victim into another room, ordered her to disrobe and perform oral sex on him, threatening to give her a “smiley face” with a knife he was holding if she refused. When he had forced the act upon her, she immediately bit him. At that point, McNeil punched her in the mouth, splitting open her lip, and continued beating her. When McNeil got distracted by a phone, the victim jumped out the second-story window to escape. She ran, partially clad, to a nearby McDonald’s where a good Samaritan let her borrow a cell phone to call 911. Police responded to the scene but McNeil had already fled.
When a search warrant was executed the following morning, the victim’s clothing and shoes were recovered from inside McNeil’s apartment, as well as her blood and his.
In October 2023, McNeil was arrested on a warrant in Tampa, FL, and extradited back to DC, where he has been held without bond.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including SODV paralegals Garcia Clark and Veronica Hale, Victim Witness Service Coordinator Maenylie Watson, IT supervisor Leif Hickling, and Victim Advocate Maria Sanchez-Garcia.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly K. Smith and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor and of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section, who prosecuted the case.
17 Previously Removed Defendants – Including Convicted Felons – Charged with Being Illegal Aliens Found in U.S. After RemovalRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors in the last week filed charges against 17 defendants who allegedly illegally re-entered the United States after being removed, the Justice Department announced today.
Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felony offenses before they were removed from the United States, offenses that include assault with bodily injury. One of the defendants is suspected of murder while another was arrested on suspicion of committing assault with intent to rape.
The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison. Defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year sentence and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.
Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below with information contained in court documents.
- Jescar Amarzca-Olgiuen, 51, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal. Amarzca was charged after he was arrested in Orange County on March 19 as a suspect in the 2023 murder of a man who died from multiple gunshot wounds. His criminal history includes a felony conviction in 2013 in San Diego federal court for fraud and misuse of visas and permits, for which he was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison.
- Marvin Campos Cerna, 29, of El Salvador, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal. Campos was charged after he was arrested in West Hollywood on March 7 for allegedly committing assault with intent to rape, false imprisonment, sodomy, and kidnapping. Prior to this arrest, Campos was convicted in 2014 for assault with bodily injury, for which he was sentenced to six years in California state prison.
- Victor Navarro-Cota, 23, and Tereso Guadalupe Martinez-Reyes, 20, both of Mexico, were arrested near Barstow on March 13 while driving a black Chevrolet Suburban filled with 478 pairs of Nike Jordan 6 Rings shoes, which retail for approximately $170 per pair, totaling $81,260. Both Martinez-Reyes and Navarro-Cota were in the U.S. illegally and each previously was deported in February 2025. Navarro-Cota’s arraignment is scheduled for April 22. Martinez-Reyes’ arraignment is scheduled for April 1.
Criminal complaints contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters.
The criminal cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section and the General Crimes Section.
14 Charged in Federal Indictment Following Takedown of Violent Indianapolis Drug Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— 14 individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in Indianapolis, Lafayette, and surrounding communities. The charges follow a successful law enforcement operation in which 13 total individuals have been arrested and are in federal custody. Eight individuals were arrested on March 21, 2025. The following lists the individuals indicted and the charges they face:
DefendantCharge(s)Tanesha M. Turner, 39- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Kidnapping
- Carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
- Accessory to a crime after the fact
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
- Distribution of methamphetamine
- Possession of a machinegun
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
- Causing Death by Using a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
- Possessing, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Retaliating against a witness
- Use of fire or explosives
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Unlawful use of a cell phone
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Unlawful use of a cell phone
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
- Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances
This was a multi-agency operation, involving ten agencies who assisted with the investigation and the arrests on the morning of March 21, 2025. Law enforcement has asked the public for assistance in locating fugitive Lamar T. Browning. He should be considered armed and dangerous. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
According to the indictment, all 14 defendants allegedly operated a drug trafficking conspiracy, selling meth, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin out of several trap houses in Indianapolis.
Some members of the conspiracy allegedly committed multiple acts of violence, including murder, firing gunshots, throwing Molotov cocktails at a home, kidnapping, and pistol-whipping in order to intimidate drug customers and rival drug dealers The violence was used as a tool to collect money owed to them by their drug customers, to protect the locations that they used to distribute drugs, and to retaliate against potential witnesses.
Specifically, Nahamani Sargent allegedly fired gunshots and threw Molotov cocktails at the home of a customer, believing that the victim had provided information about the conspiracy to law enforcement.
Additionally, Tanesha Turner allegedly kidnapped a victim at gunpoint and held them for ransom because they owed $40. Tre Dunn then allegedly shot the same victim for owing money and providing information to law enforcement.
Tre Dunn also allegedly aided and abetted the murder of a man because he disrespected him and his associate during a failed drug deal. Tanesha Turner then allegedly aided Dunn by driving him to another location following the murder to prevent his arrest.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to life in federal prison.
The following investigative agencies collaborated to make this investigation and recent warrant execution possible:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (Indianapolis, Chicago, and Cincinnati SWAT)
- Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, SWAT
- Fishers Police Department, SWAT
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Indiana Capitol Police Department
- Indiana Department of Homeland Security
- Johnson County Sheriff’s Department
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley A. Blackington and Kelsey Massa, who are prosecuting this case.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This operation is part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program.
An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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11 Charged in Twin Cities Drug Trafficking, Kidnapping ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment against 11 individuals associated with a transnational Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) tied to a Mexican cartel in a drug trafficking and kidnapping conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
As alleged in the indictment, beginning in July 2023 through January 2025, 11 defendants conspired to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The DTO leaders arranged for large quantities of methamphetamine to be delivered from Mexico to the Twin Cities area, via the mail and driven by cars and trucks. Once delivered, the Minnesota-based defendants broke large quantities of methamphetamine down into smaller, distributable quantities and sold it to customers throughout the Twin Cities region. In January 2025, an individual owed a DTO leader in Mexico a substantial amount of money, which they could not pay. Four of the co-defendants lured this individual to a location in St. Paul, Minnesota. They kidnaped the victim, beat the victim, chained the victim to a pole, and the held the victim against their will. During the kidnaping and beating, a DTO leader instructed one of the defendants over a messaging application, “you are breaking his hands. Break them good.”
“This case highlights the inherent danger that transnational drug cartels bring to our country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “This mob-style violence has no place in America, it has no place in Minnesota, and those who engage in it will be charged federally.”
The following individuals have been indicted for the following crimes and have made their initial appearance in federal court: • Richar Sanchez Mujica, 30, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to kidnap, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Donovan Rey Lopez, 21, of Minneapolis is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Erling Soren Holdahl, 48, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.
• Dostin Elizander Ortiz-Garcia, 29, of Burnsville, Minnesota, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jonathan Salvador Juarez-Ferrer, 25, of Minneapolis, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
• Timothy Duane Ripley, 45, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.
• Kendra Sue Johnson, 39, is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to kidnap.Four other members of the conspiracy have not yet made their initial appearances.
This case is the result of cooperation between Homeland Security Investigations, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the St. Paul Police Department’s Violent Crime Enforcement Team, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Minneapolis Police Department, Ramsey County, and the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force. It is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael P. McBride is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
10 Indicted in Alleged Scheme Orchestrated by Street Gang Members to Smuggle Narcotics into a Riverside County JailRead the Press Release
RIVERSIDE, California – Three people were arrested today pursuant to a federal grand jury indictment alleging a scheme to smuggle narcotics into a Riverside County jail by concealing drugs inside of individuals who would purposely get arrested to deliver the contraband.
The three arrested today are among 10 defendants named in the indictment that alleges a scheme to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin into the detention facility. The other defendants charged in the case were already in custody.
“Drug smuggling endangers the lives of inmates and the sheriff’s deputies who are sworn to guard them,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “I thank and commend our partners at the FBI and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for the time and attention they have paid to this urgent and important matter.”
“This investigation highlights the importance of the cooperation and working relationship with our federal partner law enforcement agencies when it comes to public safety,” said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. “The smuggling of drugs into our jails, particularly with the emergence of fentanyl, has dramatically increased inmate deaths and medical emergencies within our corrections division. I commend the sheriff's investigators and FBI agents who worked tirelessly on this case to ensure those responsible were identified and brought to justice. We will continue to partner with federal agents in our ongoing efforts to keep Riverside County safe.”
The conspiracy allegedly was led by Andrew Jesus Ayala, 46, of Riverside, and members of a Riverside-based street gang who worked with three in-custody defendants who wanted to obtain narcotics, a group of facilitators on the street and an at least one drug mule who concealed narcotics in a body cavity, the indictment alleges.
The indictment outlines a scheme that began at an unknown date and continued into late 2022, when intercepted phone calls revealed efforts to smuggle narcotics into a Riverside County custody facility. Members of the drug trafficking ring obtain narcotics and recruited individuals who were willing to smuggle drugs hidden inside their bodies, according to the indictment.
Leaders of the scheme arranged temporary housing for the drug mules before and after they went into custody and delivered narcotics, according to the indictment, which details steps taken by the smugglers to avoid having the drugs detected by X-ray scanners.
In one incident in late 2022, a defendant attempted to smuggle 1¾ ounces of methamphetamine concealed inside his body, but that shipment was intercepted when the contraband was seen on an X-ray machine when the defendant was brought into custody, the indictment alleges.
Members of the conspiracy allegedly discussed smuggling fentanyl-laced pills that could be sold inside the jail for 10 times the street price.
The indictment unsealed today charges all 10 defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. Nine of the defendants are additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which also carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Peter Dahlquist and Erin C. Kiss of the Riverside Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
20 March 2025
Zadeh Kicks Owner and Chief Financial Officer Plead Guilty in $80 Million Wire Fraud and Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— The former owner and former chief financial officer of Zadeh Kicks LLC, a now-defunct Oregon corporation that sold limited edition and collectible sneakers online, pleaded guilty today for perpetrating a fraud scheme that cost customers more than $65 million in unfulfilled orders and defrauded financial institutions out of more than $15 million.
Michael Malekzadeh, 42, a Eugene resident, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiring to commit bank fraud. Bethany Mockerman, 42, also of Eugene, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank fraud.
According to court documents, Malekzadeh started his business in 2013 by purchasing limited edition and collectible sneakers to resell online. Beginning as early as January 2020, Zadeh Kicks began offering preorders of sneakers before their public release dates, allowing Malekzadeh to collect money upfront before fulfilling orders. Malekzadeh advertised, sold, and collected payments from customers for preorders knowing he could not satisfy all orders placed. By April 2022, Malekzadeh owed customers more than $65 million in undelivered sneakers.
In her role as chief financial officer at Zadeh Kicks, Mockerman conspired with Malekzadeh to provide false and altered financial information to numerous financial institutions—including providing altered bank statements—on more than 15 bank loan applications. Together, Mockerman and Malekzadeh received more than $15 million in loans from these applications.
During the investigation, agents seized millions of dollars in cash and luxury goods that Malekzadeh acquired with the proceeds of his fraud, including luxury watches, jewelry and hundreds of handbags. Additionally, almost $7.5 million was seized from the sale of Malekzadeh’s residence in Eugene, his watches, and luxury cars manufactured by Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.
On July 29, 2022, Malekzadeh was charged by criminal information with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering, and Mockerman was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Malekzadeh faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for wire fraud, and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Mockerman faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Malekzadeh will be sentenced on August 12, 2025, and Mockerman will be sentenced on August 26, 2025, before a U.S. District Judge.
As part of their plea agreements, Malekzadeh and Mockerman have agreed to pay restitution in full to their victims and if needed forfeit any criminally-derived proceeds and property used to facilitate their crimes identified by the government prior to sentencing.
This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Oregon Intellectual Property Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Forfeiture proceedings are being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie C. de Villiers, also of the District of Oregon.
York County Tax Preparer Indicted for Submission of Fraudulent PPP Loan Applications and Destruction of RecordsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Dommonick T. Chatman, age 49, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted on twenty counts of bank fraud and one count of destroying records in a federal investigation.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Chatman either submitted or caused to be submitted false and fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications and supporting documentation in order to obtain funds for his clients and kickback payments to himself.
The PPP program was created by the March 2020 CARES Act, as part of the United States government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public’s health and economic well-being. The PPP program was designed to help small businesses facing financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. PPP funds were offered in forgivable loans, provided that certain criteria are met, including use of the funds for employee payroll, mortgage interest, lease, and utilities expenses.
According to the indictment, Chatman operated a business located in York, PA, known as The Chatman Group, LLC, through which he offered tax-preparation services. It is alleged that Chatman discussed the PPP and funds available through the PPP with existing and prospective clients of his company. If the clients decided to move forward with PPP loan applications, Chatman prepared a PPP loan application for and on behalf of a client or directed an employee of The Chatman Group to prepare an application using information that he provided. Chatman then knowingly inserted false and fraudulent information into clients’ applications and supporting documentation. For example, several loan applications were supported by a Schedule C—an official IRS tax form for the reporting of business income by a sole proprietor—claiming over $100,000 in gross receipts when, in reality, the taxpayer either did not file a Schedule C for the corresponding tax year or filed a Schedule C reporting gross receipts of less than $15,000.
A financial institution, including at times an unnamed financial institution headquartered in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, then approved such loans in reliance on the documentation submitted to it.
The indictment contains twenty individual charges of bank fraud, each of which is based on an allegedly false and fraudulent PPP loan application filed during March and April 2021. Most of the applications were for a requested amount of approximately $20,833, which was the maximum possible amount for a sole proprietor with no employees.
The indictment also alleges that in November and December 2022, after being contacted and interviewed by members of federal law enforcement, Chatman knowingly destroyed records—including electronically stored PPP loan applications of clients and a hard copy list of PPP loan applications of clients—with the intent to obstruct a federal grand jury investigation.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for bank fraud is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for destruction of records in a federal investigation is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Winnebago Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matt R. Molsen announced that Gabriel Lee Rice, 36, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 20, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a spouse or intimate or dating partner. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Rice to 30 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rice’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
In July 2022, Rice assaulted a woman known to him, pinning her against a wall, then covering her mouth and nose with his hand. Rice restricted the victim’s breathing to the point that the victim could not breathe at all and fell unconscious. The assault occurred in front of a child.
This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Wesley Chapel Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL– U.S. District Judge William F. Jung today sentenced Neil Thomas (23, Wesley Chapel) to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse images. The court also ordered Thomas to forfeit a cellular phone used in the commission of the offense, pay $24,000 in restitution to the victims, and register as a sexual offender. Thomas pled guilty on November 5, 2024.
According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Thomas’ home in September 2023. During a search of Thomas’ cellphone, law enforcement found that in August 2023, Thomas received numerous videos depicting children being sexually abused. Thomas also possessed over 1,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse in his cellphone.
“Protecting our most vulnerable communities will continue to be a focus of our special agents,” said ICE HSI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. "This child predator will now spend time in prison thinking about his crimes.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Violent Domestic Abuser Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Third Illegal Reentry into United States from MexicoRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS— Pedro Zuniga-Lopez, 35, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of an alien after deportation.
According to court documents, on September 19, 2024, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officers were notified by the Indiana Department of Corrections that Pedro Zuniga-Lopez, an illegal alien, was in custody following a conviction for domestic battery with bodily injury to a pregnant woman and scheduled to be released on October 22, 2024.
Zuniga-Lopez had previously been deported to Mexico several times, including once in 2018 and twice in 2020. He was prohibited from entering the United States at any time because he had been convicted of at least one aggravated felony. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, aliens found guilty of certain crimes may be excluded from legal reentry to the country.
Zuniga-Lopez has a lengthy criminal history, including two previous federal convictions for illegal reentry, as well as two convictions for breaking and entering, and domestic battery with bodily injury to a pregnant woman.
Most recently, in 2024, while in the United States unlawfully, Zuniga-Lopez viciously assaulted his own girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child, after she stated she did not want his drugs in her home. He swung at her face with closed fists and continued to punch her after she fell to the ground. The victim’s three young children witnessed the attack and screamed “hey mommy, stop!” The day after the victim made this report to police, Zuniga-Lopez broke a window to her home and forced himself inside. He then fled from police before he was arrested. Zuniga-Lopez was convicted and sentenced in Marion County for this offense.
“While in the United States unlawfully, this defendant has repeatedly broken the law, demonstrating time and time again a fundamental lack of respect for this country” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Additionally, this defendant is a proven menace to society, including toward some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community—women and children. Our office is committed to working with our ICE partners to charge and convict aliens that illegally re-enter the country, especially if they are a risk to public safety.”
“Our ICE Officers work tirelessly to protect the homeland through our efforts with border security, national security and our drive to keep the public safe,” said ERO Chicago’s Assistant Field Office Director Douglas Thompson. “Criminal aliens that continue to cross into our country need to face consequences to discourage them committing crimes that endanger our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute violent felons like Zuniga-Lopez, who has multiple convictions and removals from the U.S.”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Wood, who prosecuted this case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Utah Man Sentenced to 12 Years’ Imprisonment for Attempting to Receive Images of Child Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah –Todd Robert Michels, 54, of Washington City, Utah, was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervised release after he admitted that he attempted to receive images of child sexual abuse.
According to court documents and statements made at Michel’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on November 3, 2023, Michels communicated via the internet with an individual he thought was the father of a seven-year-old boy. Michels was actually communicating with an undercover officer. During these communications, Michels said he wanted to sexually abuse the undercover officer’s seven-year-old son and that he had fantasized about such behavior for a long time. Michels also requested sexually explicit photographs of the child. The undercover officer and Michels ultimately agreed to meet for the purpose of Michels sexually assaulting the seven-year-old boy. Upon Michels’ arrival at the meeting location, he was taken into custody.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated jointly by The FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.