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14 March 2025
Jury Convicts Hayward Man of Bankruptcy Fraud and Contempt of CourtRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – A Hayward, Wisconsin, man has been convicted of two counts of bankruptcy fraud and one count of criminal contempt of court. Bernard Seidling, 73, also of Key West, Florida, was convicted following a four-day trial in federal court in Madison. The jury reached a verdict yesterday afternoon after about five hours of deliberation. The guilty verdict is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
“Fraud threatens the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. Moreover, fraud against the Court—in this case, the Bankruptcy Court—has the potential to undermine public trust in the fairness of the courts. This case reflects my office’s commitment to prosecuting financial crime and protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said U.S. Attorney O’Shea. “I am grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Trustee’s Office and I commend our federal and state law enforcement partners, the FBI, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and the U.S. Postal Inspectors.”
“The FBI is unwavering in its commitment to holding individuals like Mr. Seidling accountable,” stated FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle. “Criminal bankruptcy fraud threatens the integrity of our legal processes, and the FBI remains committed along with our law enforcement partners in bringing those to justice who would abuse and exploit the bankruptcy system.”
Seidling filed for bankruptcy in 2022. He falsely stated he had no real estate, retirement accounts, trusts, partnerships, or business-related property, and that he had only one deposit account with a balance of $195. Through 25 witnesses and 115 exhibits, the government established Seidling had millions of dollars in personal and business assets, many of which were hidden behind trusts and partnerships. As one example, the day he filed bankruptcy, Seidling had four bank accounts in the names of trusts and a partnership with a combined balance of more than $3,000,000. In 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seidling’s Hayward residence and located over $100,000 in cash and over $4,000,000 in uncashed cashier’s checks, most of which were drawn on business bank accounts but made payable to Seidling.
The government also proved Seidling defrauded the bankruptcy court and the bankruptcy trustee by falsely representing that he could not meaningfully participate in the bankruptcy case due to his physical and mental health. This stalled the trustee’s efforts to identify and liquidate Seidling’s assets for the benefit of his creditors. During the period of Seidling’s alleged incapacitation, he continued to manage his businesses, conduct banking activity, and play tennis. He also represented himself and participated in state court litigation.
The government also proved Seidling violated an order issued by the bankruptcy court. A November 2023 injunction prohibited Seidling from transferring or dissipating assets held by 37 of Seidling’s businesses, plus any other business entity Seidling was associated with. The injunction further prohibited Seidling from directing or instructing anyone else to transfer assets. Seidling violated the injunction by transferring real estate and draining bank accounts. He hid more than $1,000,000 in cash in a crawl space under his house. Seidling also used an unwitting individual to transfer a parcel of real estate.
Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2025. Seidling faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of bankruptcy fraud. There is no maximum penalty for criminal contempt of court.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The United States also received assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith P. Duchemin and Megan R. Stelljes.
James Island Man Charged for Arson of a N. Charleston Tesla Charging StationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, of James Island has been arrested on criminal charges related to an arson at a North Charleston Tesla charging station.
The complaint alleges that on March 7, the North Charleston Police Department and North Charleston Fire Department responded to a Tesla charging station on Tanger Outlet Boulevard to reports of an arson. Witnesses reported that a man spray painted in red paint, “F*ck Trump” and “Long Live Ukraine” in a Tesla charging station parking spot. The man then pulled out five incendiary explosive devices, commonly known Molotov cocktails, and threw them at the Tesla chargers, damaging the chargers. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the arson and identified a defendant, Daniel Clarke-Pounder. He was arrested last night and arraigned this afternoon in federal court.
"While we will defend the public’s right to peaceful protest, we will not hesitate to act when protest crosses the line into violence and mayhem. These kinds of attacks have no place in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We are grateful for the prompt response of our first responders and law enforcement. We must remain united in our commitment to safety and respect for all, regardless of political differences.”
“We’re very proud of the response from our Special Agents and the collaborative effort on this investigation between ATF, the North Charleston Police Department, and the North Charleston Fire Department,” said Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Our Certified Fire Investigators played an especially critical role here in identifying the evidence that led us to the suspect. Our fire investigation program proved to be an important factor in the outcome of this investigation and we’re grateful to have played a part in bringing this individual to justice.”
Clarke-Pounder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. He is currently detained pending a detention hearing and preliminary hearing scheduled for March 17 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the North Charleston Police Department, and the North Charleston Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cole Shannon and Everett McMillian are prosecuting the case.
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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Iowa City Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced yesterday to 41 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.
According to public court documents, Javeyel Johnta Jones, 22, was identified at the scene of a May 2023 shooting in Muscatine. A gun was recovered from the scene and, following additional analysis, Jones’ fingerprint was found on the gun. During a 2024 investigation, Jones was found to be in possession of a second gun in West Liberty.
In 2023, Jones was convicted of possessing a firearm as a felon in the Iowa District Court for Johnson County and was on probation for this charge at the time of federal indictment.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Jones will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Muscatine County Police Department and Muscatine County Drug Task Force.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Illinois Doctor Pleads Guilty to Evading Approximately $1.6M in TaxesRead the Press Release
An Illinois doctor pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion for hiding assets and lying to the IRS about his ability to pay approximately $1.6 million in taxes, penalties, and interest.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Krishnaswami Sriram was a medical doctor who resided in Lake Forest. From approximately 2011 to 2017, Sriram evaded payment of approximately $1.6 million he owed to the IRS. Among other steps, Sriram transferred ownership, in name only, of two rental properties from himself to his children without their knowledge, even though he continued to receive income from these properties. He also transferred approximately $600,000 from bank accounts he controlled in the United States to accounts in India. To fraudulently reduce the money he owed the IRS, Sriram submitted documents to the IRS that omitted an investment account in the United States, bank and investment accounts in India, and ownership of the rental properties.
In total, Sriram caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $1.6 million.
As part of the plea, Sriram also admitted that, between February 2012 and January 2022, he caused false billing to Medicare for episodes of in-home physician care, which he purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries on dates when those beneficiaries resided at inpatient facilities other than their homes or were deceased. Sriram’s false statements in medical records relating to these episodes of care resulted in false billing to Medicare in the amount of $136,980.36.
Sriram is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara E. Henderson for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Victor Yanz, of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Maxie Darryl Caston, age 58, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The Indictment alleged that on September 6, 2024, Caston knowingly possessed one .22 caliber revolver, one .20 gauge break-open shotgun, one .243 Winchester caliber bolt-action rifle, two .22 caliber semi-automatic rifles, one .22 caliber lever-action rifle, together with six rounds of .22 Magnum caliber ammunition, one round of .20 gauge ammunition, 13 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, and five rounds of .243 Winchester caliber ammunition after having been previously convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Caston will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Honduran National Guilty of Re-entry of a Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingU.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that HIBIS TURCIO-SANCHEZ (“TURCIO-SANCHEZ”), age 45, a native of Honduras, plead guilty on March 13, 2025, to reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and (b)(1).
According to court documents, TURCIO-SANCHEZ reentered the United States after he was previously deported on October 17, 2016.
TURCIO-SANCHEZ faces an enhanced maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,00 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee because of his prior felony conviction for assaulting a federal official in 2016. Sentencing is set for June 17, 2025, before United States District Judge Susie Morgan.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Honduran Citizen Indicted on Illegal Reentry ChargeRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Elio Yoel Cardona-Torres, age 43, a Honduran citizen, was indicted on March 12, 2025, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on or about February 22, 2025, Cardona-Torres was encountered in Bradford County after previously being removed from the United States. The indictment also alleges that Cardona-Torres had been removed from the United States on June 2, 2010, through Phoenix, Arizona, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so.
This case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is 20 years and a fine. A sentence for this offense may also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment. 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.
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High-Ranking Member of Violent Mexican Drug Cartel Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Mexican national and high-ranking, violent member of the Los Zetas cartel pleaded guilty today to conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the United States.
According to court documents, Eleazar Medina-Rojas, also known as El Chelelo, 53, was a member of Los Zetas, a drug trafficking organization comprised primarily of former Mexican military officers that began as an armed militaristic wing of the Gulf Cartel. Los Zetas later formed an alliance with the Gulf Cartel, and they collectively operated under the name “The Company.” Medina-Rojas was responsible for enforcement actions and protection of drug trafficking routes, which he often carried out through violence, threats of violence, and the use of weapons. For example, Medina-Rojas participated in acts of violence against rival drug trafficking groups during conflicts for control over drug plazas and trafficking routes.
Medina-Rojas rose through the ranks of The Company and held important leadership roles. Between 2006 and 2007, he served as a “plaza boss” in Monterrey, Mexico, commanding dozens of members of The Company in drug trafficking activity and acts of violence. Specifically, he coordinated cocaine and marijuana loads from Mexico into the United States, shipping the drugs in box trucks and other vehicles outfitted with hidden compartments, and coordinated the repatriation of bulk cash drug proceeds to Mexico. Medina-Rojas and those under his command and control taxed other shipments of illegal drugs that crossed through The Company’s territory, often en route to the United States. Medina-Rojas was personally responsible for the importation into the United States of more than 450 kilograms of cocaine and 90,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2025. Medina-Rojas faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Field Division made the announcement.
The DEA Houston Division investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and July 2023 extradition of Medina-Rojas.
Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Kirk Handrich and Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Hickman, Kentucky Man Charged with Federal Narcotics and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY –A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant was issued this week charging a Hickman, Kentucky man with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division made the announcement.
According to court records, on or about and between October 20, 2023, and March 11, 2025, Christopher Tyler Wilson, 31, conspired to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances. On March 11, 2025, agents obtained a search warrant for two USPS packages addressed to Wilson at his residence. Inside the packages, they located a large amount of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills. When Wilson came to the post office to retrieve the packages, a firearm was in plain view in the vehicle. Wilson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On April 22, 2021, in Hickman Circuit Court, Wilson was convicted of first-degree unlawful imprisonment and assault under extreme emotional disturbance.
A search warrant was later executed at Wilson’s residence resulting in the seizure of additional suspected counterfeit Adderall pills, suspected fentanyl pills packaged for sale, suspected Xanax bars, and suspected crystal methamphetamine. Agents also located a large amount of U.S. currency, a money counter, a digital scale, an empty pistol box with ammunition, and a suspected firearm suppressor.
Wilson made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on March 12, 2025. Wilson was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, Wilson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Paducah Satellite Office, the U.S. Postal Inspectors Service Bowling Office, the HSI Bowling Green Office, and the DEA Paducah Post of Duty, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police, the Hickman Police Department, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A criminal complaint 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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Hampton County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Meth and FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — John Maurice Anderson, 40, of Hampton, was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute high potency methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Evidence presented to the court showed that beginning in January 2023 and continuing through June 2023, Anderson conspired with others to distribute and did distribute over 340 grams of high potency methamphetamine and approximately 5 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating source and undercover officer. During a search of Anderson’s vehicle after his arrest, agents located two loaded firearms and a loaded extended magazine. During a search of Anderson’s residence in Hampton, agents located nine loaded firearms, two of which were stolen; approximately 1.9 grams of fentanyl, 29 grams of high potency methamphetamine, 26 grams of cocaine, 23 grams of crack cocaine, and 8 grams of bath salts; various drug trafficking supplies; and over $35,000 in cash.
"Anderson's distribution of illegal narcotics presented a grave threat to the public, and this prison sentence makes our community safer,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal operations that bring drugs and violence into our community.”
“Drug traffickers exploit vulnerable members of our community to generate profits,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those trying to destroy our communities with drugs and violence will be held accountable.”
“Drug trafficking has plagued our communities for far too long,” said Hampton County Sheriff Anthony Russell. “This case is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect our citizens. Their efforts have made a significant impact in our fight against crime, and we will continue to stand together to ensure the safety of our communities.”
“I’d like to thank all the agencies, local, state, and federal, involved in this case,” said Hampton Police Chief Perry McAlhaney. “Prior to this operation our community had an overwhelming number of overdoses and this cut down on those significantly, removing dangerous fentanyl and meth from our streets.”
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Anderson to 130 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, Hampton Police Department, and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carra Henderson is prosecuting the case.
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Haines City Man Arrested for String of Convenience Store RobberiesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the arrest of Davian Walker (19, Haines City) for robberies of convenience stores throughout the Middle District of Florida. If convicted, Walker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
According to the complaint and court statements, Walker committed five robberies over the course of less than three months. Each robbery involved Walker brandishing what appeared to be a handgun to store clerks and demanding cash.
Through an investigation into the first four robberies, law enforcement was able to link Walker to the robberies by identifying his phone number and the vehicle Walker was using to travel to each of the robberies. Using that information, law enforcement tracked and ultimately arrested Walker shortly after he committed a robbery in Titusville during the early morning hours of March 13, 2025.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, the Zephyrhills Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Titusville Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
Guilty Plea in Sale of Fentanyl that Resulted in Deaths of Two Northwest D.C. MenRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jevaughn Mark, 33, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today in connection with a conspiracy that distributed large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in the metropolitan area, and included the sale of fentanyl that resulted in the December 2023 deaths of two District men.
Mark, aka “Ledo,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, and to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya S. Chutkan. Sentencing is scheduled for June 13, 2025.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian of the Washington Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Mark had been charged with eight counts of unlawful distribution (of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin) and distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl between January 10, 2024, and March 13, 2024. The charges stemmed from six controlled purchases in which undercover DEA and MPD taskforce officers (UC-DEA/MPD) contacted Mark and purchased narcotics. In each instance, the UC-DEA/MPD agents requested to buy “Special K” or ketamine. In every instance, he supplied a mixture of fentanyl and other substances, including heroin, but not ketamine.
After obtaining an indictment, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mark’s primary residence and recovered two firearms, cocaine, fentanyl, about $38,000 in cash, body armor vests, and drug trafficking paraphernalia.
On June 13, 2024, Jevaughn Mark was charged in a second superseding indictment in connection with distributing fentanyl and cocaine on December 26, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of two men, Brandon Román and Robert Barletta, at their home in Northwest Washington. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Mark admitted to causing the death of both individuals by selling “ketamine” (which was actually fentanyl) to one victim who shared the drugs with the other victim. Both men were found unresponsive the day after Mark sold them the “ketamine.”
The case is being investigated by the DEA’s Washington Division and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Iris McCranie and Dan Seidel, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) section.
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Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal Reentry by A Previously Deported AlienRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Gudelito Adin Cinto-Gonzalez (43, Guatemala) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Cinto-Gonzalez faces up to two years in federal prison.
According to the indictment, Cinto-Gonzalez was previously removed from the United States on September 16, 2004. He has never applied to the Attorney General of the United States and/or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for permission to re-enter the United States. On July 4, 2024, he was found voluntarily back in the United States.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) and the Ocoee Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Del Mastro.
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.
Great Falls businessman sentenced for tax and investment fraudRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Great Falls man was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison for tax crimes and his wire fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, owned and operated several businesses, including laser tag facilities and an Amazon reseller. From 2015 to 2021, Rahim did not pay the IRS the taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks or file the required quarterly employment tax returns reporting those withholdings.
Between October 2010 and October 2012, Rahim filed two personal income tax returns on which he reported owing substantial taxes, but did not pay all the taxes due. When the IRS attempted to collect the unpaid taxes, Rahim submitted a false statement that omitted valuable assets he owned, including a helicopter, a Bentley, a Lamborghini, and real estate in Great Falls. Approximately two weeks later, Rahim transferred ownership of the Great Falls property to his wife. He also paid personal expenses from his business bank accounts, including more than $889,000 toward his mortgages and more than $669,000 to purchase or lease cars, including three different Lamborghinis. Rahim withdrew more than $1.1 million in cash in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid triggering currency transaction reports from the bank. Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million in gross income.
In total, Rahim caused a loss to the IRS of at least $4.4 million.
Rahim also defrauded customers who invested using his automated trading bots and by “copying” Rahim’s supposed trading activities that he posted to Discord. He marketed his products on websites named BotsforWealth, TradeAutomation, ProChartSignals, OptionCopier, CopyAndWin, SnipeAlgo, and QQQtrade. Rahim charged customers a subscription fee to access his bots and other software, and to copy his supposed trades. Rahim also offered a “lifetime membership” through which customers received access to Rahim’s private Discord channel, some of his products, and his “in-office” trading days. Rahim personally traded stocks for at least two individuals, claiming “We'll hit home runs and make $500k+ per day very very often.” Instead, Rahim lost over $300,000 of his clients’ funds in eight months.
Rahim induced customers to subscribe to his products by using social media tools, including TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He also sought to induce customers by claiming he was extremely wealthy, boasting about trading millions of dollars and posting about his large home, pool, and luxury cars, including his Lamborghini. He posted false information to his websites and to his social media accounts claiming to “beat the stock market every day” and promising extreme profit margins. His claim of regularly beating the market was exaggerated. In reality, he did not post his trades that lost money. In fact, Rahim realized over $500,000 in losses from February 2021 through December 2022, and did not earn millions in the market during this time as he had claimed. As part of his fraud scheme, Rahim also created at least 20 Discord user profiles where he posted emojis, likes, and symbols showing agreement and excitement regarding Rahim’s posts. Rahim earned at least $1,397,000 in subscription fees during his schemes.
In addition to Rahim’s prison sentence, he agreed to forfeiture of over $1.3 million and must pay restitution to the IRS and to his investment fraud victims.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Karen E. Kelly, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division; and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation investigated Rahim’s tax fraud and FBI investigated his investment fraud. The case was consolidated for sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys William Montague and Ashley Stein of the Tax Division prosecuted Rahim for his tax fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shartar prosecuted Rahim for his investment fraud.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-173 (Rahim’s Tax Fraud Case) and 1:24-cr-179 (Rahim’s Investment Fraud Case).
Georgia Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine from Inside an Alabama PrisonRead the Press Release
According to court documents, Justin Brian Melton, 35, was convicted of trafficking heroin in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama in 2022. The state court sentenced Melton to serve 20 years in prison. Melton served that sentence at the Ventress prison in Clayton, Alabama.
Between March 2023 and May 2024, while incarcerated at Ventress, Melton used contraband cell phones to orchestrate shipments of bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine from the Atlanta, Georgia area into southern Alabama and elsewhere. In November 2023, agents arrested one of Melton’s coconspirators in Atmore, Alabama and seized half a kilogram of fentanyl from him. Melton’s coconspirator was on his way back from Atlanta after completing a bulk fentanyl deal that Melton had brokered. Agents extracted the contents of the coconspirator’s cell phone, which contained several messages between Melton and the coconspirator about coordinating bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine transactions.
Agents obtained AT&T records regarding the contraband cell phones that Melton used to broker drug deals while he was in prison. The phones were subscribed in Melton’s name. Cell tower location data for the phones showed that during the conspiracy, the phones consistently pinged off the same cell tower in the vicinity of the Ventress prison. Additionally, agents captured recorded communications between Melton and coconspirators that showed Melton using contraband phones from state prison.
In addition to the 210-month prison sentence, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Melton to serve a ten-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Beaverstock ordered Melton to pay $200 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.Fort Wainwright Soldier arrested on multiple child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Soldier stationed at Fort Wainwright was arrested yesterday evening on the military base after a criminal complaint was filed in federal court charging him with production and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2024, the Fort Eustis Resident Unit of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (DACID) received a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) cybertip reporting that five images of alleged child sexual abuse material (CSAM) were uploaded to an online platform. Fort Eustis DACID reviewed the images and determined they depicted CSAM of prepubescent female children.
A subsequent investigation resulted in law enforcement executing search warrants in October 2024 for the residence of David Andres Mayoral, 20, Mayoral’s electronic devices and his account on the previously mentioned online platform.
A review and forensic examination of Mayoral’s accounts and electronic devices allegedly revealed over 2,500 images and over 680 videos of suspected CSAM that Mayoral possessed and communicated across four messaging applications.
The complaint also alleges Mayoral engaged in sexually explicit conversations with minor victims, where he requested and directed the victims to take sexually explicit photos and send them to him.
Mayoral is charged with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted, Mayoral faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the DACID Western Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The DACID and FBI Anchorage Field Office are investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Mayoral’s alleged actions or may have encountered an individual using the name “David Mayoral” or “ghoulishclown” online, please contact DACID at (907)353-6212 or anonymously at www.cid.army.mil/Submit-a-Tip/.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Jennifer Ivers are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Mt. Carmel Borough Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate Civil RightsRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that former Lt. David Donkochik, age 53, of the Mt. Carmel Borough Police Department, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. Chief District Judge Matthew W. Brann, to conspiring to use excessive force when arresting people over a three-year period.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, former Lt. Donkochik was previously indicted on June 15, 2023, with former Officer Jonathan McHugh, age 36, and former Officer Kyle Schauer, age 36, on charges of conspiracy to deprive rights under color of law. Donkochik, McHugh, and Schauer conspired to violate the civil rights of those they arrested from 2018 to 2021. During 22 different arrests, one or more of the defendants kicked, punched, choked, or otherwise used excessive force against those they were arresting. In those arrests, they caused bodily injuries to their victims.
Donkochik, McHugh, and Schauer also took steps to ensure that video of the arrests was not captured by police cameras, or if footage that incriminated them was captured, took steps to ensure that footage was not preserved. They falsely reported that arrestees acted in a manner requiring violence and then charged arrestees with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and related offenses to conceal their own use of violence.
Schauer pleaded guilty on October 24, 2024, to conspiracy to deprive rights under color of law.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Carlo D. Marchioli and are prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 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.
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Former Mohawk Executive Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA, Ga. – Jana Kanyadan, the former Global Chief Information Officer of Mohawk Industries, Inc. (“Mohawk”), has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for defrauding Mohawk.
“Kanyadan held a position of authority as a C-suite executive at Mohawk and abused his fiduciary duty by stealing from the company that trusted him,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “His sentence is a reasonable one that reflects the seriousness of his criminal conduct.”
“The defendant stole money that should have gone to his employer,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “We will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who attempts to scam their employer out of funds.”
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Kanyadan was Mohawk’s Global Chief Information Officer, responsible for Information Technology (“IT”) services and decisions. In 2019, Mohawk began a large, multi-year IT project and outsourced work for the project to IT consulting firms. Kanyadan secretly organized and controlled a Georgia company, Meta Technology Platforms, LLC (“Meta Tech”), and used his position at Mohawk to retain Meta Tech as a Mohawk vendor and divert Mohawk’s outsourced IT consulting work to Meta Tech.
Between approximately May 7, 2022, and October 2, 2022, Meta Tech submitted invoices to Mohawk totaling approximately $3,016,011.40. But these invoices did not disclose Kanyadan’s relationship to Meta Tech. Moreover, the invoices charged Mohawk for services that had not actually been performed and for software that had not actually been provided. The invoices also charged Mohawk inflated hourly rates that Kanyadan approved on Mohawk’s behalf. Based on the fraudulent invoices, Mohawk paid Meta Tech approximately $1,857,741.40, in total, with approximately $820,577.40 of that amount arising from fraud.
Jana Kanyadan, 54, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Kanyadan was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine and $985,166.66 in restitution. Kanyadan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and seven counts of wire fraud on November 1, 2024.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Tal C. Chaiken prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced for Abducting and Sexually Assaulting a Minor VictimRead the Press Release
Aaron Thomas Mitchell, 30, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for abducting a 15-year-old female middle school student, driving her to his apartment, and repeatedly sexually assaulting her.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Mitchell found the child waiting for school to start, introduced himself as a law enforcement officer, and ordered the child into his car. Mitchell then restrained the child’s hands and feet with handcuffs and drove her nearly an hour away to his apartment.
At his apartment, Mitchell forced the victim into his bedroom, where he repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of several hours, before he returned the victim to an alley near the middle school.
An examination of Mitchell’s cellphone revealed that he conducted numerous searches regarding rape, how to stop someone from screaming, and how long it takes to smother someone.
“As we work to secure the southern border, it is essential that our law enforcement officers remain above reproach and are trusted by the people they protect,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “This sentence shows that if anyone abuses their position of authority, they will face the harshest consequences available. And while we can never undo the pain inflicted by this defendant on the victim, we are proud to see that justice has been served.”
“This sentence underscores the FBI's commitment to holding law enforcement officers accountable when they violate the rights of individuals. When an officer shrugs off his sworn oath and harms those they promised to protect, he betrays the people of his community and all of us who wear a badge," said Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The FBI continues to ensure the rights of every American are protected. Thank you to the Douglas Police Department for their partnership and work on this case.”
The Douglas Police Department and FBI Phoenix Field Office, Sierra Vista Resident Agency investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carin Duryee for the District of Arizona and Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Former Bookkeeper Accused of Embezzling at Least $400,000 from ChurchRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former parish secretary and bookkeeper turned herself in Friday to face an accusation that she embezzled at least $400,000 from a DeSoto, Missouri church.
Corie M. Boyer, 49, of Jefferson County, Missouri, was indicted March 6 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. She pleaded not guilty in court Friday afternoon.
The indictment says Boyer was responsible for maintaining the parish's books and records, organizing certain parish fundraisers and assisting in the collection and counting of the weekly offertory. From at least January of 2017 through March of 2024, Boyer stole at least $400,000 in parish funds in multiple ways, the indictment says. She used parish funds to pay her personal credit card bills and used parish credit cards for personal expenses including airfare for herself and relatives, cruises, college tuition payments, shopping, taxes and rent, the indictment says. She also wrote checks to herself and stole cash from the offertory, and she covered up her thefts by falsifying parish records, the indictment says.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Money laundering is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and the same fine.
A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and IRS - Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Former Antioch Police Officer Found Guilty of Deprivation of Civil Rights and Falsification of RecordsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – A federal jury today convicted former Antioch police officer Morteza Amiri of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsification of records. The jury’s verdict followed an eight-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.
Amiri, 33, was previously employed as a police officer with the Antioch Police Department. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Amiri, a K-9 handler, deployed his K-9 to bite suspects even when it was not necessary. Amiri kept a running bite count that he celebrated with other officers. Amiri also took photographs of the dog bites and shared them with other officers, stating in one text message that “gory pics are for personal stuff” and “cleaned up pics for the case.”
“Morteza Amiri violated the oath he swore to protect the people of Antioch. He flouted his duty as a police officer, misused his police dog, and inflicted unnecessary and excessive force against the victim. This appalling conduct erodes public trust in law enforcement. And it weakens law enforcement’s ability to carry out its primary mission of public safety. As today’s jury verdict makes clear, officers who put themselves above the law will be held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins.
“Today’s guilty verdict against Morteza Amiri sends a clear message: no one is above the law, especially those sworn to uphold it. Amiri’s actions betrayed the trust of the community and undermined the integrity of law enforcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI remains committed to holding accountable any officer who violates their oath and deprives citizens of their constitutional rights. The people of Antioch, and communities everywhere, deserve better.”
According to the evidence at trial, on July 24, 2019, Amiri pulled over and stopped a bicyclist identified as A.A., who, according to Amiri, did not have his bicycle light on. Amiri approached A.A., punched and took the victim to the ground, and then called for his K-9 to bite the victim. As a result, A.A. sustained injuries. At the time, Amiri was accompanied by a police officer with a neighboring agency as a ride-along, and that officer assisted with the deployment of the K-9. Afterwards, Amiri shared pictures of the victim’s wounds with other Antioch police officers. One officer responded, “Yeah buddy good boy,” referring to the K-9, and “Lol you bit [A.A.].” In response to a question from another officer about what cut the dog’s face, Amiri responded, “that’s a piece of the suspect’s flesh lol.”
Amiri later wrote to the officer who accompanied him on the ride-along, “you got to see [the K-9] in action lol,” and stated that detectives got the victim “a 45 day violation and we are gonna leave it at that so i don’t go to court for the bite. Easy,” referring to the victim going into custody for a parole/probation violation. Amiri then falsified a police report of the incident, stating that one of the reasons he deployed his K-9 was because he was alone, when instead the ride-along police officer was with him at the time and had helped Amiri deploy the K-9.
The jury convicted Amiri of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242 and one count of falsification of records in a federal investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. The jury acquitted Amiri of one count of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241 and two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
Amiri was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud following a jury trial in August 2024.
Amiri is scheduled to appear on March 18, 2025, for a hearing on whether to remand him to custody pending sentencing, and on June 3, 2025, for sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on the count of deprivation of rights under color of law and 20 years in prison on the count of falsification of records. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
These civil rights charges against Amiri were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburgh police departments that resulted in multiple charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:
Case Name and NumberStatute(s)Defendant
(Bold: multiple case numbers)
StatusFraud
23-cr-00264
18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24Morteza AmiriConvicted at trial 8/8/24, sentencing pendingAmanda Theodosy a/k/a NashSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24Samantha PetersonSentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24Ernesto Mejia-OrozcoSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24Brauli Jalapa RodriguezSentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24Obstruction
23-cr-00267
18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Timothy Manly WilliamsPleaded guilty 11/28/23, status conference 4/15/25Steroid Distribution
23-cr-00268
21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 4/15/2521 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids);
18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)
Devon WengerTrial set for 4/28/25Civil Rights
23-cr-00269
18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)Morteza AmiriConvicted at trial 3/14/25 on counts 2 and 5, sentencing set for 6/3/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Eric RomboughPleaded guilty 1/14/25, status conference 4/22/2518 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)Devon WengerPendingSteroid Distribution
24-cr-00157
21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)Patrick BerhanSentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24Bank fraud
24-cr-00502
18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)Daniel HarrisPleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 4/15/25
Florida Man Sentenced for Using Gasoline to Start Employer’s Semi Trailer on Fire at EppleyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Kevin Kaedi, age 27, of Florida was sentenced on March 14, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for malicious use of explosive materials. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kaedi to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kaedi is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On March 31, 2024, a semi-truck owned by Prime Inc., a nationwide-based trucking company headquartered in Missouri, was damaged due to arson.
On March 25, 2024, Kaedi, a Prime, Inc. driver, disconnected his semi-truck’s tracking device so his employer could no longer see the vehicle movement. He eventually parked the semi in the south cell phone parking lot of Eppley Airfield in Omaha.
On March 31, Kaedi can be seen on surveillance video walking into Eppley Airfield terminal and renting a vehicle. He then drives the rental back to the semi-truck and unloads items from the semi-truck into his rental car. Kaedi then drives away in his rental car. Several minutes later, smoke can be seen coming from the semi-truck. Fire fighters were dispatched to the scene and extinguished the fire. Investigators located a red plastic gas container inside the cab of the semi-truck along with an incendiary device, indicating that the fire was intentional. The amount of loss totaled $59,353.63, which Kaedi was ordered to pay as restitution.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and City of Omaha, Fire Investigation Unit.
Florida Businessman Patrick Walsh and Affiliated Companies Agree to $20M Consent Judgment to Settle False Claims Act Liability Relating to Fraudulent Pandemic Relief LoansRead the Press Release
Patrick Walsh and 10 companies he owned or operated have agreed to enter into a consent judgment totaling $20,074,458.70 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information in support of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications. The 10 companies for which Walsh obtained fraudulent loans include American Blimp Company LLC; Walsh Family Land Corp.; Airsign Inc.; Airsign Airship Group LLC; Airsign Group LLC; Airsign Airships Latin America LLC; Airsign Airships Asia Pacific LLC; Airsign Airships Repair Station LLC; Aero Capital LLC; and Eagle Ridge Management Group LLC doing business as Shiloh Oil Company.
Congress created the PPP loan program and expanded access to the EIDL program in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPP, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was designed to provide low-interest, forgivable loans to applicants to help fund certain permissible expenses for qualifying businesses amidst the COVID‑19 pandemic, which included payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The EIDL program, also administered by the SBA, provides low-interest loans to small businesses in regions affected by declared disasters. PPP loans were guaranteed by the SBA, and EIDL loans were direct loans made by the SBA. To qualify under either program, a corporate representative submitted a loan application that, among other things, stated the number of the entity’s employees and certified that the borrower was an operating business that would use loan proceeds for eligible business expenses.
In this case, Walsh entered into a civil settlement in which he admitted to submitting PPP and EIDL loan applications on behalf of the companies listed above that provided false information about the companies’ employee rosters and payrolls. Some of the entities for which Walsh submitted loan applications were dormant or inactive. Walsh submitted additional EIDL applications in his wife’s name on behalf of certain corporations. In total, Walsh received approximately $7.8 million in fraudulent loans on behalf of various corporate entities. Walsh used those loan proceeds for impermissible personal purposes, including the purchase of a private island, investment in Texas oil interests, and paying off personal debts. When Walsh defaulted on the PPP loans, the SBA paid the lenders in full pursuant to its guarantee obligations. The SBA also paid for certain interest and processing fee expenses incurred by the lenders related to the loans. Under the terms of the consent judgment, Walsh and the companies he owned or operated have agreed to the entry of judgments against them totaling $20,074,458.70.
In January 2023, Walsh pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in connection with the fraudulent loans and was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison, which he is currently serving. The court also ordered him to pay $7.8 million in restitution and entered a forfeiture order in the same amount.
“PPP and EIDL loans were intended to help small businesses during the pandemic,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to holding accountable those who undermined the purpose of these programs by knowingly obtaining and retaining loan proceeds for which they were not eligible.”
“Today’s civil resolution and the previously imposed 66-month period of incarceration should serve as a significant deterrent to others like the defendant who would attempt to steal millions of dollars from the American people and exploit Federal relief programs,” said Acting United States Attorney Michelle Spaven for the Northern District of Florida. “The Northern District of Florida is committed to protecting government programs from fraud, and we will hold those accountable who steal from the American taxpayers.”
“This settlement is a victory over bad actors seeking to exploit taxpayer-funded programs,” said Wendell Davis, General Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration. “SBA is committed to vigorously protecting the hard-earned money of the American people and ensuring that those who fraudulently obtain those funds are held accountable.”
The civil settlement stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in 2020 by Andrew Hersh, who performed information technology services for Walsh. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Andrew Hersh v. Patrick Walsh et al., No. 1:20‑cv‑231 (N.D. Fla.). The amount that Mr. Hersh will receive as a share of the recovery has not yet been determined.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and the SBA’s Office of Inspector General.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, except for the matters admitted in Walsh’s guilty plea.
Florida Attorney Sentenced to 102 Months for an Attempted Bombing Near the Chinese Embassy in Washington D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Rodriguez, 45, of Panama City, Fla., was sentenced today to 102 months in federal prison for the September 2023 attempted bombing near the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, D.C., and for the November 2022 bombing of a satirical sculpture depicting communist leaders Vladimir Lenin and Mao Zedong in San Antonio, Texas.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division.
Rodriguez, a licensed Florida attorney and a U.S. Army veteran, pleaded guilty August 2, 2024, to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, explosive materials—malicious damage to federal property, and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device).
In addition to the 102-month prison term, U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ordered Rodriguez to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on September 23-24, 2023, Rodriguez drove from his home in Panama City, Fla., to Northern Virginia with a rifle and 15 pounds of explosive material. On the way, he stopped in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Va., to buy a black backpack, nitrile gloves, and a burner cell phone. On September 24, he parked his car in Arlington, Va., and used the burner phone to arrange for a taxi to drive him to within a few blocks of the Chinese Embassy. Between midnight and 3 a.m. near the back wall of the Embassy in Northwest Washington, Rodriguez placed the explosives-filled backpack next to a streetlight. Rodriguez then attempted to detonate the explosives by shooting at the backpack with a rifle. Rodriguez missed his target, and the device failed to detonate. Law enforcement officers later recovered the backpack containing explosive material, three shell casings, and bullet fragments from the ground along the outer perimeter wall of the Chinese Embassy. Impact marks were found on the Embassy wall near the bullet fragments behind the backpack.
According to court documents, DNA obtained from the black backpack was found to be consistent with DNA evidence obtained from a previous arrest of Rodriguez in June 2021 in California. During the California incident, Rodriguez possessed three firearms and apparent explosive material consistent with the explosives used during the Chinese Embassy attack. DNA evidence obtained from Rodriguez pursuant to a buccal swab warrant later confirmed this DNA match.
Between November 5 and 7, 2022, according to court documents, Rodriguez rented a vehicle in Pensacola, Fla., and drove to San Antonio, Texas. At about 2:25 a.m. on November 7, Rodriguez scaled an eight-foot fence to enter a courtyard on the 300 block of West Commerce Street, San Antonio. Inside the courtyard, he placed two canisters of explosive materials at the base of a satirical steel sculpture titled “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head.” At 2:30 a.m., Rodriguez used a rifle to shoot at the canisters at the base of the statue, causing an explosion that caused damages of at least $325,000 to the Miss Mao sculpture.
Law enforcement arrested Rodriguez on November 4, 2023, in Lafayette, Louisiana. He has been held since that date.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Washington Field Division. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Florida, the Western District of Louisiana, and the Western District of Texas; the ATF’s Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston Field Divisions; the FBI’s Washington and San Antonio Field Offices; the San Antonio Field Office of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division and Foreign Missions Detective Unit; the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security; and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jolie F. Zimmerman and Stuart D. Allen. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maeghan Mikorski and Kelly Stephenson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McCarthy.
23cr392
Felon Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Ammunition OffensesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has prior felony convictions was sentenced today to five years in prison for distributing approximately 1,000 pills containing fentanyl and unlawfully possessing ammunition.
Edward Rodriguez, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of felon in possession of ammunition. In addition to imprisonment, United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II sentenced Rodriguez to four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on October 6, 2022, Rodriguez sold approximately 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in exchange for money. Later, on October 18, 2022, when an officer with the Mesquite Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Rodriguez began to drive faster through the school zone and neighborhood causing children to have to jump out of the way of his car. He was later stopped inside a store carrying a backpack containing fentanyl pills, heroin, car keys, a magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition, and a hypodermic needle with methamphetamine. Furthermore, Rodriguez admitted that inside his car was a shotgun and a 40mm semi-automatic handgun with no serial number which was modified with a machine gun conversion device.
Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for forgery, attempted burglary, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm, all in Clark County, Nevada, and distribution of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm in the District of Nevada. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to the prior felony convictions.
Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas Division made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Melanee Smith prosecuted the case.
If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please report your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip.
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Federal grand jury indicts Jamestown man for his 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 Joseph Thayer, 48, of 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, Thayer 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.
Thayer was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and detained.
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 Prosecutors Charge 16 Previously Removed Illegal Aliens – Including Convicted Felons – with Illegally Re-entering the U.S.Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement partners, federal prosecutors in the last two weeks filed charges against 16 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 U.S., offenses that include sexual abuse of children. One of the defendants is charged in state court with a murder in Inglewood last month.
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.
- United States v. Saravia-Sanchez
Jose Cristian Saravia-Sanchez, 30, of El Salvador, was charged via a federal criminal complaint after he was arrested by Inglewood Police Department as a suspect in the February 25 murder of a man who tried to stop Saravia and another individual from stealing a neighbor’s catalytic converter.
Following the arrest, federal law enforcement determined that Saravia was previously removed in 2013 and returned to the United States illegally. At the time of his arrest on March 6, officers found a firearm in the bathroom of the hotel room in which Saravia barricaded himself, resulting in an hours-long standoff with law enforcement.
In the complaint, Saravia is charged with being an illegal alien found in the United States and an alien in possession of a firearm. His criminal history includes a felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in May 2023 for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Saravia is in state custody and has been booked for murder.
The matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives, and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
- United States v. Marquina-Sierra
Francisco Marquina-Sierra, 32, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint for being an illegal alien found in the United States after he was previously removed. An immigration judge ordered him removed in December 2013. Marquina’s criminal history includes convictions in Orange County Superior Court for second-degree robbery in 2012 and for child abuse with possible great bodily injury in 2023 for which he was incarcerated in California state prison. On March 12, a federal magistrate judge ordered Marquina jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for April 14 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.
- United States v. Barreto
Luis Enrique Barreto, 38, of Mexico, a convicted sex offender, was charged this week in a two-count indictment for allegedly failing to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) and for illegally returning to the United States following removal.
Barreto, who was found living across from a school when he was arrested, was convicted in 2012 in Orange County Superior Court of lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years of age and offender 10 or more years older than victim (lewd act upon a child). In September 2021, Barreto was removed to Mexico, but he returned to the United States by the following year and did not register as a sex offender.
A federal magistrate judge ordered Barreto jailed without bond pending trial. His arraignment is scheduled for March 18 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Criminal complaints and indictments 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.
Federal Firearms Licensee Sentenced to Prison for Selling Firearms “Off-The-Books”Read the Press Release
MIAMI – A Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) was sentenced on March 13 in a federal court in Fort Pierce for selling firearms “off-the-books.”
Michael John Pellicione, 76, of Port St. Lucie, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore to 15 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $7,500 fine.
In December 2024, Pellicione pleaded guilty to five counts of failure of a firearms dealer to keep proper record of a sale, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 922(b)(5) and 914(a)(1)(D). Pellicione was charged by criminal complaint in September 2024 and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024.
According to allegations contained in court documents, including a Stipulation of Facts, filed in this matter, Pellicione, was an FFL, dba Mike’s Gun Shop, out of his residence in Port St. Lucie. In April 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents discovered that firearms, linked to sales by Pellicione, were recovered in Canada and Jamaica. After an investigation, ATF determined that Pellicione failed to enter at least six firearms, sold by a law enforcement officer, into his acquisition and disposition (A&D) record. Pellicione admitted that when customers dropped their used firearms off to him, he took pictures of the firearms and then sent them to other interested customers. Pellicione also admitted that he repeated failed to log the used firearms in his A&D book, did not conduct a background check, or require the buyer to fill ATF Forms 4473 for the firearms. In failing to do so, Pellicione also failed to record the name, age, and address of purchasers as required by law.
Federal law requires an FFL to record, in the A&D book, all the firearms that the FFL receives or makes, and then indicate where each of those firearms are – whether they are still in the FFL’s inventory or where they went if they were sold or transferred. Additionally, the A&D book must include the type of firearm, the make, model, caliber, and serial number, the date and from whom the firearm was received and that person’s address, as well as the name, date, and address of the person to whom the firearm was sold or transferred.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and Acting Special Agent in Charge John F. Dion Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
HSI Fort Pierce and ATF Fort Pierce Field Office investigated this case. Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger prosecuted the case.
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-14055.
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FCI Allenwood Inmate Charged with Possessing WeaponRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Rodriguez, age 32, an inmate at FCI Allenwood, was indicted on February 27, 2025, by a federal grand jury on possessing a weapon in prison.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on January 31, 2025, Rodriguez possessed a razor blade wrapped in electrical tape to fashion a handle, approximately 2 1/4 inches in length.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years and a fine. A sentence would also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment. 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 by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Eight GoodFellas Gang Members and Associates Charged with Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering, Including Attempted MurderRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Northern District of Georgia charging eight members and associates of the GoodFellas Gang for their alleged roles in a criminal enterprise engaged in attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted carjacking in and around Atlanta.
According to the indictment, the GoodFellas are a violent gang that heavily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods, local jails, and Georgia Department of Corrections facilities. Members engage in violence to enhance the violent reputation of the gang.
As alleged in the indictment, six of the defendants shot and attempted to murder four victims. Additionally, two GoodFellas members and associates allegedly attempted a carjacking and assaulted three victims with a dangerous weapon.
Frank Hubbert, also known as Capo Frank, 38; Montavis Jones, also known as Nigel Woods, Jitt, and Git, 37; Darian Sheppard, also known as Lil D, 27; De’Andre Jackson, also known as Gen, Glock, and Glizzy, 22; Ephram Marshall, also known as Lil E, 24; Tahj Rankine, also known as Biggz, 26; and Leonunte Carson, also known as Lil Tae, 22, are each charged with multiple counts of attempted murder in aid of racketeering and with using a firearm during these crimes.
Hubbert and Ahday Nelson-George, also known as Baby K, 25, are each charged with multiple counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and attempted carjacking.
Seven of the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in prison; Nelson-George faces a maximum penalty of 75 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie Jr. for the Northern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Fulton County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office; Georgia Department of Corrections; and the Atlanta Police Department.
Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Renaud for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to 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.
Edmond Man Sentenced to Serve 18 Months in Federal Prison after Machinegun Conversion Devices are Intercepted from Packages Destined for OklahomaRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – EMANUEL LOPEZ, 21, of Edmond, has been sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison for transporting machineguns without a license, announced Robert J. Troester, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to public record, in May and June 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Los Angeles, California, intercepted four packages shipped from China. These packages were destined for Lopez at his home in Edmond and contained machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), commonly known as “switches.” The packages were mislabeled as “auto parts,” “hardware accessories,” and “decorative ornaments” on the shipping manifest. When installed, MCDs convert semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic machineguns, and transporting and possessing these devices violates federal law. Lopez was charged by a federal Grand Jury with transporting machineguns without a license on July 2, 2024.
On November 25, 2024, Lopez pleaded guilty, and admitted he knowingly transported machineguns and that he was not licensed to do so.
At the sentencing hearing on March 5, 2025, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Lopez to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the seriousness of the offense.
This case is a result of an investigation by CBP, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma City Police Department, and the Edmond Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Project Switch Off,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s local implementation of PSN. “Project Switch Off” targets illegal machinegun conversion devices to address the significant danger these illegal devices present and to remove them from our streets. For more information about PSN and “Project Switch Off,” please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Duluth Felon Sentenced to over 13 Years in Narcotics Trafficking CaseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Duluth felon was sentenced yesterday to 167 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, on February 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence of Diaunte Jevon Shields, 44, in Duluth, Minnesota. Inside his apartment, officers discovered over a kilogram of fentanyl, a pound of methamphetamine, and hundreds of grams of cocaine in Shields’s apartment—with a gun and loaded magazine in the same cooler. Officers also found other evidence of narcotics trafficking inside the apartment, including cutting agents, and packing materials. Law enforcement found another kilogram-plus of cocaine in a FedEx box intended for Shields. In total, Shields had over $33,000 in cash on his person when police arrested him.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office proudly serves all of Minnesota, from our big cities to our small towns,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Defendant Shields trafficked deadly poison to our community in Duluth—and now will be off the streets for well more than a decade.”
On August 22, 2024, Shields pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Katherine M. Menendez.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Duluth Police Department, with assistance from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner prosecuted the case.
Dominican Man Sentenced to 33 Months of Imprisonment for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ramon Medina Colon, age 50, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced on March 14, 2025, to 33 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Julia K. Munley for illegal reentry into the United States.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Medina Colon was first ordered removed from the United States in 2007 following his first felony conviction for criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Thereafter, Medina Colon was discovered and removed from the United States a total of four times, following additional convictions for possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, resisting arrest, and several DUIs. He was also previously convicted of illegal reentry into the United States in 2012.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted the case.
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Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO – A doctor from Mt. Airy, North Carolina was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution totaling $2,049,747.47 after pleading guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of money laundering, announced Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
WENDELL LEWIS RANDALL, age 72, was sentenced to a 30-month term of imprisonment plus 2 years supervised release by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. This sentence is ordered to run consecutively to the 18-month sentence RANDALL is currently serving for a conviction in the Western District of Virginia.
According to court records, RANDALL was the sole physician and owner of the National Institute of Toxicology, PLLC (NIT), located in Mt. Airy, NC. At NIT, RANDALL typically prescribed opioids or other controlled substances to his patients without regard to whether such prescriptions were medically indicated. RANDALL then required his patients to submit to definitive urine drug tests (UDT) on every office visit without regard to the medical necessity of such tests. NIT had an in-house laboratory to run the UDT. From August 2018 through December 2021, RANDALL, through NIT, billed Medicare and North Carolina Medicaid for the UDT that reimbursed at the highest pay for nearly all of his patients on Medicare and Medicaid. RANDALL obtained $753,446.70 from Medicare and $1,296,300.77 from Medicaid for these fraudulently billed UDT.
RANDALL used the fraudulently obtained proceeds to make several large purchases, including a building on property near his home in 2019 for a total of $97,000.
“RANDALL abused his position as a medical provider to gain excessive profit from government-funded insurance programs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Galyon. “This Office will continue to seek out fraud and abuse perpetrated on our health insurance system and hold those responsible accountable.”
“Physicians and other providers who authorize medically unnecessary drugs and services undermine the integrity of our health care system, waste taxpayer dollars, and endanger patients,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentencing is a clear reminder that those who exploit our nation’s health care system at the expense of patients and taxpayers will be held accountable.”
“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engaged in fraud and money laundering,” said Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
“Fraud schemes harm everyone, especially those which defraud the healthcare system, the American taxpayer, and members of our community,” Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI special agents’ forensic accounting skills helped unravel this complex fraud and money laundering scheme while working alongside other federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.”
“This health care provider stole taxpayer dollars for his own profit while he worsened our state’s opioid crisis,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “Doctors have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide the quality health care that patients need. When they don’t, our office and our federal and state partners will hold them accountable.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Charlotte Tactical Diversion Squad and the Greensboro Diversion Group; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; the Internal Revenue Service; the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Investigations Division; and the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Mayer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Dan Spillman.
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Dade City Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Selling Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and CocaineRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Rudy Salazar (37, Dade City) to 15 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute, and for possessing with the intent to distribute, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Salazar pleaded guilty on December 3, 2024.
According to the plea agreement, between January and November 2023, Salazar trafficked approximately 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 39 grams of cocaine, and 30 grams of fentanyl within Pasco County. Salazar, knowing the lethality of fentanyl, took extra precautions to protect himself when selling it, including wearing a mask and gloves. He warned a buyer that one could die from touching or ingesting fentanyl without protection (photo below):
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tampa Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Pardo.
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.
Convicted Felon Arrested and Charged After Being Found with Defaced 9mm Handgun, Ammunition, and Illegal Machine Gun Conversion DeviceRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced today that Chris Pham, 21, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was charged yesterday by criminal complaint with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A detention hearing in federal court is scheduled for March 20, 2025.
According to court documents, on March 12, 2025, law enforcement encountered Pham and found he was carrying a fully loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun with a defaced serial number. Pham was also carrying an additional magazine with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition. During a search of Pham’s residence, law enforcement recovered a machine gun conversion device designed to turn a semiautomatic handgun into a fully automatic handgun. Law enforcement previously located an Instagram video showing Pham firing a fully automatic handgun into the air in public.
If convicted of the charged offense, Pham faces up to fifteen years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Honolulu Police Department.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara D. Ayabe.
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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
Cocoa Man Who Drove Across the State to Commit Armed Robbery in Tampa and Shot Employee in the Face ChargedRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Phillip Johnson (21, Cocoa) with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. If convicted on all counts, Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison.
According to the complaint, during the early morning hours of February 1, 2025, three individuals traveled from Brevard County to Tampa to commit a robbery. After arriving in Tampa, the three individuals went inside the Dreams Club near Ybor City. The three individuals were wearing all black clothing, ski masks, and armed with rifles and handguns.
While inside, the three individuals demanded money from the victim, and Johnson ultimately shot the victim in the face.
A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with great assistance provided by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the Cocoa Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office for the 13th Judicial Circuit in Tampa. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.
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 Neighborhoods (PSN).
City Man Charged in 2023 Kidnapping, Death of Philadelphia Man Abducted Outside His HomeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tyheem Tyler, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, and aiding and abetting.
The indictment alleges that on or about March 6, 2023, the defendant traveled to Wey Um’s place of business in Philadelphia and participated in a robbery of Wey Um at gunpoint.
The indictment further alleges that in the early hours of March 31, 2023, Tyler and his co-conspirators drove a Ford Explorer SUV to Wey Um’s Philadelphia home, kidnapped Wey Um from outside of his residence, and at approximately 2:12 a.m., drove Wey Um in the Ford Explorer to a location near the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
As alleged, Tyler knowingly, willfully, and unlawfully seized, confined, kidnapped, abducted, carried away, and held, and aided and abetted the unlawful seizing, confining, abduction, carrying away, and holding of, Wey Um, deceased, for ransom, reward, and otherwise, resulting in the death of Wey Um, and in committing and in furtherance of the commission of the offense used means, facilities, and instrumentalities of interstate commerce.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment or death.
The case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Timothy Lanni.
An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Chinese National Sentenced for Smuggling Turtles from the United States to Hong KongRead the Press Release
Sai Keung Tin, also known as Ricky Tin, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in smuggling protected turtles from the United States to Hong Kong. Tin pleaded guilty in December to four counts of exporting merchandise contrary to law.
According to the government’s filed sentencing memorandum and evidence presented during today’s hearing, Tin, a Chinese citizen, aided and abetted turtle smugglers in the United States from February 2018 to June 2023. During that time, Tin trafficked approximately 2,100 turtles to three addresses in Hong Kong for the illegal Asian pet trade. Based on a conservative, contemporary market valuation of $2,000 per turtle, the smuggled reptiles were valued at $4.2 million.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) agents arrested Tin on Feb. 25, 2024, on his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. On March 8, 2024, a grand jury indicted Tin on the present charges, which focused on four packages shipped in June 2023 containing 40 eastern box turtles. USFWS wildlife inspectors at an international mail facility in Torrance, California, intercepted the packages which were falsely labeled as containing almonds and chocolate cookies. Three of the packages contained between eight and 12 live eastern box turtles each, all bound in socks to restrict movement to avoid alerting authorities. The fourth package contained seven live eastern box turtles and one dead one.
Eastern box turtle seized from a package shipped to Hong Kong. Photo is from the sentencing memo in case U.S. v. Sai Keung Tin, No. 24-cr-00161 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Credit: USFWSUSFWS agents obtained a search warrant to seize Tin’s cell phones, which indicated that Tin came to the United States to smuggle turtles. He planned to travel to New Jersey, Texas, and Washington — familiarizing himself with tourist locations to present a false story if apprehended. His ultimate plan was to pay for turtles in cash, ship turtles around the country, and eventually, illegally export them to Hong Kong. He had detailed information on how to soak turtles to reduce odors and bind them in socks with tape, all to avoid detection.
Tin was associated with international turtle smuggler Kang Juntao, of Hangzhou City, China, who was extradited from Malaysia in 2019 and later sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to money laundering. Kang caused at least 1,500 turtles — with a market value exceeding $2.25 million — to be shipped from the United States to Hong Kong, including to Tin.
Tin trafficked primarily eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), a subspecies of the common box turtle and native to the United States. Turtles with colorful markings are highly prized pets, particularly in China and Hong Kong, and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). China and the Unites States are parties to CITES.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the USFWS’ Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
The USFWS investigated this case with assistance from Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.
Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Mitchell for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
Cheektowaga man charged with attempted sex trafficking and cocaine possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Darryl Lamont Paul, a/k/a Darryl Lamont, 59, of Cheektowaga, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that for the last 25 years, Lamont has owned NoLimit Entertainment (NLE), a company that provides entertainment, including nude dancers and topless bartenders, for parties such as stags and birthdays. Throughout the years, Lamont has maintained a friendship and business relationship with the owner of Pharoah’s Gentleman’s Club, with the two men sharing employees. Lamont would recruit young vulnerable women from Pharoah’s to work for NLE, and he would also refer young women to Pharoah’s for additional employment.
According to the complaint, in early July 2024, Lamont invited a 19-year-old woman (victim), to his residence to audition for NLE. During the audition, Lamont instructed the victim to strip completely naked so he could inspect her body. After her audition, Lamont invited the victim to “shadow” at stag party, where she observed two dancers engaging in sexual activity with each other.
Lamont also arranged for the victim to audition at an area strip club. After the audition, he took her back to his apartment for “training.” While there, Lamont forced the victim to snort cocaine and drink alcohol. The victim observed Lamont with what appeared to be a large quantity of cocaine. According to the victim, Lamont said that working for him would make her a lot of money and that he knew a lot of important people. He also claimed to know the names of the victim’s family members. The victim believed Lamont told her these things to intimidate her. Lamont also had the victim sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) prohibiting her from telling anyone anything that occurred at Lamont’s house or the stag parties. When the victim told Lamont that she was felt extremely uncomfortable and no longer wanted to work for NLE, Lamont threatened that if she did not work for him, then she would not be allowed to work at the strip club.
Lamont made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was held pending a detention hearing on March, 18, 2025.
The complaint is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
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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Carroll County Iowa Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who sexually exploited multiple children and possessed millions of files of child pornography was sentenced today, to 50 years in federal prison.
Lucas Oliver Knowles, age 48, from Carroll, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 23, 2024, guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and possession of child pornography, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
Evidence in the case showed that the FBI National Threat Operations Center received a tip that Knowles was sexually abusing a minor and was in possession of child sexual abuse material. When the FBI interviewed Knowles, he admitted that he produced child sexual abuse material just a few weeks prior and had been sexually abusing a child. Knowles further admitted that he had been collecting child pornography since approximately 1996 and may have millions of images. Forensic analysis of Knowles computers discovered approximately 1.07 million images and videos of child pornography including several local victims. The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. Additionally, Knowles reported that he is a methamphetamine user and stored methamphetamine at his residence where he also possessed multiple firearms.
Knowles was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. The Court sentenced Knowles to 600 months’ imprisonment and imposed $21,400 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 10-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Knowles is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Lucas Knowles is a sexual predator and a heinous criminal. His appalling actions brought pain and trauma to children for his own gratification. Today’s sentence ensures Knowles will not hurt anyone else. Protecting children is one of the FBI’s highest priorities. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate and apprehend child predators and defend the most vulnerable members of our community.”
United States Attorney Timothy Duax stated “The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the citizen that came forward with the tip and commends the FBI for its excellent investigative work. As a result, a dangerous child predator was removed from our community.”
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.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 23-CR-3028.
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Carbon County Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ignacia Salcido-Lopez, age 19, of Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on March 13, 2025, to 240 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for producing child pornography.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, between December 23, 2023, and January 14, 2024, Salcido-Lopez produced hundreds of images of child pornography involving two children, ages seven and three, that he was babysitting.
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.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jenny P. Roberts.
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California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 6 ½ Years for Possessing 20 Pounds of Methamphetamine Destined for DistributionRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a San Diego, California, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 12, 2025.
Leobardo Vega , age 32, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Vega was indicted for Posssession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty on December 4, 2024.
On September 30, 2022, Vega was involved in a traffic stop on Interstate 90 near Murdo, South Dakota. During the search of the vehicle law enforcement found 20 pounds of methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle. Vega admitted he was transporting the methamphetamine from California to Minnesota where it would be further distributed by others.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Vega was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Broward Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – United States District Judge Raag Singhal has sentenced 38-year-old career offender David Lee Pitts to 135 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and oxycodone and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Pitts, who has prior felony convictions, pled guilty to these charges on Sept. 4, 2024.
The facts: On April 26, 2024, law enforcement officers saw Pitts drive up to a storage facility in Pompano, Florida and transfer two bags of what appeared to be illegal drugs from Pitts’ storage unit to his car. Pitts noticed law enforcement vehicles at the main gate and decided to make a run for it, leading officers on a foot chase. Pitts tried getting rid of the bags he had taken from storage by throwing them on a nearby roof. Officers caught Pitts and arrested him. They recovered the bags and determined that they contained cocaine and alpha-PVP (or flakka), a dangerous synthetic street drug.
Officers searched Pitts’ storage unit, pursuant to a warrant. They found more cocaine and flakka, plus fentanyl, oxycodone, and a Glock 30S, .45 caliber pistol with a magazine and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement.
DEA Miami and Broward Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya C. Brown prosecuted it.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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-60085.
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Brooklyn Podcaster and Cryptocurrency Personality Known as “T.J. Stone” Sentenced to 45 Months’ ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Thomas John Sfraga, also known as “T.J. Stone,” was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn by United States District Judge Frederic Block to 45 months in prison for wire fraud. As part of the sentence, Sfraga was ordered to pay $1,337,700 in forfeiture. The restitution amount will be determined at a later date. Sfraga pleaded guilty in May 2024.
John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.
“Sfraga callously stole from friends, next-door neighbors, and the parents of children who played on teams with his own children, as well as from individual cryptocurrency investors,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “There was nothing funny about his use of a Seinfeldian company, Vandelay Industries, to carry out this fraud, which caused severe financial and emotional harm to the hard-working men and women who trusted him.”
As set forth in the information and court filings, from at least 2016 to 2022, Sfraga held himself out as the owner and principal of multiple businesses, including Build Strong Homes LLC and Vandelay Contracting Corp. The latter company had a name similar to the fictional “Vandelay Industries,” which the character George Constanza falsely claimed to have interviewed with for a job in the television show “Seinfeld.” Sfraga held himself out as “T.J. Stone,” a serial entrepreneur with experience in real estate development, media relations, podcasting, and cryptocurrencies, which included acting as the emcee of many cryptocurrency events in New York.
Sfraga defrauded at least 17 victims, including victims in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island, by convincing them to loan him money for, or to invest in, multiple sham investments including purchasing, renovating, and “flipping” homes. On one occasion, Sfraga convinced a victim to lend him $100,000 in cash as start-up costs for a non-existent construction project. On yet another occasion, Sfraga convinced a victim to invest in a fictitious cryptocurrency “virtual wallet.” He promised the victims returns on their investments as high as 60% in three months. In reality, however, Sfraga used the money entrusted to him by the victims for his own benefit, to pay expenses, and to pay earlier victims and business associates. When law enforcement began investigating Sfraga after victims filed lawsuits, he fled to Arizona to live under a false identity. Sfraga was eventually apprehended in Las Vegas after being arrested for running out on his bill at the Wynn Casino.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorney John Vagelatos is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Madison Bates.
The Defendant:
THOMAS JOHN SFRAGA (also known as “T.J. Stone”)
Age: 56
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-194 (FB)
Berlin Resident Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Intending to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Berlin man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for trafficking approximately a pound of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of cocaine, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Douglas Gray, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 96 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On October 15, 2024, Gray pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
“When law enforcement encountered the defendant, he was in possession of distribution-level quantities of multiple drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Law enforcement in New Hampshire prioritizes investigating and prosecuting those who choose to sell drugs in our communities for their own personal profit. This significant sentence reflects the seriousness of this conduct, and it will not be tolerated.”
“Career criminal Douglas Gray’s intent to push this poison into our communities could have resulted in deadly consequences for the people who live and work here, and he’ll spend the next eight years behind bars answering for it,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent illegal drugs from hitting our streets in order to make our cities and towns safer.”
The investigation revealed that in 2023 the defendant arrived after-hours to an automotive shop in Concord known to law enforcement for drug trafficking. After leaving the shop, the defendant traveled northbound. Investigators searched his vehicle and found nearly a pound of methamphetamine, over 200 grams of fentanyl, and over 100 grams of cocaine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force and the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.
This effort 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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Apartment Burglary Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for 10 Years for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – MICHAEL JOSEPH DIAS, 33, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On May 7, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Dias with being a felon in possession of ammunition. On October 24, 2024, after a two-day trial, a federal jury found Dias guilty of the charge.
According to evidence presented at trial, on April 2, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to an apartment complex following a reported burglary. The victim told officers he found his front door ajar, and attempted to enter his residence, but was stopped by a subject on the other side of the door. The victim eventually gained entry to his apartment, and followed the suspect, later identified as Dias, out into the parking lot of the complex. The victim told officers Dias brandished a firearm from his waistband, and as the victim fled, a gunshot rang out. Officers recovered a spent shell-casing from the parking lot. Dias was located and arrested by OCPD a short time later after a foot pursuit.
Public record reflects that Dias has a lengthy criminal history, with previous felony convictions that include:
- attempted second-degree burglary in Comanche County District Court case number CF-2009-438;
- second-degree burglary in Comanche County District Court case number CF-2009-576;
- attempted first-degree burglary in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2014-6249;
- indecent exposure in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2018-4626;
- second-degree burglary in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2019-1883; and
- felon in possession of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2019-2104.
At the sentencing hearing on March 4, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Dias to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the dangerous nature of the offense and Dias’s significant criminal history.
This case is the result of an investigation by OCPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Gridley and Travis Leverett prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is also part of “Operation Shots Fired.” Operation Shots Fired targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
13 March 2025
Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Ammunition and SilencerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing an unregistered silencer.
Ryan Davidson, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possessing an unregistered firearm-silencer. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025. In August 2023, Davidson was indicted by a federal grand jury. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Davidson in November 2023.
On or about May 9, 2023 in Worcester, Davidson was stopped by police for a marked lane violation and for concerns about the Georgia “dealer” license plate on his vehicle. After failing to provide proof of insurance on the vehicle, Davidson was told he could leave with a citation but that his car would have to be towed, and an inventory search conducted pursuant to the tow. Davidson told police he did not want them to search his car. Shortly thereafter, he fled the scene on foot. Davidson was apprehended in a backyard on an adjacent street, at which time he was arrested. At the time of the incident, Davidson was wearing a GPS monitoring device in connection with open state charges involving a firearm.
During the inventory search of Davidson’s vehicle, a heavy black bag was located in the trunk of the vehicle. In the bag, was a black balaclava and a zipped blue bag. Inside the blue bag, a Polymer P80, 9-millimeter pistol with no serial number, with a 9-millimeter magazine inserted containing 10 rounds of ammunition, a silencer and a box of 9-millimeter ammunition containing 9 rounds were located. A second firearm was recovered from the glovebox, specifically, a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol with a round in the chamber and a magazine inserted containing six rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition. Davidson possessed the Taurus 9-millimeter pistol and 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition after having been convicted of previous felonies for which he had been sentenced to 7-10 years in prison.
The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides a sentence of up to 15 years’ incarceration. The charge of possessing an unregistered firearm provides a sentence of up to 10 years’ incarceration. Both charges carry a potential for supervised release of up to three years and a $250,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Paul Saucier, Chief, Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
Websites seized, ten arrested, in prison drug distribution scheme in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Three internet domains have been seized and ten individuals arrested in a scheme to provide drugs in prison, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The internet domain name HerbalIncenseUSA.com and two related domains, Herbal-Biz.com and Herbal-Empire.com, were seized on March 6, 2025, following an investigation into drug distribution over the internet and through the U.S. Mail.
According to information provided in court, the three websites are alleged to have sold a variety of controlled substances, to include synthetic cannabinoids, aka “K2” or “Spice” specifically marketed as fictitious legal mail for the express purpose of smuggling the drugs into prisons and correctional facilities through the U.S. Mail and with the assistance of corrupt guards. “K2” supplied by the sites was responsible for multiple overdoses of prisoners being held on pre-trial detention in the Eastern District of Texas and throughout the country. A sheet of paper soaked in the drug sells for approximately $1,000 within a prison. “K2” distribution is difficult for correctional facilities to detect, as there are no reliable presumptive drug test kits that identify the drug.
The investigation identified the three websites as being the primary supplier of “K2,” shipping thousands of drug parcels to the Eastern District of Texas and tens of thousands being shipped nationwide yearly. Gross revenue from the websites was in the millions of dollars each year.
Those arrested and named in two separate federal indictments in the Eastern District of Texas are as follows:
Rana Alrichani, 46, of San Jose, CA;
Taleen Gabriel Zakarian, 36, of Glendale, CA;
Daniela Inman, 58, of Anaheim, CA;
Ioana Harhoiu, 35, of Irvine, CA;
Ziad Tohme, 48, of Burbank, CA;
Gabriel Raad, 50, of Land O’Lakes, FL;
Daisy Chalfoun, 40, of Land O’Lakes, FL;
Luisa Shahinyan, 33, of North Hills, CA;
Harout Payaslyan, 36, of Valley Village, CA; and
Manuk Payaslyan, 40, of Los Angeles, CA.
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).
The seizures are part of a joint investigation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. This matter will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Weaverville Man Sentenced to 24 Years for Carjacking and Discharging A Firearm That Seriously Injured A Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jaden Isaiah Garay, 25, of Weaverville, N.C. was sentenced today to 24 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for carjacking and discharging a firearm that caused serious bodily injury to a U.S. Postal Carrier, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to prison term imposed, Garay was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $640,582.81 to the victim and $73,868.14 to the Office of Worker’s Compensation Program.
Jessica Wagner, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte; R.E. “Chip” Hawley, Director of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NC SBI); Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr., Commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol; Sheriff Buddy Harwood of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office; Sheriff Banks Hinceman of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office; Sheriff Ricky T. Buchanan of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office; Chief Chad Wilson of the Mars Hill Police Department; and Chief Allen Lawrence of the Marion Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
“Garay’s violent crime spree was a blatant disregard for the law and human life,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “His rampage put innocent lives at risk and ended with the near-fatal shooting of a postal worker simply doing her job. Today’s sentence holds Garay accountable for his reckless crimes. I commend the law enforcement agencies involved in Garay’s apprehension. Together, we will work to protect those who serve our communities.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail, and most importantly, providing a safe environment for Postal employees and the communities they serve,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Wagner. “We fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted in bringing this individual to justice.”
According to court documents and court proceedings, Garay stole a loaded semiautomatic handgun and several loaded ammunition magazines from his relatives’ home following an argument with them. Court records show that, at approximately 11:50 a.m., while Garay was driving his car on interstate I-26 near Mars Hill, the defendant used the stolen gun to fire a shot into a passing vehicle with an underage passenger inside. The bullet shattered the front passenger window and was lodged in the vehicle; fortunately, it did not hit the occupants. The bullet was later recovered by law enforcement and matched the stolen ammunition.
Following the shooting incident, Garay drove into the town of Mars Hill, where he abandoned his vehicle, taking the stolen firearm with him. Garay then walked through a residential neighborhood, breaking and entering into a home while the homeowner was inside. Garay encountered the homeowner, threatened to shoot her dog, and ordered her to get on her knees. The homeowner refused to do so and told Garay that if he was going to shoot her, he would have to do it while she was standing. Garay then went to the garage, where he tried to start one of the vehicles. He was unsuccessful, so he left the residence and continued walking through the neighborhood.
According to court records, as Garay was walking around the neighborhood, he encountered T.R., a rural postal carrier for the United States Postal Service who was delivering mail to a residential mailbox in her Jeep Wrangler. Garay approached T.R., told her he needed her car, and pointed the handgun at T.R. The victim attempted to comply with Garay’s demand but had to pull forward slightly to exit the vehicle because her door was blocked by a mailbox. Garay then shot T.R. in the face, and T.R. fell out of her vehicle and to the ground. Garay got in the victim’s vehicle and drove off, leaving T.R. laying on the ground with a serious gunshot wound to her head.
According to filed court documents, sometime later, Garay drove T.R.’s stolen vehicle onto I-40, where he was spotted by law enforcement. Police officers began a pursuit of the vehicle with lights and sirens activated. Garay refused to stop and instead fled at a high rate of speed. Officers deployed “stop sticks” on the interstate, but Garay did not stop even after he drove over the stop sticks. Garay eventually exited the interstate, and continued to elude officers, driving three miles further on backroads. He eventually came to a dead end where he abandoned the victim’s Jeep and fled on foot into a wooded area, still armed with the stolen firearm. Dozens of law enforcement officers searched for Garay, who spent the night hiding in the woods. Early the next morning, Garay was taken into custody and the stolen firearm was recovered.
T.R. sustained life-threatening injuries from the gunshot wound. Some of the victim’s injuries are permanent and she faces a lengthy recovery.
On April 15, 2024, Garay pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
Garay is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the USPIS, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the North Carolina Department of Correction K9 Team, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, Burke County EMS, Burke County Emergency Management, and Burke County Communications Center, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Morganton Department of Public Safety, the Marion Police Department, and the Mars Hill Police Department for their investigation of the case and for their invaluable assistance in apprehending Garay. U.S. Attorney Ferguson also thanked Madison County District Attorney Seth Banks for his Office’s assistance and coordination with the federal investigation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.