Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
6 March 2025
Naugatuck Man Admits Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material While on State Probation for Prior Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TRAVIS TILLEY, 41, of Naugatuck, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today to possession of child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2019, Tilley was convicted in state court of risk of injury to a child, which involved sexual intercourse with a person under 13, and possession of child pornography. In August 2022, he was released from state custody and began serving a 15-year term of probation.
On March 9, 2023, state probation officers conducted an unannounced visit to Tilley’s residence and seized his laptop and a flash drive. Analysis of the seized items revealed that Tilley had utilized prohibited software and had accessed sites that provide sexually explicit material; that he was using encrypted email and messenger services; that he had used an operating system that is configured to leave no digital footprint; and that he was a member of internet chat rooms that focused on child pornography and AI-generated child pornography. The analysis also revealed two videos depicting the sexual exploitation of prepubescent children, approximately 60 images of AI-generated child pornography, and sexually explicit chat room messages sent by the laptop user.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for June 6, at which time Tilley faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced because of Tilley’s prior state convictions.
Tilley has been detained since his state arrest on March 28, 2023.
This investigation has been conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the Connecticut Court Support Services Division – Adult Probation Services and the Westport Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Waterbury.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Gage Wiedel, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 540 months in prison each for 12 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The terms are set to be served concurrently, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office.
On September 9, 2024, Wiedel pleaded guilty to twelve counts of a Superseding Indictment. As part of the plea, Wiedel admitted that, beginning in August 2022 and continuing through February 2024, while employed as a teacher’s assistant at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he sexually abused four children under the age of twelve. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The defendant used his position of trust as a teacher’s assistant to prey on the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Safeguarding children and families in our community is among the FBI’s top priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure predators like Wiedel are brought to justice.”
“Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of federal prosecutors and local and federal law enforcement to seek justice for victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This office stands firm in its resolve to continue to protect our children and ensure the safety of our communities.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wiedel will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.
Multiple Defendants Sentenced in Separate Cases for Federal Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This week, multiple defendants were sentenced in federal court in separate cases for violating federal firearms laws, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Among the firearms recovered were a “ghost gun” fitted with a “Glock switch,” a machinegun, and other illegal firearms linked to several shootings.
“These sentences make one thing clear: if you violate federal gun laws, you will be held accountable. This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to getting illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron.
The following defendants were sentenced this week:
Omar Shariff Tobias, 46, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. Between December 5th and 6th, 2022, Tobias held the victim hostage in the home they shared, took her phone and clothes, and physically assaulted her. When the victim ran out the front door to escape, Tobias shot her twice with a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver he illegally possessed. After shooting her, Tobias dragged the bleeding victim into the house and refused to call 911 for nearly an hour, until he came up with a story to tell the authorities. Officers responding to the call for service determined that Tobias was not truthful about how the victim sustained injuries. The officers conducted a search of the residence, seizing the .38 revolver used to shoot the victim, two rifles, digital scales, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. As a result of the shooting, the victim sustained serious injuries and faces a lengthy recovery.
Marcus Kantrell Jennings, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. On September 1, 2022, Jennings illegally possessed a firearm he used to shoot at a security officer multiple times, after the defendant was escorted out of a nightclub.
Brandon Castro, 25, of Dallas, N.C., was sentenced 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. On August 27, 2022, Castro pointed a firearm with a laser scope at an off-duty Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer who was working at a local business before the defendant fled the scene. Law enforcement located and arrested Castro and recovered the firearm, which was loaded with a high-capacity magazine.
Jeconiah Amarie Davidson, 25, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. After having been previously convicted of a felony offense for illegally possessing a firearm, on June 24, 2023, Davidson was involved in two separate shootings. In the first incident, Davidson used an illegally possessed firearm to shoot into an occupied Waffle House restaurant following an altercation in the establishment. Hours later, Davidson used the same gun to shoot another person outside of a Popeyes restaurant. The victim in that shooting sustained injuries to his leg. Days later, Davidson was arrested in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol equipped with an extended magazine. The firearm was forensically examined and connected to the later shooting.
Tiquavion Davonta Ervin, 21, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun. On July 25, 2023, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Ervin’s vehicle. At first, Ervin appeared to comply but later fled at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement located the vehicle parked in the lot of an apartment complex. During a search of the area near the vehicle officers found a backpack that contained a loaded Polymer 80 handgun (also known as a “ghost gun”), fitted with a machinegun conversion device, or “Glock switch.” During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Ervin was using social media to sell firearms and Glock switches.
Geoffrey Quentin McLean, 34, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by convicted felon. On August 28, 2023, McLean was seen driving a vehicle with a fictitious license plate and in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement saw McLean park the vehicle in a hotel parking lot and observed McLean enter one of the hotel rooms. Subsequently, the officers searched the room and found inside a safe a 9mm firearm and an extended magazine that belonged to McLean.
Ronetae Antonion Degraffenreid, 40, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for dealing in firearms without a license. According to court records, during a 2022 investigation, law enforcement determined that Degraffenreid was a recurring purchaser of firearms that were later recovered in the hands of individuals other than the defendant. Between 2018 and 2022, Degraffenreid purchased over 76 firearms, many of which were later found in the possession of prohibited persons or used to commit other crimes, including drug trafficking and a shooting.
Nehemiah Malik Harris, 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by felon. On December 6, 2026, law enforcement stopped Harris’s vehicle for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the officers found quantities of narcotics inside the vehicle and retrieved a firearm from Harris. The firearm was loaded with a round in the chamber and was later determined to be stolen.
The cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), and in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website.
The cases were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.
Federal law prohibits individuals from possessing a firearm if they fall into certain restricted categories, including convicted felons, fugitives from justice, illegal aliens, individuals convicted of domestic violence, and unlawful users of controlled substances. Additionally, it is illegal to possess a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime or a violent offense. Federal law also prohibits the straw purchase of a firearm, wherein a person who can lawfully purchase a firearm buys a gun, or attempts to do so, for a prohibited person. Federal law also requires that individuals who are engaged in the business of dealing in firearms be licensed by the ATF. For additional information and resources please visit www.atf.gov.visit www.atf.gov.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy in $14.5 Million PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa.- A resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of fraud conspiracy, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Marc Andrew Martin, 46, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between March 2020 and August 2021, Martin and others—including Matthew Parker—conspired to defraud lenders of over $14 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) COVID-19 relief loans. Parker, a licensed CPA from Detroit, Michigan, recruited hundreds of small businesses in Pittsburgh and Detroit and falsified PPP loan applications. The Small Business Administration approved 226 of those applications, resulting in loans totaling approximately $14.5 million to businesses, the largest known PPP fraud in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Martin referred approximately $1,900,000 in fraudulent loan packages to Parker. Parker pleaded guilty to fraud conspiracy in May 2024.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for July 10, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Martin.
Michigan Businessman Found Guilty of Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Michigan businessman yesterday for not paying employment taxes and not filing his own individual income tax returns.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dale Thrush, of Farwell, owned and operated several automotive repair service locations and a gas station. Thrush was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS on behalf of his employees. From October 2014 through December 2016, Thrush withheld those funds from his employees’ wages but did not pay over the full amount of the withheld taxes to the IRS. Instead, Thrush used some of those funds to pay personal expenses, including the remodeling and construction costs for his wife’s business.
In addition, Thrush did not file his own individual income tax returns for 2013 through 2016 despite being legally obligated to do so.
Thrush was convicted of three counts of willful failure to pay payroll taxes and four counts of willful failure to file individual income tax returns. He was acquitted of seven counts of willful failure to pay payroll taxes.
Thrush is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each count of not filing his individual income tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Mark McDonald and Evan Mulbry of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
Mexican National with Vehicular Manslaughter Conviction in Federal Custody for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
WACO, Texas – A Mexican national was transferred into federal custody in Waco on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Jaime Aguilar-Guerrero was arrested on March 3 by local law enforcement in Belton for public intoxication. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement determined Aguilar-Guerrero was an illegal alien who had been previously removed from the United States in July 2016. Additionally, on April 11, 1996, Aguilar-Guerrero had been sentenced to seven years confinement for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle.
Aguilar-Guerrero is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
ICE is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Mexican National Pleads Guilty, Faces 10 Years to Life in Federal Prison for Attempting to Smuggle Fentanyl and Cocaine into U.S.Read the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national pleaded guilty in a federal court in Del Rio to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, Federico De Los Rios Rios, of Durango, Mexico, attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico through the Eagle Pass port of entry on Oct. 26, 2024. Accompanied by his wife and child, De Los Rios Rios presented a U.S. Visa to Customs and Border Protection officers and was referred to secondary inspection. A scan of the vehicle revealed anomalies, and a canine inspection resulted in a positive alert.
CBP officers inspected the rear of the vehicle and located a trap door under a seat, which contained multiple bundles wrapped in electrical tape. One set of bundles weighed 2.14 kgs and was consistent with the properties of fentanyl. A second set of bundles weighed a total of 11.16 kgs and was consistent with the properties of cocaine. A Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory test confirmed the substances to be fentanyl and cocaine.
De Los Rios Rios admitted that he had been instructed to drive the vehicle from his home in Durango to Orlando, Florida, had been given $700 up front, and anticipated he would be paid an additional $10,000 once he arrived at the destination.
De Los Rios Rios pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He faces 10 years to life in prison with a maximum $10 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Kass is prosecuting the case.
###
Mexican National Indicted for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Juan Jose Ugalde-Monroy (33, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Ugalde-Monroy faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Ugalde-Monroy is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on January 11 and January 15, 2017. On February 14, 2025, Ugalde-Monroy was arrested by Osceola County authorities on charges of not possessing a valid driver license, introduction of drugs into a controlled facility, and possession of cocaine. Ugalde-Monroy has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States to apply for readmission to 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 the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.
Mexican National Arrested in San Antonio for Illegal Re-Entry was First Convicted in 1990Read the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Pedro Ruiz-Cisneros inside his residence on March 4. A criminal complaint alleges Ruiz-Cisneros was previously removed from the country five times as an aggravated felon—as early as April 1994 and as recently as June 2018.
In March 1990, Ruiz-Cisneros was convicted of second-degree robbery in Bell County and sentenced to five years confinement. Less than one year later, he was convicted in Bexar County for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to eight years confinement. Ruiz-Cisneros was later convicted of illegal re-entry—once in the Southern District of Texas and twice in the Western District of Texas—and sentenced to a total of 133 months in federal prison between 2007 and 2016.
Ruiz-Cisneros made his initial appearance in federal court on March 5 and is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The USMS Fugitive Task Force and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations are investigating the case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Marie Cordova is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Medical Billing Company Owner Sentenced for Health Care FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scott Newcombe, age 41, of Plattsburgh, New York, was sentenced today to 1 year of probation, and ordered to pay $34,583.21 in restitution, for health care fraud.
Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), New York Regional Office, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Newcombe admitted that from approximately April 2020 through April 2023, he acted as the office manager and health care claims biller for two physicians’ practices in Plattsburgh through a company that he formed called SJ Healthcare Management Services, LLC (SJHMS). SJHMS charged a fixed monthly fee under which Newcombe performed various management, administrative, and billing services for the practices. He admitted that he submitted false and fraudulent claims to public and private insurers on behalf of those practices for services that, in some instances, were never provided and, in other instances, were provided at lower reimbursement rates than the amounts billed. For example, Newcombe admitted that he submitted claims to insurers for medical procedures that were purportedly performed by a provider on him but which, in fact, never occurred.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adam J. Katz prosecuted the case.
Marquette Heights Felon Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Unregistered Destructive DevicesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Marquette Heights, Illinois, man, Dalton Lee Mattus, 35, was sentenced on March 5, 2025, to an aggregate 57 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon, possessing a stolen firearm, and possessing an unregistered destructive device.
At the sentencing hearing in front of Senior U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the court was informed that Mattus had multiple prior criminal convictions within Tazewell and Peoria Counties that prohibited him from possessing a firearm. In May 2024, he was the passenger in a car that was stopped by Pekin Police Department officers. During the traffic stop, the officers confiscated a locked bag from the car. After obtaining a search warrant for the bag, they found a stolen Springfield Armory XD-S .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol and two unregistered destructive devices. The devices were made from cardboard tubing, metal BBs, and chemical powder used to make explosives. The officers also obtained a search warrant for Mattus’s residence, where they found three additional unregistered destructive devices, along with materials to make several more. Officers also seized 50 rounds of live ammunition and equipment used to assemble and disassemble firearms.
In sentencing Mattus, Judge Mihm commented that while this was a very serious case, what was most troubling was that the explosives were homemade and were intended to harm others. The judge commented that this is “about as bad as it gets.”
Mattus was arrested by the Pekin Police Department in May 2024, and a federal complaint was filed two weeks later, followed by a federal indictment in June 2024. He entered a guilty plea in October 2024.
The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years’ imprisonment. The maximum term of imprisonment for possessing a stolen firearm and possessing an unregistered destructive device is ten years’ imprisonment. Each count carries up to a three-year term of supervised release.
The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Pekin Police Department and Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department also participated in the investigation.
The case against Mattus 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.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty for His Role in a Conspiracy to Traffic Cocaine to New Hampshire through the United States Postal ServiceRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for his role in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine to New Hampshire through the United States Postal Service (USPS), Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
David Orme, age 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2025. The defendant was indicted on December 20, 2023, along with five other defendants. To date, Orme is the fourth defendant convicted in the conspiracy.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant was involved in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that shipped cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester, New Hampshire. A coconspirator in Puerto Rico sent a package that contained approximately 500 grams of cocaine to an address in Manchester and the defendant signed for it using a fictitious name in a controlled delivery. Ultimately, law enforcement seized the package. Between September 2020 and December 2021, the DTO shipped over 5.6 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester for redistribution.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case.
###
Man from Clear Lake, Iowa, Pleads Guilty to Producing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who produced and distributed child pornography pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
David Bradley Garrison, age 43, from Clear Lake, Iowa, was convicted of sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography.
At the plea hearing, Garrison admitted that he sexually exploited a child in July 2021 by producing a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He also admitted that between June 2021 and August 2021, he distributed visual depictions of child pornography to other individuals.
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.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Garrison remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Garrison faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, $95,200 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Dillan Edwards, and it was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation, and Rockwell Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-3054.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Mahnomen Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Mahnomen man has been charged with illegal possession of firearms as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, on July 17, 2023, Adam James Webster, 23, was found in possession of a Remington rifle and 12 gauge shot gun.
Because Webster has a prior felony conviction in Mahnomen County for third degree assault, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
The indictment charges Webster with one count of illegal possession of firearms. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal in the District of North Dakota.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the White Earth Police Department, the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nichole J. Carter is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Luzerne County Woman Sentenced to 28 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bethzaida Batista, age 52, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiring to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Batista previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from between January of 2020 until June of 2023, within Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
This case is also 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.
# # #
Louisville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Dominique Lewis, 24, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Lewis distributed methamphetamine on 12 occasions and conspired to distribute methamphetamine from October 17, 2022, through April 27, 2023. On 2 occasions Lewis possessed of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and on 5 occasions he illegally possessed a firearm because he was a convicted felon. Lewis was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On August 3, 2020, in Shelby County Circuit Court, Lewis was convicted of two counts of theft by unlawful taking and two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree.
On August 3, 2021, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Lewis was convicted of receiving stolen property, two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree, wanton endangerment in the first degree, and fleeing or evading police in the first degree.
On March 10, 2022, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Lewis was convicted of theft by unlawful taking.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Aaron Cooper.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .
###
Louisville Felon Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A local man was sentenced today to 3 years and 1 month in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense.
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, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Cameron Lester, 29, was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a Springfield Arms, .45 caliber pistol, and ammunition, on August 30, 2024. Lester was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.
On July 21, 2023, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lester was convicted of assault in the fourth-degree domestic violence third or greater offense within 5 years, strangulation in the second degree, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On July 30, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lester was convicted of two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, wanton endangerment in the first-degree, and assault in the fourth-degree domestic violence third or greater offense within 5 years.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent
violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
###
Lancaster man pleads guilty to receiving child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alexander Grupp, 32, of Lancaster, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 40 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in March 2018, Grupp was convicted in New York State Court of Possessing Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child less than sixteen years of age, and sentenced, in part, to 10 years' probation. In October 2022, Grupp communicated with a 15-year-old girl using the instant messaging application, Discord. During these conversations, Grupp persuaded the victim to send him nude pictures of herself.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
# # # #
Lake Charles Physician, Wife, and Clinic Agree to Pay Medicare for Improper Billing Related to Implanted NeurostimulatorsRead the Press Release
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Dr. Henry Goolsby, his wife and co-founder Patricia Lenae Goolsby, both of Lake Charles, Louisiana, and their medical clinic, Infinite Health Integrative Medical Center (“Infinite Health”), have agreed to pay $450,000 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act for the alleged improper billing of “P-Stim” devices.
From November of 2018 through April of 2020, Dr. Goolsby, Mrs. Goolsby, and Infinite Health billed Medicare for implanted neurostimulators, that required a surgical procedure in which the physician places wires that deliver stimulation to the epidural space on the spinal cord. This procedure must be performed in a surgery center, but Dr. Goolsby did not perform surgery. Instead, these “P-Stim” devices were applied in his office to his patients’ ears.
P-Stim is an electric acupuncture device that is affixed behind a patient’s ear using an adhesive. Needles are inserted into the patient’s ear and affixed using another adhesive. Once activated, the device then provides intermittent stimulation by electrical pulses. It is a single-use, battery-powered device designed to be worn for approximately four days until its battery runs out, at which time the device is thrown away. Medicare does not reimburse for acupuncture or for devices such as P-Stim, nor does Medicare reimburse for P-Stim as a neurostimulator or as implantation of neurostimulator electrodes.
“Falsely submitting claims for non-covered services and bilking Medicare out of needed funds is an abuse of our healthcare system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. “This type of fraud can be debilitating to the Medicare program, and we will continue to use all available tools to investigate and hold accountable anyone who defrauds federally funded healthcare programs.”
“This settlement underscores our steadfast commitment to enforcing the False Claims Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We remain dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs and protecting the individuals who depend on them by investigating schemes that compromise the proper use of medical devices.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Theriot.
# # #
Johnstown Resident Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Kevin Johnson, 39, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Count One of the Superseding Indictment.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around March 2021 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Johnson conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base in the form commonly known as crack. Johnson was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the crack that he distributed to others.
Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Johnson. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Jamestown man going to prison on meth chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Willie C. Graham, 44, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 66 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who handled the case, stated that on September 6, 2023, Jamestown Police officers initiated a traffic stop on a car that Graham was a passenger in. Officers located numerous items of drug paraphernalia in the car, as well as approximately 29 grams of fentanyl on Graham’s person.
On March 2, 2024, Graham was a passenger in a car that fled from law enforcement officers trying to conduct a traffic stop. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of approximately 12 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $1,134.00 cash.
On April 30, 2024, Jamestown Police officers located and arrested Graham. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of 10 assorted bank and benefit cards, some of which were issued to individuals other than Graham, approximately 53 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and $185.
The sentencing is a result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
# # # #
Indictment Charges Former Federal Correctional Officer in Chicago with Sexually Abusing InmatesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A former correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly sexually abusing four inmates while on duty.
BRITTANY HALL, 31, of Chicago, sexually abused the inmates inside the MCC in December 2023, according to an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. At the time, Hall was a correctional officer for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, responsible for supervising inmates in Unit 12 of the MCC. Hall resigned from the BOP in 2024.
The indictment charges Hall with five counts of sexual abuse of a ward, each of which is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison, and three counts of abusive sexual contact, each of which is punishable by up to two years in federal prison. Arraignment is scheduled for today at 1:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and William J. Hannah, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest Regional Office of the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
0001_-_0000_-_indictment_as_to_brittany_hall_1_counts_1_2.pdfIndictment Charges District Woman with Failure to Pay Approximately $930,000 in Federal Income and Employment Taxes for Marijuana DispensaryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jennifer Brunenkant, 68, of Washington, DC, was charged today in a 19-count indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court with evading and failing to pay federal income and employment taxes associated with her business Herbal Alternatives II, LLC, which at all relevant times operated a marijuana dispensary that was licensed in the District of Columbia. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Washington D.C. Office.
According to the indictment, Brunenkant owned and operated Herbal Alternatives in the District from at least 2013 to 2021. During that time, Herbal Alternatives generated millions of dollars in revenue. The indictment alleges that because Herbal Alternatives was a sole proprietorship with Brunenkant as the sole owner, the income that Brunenkant earned from Herbal Alternatives should have been reported on her annual IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, that was used by United States taxpayers to file individual income tax returns. It is alleged that instead of filing her federal income tax returns, from at least tax years 2018 to 2021, Brunenkant failed to make an income tax return and to pay income tax to the IRS, and in fact willfully attempted to evade and defeat the income tax due and owing by her to the United States. During those years, Brunenkant failed to pay approximately $800,000 in federal income taxes.
The indictment further alleges that Brunenkant employed dozens of employees at Herbal Alternatives. Under federal tax laws, Brunenkant was required to collect, account for, and pay over to the IRS on behalf of Herbal Alternatives the employment taxes imposed on its employees by the Internal Revenue Code. According to the indictment, Brunenkant failed to pay over to the IRS approximately $130,000 in such employment taxes that were owed during the charged tax years.
Tax evasion and failure to pay over employment taxes each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Brian Kelly is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
##
25-cr-056
Illegal Possession of Ammunition Following Reported Assault Lands Oklahoma City Man in Federal Prison for Three YearsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – FRANCISCO JERARD HOUSE, SR., a/k/a Cisco, 45, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 36 months in federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition following a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On September 17, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment against House, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to public record, in March 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) received a report that House sexually assaulted a woman with a firearm present. On March 27, 2024, OCPD officers executed a search warrant at House’s address and recovered a firearm and several rounds of ammunition.
On November 21, 2024, House pleaded guilty and admitted he possessed ammunition despite his criminal record.
At the sentencing hearing on February 27, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced House to serve 36 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In announcing her sentence, Judge Dishman cited the need to protect the public and promote respect for the law. She also noted House’s previous criminal history, including charges of domestic violence, and allegations contained in the protective orders previously issued against him. Public record reflects that House has a previous felony conviction in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2007-507 for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and larceny of a motor vehicle.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and OCPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Illegal Alien Charged with Assaulting Federal Agent in Rotterdam Making Arrest Under Laken Riley ActRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, age 38, and a citizen of Nicaragua residing in Albany, was charged today with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
According to a complaint filed in federal court today, Garcia Rojas entered the United States illegally in 2023 and has been subject to removal proceedings since that date while residing in the United States. Yesterday, the Rotterdam Police Department contacted HSI to inform agents that Garcia Rojas and another illegal alien had been charged with the New York State misdemeanor offenses of petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. Given the nature of the state charges, both aliens were subject to immediate detention under the newly enacted Laken Riley Act. HSI obtained administrative warrants to arrest the pair and promptly went to the Rotterdam Police Department to effectuate the arrests before the subjects were released on the state charges.
After the arrival of federal agents, Garcia Rojas was placed inside the back seat of a federal law enforcement vehicle, in handcuffs. While inside, he managed to get one of his hands out of the handcuffs, got out of the vehicle, and began to walk away. A HSI Special Agent confronted Garcia Rojas and attempted to place him back under arrest. Garcia Rojas aggressively fought back, hitting the agent in the jaw and throwing him into a door. Ultimately, it took at least 6 law enforcement officers and the use of a taser to subdue and rearrest Garcia Rojas. During the assault, Garcia Rojas inflicted bodily injuries on the HSI Special Agent, including a bruise on the jaw, abrasions and cuts on the hands and knees, and injuries to the back. Garcia Rojas told authorities during processing late yesterday that he was a police officer in Nicaragua, where he trained others on the use of defensive tactics.
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The charge filed against Garcia Rojas carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Garcia Rojas initially appeared today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 10.
HSI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Rotterdam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Clarence Montana Walls, 39, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Walls sold quantities of methamphetamine at a Richwood residence on five occasions between October 11 and October 26, 2023, each time to a confidential informant. Walls also sold a quantify of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Clay County on May 9, 2023. With his guilty plea, Walls admitted to the October 11, 2023, methamphetamine transaction in Richwood.
On October 31, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Richwood residence, where Walls had been living, and seized $650 in prerecorded money from the controlled drug buys in addition to $3,625 and a small quantity of controlled substances.
Walls has a long criminal history that includes prior convictions for second-degree criminal sexual conduct, domestic violence, providing false information to officers, and multiple controlled substance offenses. The Court also concluded that Walls obstructed justice following his arrest in the case, when he made recorded jail phone calls to an individual in an attempt to influence the individual’s grand jury testimony against him.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.
United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Isabell and Alexander A. Redmon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-77.
###
Honduran Nationals Accused of Distributing Fentanyl in UtahRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging Honduran nationals with distributing fentanyl in the District of Utah, and with other drug and immigration crimes.
Jerez Navarro-Zuniga aka “Jeren Navarro” 27, a Honduran national and U.S. citizen living in West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint on February 18, 2025. Helen Coello-Turcios, 20, of West Valley City, Jose Amilcar Zuniga-Acosta, 25, of West Valley City, and Naaman Navarro-Hernandez, 35, of Taylorsville, Utah, were charged by complaint on February 20, 2025.
According to court documents, beginning in December 2024, agents with the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) began investigating a drug trafficking organization. A controlled drug purchase was arranged, and law enforcement officers observed Navarro-Zuniga provide fentanyl to a middleman to deliver to a customer. The fentanyl was later seized and tested positive for fentanyl.
On January 7, 2025, law enforcement watched a female later identified as Coello-Turcios, conduct an alleged drug transaction. A traffic stop was conducted on the suspected customer and law enforcement seized approximately 10 fentanyl pills.
During the investigation, on February 12, 2025, SBI agents observed Navarro-Zuniga make a short term stop at a storage unit registered under his name, and conduct an alleged drug transaction with the driver of a Nissan Sentra. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver of the Nissan consented to search the vehicle. Agents seized approximately 4,500 fentanyl pills in the vehicle. On February 13, 2025, surveillance footage showed Navarro-Zuniga entering and exiting his storage unit with a backpack. A traffic stop was conducted on a Chrysler 200 registered to, and driven by Navarro-Zuniga. Coello-Turcios was at passenger. Law enforcement seized $34,199.00 from the vehicle. During the investigation, agents also seized approximately 10 pounds of pills that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl at Navarro’s and Coello-Turcios’ residence.
On February 13, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Altima driven by Navarro-Hernandez and seized 2,500 fentanyl pills that were separated into approximately sale-ready 100 pill baggies. On the same day, a search warrant was executed at Navarro-Hernandez’s residence in Taylorsville and 11,000 fentanyl pills were seized.
According to court documents, Zuniga-Acosta and Navarro Hernandez are in the United States illegally. They were both previously deported and reentered the United States illegally.
Navarro-Zuniga, Coello-Turcios, Zuniga-Acosta and Naaman Navarro-Hernandez are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and other charges. Zuniga-Acosta and Navarro-Hernandez are also charged with reentry of a previously removed alien. All defendants’ initial appearances on the indictment are scheduled for March 10, 2025 at 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. in courtroom 7.1 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Narcotics Squad, and the Utah County Major Crimes (UCMC) Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Utah Highway Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Henryetta Resident Sentenced for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Damon Lee West, age 45, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of distributing methamphetamine.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Okemah Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
On July 23, 2024, West pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on September 20, 2023, West knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 28 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. West will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.
Henderson Man Sentenced to over Five and a Half Years on Firearm Charge After Daytime Shootout at Gas StationRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Jaymon Gibson, of Henderson, was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Gibson, 26, pled guilty to the charges on October 10, 2024.
According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement investigated two gang-related shooting incidents where Gibson possessed or fired guns. On May 10, 2022, at around 11:15 pm, the Henderson Police Department (HPD) responded to reports of a gunshot wound at a house on Powell Street in Henderson. The 911 caller led officers to Gibson, who was sitting in a car with gunshot wounds to his left arm. The 911 caller reported that she had seen someone shooting at Gibson from a black sedan. Officers canvassed the area and found a Glock 19 9mm handgun with an American flag pattern on it lying in the yard. They also found a 50-round drum magazine. Doorbell camera footage from the home showed Gibson walking with the Glock 9mm.
The next day, co-defendant Monica Ellis called HPD and reported that a Glock 19 and a drum magazine had been stolen from her car. Officers later confirmed with a firearms store that Ellis had purchased the firearm on March 8, 2022. Gibson was in prison in March 2022, following a state conviction for voluntary manslaughter, and officers were able to obtain jail calls between him and Ellis. These calls revealed that Gibson had directed Ellis to straw purchase the Glock 9mm for him, even placing a three-way phone call with Gibson and a gun store clerk.
On May 28, 2022, eighteen days after the Powell Street shooting, the HPD responded to a shots-fired call at the Gate City Foods gas station. Surveillance video revealed that a little after 4 p.m., a car with Gibson driving and a juvenile male in the front passenger seat pulled into a gas pump away from the store. A few minutes later, a white car with four occupants arrived and pulled up to a gas pump closer to the store. The front passenger, later identified as Jordan Turnage, walked into the store. Then a rear passenger, a juvenile, stepped out of the white car holding a long gun with a drum magazine. Gibson, who had moved to the front passenger seat, then stepped out of the car also holding a firearm. Moments later, gunfire erupted. Turnage fired a handgun from inside Gates City Foods through the window towards Gibson. At the same time, from the middle of the parking lot, the juvenile with the long gun began firing toward Gibson. The white car’s driver also stepped out with a long gun and shot several rounds, striking himself in the foot in the process. Gibson returned fire, shooting several rounds while crouching behind his car. Both groups then fled from the scene. Later investigation found that gunshots had damaged multiple nearby cars and apartments, including one gunshot that had struck a bedroom window while a resident was sleeping. Miraculously, no one was hurt in the incident. Five days later, law enforcement located and arrested Gibson at an apartment in Durham. They found a 22-caliber rifle with a high-capacity magazine that matched shell casings from where he had been parked at Gates City Foods.
“Keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals that endanger public safety remains a top priority for our office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that are the most significant contributors to violence.”
"Our partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina has been vital in our ongoing efforts to combat gun violence in our community,” said Henderson Police Chief Marcus W. Barrow. “Throughout my tenure as Chief of Police, the ATF has maintained a steadfast presence in Henderson, demonstrating unwavering support and commitment to our shared goals. Their consistent presence is having a profound and lasting impact on our region. This case serves as yet another testament to our collective dedication in the fight against gun violence, and we remain resolute in our commitment to securing a safer future for all."
Co-defendant Monica Ellis pled guilty to a felony offense of lying to a federal agent for statements she made related to straw-purchasing the Glock firearm. On March 14, 2024, she was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release. Jordan Turnage, who was not a felon at the time of the shooting, was prosecuted in state court for related felony offenses and received an active sentence of 38 to 58 months.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Henderson Police Department, Durham Police Department, and N.C State Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-0043-D.
###
Healthcare Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay over $1.9M to Settle Kickback AllegationsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices, as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami, Florida, and Saeed Medical Group Ltd. d/b/a Alliance Immediate and Primary Care, of Chicago, Illinois, agreed to pay a total of $1,913,808 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, TRICARE, and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.
The settlements announced today resolve allegations that healthcare providers received kickbacks in return for their referrals to a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, and that a marketer and his marketing company received kickbacks from that South Carolina laboratory to arrange for laboratory testing referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickbacks allegedly resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.
- Dr. Gerald Congdon, Coastal Urgent Care, LLC, and Coastal Wellness Center, LLC. Dr. Congdon and his medical practices in Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
- Dr. Gbenga Aluko and Eagle Medical Center, PC. Dr. Aluko and his medical practice in Charlotte, North Carolina agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
- Dr. Anup Banerjee and Gastonia Medical Specialty Clinic P.A. Dr. Banerjee and his medical practice in Gastonia, North Carolina agreed to pay $206,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2017 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
- Omar Hussain and Curis Healthcare Inc. Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $817,808 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Hussain and his company received commissions from the South Carolina laboratory as independent contractors based on the volume and/or value of the Medicare and TRICARE referrals for laboratory testing that they arranged for and/or recommended.
- Saeed Medical Group Ltd., Omar Hussain, and Curis Healthcare Inc. Saeed Medical Group and Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $240,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Saeed Medical Group received thousands of dollars in remuneration in the form of cash payments from Hussain and his company in return for ordering testing from the South Carolina laboratory.
“Integrity must be the standard in our health care system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “Kickback schemes divert funds and focus away from patients and their medical needs.”
“The public puts immense trust in medical professionals, and disdain for the rule of law damages that trust and erodes their credibility,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “These settlements should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its partners are committed to holding medical practitioners accountable for kickbacks.”
“Kickback schemes undermine medical decision-making and jeopardize the integrity of federally funded health care programs,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our commitment is to safeguard taxpayer-funded health care and the patients who rely on it, and we will rigorously pursue any allegations of False Claims Act violations.”
“The trust of the American taxpayer and the wellbeing of our Service members are undermined when laboratories and physicians engage in collusive financial relationships,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves by prioritizing kickbacks over patient care.”
The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The settlements announced today were handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas received kickbacks from the same South Carolina laboratory.
The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
###
Health Care Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay over $1.9 Million to Settle Kickback AllegationsRead the Press Release
View the settlement agreement.
Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices; as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami, Florida, and Saeed Medical Group Ltd. doing business as Alliance Immediate and Primary Care of Chicago, Illinois, agreed to pay a total of $1,913,808 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.
The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, TRICARE, and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.
The settlements announced today resolve allegations that health care providers received kickbacks in return for their referrals to a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, and that a marketer and his marketing company received kickbacks from that South Carolina laboratory to arrange for laboratory testing referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickbacks allegedly resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.
- Dr. Gerald Congdon, Coastal Urgent Care LLC, and Coastal Wellness Center LLC. Dr. Congdon and his medical practices in Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
- Dr. Gbenga Aluko and Eagle Medical Center PC. Dr. Aluko and his medical practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
- Dr. Anup Banerjee and Gastonia Medical Specialty Clinic P.A. Dr. Banerjee and his medical practice in Gastonia, North Carolina, agreed to pay $206,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2017 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
- Omar Hussain and Curis Healthcare Inc. Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $817,808 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Hussain and his company received commissions from the South Carolina laboratory as independent contractors based on the volume and value of the Medicare and TRICARE referrals for laboratory testing that they arranged for and recommended.
- Saeed Medical Group Ltd., Omar Hussain, and Curis Healthcare Inc. Saeed Medical Group and Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $240,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Saeed Medical Group received thousands of dollars in remuneration in the form of cash payments from Hussain and his company in return for ordering testing from the South Carolina laboratory.
“Integrity must be the standard in our health care system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “Kickback schemes divert funds and focus away from patients and their medical needs.”
“The public puts immense trust in medical professionals, and disdain for the rule of law damages that trust and erodes their credibility,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “These settlements should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its partners are committed to holding medical practitioners accountable for kickbacks.”
“Kickback schemes undermine medical decision-making and jeopardize the integrity of federally funded health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our commitment is to safeguard taxpayer-funded health care and the patients who rely on it, and we will rigorously pursue any allegations of False Claims Act violations.”
“The trust of the American taxpayer and the wellbeing of our service members are undermined when laboratories and physicians engage in collusive financial relationships,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves by prioritizing kickbacks over patient care.”
The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The settlements announced today were handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas received kickbacks from the same South Carolina laboratory.
The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Guatemalan National Charged with Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national residing in Waltham has been indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
William Estruado Rodriguez-Botello, 39, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guatemalan National Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and West Haven Police Chief Joseph Perno announced that MARIO RENE GARCIA MARTINEZ, also known as “Mario Rene Martinez Garcia,” 33, a citizen of Guatemala was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with child exploitation offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on two occasions in February 2024, in Connecticut, Garcia Martinez used his smartphone to record sexually explicit videos and images of a prepubescent minor female while she was sleeping.
Garcia Martinez was arrested this morning in Valley Stream, New York. He appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained.
The complaint charges Garcia Martinez with production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia-Milford.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
Grove City Resident Indicted on Sexual Exploitation of a Minor ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Grove City, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Michael William Boston, 40, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on three separate occasions between October 2022 and July 2023, Boston transported material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor in interstate commerce. The Indictment further alleges that Boston possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor as recently on October 11, 2024.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police's Northwest Computer Crime Unit conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Gang Member Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A member of the Minneapolis Highs gang was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for his role in a racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, Deandre Poe, a.k.a. “Squizzy” or “Fat Squad,” 35, was a member of the Highs, a street gang operating on the north side of Minneapolis since approximately 2004. The Highs congregated at specific businesses and residences located at or near the West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North intersection. Highs members proved their loyalty to the gang by “putting in work,” i.e., committing acts of violence for the benefit of the gang or offering other benefits such as introducing a source for drugs or firearms. Highs members were expected to “hunt” rival gang members: an express directive to locate and kill rivals. If they did not, Highs members were expelled from the gang and physically assaulted for failing to “put in work.”
According to court documents, Poe was part of the Highs extensive fentanyl trafficking operation involving Arizona-based suppliers. Between November 2022 and March 2023, Poe made several round-trip flights from Minneapolis to Phoenix, where he mailed at least four bulk parcels of fentanyl back to Minnesota using the U.S. Postal Service.
On October 3, 2024, Poe pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in a RICO conspiracy with the Highs criminal enterprise. He was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel on March 4, 2025.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies also contributed to this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Albania Concepcion, Carla J. Baumel, Rebecca E. Kline and Thomas Calhoun-Lopez for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorney Brian W. Lynch of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section prosecuted the case.
Fremont Man Sentenced for Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that David McCown, 41, of Fremont, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 6, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for production and attempted production of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced McCown to a total 280 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McCown’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release and be required to register as a sex offender. McCown was also ordered to pay restitution to one of the victims as well as to contribute funds to an account established for victims of these types of crimes.
In July of 2023, investigators with the Fremont Police Department (FPD) received a cellphone and other electronic devices belonging to McCown which were suspected to contain child pornography materials. A search warrant was received for all devices.
During the review of all the devices, investigators located multiple child exploitation videos which appeared to be original productions involving three minors who were known to McCown. The files were dated between 2020 and 2023. After McCown was arrested, he agreed to an interview during which he admitted to recording the videos of the minor victims.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Fremont Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Frankfort Attorney Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort attorney, Brian Logan, 51, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory VanTatenhove to 36 months, for wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Logan prepared a will for a client in August 2018. After the client passed away, Logan was appointed executor of the client’s estate, which included real property and cash. The will directed that the majority of the estate’s assets be distributed among certain charities. Instead, Logan transferred $239,600 from the estate bank account to his personal bank accounts in a series of transactions from October 10, 2018, to August 31, 2023. Logan then used these funds for personal expenses, including to make payments on his credit card.
Logan also used fraudulent transactions to transfer the ownership of the estate’s real property to himself. Using his role as executor, he caused the estate to conduct a fictitious transaction selling the property to a friend, then effected a second fictitious transaction causing the friend to sell the property to an entity Logan owned. In each transaction, Logan forged the friend’s name and signature on the deeds. Logan then collected rent on the property for nearly six years, using the funds to make payments on personal credit cards.
In addition, Logan submitted fraudulent documents to a bank in connection with a loan application for the property. He provided the bank with one of the forged deeds and a fraudulent lease that again used his friend’s name and forged signature. Logan used the loan proceeds, totaling $116,000, for his personal benefit.
Under federal law, Logan must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Additionally, as part of his sentencing, Logan is required to pay $178,381 in restitution.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
– END –
Former Olympian Wanted for Running Transnational Drug Enterprise and Ordering Several Murders Added to FBI’s List of Ten Most Wanted FugitivesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Former Olympic snowboarder and Canadian national, Ryan Wedding, 43, has been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, announced today during a press conference in Westwood.
ADIC Davis was joined by law enforcement partners with the United States Department of State, Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Los Angeles, and the United States Attorney’s Office – Central District of California.
Ryan Wedding, whose aliases include “El Jefe,” “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “James Conrad King,” and “Jesse King,” was born in Thunder Bay, Canada, and competed in the Giant Slalom snowboarding competition during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
At present, Wedding is wanted for allegedly running a transnational drug trafficking network that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other locations in the United States, and for orchestrating multiple murders and an attempted murder in furtherance of these drug crimes.
Wedding’s placement on the top 10 list marks the 535th addition to the FBI’s list of notorious fugitives. Wedding will replace Alexis Flores who is wanted by FBI Philadelphia. Although Flores is being removed from the list today, he will remain on the FBI’s website on its Most Wanted page.
“As alleged in the superseding indictment, defendant Ryan Wedding – a former Olympian – led a transnational criminal organization that murdered innocent people and put thousands of kilograms of narcotics on our streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. “The reward offered today will help bring this defendant to justice in the United States. We urge anyone with information about Wedding to contact law enforcement and help us get Mr. Wedding into custody.”
“Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger.”
Additionally, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced that it is offering a $10-million-reward for information leading to Wedding’s arrest and/or conviction. The reward was authorized by Secretary of State Marco Rubio under the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP), which supports law enforcement efforts to disrupt transnational crime globally and bring fugitives to justice. This reward offering supplements the FBI’s current offering of $50,000 for information leading to Wedding’s apprehension, arrest, and extradition, and further, is jointly being offered with assistance from the Canadian and Mexican governments as part of a unified effort to bring Wedding to justice.
“The Department of State is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ryan James Wedding,” said Senior Bureau Official F. Cartwright Weiland of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). “We are committed to protecting American communities from thugs who, with clear consciences, deliberately peddle illicit narcotics and prey on our youth.”
In June 2024, Wedding and his second-in-command Andrew Clark, 34, also Canadian, were charged in an indictment out of the Central District of California with running a continuing criminal enterprise; committing murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and assorted drug crimes; and conspiring to possess, distribute, and export cocaine. Clark, who was arrested last October by Mexican authorities, was among the 29 fugitives whom Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced had arrived in the United States from Mexico last week.
In September 2024, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned a superseding indictment naming 14 additional defendants and including, among other counts, an attempted murder charge against Wedding and Clark. The superseding indictment alleges that Wedding, Clark, and others conspired to ship bulk quantities of cocaine – weighing hundreds of kilograms – from Southern California to Canada through a Canada-based drug transportation network run by Hardeep Ratte, 46, of Ontario, Canada, and Gurpreet Singh, 31, of Ontario, Canada, from approximately January 2024 to August 2024. The cocaine shipments were transported from Mexico to the Los Angeles area, where the cocaine trafficking organization’s operatives stored the cocaine in stash houses, before delivering it to the transportation network couriers for delivery to Canada using long-haul semi-trucks.
The superseding indictment also alleges that Wedding and Clark’s organization resorted to violence – including multiple murders – to achieve its aims. Wedding and Clark allegedly directed the November 20, 2023, murders of two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment that passed through Southern California. Another member of that family survived the shooting but was left with serious physical injuries. Wedding and Clark allegedly also ordered the murder of another victim on May 18, 2024, over a drug debt. In addition, Clark and Malik Damion Cunningham, 23, a dual Canadian-American citizen, are charged with the April 1, 2024, murder of another victim in Ontario, Canada.
“The RCMP is committed to working with our international partners in the fight against transnational criminals,” said Liam Price, Director General, Royal Canadian Mounted Police International program. “It’s imperative that Ryan Wedding faces justice for the charges against him. We will continue to stand with and support our US and Mexican partners in this and other investigations to protect the public.”
If convicted, Wedding and Clark would face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison on their respective continuing criminal enterprise charge. The murder and attempted murder charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The drug trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum penalties of 10 to 15 years in prison.
“The former Canadian snowboarder unleashed an avalanche of death and destruction, here and abroad,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division. “He earned the name ‘El Jefe’, becoming boss of a violent transnational drug trafficking organization. Now, his face will be on ‘The Top 10 Most Wanted’ posters. He’s unremitting, callous and greed-driven. Today’s announcement beams an even brighter searchlight on him. We ask that you help us find him.”
The FBI urges anyone with information as to Wedding’s whereabouts to contact the FBI via WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram at +1-424 495-0614. These are neither government-operated nor government-controlled platforms. Callers may also contact their local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Confidentiality will be granted to anyone who calls with information.
Investigators believe that Wedding is residing in Mexico but have not ruled out his presence in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, or elsewhere.
Wedding is further described as follows:
- Aliases: James Conrad King, Jesse King
- DOB: September 14, 1981
- Hair: Brown, may wear a beard and/or mustache
- Eyes: Blue
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 240 lbs. (may vary)
- Nationality: Canadian
- Place of Birth: Thunder Bay, Canada
- Monikers: “Giant,” “Public Enemy,” “El Jefe”
Photographs and reward information about Wedding will be posted on digital billboards in key locations, as well as on fbi.gov, and on the FBI’s social media platforms. Additional information about Wedding and other Top Ten Fugitives is available at this link: Top Ten Fugitives.
The FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list was established in March 1950. Since its inception, 535 fugitives have been placed on the list of “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives,” 496 of whom were apprehended or located; 163 were due to citizen cooperation.
The FBI is investigating Wedding and Clark’s drug trafficking enterprise with the Los Angeles Police Department, DEA Los Angeles, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing. In addition, significant assistance has been provided by U.S. law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations – Detroit, and United States Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo; Canadian law enforcement partners, including Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, and Peel Regional Police; Mexican law enforcement partners; and Colombian law enforcement partners, including Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, Special Interagency Investigation Group (Policía Nacional de Colombia – Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol, Grupo Especial de Investigación Interagenciales).
Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Ryan Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
Former MPD Officer Pleads Guilty to COVID Emergency Loan FraudRead the Press Release
Kalynn Fields, 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with filing false and misleading information in order to reap $35,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Fields, a former patrol officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The Honorable Trevor P. McFadden presided over the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for June 20, 2025.
According to court documents, Fields used two companies, founded in May and June 2022, to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan and a Paycheck Protection Program Loan. At the time, Fields was employed by the MPD. Although Fields was required to report any outside business venture to MPD pursuant to MPD policies, Fields failed to do so. Neither company had a legitimate purpose, and each was created only to obtain EIDL and PPP loans. There were numerous false and fraudulent misrepresentations in the loan applications. As a result of the false information provided Fields received loans worth $35,000, which were later forgiven.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the FBI Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross.
25cr43
Former Lawyer Sentenced for Paying for Sex Acts with Cambodian ChildrenRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL - A Florida man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for paying a child in a foreign country to engage in a commercial sex act with him.
According to court documents, Rugh James Cline, 44, a former Florida-licensed attorney of Tampa, travelled to Cambodia and paid four Cambodian children to engage in sex acts with him on multiple occasions. Additionally, when he was arrested in Cambodia, Cline was found to be in possession of a laptop containing hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case. The U.S. Department of State, Cambodian National Police, and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilyssa Spergel and Courtney Derry for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Lawyer Sentenced for Paying for Sex Acts with Cambodian ChildrenRead the Press Release
A Florida man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for paying a child in a foreign country to engage in a commercial sex act with him.
According to court documents, Rugh James Cline, 44, a former Florida-licensed attorney of Tampa, travelled to Cambodia and paid four Cambodian children to engage in sex acts with him on multiple occasions. Additionally, when he was arrested in Cambodia, Cline was found to be in possession of a laptop containing hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case. The U.S. Department of State, Cambodian National Police, and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ilyssa Spergel and Courtney Derry for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Flight Attendant Pleads Guilty to Filming Minors in Aircraft LavatoryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former American Airlines flight attendant has pleaded guilty to surreptitiously recording or attempting to record a minor female passenger using the lavatory aboard an aircraft in September 2023. The defendant also pleaded guilty to possessing recordings of four additional minor female passengers using lavatories aboard the aircraft he had worked previously.
Estes Carter Thompson III, 37, of Charlotte, N.C., pleaded guilty to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for June 17, 2025. In April 2024, Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston.
On Sept. 2, 2023, while working as a flight attendant onboard an American Airlines flight from Charlotte, N.C. to Boston, Mass., Thompson video-recorded or attempted to surreptitiously video-record a 14-year-old female passenger as she used the lavatory. Specifically, before the minor victim entered the lavatory, Thompson told her that he needed to wash his hands, and that the lavatory’s toilet seat was broken and briefly entered the lavatory. After Thompson exited the lavatory, the minor victim entered and observed red stickers on the underside of the toilet seat lid, which was in the open position, that stated, “INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT” and “REMOVE FROM SERVICE,” and “SEAT BROKEN” was hand-written in black ink on one of the stickers. Beneath the red stickers, Thompson had concealed his iPhone to record a video.
The minor victim informed her parents of what she saw and showed them the picture upon returning to her seat. The victim’s father confronted Thompson, who then locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for three to five minutes prior to the flight’s descent.
Upon the flight’s arrival at Boston’s Logan Airport, law enforcement observed that Thompson had restored his iPhone to factory settings. A subsequent search of Thompson’s suitcase was found to contain 11 “INOPERATIVE CATERING EQUIPMENT” stickers, like those observed by the minor victim on the back of the toilet seat. A search of Thompson’s iCloud account revealed four additional instances between January and August 2023 in which Thompson recorded a minor using the lavatory on an aircraft. The minor victims depicted in the surreptitious recordings were seven, nine, 11 and 14 years old at the time. Additionally, over 50 images of a nine-year-old unaccompanied minor were found in Thompson’s iCloud. The images included photos taken while the minor victim was seated in her seat pre-flight and close-ups of her face while sleeping. Additionally, hundreds of AI-generated images depicting child sexual abuse were also found stored on Thompson’s iCloud account.
All minor victims involved in this matter have been identified and their families have been contacted by law enforcement.
The charge of attempted sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Both charges also provide for at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Federal grand jury indicts Olean man on narcotics conspiracy chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Theodore E. Coffie, 54, of Olean, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2016, and March 2021, Coffie conspired with Joseph S. Zaso, and others, to sell heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in the Olean area. Zaso was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.
Coffie was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, New York Field Division.
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.
# # # #
Federal Jury Finds Owner and Captain of Southern Comfort Guilty of Seaman’s Manslaughter and FraudRead the Press Release
MIAMI – This week, a federal jury in Fort Pierce found Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, Florida, guilty of seaman’s manslaughter (both in his capacity as boat owner and boat captain of the vessel named Southern Comfort), lying to the Coast Guard, and committing Covid-19 pandemic relief fraud.
South Florida Assistant U.S. Attorneys presented the following evidence at trial: In early March 2020, McCabe purchased a 48-foot boat, named it Southern Comfort, and falsely claimed on Coast Guard forms that he intended to use the boat recreationally. The truth was that McCabe planned to use the Southern Comfort to run paid scuba charters. He refitted the boat for that purpose by removing the vessel’s main deck engine controls, among other things.
On March 28, 2020, McCabe took paying passengers on a scuba trip aboard the Southern Comfort, but things did not go well. During the day’s two scuba dives, the Southern Comfort experienced significant mechanical malfunctions that included one of the vessel’s propellers activating unexpectedly, the loss of steering, and the vessel running aground. One of the incidents involved the port side propeller engaging when the vessel was in neutral during the pickup of a diver, which led to the diver being sucked toward the propeller and narrowly escaping.
Despite the close calls, McCabe took more paying divers out the next day, on March 29, 2020, without reporting the prior day’s incidents to the Coast Guard, warning his passengers of what had occurred, or fixing the boat. Again, the port side propeller engaged while the boat was sitting in neutral over a dive spot. As the victim diver and her spouse boarded the vessel, the propeller sucked the victim towards it – as it had done to a diver the day before. This time, unfortunately, there was no narrow escape, only tragedy: The propeller sucked the victim into it, mangling and cutting her. It twisted her leg up in its shaft, holding her under water. A medical examiner testified that while the victim’s many deep chop wounds and leg fractures were not fatal on their own, they caused serious pain that contributed to the victim’s death by drowning.
As a result of the March 29 death, McCabe was prohibited from operating the Southern Comfort. He was never again seen working at the marina. As federal prosecutors proved during trial, this did not stop McCabe from applying for two loans from the Covid-19 era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – a federal relief program meant to help small businesses financially survive the pandemic. To secure the loans (and later their forgiveness), McCabe falsely claimed in the applications that his business was operational and submitted fraudulent payroll information and fake tax documents to support the lie.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. McCabe faces up to 10 years in prison for seaman’s manslaughter, up to five years for making false statements, and up to 20 years for wire fraud.
United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Josh W. Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (“CGIS”) Southeast Field Office made the announcement.
CGIS Southeast Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Worth and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office of Law Enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller, Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Koffsky are prosecuting this case.
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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80103.
###
Federal Grand Jury in Louisville Indicts Illegal Alien for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on March 4, 2025, charging an illegal alien with federal drug and gun crimes.
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, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Edi Diaz-Lopez, a/k/a Edy Diaz-Lopez, age 30, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. On January 3, 2025, Diaz-Lopez possessed a Phoenix, .25 caliber pistol, and a Bryco, model 59, 9-millimeter pistol. Diaz-Lopez was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States.
Diaz-Lopez made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Kentucky on March 6, 2025. He was ordered detained pending trial. If convicted, Diaz-Lopez faces a maximum sentence of 40 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 ATF, HSI, ICE/ERO, and LMPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former Paralegal for Wire Fraud, Tax Evasion, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on March 4, 2025, charging a former paralegal with 8 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of tax evasion, and 1 count of aggravated identity theft.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the Pittsburgh Division, and Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Crystal Whitaker, 44, currently of Somerset, was charged with 8 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of tax evasion, and 1 count of aggravated identity theft, all of which occurred between March 30, 2020, and March 3, 2025. Whitaker was working as a paralegal for attorney J.R.S. at law firm SLG. when J.R.S. passed away. Whitaker then added herself to SLG’s bank accounts by concealing J.R.S.’s death. Once added to SLG’s bank accounts, Whitaker withdrew money from the accounts to make unauthorized personal purchases. Additionally, Whitaker filed a false tax return for calendar year 2020, failing to report all of the income she earned and that she embezzled. Whitaker failed to file any tax returns for calendar years 2021 and 2022.
On March 6, 2025, Whitaker made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Whitaker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 177 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 USPIS and the IRS-CI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Ansari is prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Fayette County meth dealer sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonmentRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Vandalia woman to 10 years in federal prison after she admitted to possessing methamphetamine for distribution.
Melissa P. Workman, 52, of Vandalia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance: meth.
“This 10-year sentence sends a strong message that federal law enforcement is combating drug crimes all over the district,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Because meth is highly addictive and destructive for families, knowing this dealer is headed to federal prison is a win for Fayette County, and I applaud the FBI agents who worked the case to hold her accountable.”
According to court documents, Workman sold 10 grams of meth to a confidential source working for the FBI on July 17, 2023. On July 18, 2023, agents executed a search warrant of her residence and recovered meth, a digital scale, packaging supplies and other drug paraphernalia.
“Drugs have deadly consequences, and the FBI will aggressively investigate the sale and trafficking of illegal drugs to make our communities safer places to live,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “This sentence underscores the consequences of distributing illegal drugs and ensures the offender is unable to cause harm to others for years to come.”
In additional investigations, agents again searched Workman’s residence on Jan. 8, 2024, and located more methamphetamine. Following her federal indictment on April 18, 2024, agents executed an arrest warrant for Workman. During her arrest, law enforcement uncovered additional amounts of methamphetamine in her home.
The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Carraway prosecuted the case.
Falls Church man convicted of hate crime for attempted church shootingRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – After a four-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict today for Rui Jiang, of Falls Church, who was charged with attempting to obstruct the congregants of a church in Haymarket in the free exercise of their religious beliefs. The charge included that the defendant’s attempted act involved a dangerous weapon and an attempt to kill. Jiang also faced charges for transmitting online threats and a firearms violation. The jury found Jiang guilty on all counts.
According to evidence presented at trial, Jiang began posting online threats against the church on the evening of Sept. 23, 2023, which made clear his intention to kill congregants.
On the morning of Sept. 24, 2023, police began searching for Jiang in response to a concerned citizen’s call about his posts. Police officers located Jiang inside the front entrance to the church while Sunday services were underway. Church volunteers, independently concerned about Jiang’s behavior, had just approached Jiang when police arrived. Jiang was armed with a semiautomatic handgun and two full magazines of ammunition. He had an additional 34 rounds of ammunition in his nearby car.
During a search of Jiang’s apartment, police discovered five copies of a letter, each signed by Jiang in ink, which read in part, “To the families of those men about to be slain – I am sorry for what I have done and about to do (sic).”
Jiang was arrested by Prince William County Police on Sept. 24, 2023, and has been in custody since that time.
Jiang faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison when sentenced on June 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Mac Warner, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Roman Rozhavsky, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. accepted the verdict.
The FBI investigated the case with substantial assistance from the Prince William County and Fairfax County Police Departments. The Anne Arundel County Police Department also provided assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas A. Durham and Troy A. Edwards Jr. for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Kyle Boynton of the Civil Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-65.
Employee at Multinational DVD Company Charged with Stealing, Selling Pre-Release Commercial DVDs for Blockbuster FilmsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A worker at a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major movie studios was arrested today in Memphis, Tennessee, for allegedly stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies from the company and selling them before their official scheduled release dates. A digital copy of at least one of the stolen Blu-rays was illegally distributed tens of millions of times over the internet, causing the copyright owner tens of millions of dollars in losses.
According to court documents, Steven R. Hale, 37, of Memphis, worked for a multinational company that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale allegedly stole numerous “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. These included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Godzilla v. Kong,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Dune,” and “Black Widow.” Hale allegedly sold the DVDs and Blu-rays through e-commerce sites. At least one pre-release Blu-ray that Hale allegedly stole and sold, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” was “ripped” — that is, extracted from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying — and copied. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times, with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars.
The indictment, unsealed today, charges Hale with two counts of criminal copyright infringement and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each criminal copyright infringement count and 10 years in prison on the interstate transportation of stolen goods count. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti and Trial Attorney Debra Ireland of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
CRM
25-227
If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.
Employee at Multinational DVD Company Charged with Stealing, Selling Pre-Release Commercial DVDs for Blockbuster FilmsRead the Press Release
A worker at a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major movie studios was arrested today in Memphis, Tennessee, for allegedly stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies from the company and selling them before their official scheduled release dates. A digital copy of at least one of the stolen Blu-rays was illegally distributed tens of millions of times over the internet, causing the copyright owner tens of millions of dollars in losses.
According to court documents, Steven R. Hale, 37, of Memphis, worked for a multinational company that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale allegedly stole numerous “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. These included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Godzilla v. Kong,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Dune,” and “Black Widow.” Hale allegedly sold the DVDs and Blu-rays through e-commerce sites. At least one pre-release Blu-ray that Hale allegedly stole and sold, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” was “ripped” — that is, extracted from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying — and copied. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times, with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars.
The indictment, unsealed today, charges Hale with two counts of criminal copyright infringement and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each criminal copyright infringement count and 10 years in prison on the interstate transportation of stolen goods count. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti and Trial Attorney Debra Ireland of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.