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Monday 29 June 2026
Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Role in Southwestern Connecticut Drug RingRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that BENJAMIN DOZIER, also known as “Ace” and “Blanco, 44, of Bridgeport, was sentenced on June 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics in southwestern Connecticut.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and Stamford Police Department identified Rodney Canada as the leader of a drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Stamford and elsewhere in southwestern Connecticut. An investigation in 2024, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Canada and others orchestrated the street level distribution of narcotics through other members of the conspiracy. Investigators intercepted more than 5000 text messages and calls in which Canada coordinated his drug trafficking activities.
Dozier was identified during the investigation as supplier on fentanyl to Canada.
Dozier, Canada, and other members of the conspiracy were arrested on May 14, 2024. On that date, investigators conducted court-authorized searches at locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and Darien, and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine, nearly 400 grams of raw fentanyl, more than 500 bags of fentanyl, five firearms, a bulletproof vest, and seven vehicles.
A subsequent search of a storage unit that Dozier rented revealed a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, drug-packaging materials, and ledgers documenting drug trafficking activity.
Dozier’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics distribution and weapon possession offenses.
On December 30, 2025, Dozier pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Dozier, who is released on a $150,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 9.
Canada pleaded guilty and, on December 15, 2025, was sentenced to 110 months of imprisonment.
This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Danbury, and Darien Police Departments. The DEA HIDTA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Milford, and Danbury Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia Stolfi Collins and Geoffrey M. Stone.
Billings man pleads guilty to bank fraudRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who used a falsified bank loan to receive $50,000 admitted to charges Thursday, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Jordan Andrew Hennessy, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. Hennessy faces up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided and sentencing was set for a later date. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hennessy was released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Hennessy, while employed by First Interstate Bank, falsified a loan application and awarded himself $50,000.
The incident began on March 11, 2022, when Hennessy was working as the commercial relationship manager for First Interstate Bank in Billings. From work, Hennessy submitted a commercial loan application for $100,000 under the name of his father’s business, Stillwater Group, LLC. In the application, Hennessy stated Stillwater Group would use the funds to develop real estate projects in Montana. He then opened a checking account, naming his father as a joint owner, on March 14, 2022.
Hennessy, as a First Interstate employee, was responsible for negotiating the counteroffer to his own loan request, which resulted in a $50,000 line of credit being issued to Stillwater Group. His position allowed him to be on both sides of the transaction, negotiating with himself. Once the $50,000 line of credit was funded, Hennessy transferred the Stillwater Group funds from the joint account he created with his father’s name into his personal checking account. Hennessy then used the funds to finance several transactions with an internet-based investment company and eventually defaulted on the $50,000 line of credit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich is prosecuting the case. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General and the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau conducted the investigation.
BVI Citizen Arrested for Illegal Reentry into the United States and Possessing Child Exploitation MaterialRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Bruce Wheatley, a British citizen from Tortola, was arrested for possession and distribution of child exploitation material and illegal reentry into the United States. On June 29, 2026, Wheatley, 19, appeared before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge G. Alan Teague for an initial.
According to court documents, on Friday, June 26, 2026, Wheatley was identified by Federal Agents in Havensight, St. Thomas, USVI. Agents identified Wheatley as a subject who had previously been deported from the United States in May of 2026 and banned from returning to the United States for a period of five years. Wheatley was detained pending arrest for illegal reentry.
During a search of Wheatley’s cellular phone, agents found sexually explicit content that depicted what appeared to be a minor and adult engaged in a sexual act.
Wheatley was detained pending further court proceedings. Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) is investigating the case. Attorney Natasha L. Baker of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands is prosecuting the case.Antonio DeWayne Watkins Sentenced to 36 Years for Assaulting A Person Assisting Federal Official, Drug Trafficking, and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On June 24, 2026, Antonio DeWayne Watkins, a/k/a “Tony Bologna” and “Gator Mac,” 32 of Chattanooga, was sentenced to 432 months of imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Following a four day trial, Watkins was convicted of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A), distributing methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and assaulting a person assisting a federal official resulting in bodily injury in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) and (b).
The evidence presented at trial and sentencing showed that Watkins, a member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, was found in possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and a loaded firearm during an encounter with Chattanooga Police Officers in July 2024. Following his arrest and release on bond, Watkins twice sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Following federal indictment, United States Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee ordered Watkins be detained pending trial. While in pretrial detention, Watkins punched a Hamilton County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Deputy in the face. The Court found Watkins to be a Career Offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines based on previous Tennessee convictions for possession of cocaine for resale and voluntary manslaughter.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Chattanooga Field Office, Drug Enforcement Administration Chattanooga Resident Office, United States Marshal Service, Chattanooga Police Department, and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was 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.
Assistant United States Attorneys Scott A. Winne and Kevin T. Brown, and former Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven D. Austin represented the United States.
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Alabama Man Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – An Alabama resident was sentenced to serve more than a decade in prison after he was caught by an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent distributing child sexual abuse material of young female children online while he was living in Southwest Georgia.
Bradley Love, 37, of Dothan, Alabama, and formerly of Blakely, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on June 29 after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography on Feb. 26. In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender for life. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our office will tirelessly pursue all those who exploit children online and hold them accountable for their crimes at the federal level,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “Working alongside law enforcement, we will use every resource available to safeguard children and bring offenders to justice.”
“Let this serve as a warning: Anyone who distributes child sexual abuse material will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama Steven N. Schrank. “HSI’s undercover operations are designed to expose predators who target children online. We will not tolerate these crimes, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect children and ensure offenders are removed from our communities.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, an undercover agent with HSI joined a “teen chat” room on a website called “chat-avenue.com” on Dec. 7, 2023, and posted “Dad of 2 8yro and 10yro.” Soon after, the agent received a private message from an individual with a screen name of “Whiteranger,” who was Love.
During the undercover investigation, Love asked the agent about his daughters and if he had sexually abused them. Love then asked the undercover agent to move their conversation to the messaging platform, Kik. On Kik, Love sent the undercover agent a photo of male genitals and requested explicit photos of his daughters. Love also relayed he had child sexual abuse material of children he wanted to share, but that he didn’t want to be kicked off Kik for sharing CSAM, and requested to move that conversation to another platform, Session.
On Session, Love’s screenname was “Jackkfrost.” Love sent one photo of a naked prepubescent female child, one picture of two naked female children, and a picture of a prepubescent female engaging in sexually explicit conduct to the undercover agent. HSI investigators located the defendant at his home address in Blakely, Georgia. On Sept. 5, 2024, HSI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Early County Sheriff’s Office executed a federal search warrant at Love’s Blakely residence. Several electronic items belonging to Love were seized: one cell phone contained approximately 139 images depicting CSAM, and a second cell phone contained two images depicting CSAM. Love told investigators he was interested in minor children who were “toddler age,” and confirmed that he sent and received CSAM on these platforms.
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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969.
HSI investigated the case with assistance from the GBI and the Early County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Julius Jefferson prosecuted the case for the Government.
Afghan Man Sentenced to 22 Months for Possessing a Firearm While Illegally in the U.S.Read the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Syed Haider Najib, 30, of Phoenix, was sentenced on June 22, by Senior United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes to 22 months in prison. Najib previously pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, an Alien Illegally and Unlawfully in the United States.
Najib, who is originally from Afghanistan, has been illegally and unlawfully present in the United States since at least March 8, 2018, when his asylum application to remain in the United States permanently was denied and a final order of removal was issued by a United States Immigration Judge. Because of conditions in Afghanistan, Najib was ordered removed to a third country. A third country could not be found for him, so he was released from custody. However, as he is still illegally and unlawfully present in the United States, Najib is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
In 2023, FBI special agents discovered photographs and videos of Najib with a firearm on a social media site. During a search of Najib’s home and car in October 2023, agents from FBI and HSI discovered an AR15-style rifle, a high-capacity magazine, and more than 175 rounds of ammunition in his car. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Najib agreed to forfeit the rifle and abandon the ammunition.
The FBI’s Phoenix Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-1445-PHX-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-112_Najib# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Saturday 27 June 2026
National Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe Named Freedom 250: Hometown Hero by U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey is proud to announce that Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe has been awarded the inaugural Freedom 250: Hometown Hero Award sponsored by the Department of Justice in honor of America’s 250th birthday.
In a ceremony today, United States Attorney Matthew Harvey awarded WV Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe the Hometown Hero Award at the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. On November 26, 2025, WV Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Wolfe, and his partner U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, were bravely policing the nation’s capital when an Afghan national committed an ambush-style shooting of both West Virginia Guardsmen. Staff Sergeant Wolfe is a resident of the Northern District of West Virginia during the time of the shooting. Staff Sergeant Wolfe survived his injuries and continues to recover in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. SPC Beckstrom sadly succumbed to her injuries she sustained while on duty.
On February 24, 2026, President Donald J. Trump awarded Staff Sergeant Wolfe the Purple Heart and posthumously awarded SPC Beckstrom the Purple Heart.
“As we honor Staff Sergeant Wolfe, we recognize his bravery, patriotism, and sacrifice,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey. “There is no person more deserving to be celebrated during this 250th anniversary of our freedom as the United States of America.”
The Freedom 250: Hometown Hero Award was created in honor of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The Department of Justice is proud to honor law enforcement across the country with recognition of the extraordinary service to their fellow citizens.
Friday 26 June 2026
Zuni Man Sentenced for Shooting into an Occupied VehicleRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for firing a shotgun into an occupied vehicle and seriously injuring a passenger.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents on March 20, 2025, Shane Austin Loretto, 32, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, fired a shotgun at the car John Doe was a passenger in, with intent to do bodily harm. John Doe was hit in the face and neck with multiple pellets and required medical treatment.
Law enforcement tied Loretto to the shooting through witness statements and subsequently located the shotgun and ammunition in a safe inside a shed adjacent to Loretto’s residence. During a subsequent interview, Loretto claimed he had heard about the shooting but did not know where the gunshot came from.
Loretto pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Loretto will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Wewahitchka Man Found Guilty of Three Counts of Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida –Ronnie Lee Small, Jr., 48, of Wewahitchka, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The guilty verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Meth has devastated entire communities in the Northern District of Florida, leaving a trail of addiction, death, and despair in its wake. This defendant enriched himself by peddling this deadly poison, but his drug dealing days are over thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners and the aggressive prosecution by my office. We have a lot more work to do, but I am committed to delivering the safe, drug-free streets that our citizens deserve with more successful prosecutions like this one.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that the defendant sold methamphetamine to a confidential source working with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office on three separate occasions with approximate weights of one ounce, one ounce, and two ounces.
“This case began with the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit working alongside the Northstar Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, and it reflects the power of partnership,” said Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison. “I want to thank our state and federal partners for their outstanding support in getting this drug dealer off our streets and protecting our community.”
The defendant faces 10 years to life imprisonment, and a fine of up to $20,000,000.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 11, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This conviction was the result of a joint investigation by the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Spaven and James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
West Warwick Man Pleads Guilty to Steroid Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
Providence - A West Warwick man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to possession with intent to distribute a Schedule III controlled substance.
Edmond Paolucci, 67, pleaded guilty on June 23, 2026, to possession with intent to distribute Mesterolone, a Schedule III controlled substance. Under the terms of his plea agreement, additional charges pending against him will be dismissed at sentencing. Paolucci is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2026.
According to court documents, investigators executed a search warrant at Paolucci’s residence and seized more than 128,000 pills and more than 1,000 liquid-filled glass vials containing at least seven different steroids and other pharmaceuticals. Additional controlled substances were recovered from a post office box linked to the investigation.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, at least four years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and a mandatory special assessment. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Mansfield, Massachusetts Police Department
Volusia County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice and Use a 13-Year-Old Child to Produce Sexually Explicit PhotosRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Shane Christopher Abrams (38, Deland) has been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to entice and use a 13-year-old minor to produce and send him photos depicting her own sexual abuse. Abrams was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. Abrams pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on April 3, 2024, an undercover FBI agent posing as a 13-year-old child (the “child”) engaged in text conversation on a particular social media application (“app”) with another app user who was subsequently identified as Abrams. During this conversation, the “child” advised that she was 13 years old, and Abrams began asking questions about her body and sexual experience. Between April 4 and April 20, 2024, Abrams and the “child” exchanged numerous text messages. Abrams solicited the “child” to produce and send him photos of her genitalia, giving the “child” explicit instructions as to how to comply with his demands. As part of his efforts to entice the “child” to take and send him sexually explicit photos, Abrams sent the “child” photos of his own genitalia. On May 20, 2024, Abrams was arrested by FBI agents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Vehicle with Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, Firearms Lands Woman in PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Clarksburg, West Virginia woman was sentenced to 140 months in prison for selling hundreds of grams of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Taylor Danielle Jenkins, 32, distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in Harrison County. During two traffic stops, investigators seized more than 800 grams of methamphetamine, 203 grams of fentanyl, three firearms, and $6,006 in cash from her vehicle.
Jenkins was ordered to forfeit the three firearms, associated ammunition, and cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Philippi Police Department investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
United States Seizes Hundreds of Internet Domains Used to Illegally Stream World Cup MatchesRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today the seizure of nearly 400 sites that were engaged in the unauthorized streaming of matches in the FIFA World Cup Finals in violation of U.S. copyright law.
“We have seized hundreds of domains, used to illegally stream World Cup matches for profit, to disrupt the international networks that profit from the global popularity of the World Cup,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This operation illustrates the Department’s respect for intellectual property rights and the responsibility of the United States as a host nation to protect the FIFA World Cup from criminals. The Criminal Division will continue to disrupt and, where appropriate, seek to prosecute these sites and the subjects responsible for this criminal activity.”
“The unauthorized broadcast of World Cup matches violates intellectual property rights and fuels criminal organizations,” said Director Ivan J. Arvelo of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center. “Through Operation Offsides and strong partnerships with law enforcement and the private sector, we identified and seized hundreds of domains, disrupting those who steal and distribute copyrighted content. Our ongoing efforts ensure that the excitement of the World Cup reaches fans through legitimate, secure channels.”
“When you open your network to illegal streaming sites, you’re taking a significant risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office. “These streamers not only violate copyright laws but also expose viewers to potential threats — including malware attacks and unsecure connections that can compromise personal and financial data. These website takedowns are a critical part of HSI’s strategy to uphold intellectual property laws, ensuring fans have a safe and authentic experience supporting their teams during the World Cup.”
According to an affidavit in support of a seizure warrant which was filed today in the Eastern District of Virginia, the seized domains were used to illegally offer users copyright-protected content in the form of real-time streams of 2026 World Cup matches as they are being played and first broadcast. In support of the application for seizure authority, HSI special agents confirmed that the seized domains were actively broadcasting World Cup matches without authorization. The seized domains were identified with assistance of FIFA, with further supporting information provided by beIN Media Group, NBC Universal, Motion Picture Association’s Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and Warner Brothers. FIFA is the international governing body of association football (soccer) and holds the exclusive rights to sanction and stage the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is being hosted in multiple cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Banner posted on seized sitesLaw enforcement actions targeting the illegal broadcast of FIFA World Cup matches was coordinated with international partners through the International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) Network of U.S. prosecutors. ICHIP-trained officials took part in actions across multiple countries and involved the following:
- Servers and domains linked to illegal streaming of World Cup games were targeted in Peru and Bulgaria, two known centers of online piracy activity. Additional ICHIP-supported disruptions took place in Croatia, Romania, Poland and Colombia.
U.S. authorities provided leads to assist in identifying domains associated with illegal streaming of the World Cup.
The U.S. action is part of Operation Offsides, led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, targeting digital piracy domains associated with the World Cup. This operation is being conducted in coordination with HSI Washington, D.C., HSI Attaché offices, as well as private sector and law enforcement partners globally. This initiative focuses on disrupting illegal World Cup streaming and protecting intellectual property rights by identifying and seizing websites facilitating unauthorized broadcasts. Senior Counsel Brian Mund, Assistant Deputy Chief Adrienne Rose, and Acting Deputy Chief Christopher Merriam of the of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Mercer for the Eastern District of Virgina are assisting. The Justice Department’s ICHIP prosecutors based in Sao Paul, Brazil and Bucharest, Romania, and the ICHIP for Internet-Based Fraud and Public Health in Washington, D.C. also provided crucial support to this operation.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
The Justice Department is providing intellectual property and cybercrime technical assistance to foreign law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial partners in other countries through the ICHIP program. The Criminal Division’s ICHIP Program is jointly administered by the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section through partnership between the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida Charges Defendants as Part of National Health Care Fraud TakedownRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces criminal charges against numerous individuals in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare. In addition, one civil settlement was announced. Many of the charges are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown and stem from schemes to defraud Medicare.
“Millions of Americans depend on critical services provided by our nation’s federal healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Companies or individuals who exploit these systems through fraud and deception for their personal gain compromise the efficacy of those services and commit theft from taxpayers. We will continue to leverage the resources of our law enforcement partners to ensure that these programs remain sound and effective in the future.”
This week, the USAO-MDFL participated in a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: charges in 56 federal districts and involving 45 U.S. states and territories, the most in Department history. The Takedown involved the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; seize over $182 million in cash, houses, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and provide full spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.
The following individuals were charged in the Middle District of Florida:
Leigh Tesar (44, Sarasota), Walter Presha, Jr. (51, Ellenton), and Koby Evans (31, Apollo Beach) were charged by indictment for their roles in a more than $118 million wound care fraud scheme. Tesar, Presha, and Evans were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks. Tesar was charged with health care fraud and payment of health care kickbacks. Presha and Evans were also charged with receipt of health care kickbacks. As alleged in the indictment, Tesar, Presha, and Evans targeted Medicare patients so that Tesar, a nurse practitioner, could bill Medicare for unnecessary and expensive wound allografts and so that Presha and Evans, both nurses, could be paid kickbacks for referring patients to Tesar. In certain instances, Tesar caused Medicare to be billed for expensive allografts that were never applied to patients, were applied to infected wounds, and were applied to wounds that would not heal because the patient was terminally ill. During a period of 18 months, Medicare was billed more than $118 million for skin grafts and wound care services that were medically unnecessary, ineligible for reimbursement, not performed, and procured through kickbacks. Medicare paid approximately $61 million based on these false and fraudulent claims. The government has seized approximately $11.8 million in assets in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Chris Wenger of the National Rapid Response Strike Force and Owen Dunn of the Florida Strike Force. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
Leo Corrigan (56, Tampa) was charged by information with conspiracy to defraud the United States, to purchase, sell, and distribute, and arrange for the purchase, sale, and distribution of Medicare beneficiary identification numbers, and to solicit and receive health care kickbacks in connection with two schemes to fraudulently bill Medicare for over $7.5 million and to receive approximately $1.7 million in illegal kickbacks and bribes. As alleged in the information, Corrigan conspired with others to purchase Medicare beneficiary identification numbers and used those numbers to bill Medicare for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests to be shipped to those whose Medicare beneficiary identification number had been purchased, regardless of whether the Medicare beneficiary had requested the tests. Further, Corrigan owned and controlled a corporation that he used to provide Medicare beneficiary information to certain laboratories that could then use the information to bill Medicare for genetic testing in exchange for payment. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany E. Fields.
Konstantin Braverman (40, Lake Worth) was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to solicit and receive kickbacks in connection with a scheme to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare for COVID-19 tests. From April 4, 2022, until the declared end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023, Medicare covered and paid for these tests at no cost to the beneficiary but only if the beneficiary requested the tests. As alleged in the indictment, Braverman and co-conspirators introduced “marketers” to medical service providers and the “marketers” agreed to sell the providers lists of Medicare beneficiaries and their identifying information. The providers shipped COVID-19 tests to the identified beneficiaries, none of whom had requested the tests, and billed Medicare for the tests. The providers then paid the “marketers” a set dollar amount per beneficiary, but the providers paid this amount only if a claim submitted on behalf of a beneficiary was reimbursed by Medicare. The “marketers” paid Braverman a share of the proceeds obtained from the providers. The conspirators caused the submission of approximately 152,000 fraudulent claims to Medicare for the period of January 2023 through November 2023, which resulted in reimbursements totaling approximately $14,405,700. Braverman received a total of approximately $1,509,426 in proceeds as a result of his involvement in the offense. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clint Locke is handling the forfeiture.
“This defendant allegedly exploited a program designed to serve the public during a national health emergency, fraudulently obtaining more than $1.5 million in proceeds,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. It steals taxpayer dollars, undermines trust in critical public programs and diverts resources from those who need it most. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who use deception and fraud to line their own pockets at the public’s expense.”
Lawrence Waldman, of Miami, has entered into a civil settlement to pay $5 million to resolve a False Claims Act case in connection with a health care fraud kickback scheme involving medically unnecessary genetic and respiratory diagnostic testing services. Waldman separately pleaded guilty to criminal charges stemming from his role in the scheme. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2026. As alleged, Waldman was a former sales representative of ASAP Labs and shared in its profits. Waldman paid kickbacks from ASAP Labs to certain physicians in return for agreeing to sign requisition forms for medically unnecessary laboratory tests that were submitted by ASAP Labs in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback statute and that were used to support false claims for Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE reimbursement. The civil case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany E. Fields, and the forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
Rustam Abdaev, (38, Tampa) a Russian citizen living in Tampa, was charged by information with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in defrauding Medicare and Medicaid by submitting false and fraudulent claims for durable medical equipment (“DME”). Abdaev has entered a guilty plea and is pending sentencing. According to court records, from at least December 2024 through June 2025, Abdaev and co-conspirators used the company “Sunny and Recovery Inc.” to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare Part C and Florida Medicaid for DME, including back, knee, and wrist braces. Medicare Part C and Medicaid were billed more than $19 million and paid approximately $941,000 for claims submitted between December 2024 and May 2025. Abdaev wired substantial portions of the proceeds to financial institutions outside the United States and used additional funds for personal benefit and to pay co-conspirators. The conspirators used stolen beneficiary information and physician provider numbers to submit DME claims that were not prescribed, not medically necessary, and not actually provided. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany E. Fields, and the forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
Henry Garcia (59, Bradenton) was charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to offer and pay kickbacks and bribes and nine counts of offering and paying kickbacks and bribes. According to court records, in 2020 and 2021, Garcia ran multiple medical equipment companies, including New Level 3 and On-Point Medical Alliance, that supplied knee and back braces to Medicare beneficiaries. Garcia worked with two co-conspirators: one in Florida who funneled him pre completed doctors’ orders, and another in Canada who ran call centers targeting Medicare beneficiaries to generate those orders. These call centers contacted seniors across the country and used telemedicine companies to obtain physician signatures on brace orders, even when the equipment was not medically needed. Garcia’s companies obtained the necessary provider identification numbers and submitted claims to Medicare Advantage plans as if the braces were legitimately ordered and required. Garcia paid kickbacks for each brace order that led to reimbursement. The scheme relied on call centers, sham telehealth encounters, and kickbacks to generate and submit claims that were not actually eligible for reimbursement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany E. Fields, and the forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Blain Goff.
Marc Vincent Pazienza (56, Pasco County), a licensed Florida attorney, was charged by indictment with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation for his role in using his position and authority as an attorney to defraud clients, including by creating shell corporations to hide clients’ criminally derived proceeds and then stealing those funds. According to court documents, from June 2023 through at least March 2025, Pazienza orchestrated a scheme to steal money from two of his clients by falsely promising to safeguard their money, funds which were fraudulently obtained through defrauding Medicare. Instead of safeguarding the funds, Pazienza used the money, an amount over $300,000, for his personal benefit, including cash withdrawals, transfers to other accounts he controlled, and purchases of furniture, jewelry, and other items. Pazienza also provided false and fraudulent documents in response to a federal grand jury subpoena relating to a health care fraud investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany Fields, and the forfeiture of his car, jewelry, and other property is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
Laurent Cassagnol (Orange County) and Heriberto L. Rivera (Lake County) were charged by information with conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks. According to court documents, Rivera was the Chief Executive Officer of Family Integrative Medicine of Orlando, LLC (“FIMO”) and paid kickbacks to Cassagnol, a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee, in exchange for Cassagnol sending VA patients to FIMO. Rivera allegedly paid kickbacks to Cassagnol based on the number of VA patients he was able to successfully steer to FIMO. FIMO then billed the VA for services it provided to those VA patients. Rivera paid Cassagnol approximately $175,172 in kickbacks, which resulted in approximately $14,080,969 in claims submitted by FIMO to the VA that were procured through the payment of kickbacks. The VA paid FIMO approximately $11,948,349 on those claims. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Angela Benoit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
“Today’s enforcement action reflects our firm commitment to protecting federal health care programs and the individuals who depend on them,” said Special Agent in Charge Isaac M. Bledsoe of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Those who exploit patients or jeopardize the integrity of our programs for personal gain will be held accountable. Working alongside our law enforcement partners, HHS‑OIG will continue to pursue those who seek to defraud federal health care programs and ensure that they face justice.”
“These cases highlight the sickening exploitation of our nation’s healthcare system and the cold, callous efforts of those putting profit over patient care. These cases also emphasize the FBI’s collective resolve to work with our law enforcement partners to identify the fraud, dismantle the schemes, and ensure justice is served,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Rodney E. Crawford.
“The days of fraudulent healthcare schemes depriving veterans of essential services and benefits, while siphoning funds from taxpayers, are over,” said Cheryl L. Mason, Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs. “Thanks to the relentless dedication of the VA OIG’s special agents, healthcare inspectors, and auditors, we are actively identifying these offenders and ensuring they face justice. Our unwavering commitment is to protect veterans and safeguard the critical resources meant for their care.”
Descriptions of the nationwide cases involved in this week’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here.
The Middle District of Florida worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Tampa and Jacksonville), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service – Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Report Fraud:
Contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or online at TIPS.FBI.GOV.
If you are reporting cyber-enabled crime, to include online scams, email hoaxes, or other internet-enabled crimes, please submit a tip to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.GOV.
For health care fraud, Medicare/Medicaid fraud, and related matters, contact the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS, or online at TIPS.HHS.GOV.
Court Documents:
Waldman Plea Agreement Pazienza Indictment Braverman Indictment Tesar et al Indictment Garcia Indictment Corrigan Information Cassagnol et_al Information Abdaev Information Abdaev Plea AgreementU.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 122 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 122 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On June 18, Manuel Salvador Hernandez Perez, Mexican national and border crossing card holder, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 185 pounds of methamphetamine in the hood, spare tire and tailgate of the Ford F-150 truck driven by Hernandez Perez while applying for entry to the U.S. at the the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On June 22, Ismael Molina-Ayala, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the undocumented defendant approximately three miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. He was previously convicted of immigration offenses and deported three times, including May 2026 from San Diego.
- On June 23, Jose Alonso Fernandez-Zavala and Edgar Luna-Ochoa, Mexican nationals, were arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, the defendants were co-captains of a panga-style smuggling vessel and were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard about 15 miles west of Point Loma. The vessel had 25 Mexican nationals and 1 Guatemalan national aboard, none of whom had lawful immigration status in the United States. Each passenger was paying between $4,000 and $17,000 to be smuggled into the United States by sea. The remaining defendants (Juve Garcia Santiago, Manuel Hernandez-Savedra, Leticia Policarpio Juarez Manuel Ramos, Francisco Roman Velasquez, Sureyma Velazquez Velazquez – all Mexican citizens, and Jose Lopez-Mendoza of Guatemala) had all been previously ordered removed from the United States and were charged with attempted reentry after deportation.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Men Sentenced to a Total of over 21 Years in Prison for Roles in Carjacking and RobberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal judge sentenced Marterrio Armstrong, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Jacam’Ron McIntosh, 21, of Oxford, Mississippi, to eight and one-half years and 13 years in prison, respectively, for a carjacking at gunpoint.
According to evidence presented to the court, on Nov. 24, 2024, police responded to a robbery in Memphis, Tennessee. A group of nine construction workers were packing their belongings following a residential construction project when Armstrong and McIntosh approached them with guns drawn. Armstrong and McIntosh pointed their firearms at the victims and stated, “Don’t move or we will f&*% you up,” and demanded the victims’ property. Working in tandem, Armstrong remained outside with the nine victims while McIntosh entered the residence and dragged a tenth victim outside at gunpoint. After rummaging through the victims’ pockets, the defendants took the victims’ wallets, cell phones, money, and keys, and drove away in one victim’s Nissan Maxima.
Less than one hour after the armed carjacking, Memphis Police Department officers tracked one victim’s cellphone to a residence in Memphis, where they located the Nissan Maxima hidden by several trash cans in a carport. Inside the residence, officers located Armstrong and the victims’ stolen property. McIntosh was also found in the house, hiding in the attic along with a Glock 19 pistol, a Romania Arms Mini Draco pistol, and a wallet taken from a victim during the robbery.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.
ATF and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson and former Trial Attorney Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. This joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute violent gang members and other violent criminals in Memphis.
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Two Men Sentenced to a Total of over 21 Years in Prison for Roles in Carjacking and RobberyRead the Press Release
A federal judge sentenced Marterrio Armstrong, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Jacam’Ron McIntosh, 21, of Oxford, Mississippi, to eight and one-half years and 13 years in prison, respectively, for a carjacking at gunpoint.
According to evidence presented to the court, on Nov. 24, 2024, police responded to a robbery in Memphis, Tennessee. A group of nine construction workers were packing their belongings following a residential construction project when Armstrong and McIntosh approached them with guns drawn. Armstrong and McIntosh pointed their firearms at the victims and stated, “Don’t move or we will f&*% you up,” and demanded the victims’ property. Working in tandem, Armstrong remained outside with the nine victims while McIntosh entered the residence and dragged a tenth victim outside at gunpoint. After rummaging through the victims’ pockets, the defendants took the victims’ wallets, cell phones, money, and keys, and drove away in one victim’s Nissan Maxima.
Less than one hour after the armed carjacking, Memphis Police Department officers tracked one victim’s cellphone to a residence in Memphis, where they located the Nissan Maxima hidden by several trash cans in a carport. Inside the residence, officers located Armstrong and the victims’ stolen property. McIntosh was also found in the house, hiding in the attic along with a Glock 19 pistol, a Romania Arms Mini Draco pistol, and a wallet taken from a victim during the robbery.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.
ATF and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson and former Trial Attorney Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. This joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute violent gang members and other violent criminals in Memphis.
Two Illegal Aliens Sentenced in International ATM “Jackpotting” Conspiracy with Ties to Tren de AraguaRead the Press Release
Carlos Javier Padron, 36, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.” His co-defendant, Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba, also known as “Luis Alejandro Berdugo Barraza,” 37, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was sentenced on June 11, to 78 months in prison for similar conduct.
“Carlos Javier Padron and Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba helped deploy sophisticated malware as part of a transnational criminal network that hacked ATMs across the United States and stole millions of dollars through a technique known as ATM jackpotting – which caused bank ATMs to dispense the cash inside of them,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Crimes like this undermine the security of our financial institutions and fuel the operations of violent transnational criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua (TdA). This sweeping investigation with the District of Nebraska and our law enforcement partners has disrupted this network at all levels. We will protect our financial institutions from technology enabled fraud.”
“ATM jackpotting is TdA’s business plan and their assessed primary source of revenue to fund their terrorist activities that range from reprehensible forms of human trafficking to armed robbery, murder, and the general undermining of America’s national security by flooding our communities with controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods for the District of Nebraska. “We will use these prosecutions to put a chokehold on their funding pipeline.”
“TdA is a violent terrorist organization relying on a range of criminal activities to generate revenue supporting their campaigns of violence and terror,” said Special Agent in Charge Euguene Cowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “As criminal enterprises change tactics, we surge resources and adapt accordingly to protect the American people. FBI Omaha will continue standing shoulder to shoulder with our local, state, and federal partners in the fight to dismantle and disrupt the activities of TdA locally and globally.”
“These individuals participated in a crime that was both an attack on the American financial system, and an effort by Tren De Aragua to fund even more terror in our country,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City. “I’m proud of our agents and partners for working tirelessly to pursue justice and put consumers at ease, knowing their bank’s health is sound and not at risk of being damaged by violent, dangerous criminals.”
According to court documents, Padron and Torrealba were part of a sophisticated criminal network responsible for ATM jackpottings throughout the United States. The members of the network conspired to develop and deploy a variant of malware known as Ploutus, which was deployed on ATMs and used to permit the unauthorized withdrawal of currency. The conspiracy relied on individuals including Padron and Torrealba to deploy the Ploutus malware onto ATMs in person. Once installed and activated, the malware permitted the co-conspirators to issue commands to the cash dispensing module of the ATM in order to force unauthorized withdrawals of currency. The Ploutus malware also was designed to delete evidence of its existence to prevent financial institutions from detecting its use on ATMs. Padron and Torrealba were arrested by the Lincoln, Nebraska Police Department at the site of a jackpotting in October 2024.
Padron and Torrealba both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank burglary and one count of computer fraud and intentional damage to a protected computer. At their respective sentencings, the Court also ordered both Padron and Torrealba to jointly pay $1,537,696 in restitution to the multiple victim banks.
Following the arrest of Padron and Torrealba, a comprehensive federal investigation identified a network of co-conspirators throughout the United States and abroad. Since the arrests of Padron and Torrealba, 96 other defendants have been indicted for their roles in this conspiracy for related offenses including material support to a designated foreign terror organization, bank burglary, money laundering, damage and unauthorized access to protected computers, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit the same offenses.
The investigation has established extensive direct and indirect links between the indicted co-conspirators and TdA. According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash.
FBI’s Omaha Field Office and HSI Omaha are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the United States Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office, Bates County Sheriff’s Office, Sheridan Police Department, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, Sterling Heights Police Department, Kearney Police Department, Warrant Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Colombus Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Bluff City Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Lincoln Police Department, Gothenburg Police Department, Loudon Police Department, Alcoa Police Department, Milford Police Department, Grand Island Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Papillion Police Department, Central City Police Department, Holdrege Police Department, New York State Police, Berkeley Police Department, Cook County Electronic Monitoring Unit, Aurora Police Department, Austin Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, City of Rome Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, McCook Police Department, Nebraska DMV Crime Analysts, Rantoul Police Department, Olathe Police Department, North Platte Police Department, Walla Walla Police Department, Milton-Freewater Police Department, Missoula Police Department, Omaha Police Department, Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Police Department, Denver Police, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Glendale Police Department, Columbia Police Department, Brookfield Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Grafton Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Dubuque Police Department, Fargo Police Department, and Paducah Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska, and Joint Task Force Vulcan. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma and Eastern District of Wisconsin, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police have provided significant assistance.
This Operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from the FBI and HSI with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and District of Arizona; as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Criminal Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), USMS, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
Two Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Violent Hostage-Taking and Human Smuggling OperationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Two illegal immigrants have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy involving the hostage-taking, harboring, and transportation of victims at an Albuquerque stash house.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on November 2, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received a report that a mother and her two daughters, aged six and nine, were being held for ransom at an Albuquerque stash house in southeast Albuquerque. Despite the victims’ family having already paid over $30,000 to have them smuggled into the United States, Marcelo Alonso-Almaraz, 36, and his wife Eloisa Almaraz-Vasquez, 38, both Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States, demanded an additional $6,000 for their release. All three victims reported that Alonso-Almaraz threatened the mother with a firearm by pointing it at her to ensure payment.
On November 3, 2022, investigators conducted surveillance on the stash house and observed Alonso-Almaraz and Almaraz-Vasquez exit the residence with the mother and children and enter a Dodge van. Agents maintained continuous surveillance of the van until it arrived at a meet location, where an undercover agent exchanged $6,000 in cash for the safe release of the mother and her daughters. Once the victims were secured, law enforcement moved in and arrested the couple. A search of the van yielded the loaded handgun on the driver-side floorboard and the $6,000 in extortion money.
Following the arrests, the rescued mother detailed a harrowing ordeal where victims were housed in a 1,000 square foot apartment with dozens of other people, stripped of their phones, and fed only twice a day. She described hearing her children’s stomachs rumbling from hunger and being forced to wash dishes and serve food to dozens of other occupants in exchange for extra food for her daughters. The rooms were so crowded that the victims could not lie down and were forced to sit on the floor with their legs curled in. On November 4, 2022, agents returned to the stash house and rescued approximately 50 additional victims, including an infant, who were being held in the same volatile environment.
Alonso-Almaraz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, eight counts of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain, three counts of transporting illegal aliens for financial gain, and conspiracy to commit hostage taking, three counts of hostage taking, and reentry of a removed alien. Alonso-Almaraz was sentenced to 204 months in prison. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to deportation.
Almaraz-Vasquez pled guilty to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, eight counts of harboring illegal aliens for financial gain, three counts of transporting illegal aliens for financial gain, conspiracy to commit hostage taking, and three counts of hostage taking. Almaraz-Vasquez was sentenced to 120 months in prison. Upon her release from prison, she will be subject to deportation.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Phoenix Police Department and Albuquerque Police Department VICE Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Moghadam and Patrick E. Cordova are prosecuting the case.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking that cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations commit. A highly successful partnership between the departments of Justice and Homeland Security, JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney detailees from the Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas; Southern District of California; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and Districts of Arizona, New Mexico and Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE-HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 440 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 390 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Three Illegal Aliens with Prior Felony Convictions Charged for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals and one Honduran national unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances today to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country.
“This indictment highlights the fact that aliens who show a complete contempt for the law will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The District of Nevada, through Operation Take Back America, will continue to use our existing laws as a deterrent for those who choose to engage in illegal acts.”
Cristian Omar Valencia-Gomez and Jose Flores, both citizens of Mexico, and Kevin Idel Moncada-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, are each charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for all three defendants are scheduled for July 7, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah.
According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Valencia-Gomez, Flores, and Moncada-Lopez were all previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally.
On June 7, 2024, officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Valencia-Gomez for two counts of Battery Domestic Violence 3rd Offence, Child Abuse or Neglect with Substantial Bodily or Mental Harm, Attempt Home Invasion, Destroy Property of Another, and Harassment. On June 12, 2026, after serving a term of 19-to-48 months in prison for Battery Constituting Domestic Violence, and Child Abuse, Neglect, or Endangerment, Valencia-Gomez was remanded by the Nevada Department of Corrections to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Valencia-Gomez had been previously deported to Mexico three times, on or about October 7, 2017, January 14, 2018, and January 18, 2018.
On June 8, 2024, officers with the Las Vegas, Metropolitan Police Department arrested Flores in Las Vegas, Nevada, for Trafficking Controlled Substance, Own/Possess Gun by Prohibited Person, Carry/Possess Firearm During and in Commission of a Drug Offense, and four counts Sell/Transport Controlled Substance. On June 3, 2026, after serving a term of two-to-five years in prison for Trafficking in Controlled Substance, Flores was remanded by the Nevada Department of Corrections to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Flores also has a conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana out of the United States District Court, District of Arizona. Flores had been previously deported to Mexico on or about June 6, 2018.
On January 30, 2024, officers with the Sparks Police Department arrested Moncada-Lopez for assault with a deadly weapon. On June 4, 2026, after serving a term of 24-to-60-months in prison for battery with the use of deadly weapon, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Moncada-Lopez to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moncada-Lopez had been previously deported to Honduras on or about October 13, 2012.
If convicted, Flores faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
If convicted, Valencia-Gomez and Moncada-Lopez each face a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Stolen Federal FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Alexio Miranda, 32, has pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm, an offense that could carry a maximum of 10 years in prison.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2026, Miranda participated in a violent civil disturbance in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in which he and others broke into a vehicle belonging to the FBI. When Miranda and an accomplice arrived, the FBI vehicle was already badly damaged, covered in graffiti, and the rear hatch was open. Miranda then broke into a vault in the cargo area and took a rifle bag and a satchel of ammunition. The bag contained a semiautomatic rifle and a silencer. Two days later, police arrested Miranda and recovered the rifle and silencer.
A grand jury indicted Miranda for one count each of possessing a stolen firearm, possessing an unregistered firearm, and theft of government property. On June 26, 2026, Miranda pled guilty before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of possessing a stolen firearm. Miranda’s sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
“This case shows that actions which endanger the public and interfere with federal law enforcement operations carry serious consequences,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Our office remains committed to pursuing accountability for those who lack respect for the law.”
“This defendant made a series of deliberate choices that put a stolen firearm into the hands of a prohibited person: Raul Gutierrez, an alleged Latin Kings gang member. Today Miranda is taking responsibility for those choices,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Spence Burnett of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF and our law enforcement partners stayed committed to seeing this case through, and we will continue to hold accountable anyone who chooses to endanger public safety. That accountability is how we keep our neighborhoods safe.”
“Today’s guilty plea reflects ATF’s dedicated efforts in addressing this dangerous criminal conduct that threatens community safety and undermines the lawful exercise of First Amendment rights. The FBI is proud to have assisted ATF in this case, and together with the USAO, DEA, and our state and local law enforcement partners, we remain committed to ensuring individuals are held accountable through the federal justice system,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson.
Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Semivan are prosecuting this case.
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 27 years for Victimizing Minors Online and Possessing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney S. Peter Serrano announced that on June 24, 2026, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Corbett Lloyd Craig, age 42, of Goldendale, Washington, to 324 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime period of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Enticement and Attempted Enticement of a Minor and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, from early in 2022 up until his arrest in June 2025, Craig, utilizing social media, contacted two minor girls for the purpose of coercing them to provide him with sexually explicit videos and images. Craig enticed one of the minor girls by offering her money via gift cards and on-line payments. It was clear from the online communications that Defendant knew these were minors and intended to elicit and did obtain child sex abuse material victimizing these minors online. Based upon that investigation, a search warrant was executed at Craig’s home that resulted in the discovery of thousands of additional images of child sex abuse material.
As noted by District Court Judge Dimke, what makes this case even more aggravated supporting this substantial sentence, is Craig’s prior history of engaging in the same and similar conduct. In 2017 Craig was convicted of Encouraging Child Abuse in the Second Degree, Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, and Contributing to the Sexual Delinquency of a Minor in Clackamas County Superior Court, Oregon. Child abuse images from this previous case and the child he victimized, were found on his computer by federal investigators in this case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano stated, “This recidivist sex offender has continued to harm minor victims in our community. Despite court intervention and treatment, this sex offender has continued to victimize children and made it clear he will not stop. I commend the dedication and work from our law enforcement partners and the commitment of this office to bring justice to these victims. Removing this defendant from our community and ensuring he can’t have access to children is the only way to ensure its protection. Our office is committed to hunting down these offenders and holding them to account.”
“Mr. Craig was fully aware that his actions were not just extremely immoral, but illegal as well,” said acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “This sentence will keep this predator off the streets and keep our children safer. HSI will continue to investigate these crimes against children. We owe our communities nothing less.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.
1:25-cr-02073-MKDRecidivist Fraudster Pleads Guilty for Stealing Gustave Courbet PaintingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that THOMAS DOYLE, a/k/a “AJ” or “Austin Doyle,” pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with a scheme by DOYLE to defraud the owner of the painting “Mother and Child on a Hammock” by the 19th-century French Realist painter Gustave Courbet. DOYLE was previously convicted in the Southern District of New York in 2011 of a separate art-related fraud. DOYLE pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2026.
“Thomas Doyle defrauded the owner of a valuable painting by telling a series of brazen lies to get the painting and then sell it so he could keep the profits for himself,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to hold all fraudsters accountable, including bad actors seeking to conduct fraud schemes in the U.S. art market.”
According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in public court proceedings:
Between December 2022 and March 2025, DOYLE defrauded an art dealer (“Victim-1”) in connection with the sale of the painting “Mother and Child on a Hammock” (the “Hammock”) by Gustave Courbet. In June 2024, Victim-1 agreed to let DOYLE take custody of the Hammock to facilitate its viewing by a potential buyer. Soon after, DOYLE told Victim-1 that he had a potential buyer for the Hammock, and Victim-1 authorized DOYLE to sell the painting on his behalf for $550,000. By early August 2024, DOYLE falsely informed Victim-1 that he had sold the Hammock for that price.
Instead, DOYLE’s associate (“Associate-1”), acting on DOYLE’s behalf, offered the Hammock for consignment to a Manhattan gallery (“Gallery-1”). DOYLE provided Associate-1 with a false provenance for the Hammock that was passed on to Gallery-1. Gallery-1 sold the Hammock on October 1, 2024, for $125,000 to an art collector, and most of the proceeds from the sale went to DOYLE.
DOYLE never remitted to Victim-1 any proceeds from the sale of the Hammock. Instead, by February 2025, DOYLE had spent all the proceeds from the sale of the Hammock on personal expenses and his own debts. DOYLE subsequently falsely blamed his failure to pay Victim-1 on the purported buyer, fraudulently claiming the buyer had yet to pay when in fact DOYLE had been paid and was spending the proceeds of the Hammock sale.
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DOYLE, 68, of Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. DOYLE also agreed to forfeit all proceeds from the offense and pay $125,000 in restitution to the victim.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Art Crime Team.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecilia Vogel is in charge of the prosecution.
Reading and Philadelphia Men Charged with Robbery and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Alfredo Cardona Padilla, age 48, Ceferino Charles Hernandez, age 49, both of Reading, Pennsylvania, and Paul Gerald Simmons, age 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged by indictment with robbery and firearm offenses.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on or about March 18, 2024, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Padilla, Hernandez, and Simmons conspired to and did unlawfully take and obtain United States currency that belonged to a company operating in Pennsylvania as a skill-game operator. The indictment further alleges that the company’s property was taken from two employees against their will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury. The indictment also alleges that, during and in relation to the robbery, the defendants brandished firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Chambersburg Police Department, Reading Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley (Wes) Mishoe is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalties under federal law are life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and special assessment. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons indicted are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the InternetRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on June 15, 2026.
Elmer Hopper, 37, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $95 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered.
Hopper was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 30, 2026.
During the 2025 Sturgis Bike Rally, Hopper initiated communications on the internet-based application Plenty Of Fish with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. The girl, in fact, was a Rapid City Police Detective operating in an undercover capacity on Plenty Of Fish, an app used for dating and sexual encounters. Hopper and the undercover persona started communicating through texting. Hopper told her that he wanted someone to lay in bed with him. Later, Hopper explained that he meant that he wanted someone to have sex with, not lay in bed with. Hopper and the undercover persona agreed to meet at West Middle School in Rapid City. When Hopper arrived at the school, he was arrested.
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.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.
Hopper was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Delivers Historic Report DraftRead the Press Release
- Last May, President Donald J. Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission to advise and report to the President on opportunities to “identify emerging threats to religious liberty, uphold Federal laws that protect all citizens’ full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.”
- Today, during an Oval Office presentation, Chairman Dan Patrick, Vice Chairman Ben Carson and the members of the Commission delivered the final draft report with recommendations to the President.
- The report is based on findings from the seven hearings that the Religious Liberty Commission held over the last year, receiving input from more than 100 witnesses of diverse ages, religions, expertise, and backgrounds. Many experienced religious persecutions in the United States.
- The hearings specifically covered religious liberty in the military, education, healthcare, the public and private sectors, as well as the importance of protecting parental rights and faith-based institutions, and combatting the rise of anti-Semitism and violence against houses of worship.
Powerful Testimonies Highlight Recent Threats to Religious Believers
- In recent years, Americans from all religious backgrounds have faced increasing persecution for their religious beliefs.
- The Commission heard from mothers who were lied to by their children’s school administrators, children who were bullied because of their religious beliefs, healthcare workers who have risked losing their jobs due to religious objections to certain procedures, a grandson of Holocaust survivors who was restricted from public spaces because of his Jewish faith, nuns who were targeted by New York State, and workers—including military service members—who lost pensions and life savings when forced to choose between their faith and vaccine mandates, among many others.
- For example, elementary student Shea Encinas was bullied for standing up for his Christian faith when he was forced to read his peer a book that told him he could choose his gender—the school refused to help and doubled down on pushing gender ideology onto the students. Teacher Marisol Arroyo-Castro was told she had to remove a cross near her desk or lose her job. Jennifer Mead’s 11-year-old daughter was pressured by school authorities to believe she was a boy. Navy Seal Blake Martin lost his pension when he was just three years away from retirement eligibility because he objected to the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Eithan Haim was indicted by the Biden Department of Justice for blowing the whistle on Texas Children’s Hospital’s gender mutilation surgeries for minors. Shabbos Kestenbaum was targeted on Harvard’s campus simply for being Jewish. And Lacey Smith was fired from her flight attendant position at Alaska Airlines because she answered the invitation to respectfully share her thoughts on the Equality Act. These Americans have suffered greatly for their religious beliefs.
- In many cases the law protects the religious expression of Americans, but government officials and employers often use fear tactics to silence individuals into believing that they don’t have the right to publicly express their faith.
- The final report will equip all Americans with the knowledge and support needed to defend their Constitutional rights.
12 Key Recommendations to Strengthen Religious Liberty for All Americans
- Instruct the Department of Justice to issue guidance clarifying the proper understanding of the Establishment Clause and separation of church and state.
- The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall issue “Know Your Rights” Posters for students, parents, public school teachers and administrators, religious leaders, religious institutions, healthcare workers, and military servicemembers.
- Any public official who alleges a person under their supervision has improperly engaged in religious expression must provide a written explanation of the alleged violation to the person accused within 30 days of any action and explain that charge based upon a specific constitutional provision or provision of law.
- Instruct the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to create religious liberty violation reporting hotlines/online portals for students, parents, teachers, healthcare workers, and others to obtain support in the face of religious liberty violations and promote public awareness of existing reporting channels.
- Nominate and confirm federal judges with the courage to decide religious liberty cases on the merits where warranted, rather than engage in improper judicial avoidance.
- Ask the Department of Justice to create a religious liberty task force to track and prioritize litigation protecting religious liberty.
- Combat anti-Semitism through enforcement of civil rights laws, litigation of credible allegations of anti-Semitic discrimination and violence, and civic education.
- Protect religious Americans from government-led litigation targeting their free exercise.
- Repeal the Johnson Amendment.
- Order the Department of War to streamline and improve the religious accommodation process.
- Continue efforts to restore the retirement or re-enlistment eligibility for service members who lost employment, health insurance, pensions, and other benefits because of their religious beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Honor the courage of religious liberty heroes through creating a Presidential Medal of Religious Liberty and First Freedom Hero Awards to recognize Americans who stand up for religious freedom and play an indispensable role in protecting citizens’ Constitutional rights.
Read the Religious Liberty Commission's draft report HERE
Pittsburgh Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Rafael Gary, 31, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that On December 9, 2022, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police officers were patrolling the East Hills section of Pittsburgh when officers noticed Gary’s vehicle parked. When Gary drove away, officers observed a traffic violation and pulled Gary over. Eventually, the officer developed evidence that Gary concealed illegal material inside the vehicle and got a search warrant for Gary’s vehicle.
The search warrant revealed a handgun, evidence of marijuana trafficking and a cellular telephone. Agents from, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a search warrant for the cellular telephone, which revealed that Gary had purchased the handgun through the female associate who was the registered owner. Gary has multiple felony convictions that preclude him from the lawful possession of firearms, including previous federal convictions for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.
Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for October 22, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, 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 Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gary.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Marvin Murphy, 50, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on June 24, 2026 before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb. He also received 3 years’ supervised release and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Murphy was previously convicted on March 18, 2025 after a two-day bench trial before Chief Judge Bumb. Murphy was remanded into custody after the verdict.
According to documents filed in this case and evidence at trial:
From June 2021 through July 13, 2021, Murphy conspired with Carl Lee Holloway, Lavinston Lamar, and others to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. On June 23, 2021, Holloway traveled to San Diego, California, to meet with an undercover agent posing as a drug dealer. Holloway and the undercover agent discussed arranging a drug deal in New Jersey during which the undercover agent would deliver at least 10 kilograms of cocaine for Holloway and his associates. During the meeting, Holloway called Murphy, and the two proceeded to communicate about the drug deal during the subsequent weeks.
On July 13, 2021, Holloway, Murphy, and Lamar separately arrived at a hotel in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, each with bags containing U.S. currency collectively totaling over $340,000. They met with undercover agents inside a hotel room. They briefly inspected one of the kilograms of cocaine that undercover agents previously brought into the room. After the inspection, agents entered the room and arrested Holloway, Lamar, and Murphy.
Chief Judge Bumb previously sentenced Holloway to 120 months in prison after Holloway pleaded guilty to his involvement in the same conspiracy. Chief Judge Bumb also previously sentenced Lamar to 114 months in prison, which was later reduced to 100 months, after Lamar pleaded guilty to his involvement in the same conspiracy and to violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior conviction for conspiring to distribute cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas in Newark and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy in San Diego; and the Mount Laurel Police, under the direction of Chief Timothy Hudnall, with the investigation leading to this sentence.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Margaret Grasso, Esq., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Pensacola Felon Indicted for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Damien R. Johnson, 46, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Johnson appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 9:00 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida.
Johnson faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Pensacola Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Thomas S.P. Geeker.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Palmdale Man Found Guilty of Drug Trafficking Crimes, including Distribution of Fentanyl Causing the Overdose Death of U.S. MarineRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An Antelope Valley man has been found guilty by a jury of federal drug trafficking and firearm crimes, including supplying fake fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills that caused the fatal overdose of an active-duty United States Marine Corps lance corporal stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, the Justice Department announced today.
Jordan Nicholas McCormick, 31, was found guilty on Thursday of six felonies: one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute LSD, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to evidence presented at a 17-day trial, McCormick engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy from at least October 2019 to September 2020 during which he and his co-conspirators obtained and sold several drugs, including LSD, thousands of fake Adderall pills laced with methamphetamine, and thousands of fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. McCormick and his co-conspirators communicated via text messages and Snapchat to coordinate their drug trafficking business.
On May 21, 2020, McCormick informed one of his co-conspirators via text message, “I’m seeing my oxy guy today he has a boat,” referring to 1,000 purported oxycodone pills, also known as “M30s.” The next day, McCormick sold 1,000 of those pills to a co-conspirator, who then posted a picture on his Snapchat account of several pills with the caption, “Who f*** with M30s? Tapp in.” Later that same night, the co-conspirator sold approximately 10 of those pills to a 20-year-old U.S. Marine identified in court papers as “L.M.,” who died after consuming some of the fentanyl-laced pills in the early morning hours of May 23, 2020.
On July 26, 2020, McCormick again sold another 1,000 purported oxycodone pills to the same co-conspirator. Three days later, investigators arrested that co-conspirator and seized narcotics, including approximately 900 of those purported oxycodone pills, and several firearms – including a 9mm “ghost gun,” or a firearm lacking a serial number – from his residence. Those pills were confirmed to contain fentanyl.
In September 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants on McCormick’s person, vehicle, and residence, seizing numerous drug trafficking materials and narcotics, including lab-confirmed methamphetamine and LSD, and a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol.
At sentencing, McCormick will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF), a Drug Enforcement Administration-led multi-agency task force within the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program, the FBI, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Castañeda of the Transnational Organized Crime Section, Laura A. Alexander of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Kathrynne Seiden, of the National Security Division, and James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.
Operation Fast Track Leads to 83 Arrests and Numerous Drug SeizuresRead the Press Release
SARATOGA, NEW YORK – Operation Fast Track has led to the arrest of 83 defendants and seizures of more than 2,100 counterfeit pills, 1,100 fentanyl pills, 125 grams of methamphetamine, 510 grams of Crack Cocaine, 569 grams of Cocaine, 2,00 grams of Fentanyl & Heroin, more than 500 lbs. of Marijuana and 8 firearms.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Saratoga County District Attorney Brett Eby, Drug Enforcement Administration New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli, Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone Investigations New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James, Saratoga County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Jeffrey Brown, Washington County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy, Saratoga Springs Police Department Chief Tyler McIntosh made the announcement.
Among the defendant’s charged, 18 are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, while the remaining 65 defendants’ cases are being handled by the District Attorney’s Offices in Washington, Warren, and Saratoga County. The charges range from drug trafficking and firearms offenses to child pornography and immigration offenses
The charging instruments in any jurisdiction contain merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“Since being appointed to lead this office, I have worked tirelessly to drive collaboration between Federal, State and Local law enforcement. The results announced today speak for themselves 83 criminals off our streets, countless deadly narcotics off our streets, all because our law enforcement partners worked together, shared intelligence and collaborated on cases,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone. “That is the kind of action that makes our communities safer. Under the leadership of President Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, my office is leveraging the resources of the federal government to step up and protect our communities when State laws fail to do so. Earlier this year, I led efforts to gather our law enforcement leaders in the region to create Operation Fast Track. With one goal in mind, to clean up our beautiful communities ahead of the busy summer season. Thanks to the countless leaders and law enforcement officers across the region who were involved in this operation, we now can enjoy all the beauty this region has to offer for locals and tourists alike, without the worry of violent criminals and deadly narcotics lurking in the shadows.
“The arrests of 83 individuals, removal of eight firearms, and the seizure of two kilos of fentanyl and heroin, along with thousands of counterfeit pills, some of which contained fentanyl and bromazolam, and other dangerous narcotics represent far more than enforcement statistics. They represent lives protected and communities made safer” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “The growing presence of counterfeit pills containing substances like bromazolam, often mixed with fentanyl, continue to pose an extraordinary threat to public safety, potentially turning a single pill into a fatal dose. Every pill removed from our streets is one less opportunity for tragedy. This operation demonstrates the power of partnership and our unwavering commitment to identifying, targeting, and dismantling those individuals and drug trafficking organizations that profit from poisoning our communities. Every life matters, and the DEA will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners, to pursue those who threaten them.”
“The coordination between the agencies involved was incredibly powerful and the results truly speak for themselves. 83 criminals are off the streets and can no longer harm our communities through their illicit activities and dangerous behavior. Operation Fast Track may be over, but the partnerships remain and our dedication to ensuring the safety of our communities together is unwavering.” Said FBI Albany Special Agent in Charge Craig TremaroliNew York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “As a result of the commitment among law enforcement partners, a major drug and weapon operation has ceased. Strong partnerships are key when it comes to keeping dangerous individuals out of our communities and stopping the heinous crimes that they perpetuate. These arrests are yet another example of how dedicated police work and strong collaboration among law enforcement officials are succeeding in keeping New York State safe.”
Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown said, “Operation Fast Track is a clear example of the dedication and professionalism demonstrated every day by the men and women of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, working alongside our law enforcement partners. The safety of our great county remains my top priority. We will continue to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure that the residents and visitors of Saratoga County are protected.”
The individuals listed below have been charged federally. The specific charges, along with additional case information, are contained in the publicly available court filings. The identities of two defendants are being withheld at this time due to ongoing investigations.
Defendant(s) NameLead ChargeALLEN, JoshuaDistribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1))BELILE, Christopher & Kelly JACOBSDrug trafficking conspiracy (21 USC 846)ELKINS, DanielReceive or distribute child pornography (18 USC 2252A(a)(2)A))HILL, JamesUnlawful possession of ammunition by a felon (18 USC 922(g)(1))MAMOUDOU, DialloDistribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1))MILEY, ShamikDistribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1))MORALEZ-SANCHEZ, IvanUse false visa or immigration document (18 USC 1546(a))MUCUR-YUCUTE, SergioReentry of a removed alien (08 USC 1326(a))PERU, AmyDistribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1))PHILLIPS, SeanDistribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1))REESE, MontrellDistribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (21 USC 841(a)(1))SMITH-GARCIA, PatricioReentry of a removed alien (08 USC 1326(a))TAYLOR, DylanReceive or distribute child pornography (18 USC 2252A(a)(2)A))THURBER, WesleyAttempted enticement or coercion of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity (18 USC 2422(b))TORNEZ-SOLANO, PatricioReentry of a removed alien (08 USC 1326(a))The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New York Enforcement Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, New York State Police, Saratoga County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Saratoga Springs Police Department.
Omaha Woman Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha woman was sentenced on June 26, 2026, to 48 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Summer Louisa Chrans, 43, distributed one-pound quantities of methamphetamine on separate occasions in Council Bluffs. Chrans admitted to purchasing one-half pound and one-pound quantities of methamphetamine from a Council Bluffs source of supply.
After completing her term of imprisonment, Chrans will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.Ohkay Owingeh Man Pleads Guilty to Assault ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Ohaky Owingeh man pleaded guilty to assaulting a victim in 2019.
According to court documents, on August 28, 2019, Ashkia Trujillo, 31, and enrolled member of the Ohkay Owingeh Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury.
Trujillo pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case.
Norwalk Man Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that MARCOS FRANCISCO JAVIER GOMEZ, 23, of Norwalk, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with multiple child exploitation offenses.
As alleged in court documents, on April 3, 2024, Gomez was arrested by the Putnam County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office after he had traveled to New York to meet with a 13-year-old girl with whom Gomez had engaged in sexually explicit communications via text messages, FaceTime, and various social media applications. Subsequent court-authorized searches of Gomez’s cellphone revealed evidence that Gomez had been communicating with at least five minor females in Connecticut, had recorded himself engaging in sexual activity with four of these minor victims, had requested that the minor victims send him videos depicting them engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and had sent obscene images of himself to at least one of the minor victims. Gomez typically met his minor victims through Snapchat.
The complaint charges Gomez with production of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of life; receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; possession or attempted possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and transfer of obscene materials to a minor, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Gomez, who has been serving a New York state prison sentence related to his conduct with the 13-year-old minor victim in New York, appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a criminal 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 investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Putnam County (N.Y.) Sherrif’s Office, the Norwalk Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, the Watertown Police Department, and the Waterbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
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.
North Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Leonard Bernard Gregory, 40, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug trafficking offense involving methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Evidence presented in court showed that on Oct. 29, 2024, investigators conducting surveillance in Charleston County stopped a vehicle Gregory was riding in. During the stop, officers found Gregory carrying bagged quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and cocaine, along with more than $2,000 in cash. Gregory repeatedly attempted to destroy the drugs as officers took him into custody.
That same day, investigators searched a residence Gregory used on Bonaparte Street in North Charleston. Inside, they found additional methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on top of the kitchen cabinets, a mechanical pill press and molds used to manufacture drugs, digital scales, and additional cash. Officers also recovered three firearms concealed in a duffel bag in the residence.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Gregory to 180 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, and the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.###
New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – LOREALL GORDEN (“GORDEN”), age 38, of New Orleans, was sentenced by the U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance on June 17, 2026, to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and the payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
The defendant plead guilty to Counts 2 and 3 of the indictment. In Count 2,
the defendant was charged with distribution of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 84l(a)(l) and 841(b)(1)(c). In Count 3, the defendant was charged with distribution of heroin and fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(l) and 841(b)(1)(c)).
According to court documents, an individual GORDEN believed to be a legitimate buyer revealed that GORDEN worked with other individuals to distribute fentanyl and heroin from a house in New Orleans.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.
Minnesota Tax Preparer Convicted of Preparing $1M+ in False Tax Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
A federal jury convicted a Minnesota man yesterday for filing false tax returns for clients of his tax preparation business.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cortez Hollis owned and operated Hollis Tax Time, a Minnesota tax preparation business that he used to prepare false tax returns for clients. Hollis told his clients he was able to provide them tax credits that other tax preparers did not know about. In reality, he reported fictitious businesses that claimed thousands of dollars of business losses the clients did not actually incur. Hollis filed these tax returns with the IRS and generated large refunds the clients were not entitled to receive. He often paid himself tax preparation fees of $2,000 or more out of the resulting refunds, sometimes without his clients’ knowledge.
“No matter the scheme, the agency, or the program involved, those who cheat on their taxes for personal enrichment undermine the very foundation of public trust,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Fraud Division is working across all fronts to detect, investigate, and prosecute criminal tax violations. We will protect the integrity of our tax system and ensure that those who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of honest citizens face the full weight of federal prosecution.”
At trial, the government established that Hollis added more than $1 million in fraudulent losses to client tax returns and sought approximately $387,000 in refunds they were not entitled to receive.
Hollis was found guilty of 20 counts of aiding or assisting the preparation of false tax returns. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Hollis faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Eric B. Powers and Trial Attorney Megan E. Wessel of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pled guilty to assaulting and strangling a victim.
According to court documents, on October 23, 2025, Lance Marion Cojo, 39, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe during an argument.
Cojo pleaded guilty to assault and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case.
Memphis Man Sentenced to over 78 Years in Federal Prison for Three Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Maurice Harris, 32, to 946 months and a day in federal prison for committing a series of business robberies by discharging a firearm and violating the conditions of his supervised release from a previous case. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Harris conducted a series of armed robberies of businesses within the Western District of Tennessee:
- October 4, 2024 - Metro by T-Mobile - 4673 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, TN
- October 7, 2024 - Cricket Wireless - 1129 S. Dupress Street, Brownsville, TN
- October 10, 2024 - AT&T- 5287 Airline Road, Memphis, TN
In each robbery, he pretended to be a customer, then produced a handgun and demanded the store’s phones and tablets. During the robbery of the Brownsville Cricket Wireless store, a 5-year-old child was present. Investigators found the driver’s license identification of Harris that he left behind at the store when he fled. He was arrested at his place of employment in possession of the same handgun used in each of the robberies, in the same car he drove to each of the robberies, along with items stolen from two of the robberies.
All three incidents were recorded on store surveillance videos, and Harris was identified in a photo line-up and later in court by each of the victims. Harris had a prior federal conviction for a business robbery and had just been placed on supervised release in June 2024 when he committed the new robberies.
After a three-day trial, Harris was convicted as charged of three counts of robbery, three counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On June 23, 2026, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Harris to 900 months and a day of federal imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release for the robberies and an additional 46 months’ imprisonment for violating his supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “There is a heavy price to pay for a lifestyle of lawlessness. Within the short span of 7 days, this recidivist violent offender’s selfish and impulsive greed terrorized multiple victims across West Tennessee – and has rightly earned him an effective life sentence in federal prison."
"Maurice Harris engaged in an armed spree of violence and intimidation," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "This sentence should serve as a reminder that the FBI will not waver when it comes to protecting Tennesseans and taking dangerous criminals off the streets. The FBI will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement via task forces and other relationships to ensure the safety of our communities."
This case was investigated by officers from the Memphis Police Department assigned to the FBI Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Brownsville Police Department, and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates
Massachusetts Man Charged with Attempting to Entice a Minor Following Operation “Red Card”Read the Press Release
Providence- A Rehoboth, Massachusetts man has been charged federally for allegedly attempting to entice a person he believed to be a 15-year-old female to engage in sexual activity and travelling to Rhode Island to meet her, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ted Docks.
The charges stem from Operation Red Card, a multi-agency human trafficking and child exploitation enforcement initiative conducted by the Rhode Island State Police (RISP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Richard Lallier, 34, is charged by way of federal criminal complaint with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted interstate travel for illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and attempted transmission of obscene material to a minor. He was ordered detained at his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
“Behind every child exploitation case is an adult who made a deliberate decision to target a minor. The responsibility for that conduct rests solely with the offender,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to identifying those individuals, protecting children, and holding offenders accountable.”
According to court documents, for two days, beginning on June 16, 2026, Lallier communicated with a person he believed was a 15-year-old female, who was an undercover RISP Detective. It is alleged that, believing he was communicating with the minor, Lallier sent sexually explicit messages, videos of his genitalia, discussed meeting for sexual activity, and traveled to Rhode Island to meet her.
“Child sexual exploitation cases are among the most disturbing the FBI works, and they’re also some of the most impactful. We’re gratified to help take Richard Lallier off the street,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Know that your FBI is working 24/7 before, during, and after the World Cup to ensure those seeking to exploit our most vulnerable won’t get away with it. If child predators can’t or won’t keep themselves away from kids, the FBI stands ready to step in and shut them down.”
"I commend the outstanding work of our detectives, our partners at the FBI, NCIS, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, and the United States Attorney's Office whose coordinated efforts led to this arrest,” said Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and the Director of the Department of Public Safety. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who target children and ensure they are brought to justice.”
Lallier was arrested on June 17, 2026, by members of the RISP and FBI after he arrived at the location where it is alleged he had arranged to meet with the person he believed he had been communicating with.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Dean and Denise Marie Barton.
The matter was investigated by the RISP and the FBI, with valuable assistance provided by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Marianna Man Sentenced for Armed Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Michael Termaine Bell, of Marianna, Florida, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 50 grams or more of marijuana. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case was built upon the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who dismantled this drug trafficking operation that flooded our streets with deadly drugs. Operation Take Back America is delivering win after win for communities in the Northern District of Florida, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that investigators in Jackson County, Florida, obtained information that the defendant was a member of a drug trafficking organization selling illegal narcotics. After several months of investigation, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for the defendant’s residence and an adjoining family residence in Marianna, Florida. During the execution of the search warrants, investigators located over 1,000 grams of cocaine, five firearms, over 3,000 grams of marijuana, approximately $10,000 in cash, and other evidence of drug distribution. When the defendant was located and arrested a few months later, he was in possession of cocaine, marijuana, and a firearm.
“This sentence reflects the strength of the partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Sheriff Donnie Edenfield. “When we work together, we can dismantle drug trafficking operations, remove dangerous offenders from our communities, and make Jackson County a safer place for everyone.”
“This joint investigation highlights the value of a collective effort,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, DEA Tampa Field Division. “Working together we were able remove this drug trafficker from our streets and make our North Florida communities much safer.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Eric W. Welch.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Manhattan Man Charged with Dealing Fentanyl Resulting in the Deaths of Two VictimsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JERMAINE BROWN with drug-trafficking crimes that led to two fatal overdoses. BROWN was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang and ordered detained. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.
“As alleged, for years, Jermaine Brown dealt dangerous drugs, including heroin laced with fentanyl, to New Yorkers,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s unsealed indictment against Brown reiterates our Office’s clear message: if you deal in fentanyl, you deal in death, and our office will hold you accountable.”
“As alleged, Jermaine Brown callously pumped heroin laced with fentanyl into our communities, and in turn contributed to the horrific overdose deaths of two victims,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “His arrest removes an accused ruthless drug trafficker from our streets and provides a measure of long-overdue relief to the victims’ families and the neighborhoods he preyed upon. Every day, HSI New York is relentlessly committed to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the NYPD, and our invaluable law enforcement partners to investigate these heinous crimes and protect our communities from the lethal threat of fentanyl and other narcotics.”
“As alleged, this defendant distributed lethal drugs, including fentanyl-laced heroin, which ultimately led to the overdose deaths of two victims,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “We will not allow drug peddlers to flood our communities with dangerous poisons and put lives at risk without facing consequences. Thanks to the efforts of our NYPD investigators, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, we are holding this criminal accountable.”
As alleged in the Indictment and documents submitted to the Court:
From at least in or around 2022 through at least in or around December 2025, BROWN, a Manhattan-based dealer, sold a variety of controlled substances, including heroin, to numerous customers. BROWN provided drugs to some customers over extended periods of time. Some of BROWN’s customers, however, were unaware that heroin sold by BROWN also at times contained fentanyl. Multiple victims who bought fentanyl-laced heroin from BROWN were poisoned by BROWN’s fentanyl and died. Specifically, BROWN’s drugs caused a least two overdose deaths: (i) the death of a 33-year-old man on or about March 19, 2024, in New York, New York and (ii) the death of a 35-year-old woman on or about December 10, 2025, in Frankin Square, New York.
BROWN relied on multiple coconspirators to facilitate his drug trafficking. Multiple individuals sourced narcotics for BROWN, including in response to explicit requests from BROWN for fentanyl. BROWN also relied on multiple individuals to assist in the distribution of narcotics by delivering or reselling BROWN’s narcotics, including fentanyl, to others.
On June 25, 2026, law enforcement searched Brown’s room in a Manhattan hotel pursuant to a judicially authorized warrant. The search revealed a multitude of narcotics in pill and powder form, along with a duffel bag full of cash. Photographs of some of the seized items are shown below:
* * *
BROWN, 55, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and two counts of distribution of narcotics resulting in death, all of which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Nassau County Police Department.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger and Lauren Phillips are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man Taken into Custody in Somalia for Role in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota—one of the orchestrators of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme—was taken into custody on June 25, 2026, in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Eidleh was among the defendants originally charged by indictment in the Feeding Our Future scheme on September 13, 2022. The indictment alleges 31 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Eidleh was an employee of Feeding Our Future who was responsible for recruiting and supporting Federal Child Nutrition Program sites under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship. He and other Feeding Our Future employees solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking approval to operate fraudulent Federal Child Nutrition Program sites. The indictment describes Feeding Our Future as operating a pay‑to‑play scheme in which operators of fraudulent meal sites kicked back a portion of their illicit proceeds to employees, including Eidleh, often disguised as “consulting fees” through shell companies.
The indictment alleges that Eidleh created his own Federal Child Nutrition Program sites in the name of nominee owners and fraudulently claimed that the sites were serving meals to thousands of children per day. He also created shell companies purporting to be meal vendors for those sites and created and submitted fraudulent invoices to obtain, misappropriate, and defraud federal nutrition program funds. Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in kickbacks, bribes, and other fraud proceeds into accounts associated with his shell companies, using them to conceal the true nature and source of the illegally obtained funds.
“This defendant was a central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed. Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice. That attempt ended thanks to the exceptional work of our FBI partners. The Department of Justice will continue to track down and prosecute fraudsters wherever they run and wherever they hide.”
“Eidleh’s capture shows that, if you commit fraud against the American taxpayer, and try hiding across the globe, the long arm of justice will find you,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “We salute the FBI’s work in finding Eidleh, and are grateful to all our federal and international partners that help us hold accountable those who defraud our government.”
“With the apprehension of Abdikerm Eidleh, the FBI's partnerships with law enforcement worldwide again send a message – the FBI’s reach is far and wide, we will track down and bring to justice any fugitive, from anywhere,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “According to the indictment, Eidleh's alleged fraud took millions of dollars from programs designed for children and families in need. When the alleged fraud was uncovered, he unwisely tried to hide from justice on the other side of the world. The FBI and our partners will shine a light on fraudsters wherever they may try to hide. The FBI extends its sincere appreciation to the National Intelligence and Security Agency of Somalia for their outstanding partnership in locating and apprehending Eidleh so he may be brought to justice.”
“Every dollar stolen from the pockets of hardworking Americans emphasizes the Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to protecting our communities,” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge, Denver Division. “This arrest shows that criminals who abuse the financial system and exploit innocent people for their own gain will not escape their day in court. They are not above the law. Postal inspectors continue to be relentless in their pursuit of justice.”
This case is a result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin Bowyer are prosecuting these cases.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Note: Previous press release on federal charges against Eidleh and other defendants here.
Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to distributing cocaine base (crack cocaine) and illegal possession of two guns.
Marc Sanchez, 31, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2025. Sanchez was arrested and charged in October 2025 and has remained in federal custody since.
Sanchez was identified as a drug distributor selling crack cocaine out of his apartment in Lowell. Specifically, on Sept. 17, 2025, a cooperating witness arranged to meet Sanchez at his apartment to purchase an ounce and a half of crack cocaine. At the time of the meeting, Sanchez was observed meeting with an unknown drug supplier in a car outside his apartment building to acquire powder cocaine. Sanchez then returned to his apartment with the cooperating witness, where Sanchez “cooked” the powder cocaine into crack cocaine, separated and weighed the substance, and then sold it to the cooperating witness. In addition, Sanchez used phone numbers and cars registered in other people’s names to deal crack cocaine. According to court documents, there were at least four outstanding arrest warrants for Sanchez in connection with open criminal cases in Derry District Court in New Hampshire, and in Boston, Lawrence and Lowell District Courts in Massachusetts.
On Sept. 25, 2025, Sanchez again produced and distributed an ounce and a half of crack cocaine to the cooperating witness at this apartment. During a search of Sanchez’s apartment approximately one week later, on Oct. 1, 2025, more cocaine, drug-coated cookware and drug packaging materials were recovered as well as over $3,000 cash and two loaded 9mm handguns from inside a safe in the apartment.
Sanchez has multiple felony convictions and he served over two years in a Massachusetts state prison in 2018 and 2019.
The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover, Salem (Mass.) and Manchester (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to distributing fentanyl and cocaine base (crack cocaine).
Gino Hem, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; and three counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Sep. 30, 2026. The defendant was arrested and charged in October 2025 and has remained in federal custody since.
On four separate occasions between July 14, 2025 and Oct. 3, 2025, Hem met cooperating witnesses and an undercover officer in Lowell to sell them crack cocaine and fentanyl. Hem filled orders from the cooperating witnesses and undercover officer for “fingers” of “brown,” i.e., fentanyl, and quantities of “hard,” i.e., cocaine base.
On a fifth date, on Oct. 22, 2025, the undercover officer ordered two ounces of “hard” from Hem. He was taken into custody upon arriving at the agreed upon drug deal location. During a search of his person, more than two ounces (53 grams) of cocaine base were found hidden inside Hem’s underwear.
The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. 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 Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Los Angeles Man Convicted of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Central District of California convicted a Los Angeles man today of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“This case highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ determination to rescue victims from exploitation and ensure that those who commit such cruel and violent acts are held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendant manipulated and terrorized the victim for his own gain, using violence, intimidation, and control. We commend the victim’s bravery for sharing her story. HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue justice for victims and relentlessly work to prevent these crimes from occurring in our communities.”
According to court documents, witness testimony, and evidence presented at trial, Elias Shabazz, 33, of Los Angeles, led his victim to believe that they were engaged in a romantic relationship, but he soon turned physically and sexually violent demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts. Shabazz carried a handgun with him and used it on occasion to pistol whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet when threatening to kill her. At trial, the victim explained how he introduced her to commercial sex, demanded she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds, and how he terrified her of the consequences of not meeting that quota. She also testified to how Shabazz compelled her to work on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles and how dangerous it was to do so. Shabazz confiscated the victim’s identification, social security card, and birth certificate. He looked through her phone constantly to keep her from communicating with family and friends. He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life including when she ate, slept, and showered.
The jury convicted Shabazz of one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The jury found Shabazz not guilty of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. A sentencing date has not been set. Shabazz faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Kate A. Alexander of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen I. Meyer for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Cody Bullman, 35, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced June 25, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for attempted receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Bullman to 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bullman’s release from prison, he will begin an 8-year term of supervised release.
In March of 2024, a Facebook profile of an undercover officer, presenting themselves as a 13-year-old female, was sent a “friend request” from a Facebook profile determined to belong to Bullman. The undercover officer and Bullman communicated briefly. Then in May of 2024, Bullman asked the undercover officer, “you down to hook up?” The undercover officer responded, indicating to Bullman they were only 13 years old. Bullman said he was okay with that and told the undercover officer, “I just wanna [sic] say your [sic] attractive.” Later in the conversation Bullman sent a sexually explicit photo. Bullman then asked the undercover officer for sexually explicit images or videos of the minor, indicating he would not “do anything with your nudes. It’s for my viewing only.”
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 Attorney’s 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 Nebraska State Patrol in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations.
Last of Six Defendants Pleads Guilty to Role in Multi-state Securities FraudRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – The last of six men from Florida has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to manipulate the stock prices of publicly traded “penny stock” companies based in Florida, Colorado, and Wyoming. The stocks were sold at inflated prices to victim investors throughout the country, including in the Northern District of Ohio.
Charles Vaccaro, 68, of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud. Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. accepted Vaccaro’s plea on June 24.
In addition, the co-defendants below previously pleaded guilty to the following charges:
- Dror Svorai, 57, of Hollywood, Florida - Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud, Securities Fraud, , Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments.
- Dennis Ruggeri, 80, of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida - Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
- Kevin Hagen, 57, of Davie, Florida - Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud.
- Gary Berlly, 74, of Plantation, Florida - Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud.
- Yosef Biton 45, of Sunny Isles, Florida - Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud.
- Eli Taieb, 52, of Davie, Florida - Conspiracy to Commit Securities Fraud (charged separately).
According to court documents and evidence presented in Court, from approximately January 2014 to July 2019 the defendants intentionally conspired, along with others, to defraud victims who bought shares of stock in public companies whose share prices the conspirators were manipulating. The companies were traded on the OTC Markets, which typically serve smaller public companies that don’t qualify to be traded through traditional U.S. stock exchanges..
The defendants acquired small publicly-traded companies, issued millions of shares to themselves and to friends, relatives, and other nominees at little or no cost, and then artificially controlled the price and volume of shares through a number of tactics. One method they used was through promotional media efforts designed to generate public interest and increase the price and trading volumes in the stock. The defendants had the ability to influence or control the authorship, timing, and content of the press releases and promotions, which were issued by the same companies whose stock they were selling. Because the defendants or their nominees controlled significant amounts of stock, they coordinated the sale of large blocks of shares to coincide with the press releases and promotions to entice would-be investors to purchase the stock.
The defendants also provided false and misleading information to attorneys and brokers to conceal their true relationship to the companies, which allowed them to deposit and sell stock they would not otherwise have been able to sell.
The defendants then profited by selling stock on the public market at artificially inflated prices without disclosing that they controlled both the stock and the companies themselves, or that they were artificially manipulating the companies’ stock prices. Once the defendants stopped promoting the stock, the stock price fell, causing investors to lose money. The defendants used the profits from their scheme to enrich themselves and fund luxurious lifestyles.
Among the items seized during the investigation, and later ordered forfeited, were:
- $236,131.05 from a bank account
- 2016 Range Rover vehicle, purchased for $90,327.79
- 2018 Rolls Royce Dawn vehicle, purchased for $376,660.94
- 2019 Porsche 911 vehicle, purchased for $164,481.14
- 2018 Tesla Model S 100D vehicle, purchased for $116,919.83
- 2001 Azimut 70’ yacht, purchased for $265,925
- AB JET 330 dinghy, purchased for $28,670.00.
In total, investors lost more than $26 million as a result of the scheme.
Each defendant’s sentence is determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal record, if any, role in the offense, and characteristics of the offense. Berlly was sentenced to 18 months of probation and ordered to pay $18,063.14 in restitution. Hagen was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and $2,033,442.04 in restitution. Biton was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $392,000 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica Barnhill, Brenna Fasko, and James Morford.
Kansas man gets prison time for secretly recording child in a bathroomRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 264 months in prison for clandestinely recording a minor under the age of 12 through a crack in a wall to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, Jeffrey T. Lyons, 33, of Olathe pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child.
In 2018, Lyons began secretly taking nude photos and videos of a child from a room adjacent to a bathroom through a gap in the wall. For several years, Lyons secretly recorded the minor victim partially or completely unclothed in the bathroom.
In October 2023, a relative of Lyons reported him to law enforcement. When officers approached Lyons, they had to forcefully take his cellphone because he refused to give it to them. A forensic exam on the phone uncovered the sexual exploitation videos he had taken of the minor victim and screenshots from those videos, along with almost 900 erotic photos of the child while clothed. Lyons also possessed over 2,800 CSAM photos and videos that did not involve the minor child.
“Children are innocent, defenseless, and rely on responsible adults to advocate on their behalf and shield them from predators,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “If you become aware of child abuse, you have an ethical obligation to contact law enforcement immediately. It doesn’t matter if the perpetrator is a friend or a relative. The victim’s welfare should always be the highest priority.”
“Mr. Lyons’ actions were both abhorrent and stomach-churning. The sentence ensures that a dangerous predator spends more than two decades behind bars and an additional 12 years of supervised release. The FBI remains committed to finding and bringing to justice anyone who dares to exploit or harm children,” stated Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Justice Department Sues States for Failing to Provide SNAP Data to the U.S. Department of AgricultureRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota, seeking injunctions requiring their state SNAP agencies to turn over their last five years of SNAP applicant data. This comes after those four states refused to turn over the data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) so that USDA could ensure that states are properly administering and enforcing their determinations of residents’ eligibility for SNAP, including household benefit levels.
When USDA requested this data last year, these states and several others refused to comply. Twenty-eight other jurisdictions, however, promptly provided their data. Data received from the compliant 29 states indicate there are billions of dollars per year in SNAP funds going to overpayments and fraud.
Faced with this evidence, USDA again requested SNAP applicant data from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota in May. Yet again, these states refused to comply. The states’ ongoing noncompliance creates the likelihood of ongoing, material waste, fraud, and abuse going undetected. Such reckless disregard for Federal law and the public fisc cannot continue.
“The American people deserve a government that is transparent about how it spends their hard-earned tax dollars,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These four states are thwarting USDA’s efforts to ensure that the billions of dollars in SNAP benefits they distribute every year are not lost to fraud. It’s unacceptable, suspicious, and it will not stand under this Administration.”
“For nearly 365 days, several States have shamelessly defied federal law and withheld data to which the U.S. Department of Agriculture is entitled,” said USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. “USDA has worked constructively with the majority of States to ensure criminals, fraudulent activity, and other waste, no longer plague a program meant to serve the most vulnerable households and communities among us. Today, I asked the Acting Attorney General to compel Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Michigan to comply with federal law. If a State misguidedly stands between the federal government and the information needed to protect the generosity of the American taxpayer, the Trump Administration will take them to court.”
“The Department of Justice is dedicated to combatting waste, fraud, and abuse in federal benefits programs, and ensuring that American taxpayers are not footing the bill for benefits that recipients are not entitled to under federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
“Stopping the rampant theft of taxpayer money demands a whole-of-government response, including strong participation at the state level,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “These states are happy to take hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars—much of which is exploited by fraudsters—but want zero transparency over how those tax dollars are spent. It’s pretty simple: share the data that shows how America’s money is being spent—and stolen—in your state. These lawsuits are required because these states refuse to take the most basic steps to help stop the rampant theft of taxpayer dollars.”