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6 August 2026
Repeat Offender Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has 16 prior felony convictions was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing multiple firearms. The government requested 77 months’ imprisonment.
“The illegal possession and carrying of firearms pose a direct threat to the safety, peace, and well-being of our communities," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "We are actively working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt illegal weapon pipelines, remove unauthorized firearms from our streets, and hold violators fully accountable under the law."
“Firearms trafficking threatens the safety of the public," said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “ATF will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that firearms remain out of the hands of prohibited people. The suspect in this case illegally possessed firearms and sold them in the Las Vegas area. That kind of conduct will not be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring that those who choose to operate in a manner that endangers the safety of this community are prosecuted.”
According to court documents, from October 31, 2022 to November 18, 2022, Frederick Warren, 70, illegally possessed and sold multiple firearms in the Las Vegas area. He possessed a loaded Colt Defense Carbine 5.56 caliber rifle; a Remington Arms, 700, 22-250 rifle; a loaded 9mm caliber pistol; another 9mm caliber pistol; and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Warren has 16 prior felony convictions, including robbery with use of a firearm in Riverside County, California; and possession of a controlled substance for sale, manufacture controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, and taking a vehicle without owner’s consent/vehicle theft, all in San Bernardino County, California. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.
Warren pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Melinda Brewer prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com.
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Repeat Felon Sentenced After Ghost Gun, Drugs Recovered at Southeast D.C. Apartment ComplexRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony Thomas, 31, a previously convicted felon of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 42 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a loaded ghost gun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Thomas pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 42-month prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Thomas to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on May 19, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers approached a group of people at the Stanton Terrace Apartments in Southeast D.C. When an officer noticed a bulge on Thomas' back, officers stopped him and recovered a ghost gun, which is a privately manufactured firearm, bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. The gun was loaded with 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
A search incident to arrest recovered suspected narcotics and a digital scale. Lab testing confirmed the substances included marijuana, hashish, methamphetamine mixed with cocaine, and pills, two of which tested positive for fentanyl.
This is Thomas' third conviction involving the illegal possession or use of a handgun. He was previously convicted of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence as a juvenile, and later of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence as an adult. He was on supervised release from that case when he committed the offense here.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
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Red Lake Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Violent Assault Against Intimate Partner and Vulnerable ChildRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Mason Alexander Bullhead, 30, of Red Lake, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his violent assault against his then‑girlfriend and her three‑year‑old child.
Bullhead was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz on August 3, 2026.
According to court documents, on May 4, 2024, Bullhead assaulted the child inside the family home. He struck the child repeatedly and kicked him while wearing steel‑toed boots. When the child’s mother attempted to intervene to protect her son, Bullhead assaulted her as well. He threatened her, stating, “I should just kill you,” before placing his hands around her neck and strangling her, impairing her ability to breathe.
In February 2026, Bullhead pleaded guilty to one count of assault upon a child resulting in substantial bodily injury and one count of strangling an intimate partner.
“Domestic violence will not be tolerated. Today’s sentencing is another example of my office’s unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Red Lake Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.
Recidivist Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Richard Sevear Greene, 58, of Franklin, N.C., was sentenced to 20 years in prison yesterday for distributing and attempting to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Greene was also ordered to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime term of supervised release after his release from prison.
According to court documents and the court proceedings, Greene was previously convicted in North Carolina state court of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and was required to register as a sex offender. In February 2025, while Greene was a registered sex offender, he used a messaging application to communicate with individuals in a public group on the application whose members were known to be interested in the sexual exploitation of minors.
An investigator working with the FBI in an undercover capacity began communicating with Greene. Over the course of their communications, Greene sent the undercover investigator videos depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. On March 27, 2025, the FBI arrested Greene. During an interview, Greene admitted to possessing CSAM and to sending CSAM through the messaging application to others. He also admitted to being the administrator or owner of several chat groups on the messaging application that were dedicated to the sexual exploitation of minors.
In imposing Greene’s sentence, Judge Reidinger noted that in reoffending, Greene had “doubled down” and not only returned to the same criminal conduct that he had previously been convicted of, but had engaged in even more serious and harmful behaviors, and that Greene’s conduct clearly shows that he is a danger to the community and has not been deterred by prior convictions and sentences.
Greene is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
The investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, United States Forest Service, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction - Division of Community Supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Benjamin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead 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 Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026.
Jackson Moss, 38, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $15,095 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of several cell phones was also ordered.
Moss was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026.
Between June and December 2024, Moss used Kik, an internet-based chat application and cloud service, to search for, download, and view sexually explicit visual depictions of child pornography to his cellular phone. Moss’s online conduct involving child pornography was so prevalent that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received at least 12 CyberTips involving multiple files associated with each CyberTip, all relating to his consumption of child pornography. Investigators found 649 images and 185 videos of child pornography on his phone. The images and videos depicted minors who were unmistakably under the age of 18 and were engaged in sexually explicit conduct and being sexually abused.
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 Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.
Moss was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Prior Federal Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A prior federal drug trafficker was sentenced to prison yesterday for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Burke and Catawba Counties, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Rodney Justin Crisp, 38, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. On January 5, 2026, Crisp pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine.
According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, in June 2024, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into Crisp for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in Burke and Catawba Counties. Investigators developed a confidential source who began purchasing methamphetamine and fentanyl from Crisp. Prior to each controlled purchase, the confidential source communicated with Crisp to arrange the transaction, then travelled to various locations in Burke and Catawba Counties to purchase the drugs. During the investigation, the confidential source engaged in multiple controlled drug transactions with Crisp.
On October 13, 2025, deputies with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office encountered Crisp and two passengers in a vehicle. Deputies executed a federal arrest warrant. A search of the vehicle uncovered numerous small, empty clear plastic baggies in and around the driver’s seat and center console, as well as a leather bag on the rear center floorboard. Inside the bag, deputies located drug paraphernalia and a smaller purple bag containing methamphetamine.
Crisp is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Burke County Sheriff’s Office and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville 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.
Porcupine Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Five Charges of Abusive Sexual ContactRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of five charges of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026.
Gary Pourier, 59, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for each count, followed by five years of supervised release. Each sentence was ordered to run concurrently. Further, Pourier was ordered to pay a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.
Pourier was initially indicted for Abusive Sexual Contact by a federal grand jury in August 2024. After his initial indictment, additional charges were added as two other victims came forward alleging abuse at the hands of the defendant. Four victims testified during the three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, beginning April 16, 2026. The jury found Pourier guilty of all counts.
In July of 2024, Pourier was at the Common Cents Convenience Store near Porcupine when he made contact with a 10-year-old female. Pourier sexually fondled the young girl inside the store. After the victim left the store, she reported to a guardian what had happened. Officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responded to the scene and the child’s home. During its investigation, the FBI learned of additional victims.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Pourier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Philadelphia Man Indicted on Civil Rights Charge in Connection with July Arson at Northeast Philadelphia Islamic CenterRead the Press Release
Vincent Lang, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by indictment with one count of malicious damage by means of fire to a building used in interstate commerce and one count of damage to religious real property, in connection with an arson fire last month at a city mosque.
The defendant has been detained in federal custody since his July 16 arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant.
The indictment alleges that, in the early hours of July 5, Lang maliciously damaged and destroyed, and attempted to damage and destroy, by means of fire, the Northeast Philadelphia Islamic Center, located on the 1400 block of Tyson Avenue.
The indictment further alleges that Lang carried out the act because of the religious character of that property, that is, because it was a mosque.
“Setting fire to a house of worship is an appalling act,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will vigorously protect Americans’ right to be free from intimidation and violence while practicing their religion.”
“We will not let anyone attack a place of faith,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “This case demonstrates our resolve to protect our core constitutional liberty of religion. It also exemplifies the swift and decisive response that results for anyone who attempts to disturb the faith of another.”
“There is no place for acts of violence in our city, especially those motivated by bias,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of FBI Philadelphia Field Office. “The FBI is grateful for the valued partnerships we share with law enforcement and public safety agencies across Philadelphia. Together, we remain committed to pursuing those who threaten the safety and wellbeing of those we are charged to protect.”
“We thank the city, state, and federal agencies that helped us in this important public safety case,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Houses of worship fire investigations are an ATF priority that we tackle with all our considerable arson investigation resources.”
“An attack on a house of worship is an attack on the fundamental right of every person to practice their faith safely and without fear,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “The additional civil rights charge reflects the seriousness of what is alleged in this case and sends a clear message that acts intended to threaten or intimidate a religious community will be met with the full force of our collective law enforcement response. I am grateful to our investigators and our federal, state and local partners for their continued work to ensure accountability and protect every community in our city.”
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Philadelphia Fire Department Fire Marshal’s Office Special Investigations Unit and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and J. Jeanette Kang for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Owner of Santa Ana-Based Fruits-and-Vegetables Food Truck Indicted on Charges She Committed Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The owner of an Orange County-based fruits-and-vegetables food truck that law enforcement believes is the highest-redeeming vendor of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits among nearby fruit-and-vegetable stores and large grocery stores, has been indicted on food stamp fraud charges, the Justice Department announced today.
Esmeralda Soriano, 48, a.k.a. “Esmeralda Aguilar” and “Esmeralda Silva,” of Santa Ana, is charged with two counts of illegal trafficking in SNAP benefits.
Soriano’s arraignment is scheduled for August 13 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. She is free on $5,000 bond.
According to an indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday and other court documents, Soriano Produce is a low-volume fruits-and-vegetables mobile food truck operating in Santa Ana and, in March 2023, was authorized as an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)-SNAP retailer. The business has one point-of-sale device that is used to complete EBT-SNAP transactions. Its lack of scanners coupled with consistent high-dollar transactions and rapid back-to-back transactions are indicators of possible fraud.
Law enforcement identified similar SNAP-authorized fruits-and-vegetables businesses between April 2025 and April 2026 that were within a 20-mile radius from Soriano Produce and determined that Soriano’s business was the largest SNAP-authorized redeemer with a total store volume of approximately $640,924, more than six times its nearest competitor, and an average purchase amount of $151.41.
Compared to large grocery stores within a five-mile radius during this same period, Soriano Produce was also the highest redeeming store of SNAP benefits, despite having more than 9,700 fewer transactions than the closest store. Further, Soriano Produce had the highest average transaction amount.
Law enforcement also discovered numerous excessively large EBT-SNAP transactions at Soriano Produce for a store of its type, with a dozen reaching or exceeding $1,000, far surpassing the California average of $17.72 for a fruits-and-vegetables store.
If convicted, Soriano would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
In a separate case, a federal grand jury on July 31 indicted Jesse Cervantes-Gomez, 30, a.k.a. “Ventura,” of Fontana, on three counts of illegal trafficking in SNAP benefits. Cervantes-Gomez was arrested on July 2 for exchanging SNAP benefits for cash at Escamex, a downtown Los Angeles-based store. His arraignment is scheduled for August 11 in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. He is free on $5,000 bond and, if convicted, would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General are investigating these matters with assistance from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Jones of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.
Okanogan County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Producing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 3, 2026, Daniel John Standley, age 37, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. United States District Judge Rebecca L. Pennell also imposed a life term of supervised release following the prison term as well as imposing a $10,000 special assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA). Assessments under the AVAA are paid into a fund from which child pornography victims can later obtain restitution.
According to court documents, on June 1, 2024, the minor victim, then 11 years old, disclosed to a friend’s mother that Standley had been molesting her. Law enforcement was contacted. During the ensuing investigation, the victim described grooming and sexual abuse that started when she was approximately five or six years old. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Standley’s residence in Okanogan, Washington, they found sex toys that had been described by the victim and several electronic devices. Forensic review of the devices revealed sexually explicit images and videos of the victim. One video is over ten minutes long and depicts the child being coached and coerced to perform sex acts, including performing oral sex on Standley.
The Okanagan County Prosecutor’s Office also charged and convicted Standley for several counts of child molestation in the first degree related to this investigation.
“Cases like this shine a light on some of the darkest acts in our community,” stated Serrano. “I am tremendously proud of the work this office and its law enforcement partners do to root out predators like Standley can no longer terrorize a child.”
“Mr. Standley’s crimes against this child were horrific,” said Acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “His sentence will not fix the trauma he brought to this little girl, but it will keep him from harming anyone else for a very long time. HSI will not stop searching for and investigating those predators perpetrating acts like these.”
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.
This case was investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.
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Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to 15 years for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify TheftRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – An Arkansas man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in prison for attempting to sell real estate he did not own and unlawfully trying to use another person’s identify in the attempt. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. Smith was sentenced to 156 months for Wire Fraud and 24 months for Aggravated Identity Theft, these sentences will run consecutively. Smith was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to court documents, Steven James Smith, age 41, engaged in a scheme to defraud in which he identified real property in the Northwest Arkansas area and attempted to sell the property, despite having no legal claim or authority to sell the property. Smith entered into purchase agreements with buyers to sell the property, which he transmitted to various title companies through email and electronic communication, under the appearance that he had legal authority to sell the property. As part of his scheme, Smith used a fraudulent driver’s license bearing another individual’s name and information.
U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Possessing Firearms to Further Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – SHELDON SMITH SR. (“SMITH”), age 60, of New Orleans, LA, was sentenced on July 28, 2026, by United States District Judge Jay Zainey after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute drugs, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
SMITH was sentenced to 18 months as to Count 1 and 60 months as to Count 2, followed by five (5) years of supervised release, and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, on or about December 17, 2024, SMITH possessed with intent to distribute, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of oxycodone. It is further alleged that SMITH possessed two firearms, a Glock Model 19, nine-millimeter handgun and a Taurus Model G2C, .40 caliber handgun, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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New Orleans Felon Guilty of Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –DERRICK SERIGNET (“SERIGNET”), age 44, pleaded guilty on August 6, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) was surveilling SERIGNET after receiving information that SERIGNET was selling narcotics in the Central City area of New Orleans. On February 4, 2026, FBI special agents and New Orleans Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on SERIGNET. SERIGNET had a loaded Glock Model 43x, 9mm caliber pistol in one pocket, and over 50 baggies of fentanyl and 50 baggies of cocaine, that he intended to distribute, in his other pocket. SERIGNET is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction for attempted armed robbery.
As to his drug-trafficking conviction, SERIGNET faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release up to life. As to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, SERIGNET faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Missouri woman pleads guilty to cyberstalking with threats of murderRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Missouri woman pleaded guilty to using the internet to stalk and terrorize a victim in Kansas with threats of rape and murder.
According to court documents, Julianne Grace Willis, 26, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking.
In October 2022, a victim in Ulysses, Kansas, noticed a minor relative had received instant messages on a Roblox account from someone purporting to be a 24-year-old man named Chris. The messages were demeaning, and the victim blocked the account. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would later trace the phone number and IP address to Julianne Grace Willis.
After the victim blocked the Roblox account, Willis began harassing the victim through telephone calls, text messages, and social media messages with threats to rape and kill the victim and to murder the victim’s family.
Willis created a fake dating profile which caused men to show up at the victim’s home expecting romantic encounters. The victim changed jobs because of Willis calling the victim’s employment making derogatory statements. Willis also sent communications to the victim’s relatives with accusations of infidelity.
“The victim in this case endured a sustained and deliberate campaign of harassment by the defendant, whose repeated actions caused significant disruption to the victim’s daily life and well-being of their family. This conduct had a profound and lasting impact on the victim’s sense of security and quality of life. The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting victims, aggressively investigating those who engage in criminal harassment, and holding offenders accountable under the law,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
Willis is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case.
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Milwaukee County Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud Involving Government Benefit ProgramsRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 31, 2026, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced Antonio Franklin (age 47) to 18 months' imprisonment for wire fraud.
According to court filings, Franklin received benefits from three government programs: Title XVI disability benefits from the United States Social Security Administration; Wisconsin Supplemental Security Income from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; and "I Respect, I Self-Direct" (IRIS) benefits, also administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Collectively, these programs are designed to assist individuals with disabilities and limited financial means in obtaining necessary food, shelter, and personal care services.
Franklin admitted that, during a scheme spanning from January 2020 through March 2025, he failed to disclose information to the government that would have affected his eligibility for these three programs. Specifically, Franklin admitted that he owned a bank account that he failed to disclose and that more than $1 million flowed through that account during the same period. Over the course of the more than five-year scheme, Franklin fraudulently received nearly $300,000 in government benefits to which he was not entitled.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Stadtmueller emphasized the need to deter others from fraudulently obtaining government benefits by concealing evidence of income or assets. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Franklin to pay restitution in the amount of the benefits he unlawfully received.
“The people of the United States are fed up with being fleeced by fraudsters. Federal law enforcement authorities have no higher priority that uncovering and stopping fraud and incarcerating those who commit it,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “If you steal from the taxpayers, we are coming to lock you up, especially when the money is taken from programs designed to help our neighbors most in need of help.”
“The sentencing in this case demonstrates the serious consequences of committing fraud against SSA’s benefit programs designed to help those in need,” said Charles Briscoe, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Midwestern CDI Division. “This investigation exemplifies how SSA OIG works closely with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation and U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect the integrity of Social Security programs and pursue justice against those who seek to undermine them.”
“Defrauding government benefits programs is unacceptable,” said AG Kaul. “Thank you to those who secured the conviction and sentence in this case.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Social Security Administration Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit (CDIU) - Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carter B. Stewart.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.
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Miami-Dade Man Pleads Guilty to $14M Fraudulent Check SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Miami-Dade man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud for using fraudulent, unauthorized checks to steal money from victims’ bank accounts.
According to court documents, Eri Guzman Ortiz, 69, formerly of Miami-Dade County, created and deposited about $14 million in fraudulent checks into the bank accounts of sham companies in the U.S. The fraudulent checks were used to steal victims’ money by transferring it from the victims’ bank accounts to the bank accounts of the sham companies without the victims’ authorization.
“Eri Guzman Ortiz used fraudulent checks totaling approximately $14 million to reach into the bank accounts of thousands of people and businesses who never authorized the transactions,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He created sham companies and fabricated transactions to make systematic theft look legitimate. This guilty plea reflects our commitment, alongside the Fraud Section, USPIS, and FDIC-OIG, to protect the integrity of our financial system and hold sophisticated fraudsters accountable.”
Guzman Ortiz’s client in Canada sent him lists of thousands of people and businesses who had purportedly made purchases from sham companies and had purportedly agreed for their bank accounts to be debited by the sham companies. Guzman Ortiz used these lists to create fraudulent checks and deposit them into bank accounts for sham companies, knowing that these people and businesses had not made purchases from the sham companies and had not authorized debits from their bank accounts.
Guzman Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Chicago Region made the announcement.
USPIS and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Daniel Zytnick and Anna Forgie of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida is handling forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 25-cr-20351.
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Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—A Mexican National unlawfully residing in the United States, Samuel Rodrigo Melo Santos, 27, pleaded guilty to alien in possession of a firearm, and making false statements in acquisition of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, in July 2025, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigators, as part of a compliance inspection, began reviewing ATF Form 4473, known as the Firearms Transaction Records, of a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Cave Junction, Oregon. ATF Form 4473 must be completed by the person who is purchasing a firearm. During the inspection, investigators observed repeated sales of the same make and model of firearm by a group of individuals sharing the same address in O’Brien and Medford, Oregon, indicative of firearms trafficking.
On ATF Form 4473, defendants wrote “Mexico” for place of birth and checked the box next to the United States for country of citizenship. An immigration query into Melo Santos, and his co-defendants, concluded they have no legal status and are residing unlawfully in the United States.
Melo Santos told law enforcement that he bought firearms and sold them to anyone, including people who couldn’t legally buy them. Melo Santos purchased 91 firearms for $56,448 between May 2024 and July 2025 and 40,000 rounds of ammunition. One of these firearms was later found in Mexico. As part of the plea agreement, Melo Santos agreed to forfeit any criminally derived proceeds and property used to facilitate his crimes identified by the government prior to sentencing
Melo Santos faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release. Melo Santos will be sentenced on October 9, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane.
On December 18, 2025, Melo Santos, and three co-defendants made their first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Co-defendants Samuel Amador Ortega, Aldo Melo Amador, and Oscar Amador Ortega are awaiting trial.
ATF is investigating the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Mexican National Sentenced for Felony Reentry of Removed Alien for Immigration OffenseRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Miguel Rodriguez-Ezquivel, 39 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon sentenced the Defendant to time served followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term will go into effect if Rodriguez-Ezquivel remains in, or returns to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings.
“The Defendant has been deported previously in June 2012 and clearly did not respect our nation’s laws, borders, or her sovereignty then or when he illegally returned. Once he is released, the Defendant needs to return to his home country and not return again to the United States illegally. Thanks to the combined efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Wardrip, the Defendant has been held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
Mexican National Indicted on Charges of Illegal Reentry, False Claim of United States Citizenship, After Assuming Identity of Deceased ChildRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Alejandro Rascon-Perez, 54, of Mexico, was indicted on one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien, and one count of a false claim of United States Citizenship.
According to public court documents, Rascon-Perez illegally entered the United States in March 2012 near El Paso, Texas. Shortly after arriving in the United States, he was prosecuted in Adams County, Colorado, for possessing Flunitrazepam (commonly known as Rohypnol), and was removed to Mexico. Rascon-Perez illegally reentered the United States again in 2012, was convicted of illegal reentry in the Western District of Texas and was again removed to Mexico. He illegally re-entered the United States a third time before being arrested by the Denver Police Department in May 2025 for felony menacing.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer for Rascon-Perez, but the Denver Sheriff’s Department released Rascon-Perez back into the community. Rascon-Perez was arrested again in July 2026 for failure to appear in his state criminal case. At that point, ICE obtained a federal criminal arrest warrant and arrested Rascon-Perez.
While federal officers were processing the defendant after his arrest, he claimed he was a United States Citizen with a different identity. Rascon-Perez presented federal officers with documents in the name of Jason Raymond Couture and repeatedly insisted he was Jason Raymond Couture. Upon further investigation, and with assistance from the Social Security Administration, federal agents were able to confirm that Rascon-Perez was not in fact Couture because Couture was a child who had died decades ago. Rascon-Perez continued to insist on the false identity and in interviews with federal officers provided a false date of birth and an incorrect spelling of the name he claimed was his identity.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by the Violent Crime Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
Case Number: 1:26-cr-00174-NYW
Mexican National Deported Multiple Times Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JULIO CESAR FERNANDEZ-SALAZAR, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 18 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the U.S. as a removed alien.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Fernandez-Salazar has used numerous aliases, including Julio Fernandez, Julio Cesar Salazar, J. Cesar Fernandez-Salazar, Paulo Cesar Salazar, Alejandro Lugo, Jorge Ortigoza, and Julio C. Fernandez-Salazar. Fernandez-Salazar was first convicted of an immigration violation in October 2007 in the District of Arizona, was sentenced to 45 days of imprisonment, and was voluntarily returned to Mexico. Prior to this conviction, he had already twice been removed from the United States and had twice returned illegally.
Fernandez-Salazar again unlawfully returned to the U.S. In June 2009, he was convicted in Tempe Municipal Court in Arizona of failure to appear and driving with a suspended license and was again deported to Mexico. In July 2009, U.S. Border Patrol encountered and arrested Fernandez-Salazar near the U.S./Mexico border and he was again deported to Mexico.
Fernandez-Salazar illegally reentered the U.S. and, in October 2014, was convicted in Mesa Municipal Court in Mesa, Arizona, of driving under the influence. In April 2017, he was convicted in Maricopa County, Arizona, of unlawful imprisonment and solicitation to commit misconduct involving weapons. In April 2018, he was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Arizona of unlawful reentry and was again deported to Mexico.
On November 27, 2024, Fernandez-Salazar was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Colchester and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and other offenses. He was subsequently released on bond.
On July 18, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Fernandez-Salazar with unlawful reentry. He was located and arrested in Arizona on February 25, 2026, and has been detained since that date. On May 21, 2026, he pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to unlawful reentry of a removed alien.
This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Lembo and Daniel P. Gordon.
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.
Memphis Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Returns for ClientsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Memphis woman pleaded guilty today to helping prepare false tax returns for clients.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Selma Brinson owned and operated a tax preparation business that she used to report false items on clients’ tax returns to generate inflated tax refunds. Among other false items, Brinson reported false fuel tax credits, false claims for residential energy credits and false health savings account deductions on client returns. She received hundreds of thousands of dollars in client fees in exchange for preparing returns. In total, Brinson filed false returns that attempted to defraud the IRS out of more than $5.4 million.
Brinson pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax return. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. A federal district 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 D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Caroline Pearson and Max Willner-Giwerc 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.
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Maui Police Department Lieutenant Charged with Taking Bribes from Criminals to Protect Chicken Fighting and Drug Operations on MauiRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced today that Michael Vaituulala, 53, a lieutenant with the Maui Police Department (MPD), was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
According to the criminal complaint, Vaituulala used his position as a lieutenant in the Maui Police Department for personal gain over many years. Vaituulala accepted regular cash payments from individuals organizing illegal chicken fights in exchange for using his official position to ensure that MPD did not enforce animal fighting laws against those individuals. Vaituulala and others met with organizers of the chicken fights to discuss logistics and conditions for holding the fights, with Vaituulala providing his approval for the organizers to open a chicken fighting location and the days on which fights could take place.Vaituulala also protected individuals engaged in drug trafficking and improperly shared confidential law enforcement information with them in exchange for cash payments. The information he shared included the identities of confidential sources, evidence photos, the existence of a sealed federal wiretap, the existence of a sealed arrest warrant, and details regarding the subjects and targets of ongoing federal investigations. According to one cooperator, Vaituulala aspired to become the “Larry Mehau” of Maui – a reference to a former Big Island police officer long alleged to have served as the godfather of organized crime in Hawaii.
“It is deeply troubling that a long-tenured and trusted law enforcement officer who swore to serve the people of Maui County faces these allegations, which involve a complete betrayal of his oath of service. Hawaii’s law enforcement officers are critical to the safety and security of our local communities, and nearly always perform with honesty, integrity, and valor,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “But on those occasions when one of them elects to betray their commitment to Hawaii and violate the law, or protect the very criminals they are charged to investigate, we will vigorously pursue and prosecute them to the fullest extent permissible under the law.” Sorenson added, “We acknowledge and thank the leadership of the Maui Police Department for its assistance and cooperation with federal enforcement operations this week.”
“As law enforcement officers, we all swear an oath to protect and serve our communities,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The overwhelming majority of law enforcement works honorably every day to meet that responsibility. But when an officer violates that oath—breaching the trust contract with their community—they betray the very people they were entrusted to serve and the brave men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line each day. This investigation reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protect the public and uphold the integrity of law enforcement, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that those who misuse their positions of authority are held fully accountable under the law. Additionally, we appreciate the leadership of the Maui Police Department for its cooperation and assistance with our enforcement operations this week, and we value our shared commitment to protecting the community and upholding the highest standards of law enforcement.”
If convicted, Vaituulala faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release.
The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeannette Graviss and Michael Nammar are prosecuting the case.
Massachusetts Man Indicted for Armed Bank Robbery in NashuaRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Yesterday a federal grand jury indicted a Massachusetts man for armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. According to the indictment, on June 12, 2026, Joseph Sawyer, age 52, allegedly used a firearm to rob the St. Mary’s Bank located at 4 Northwest Boulevard in Nashua.
If convicted, Sawyer faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. Sawyer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Sawyer will appear before the Court at a later date.
FBI Boston is leading the investigation. The Nashua Police Department, FBI New Jersey, FBI Albany, New Jersey State Police, New York State Police, Warren County (NY) Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, Northern District of New York, and District of Massachusetts provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.
Manderson Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026.
Christopher Calvin Bald Eagle, 71, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bald Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026.
Bald Eagle was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in September 1992 in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Bald Eagle was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. Based on the conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for life under the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2023, Bald Eagle admitted to a supervised release violation for not updating his address within three business days of a change in his residence. He was released from custody in April 2024. Upon his release from custody, however, Bald Eagle did not update his address as required by law. Bald Eagle was charged for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, again, and eventually arrested.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Bald Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison for Cyberstalking Iowa ResidentRead the Press Release
Shaninth Michael Ray, age 38, from Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today to ten years in federal prison.
Evidence in the case revealed between April 2023 and October 2023, Ray continuously threatened to kill an Iowa resident and members of the victim’s family, after a no contact order was issued against Ray. Ray made his threats via telephone, text message, and video, through numerous platforms. Ray stated that he would “end” the victim’s life and “bash [the victim’s] face in with a rock.” He also threatened to kill the victim in other various ways. In one of Ray’s videos, he explicitly threatened to end the victim’s life and displayed a gun.
Ray was arrested in Minnesota in October 2023 for possession of a gun as a convicted felon. Ray continued to contact the victim while in custody in Minnesota and Iowa. Ray’s criminal history also includes numerous domestic abuse convictions, violations of protection orders, interference with emergency communications, assault causing bodily harm, possession of controlled substances, harassment, and obstruction.
Ray was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 120 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. Judge Strand noted Ray’s atrocious and disgraceful criminal history, as well as the horrific events in which he terrorized the victim and their family in this case. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Ray is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was investigated by the Mason City, Iowa Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-3015.
Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Lead Role in Large-Scale Drug Trafficking OrganizationsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was a leader within two drug trafficking organization was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to a total of 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for his role in importing substantial quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the Las Vegas area, and then selling those drugs to others within Las Vegas and throughout the United States. The government requested a sentence of 300 months.
“Today’s sentence sends a clear message. We will dismantle criminal networks that poison our neighborhoods,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to bring this offender to justice. We remain committed to protecting public safety and stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our communities.”
According to court documents in one of the two cases, from April 2, 2019 to April 2, 2024, Calvin Bryant conspired with his co-defendants to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Bryant and his co-defendant Kefer Funches purchased drugs on a large scale and redistributed those drugs throughout the country. Numerous co-conspirators worked as couriers and resellers of the drugs. Bryant also engaged in money laundering of the drug proceeds. In that case, law enforcement seized 40.98 kilograms of actual methamphetamine, 34.08 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1,105.3 grams of fentanyl, .5 grams of heroin, and 1 kilogram of cocaine.
At the same time that Bryant was working with Funches, he was also running his own drug trafficking organization operating within Las Vegas. Bryant was charged for this drug conspiracy as well. In this separate organization, Bryant oversaw the renting and use of multiple apartments as trap houses, or addresses used primarily or exclusively for the sale of drugs to end-users.
In each case, Bryant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division made the announcement.
The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Rose prosecuted the case.
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Lackawanna County Man Sentenced to 24 Months Imprisonment for Identity Theft OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Domingo Castillo, a/k/a “Jose Antonio Garcia”, age 62, of Scranton Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 5, 2026, to 24 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Castillo previously admitted that on or about April 9, 2021, in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, Castillo knowingly possessed and used a means of identification of another person during and in relation to a felony, namely making a false statement in a passport application.
The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
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Kenel Man Sentenced to over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Assault of a Romantic PartnerRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Kenel, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026.
Delyle Ambrose Left Hand, age 55, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Left Hand was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2026.
On September 14, 2023, Left Hand quarreled with his girlfriend at his ranch in rural Kenel, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Left Hand punched, kicked, and bit her, resulting in extensive bruising to her face, shoulders and legs. Left Hand later failed to appear for his jury trial for this conduct in July 2025.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Left Hand was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.
Kansas man pleads guilty to distributing AI-generated child pornographyRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to distributing obscene AI-generated images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
According to court documents, Michael Steven Podrybau, 43, of Alton pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children.
Between March 2023 and April 2023, Podrybau used the online communication platform Wickr Pro to distribute computer-generated images that were obscene and depicted minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Walton is prosecuting 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.
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Kalamazoo Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 18 Years for Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Lunden Lamon Walker, 40, of Kalamazoo was sentenced to 18 years in prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl while also possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of his drug dealing. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou emphasized Walker’s “flagrant disrespect for the law.”
In 2025, Walker sold fentanyl on five separate occasions before investigators executed search warrants at multiple residences where he sometimes stayed. In Walker’s car, they found more than 1.5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. At the Kalamazoo home where Walker’s children were staying, investigators found two safes to which Walker provided the combination. Inside one safe, police found fentanyl, cocaine, more methamphetamine, two guns, ammunition, and other hallmarks of the drug trafficking trade, including baggies and a digital scale. They found a third gun inside the other safe. The following photographs show only some of the evidence recovered:
“Walker was a large-scale drug trafficker whose crimes ravaged a community that has already been deeply affected by drug and gun violence,” said United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office is committed to working with our state and local partners to take these dangerous criminals off the street and help bring safety and stability to our communities.”
“Criminals who make the choice to profit from poisoning our communities and use deadly weapons as part of their criminality, create an even greater threat to this country. This sentence is a reflection of the seriousness of those actions. We are committed to safeguarding American lives by targeting these individuals and organizations and ensuring that west Michigan communities remain safe places to live, work, attend school and raise families.” said DEA Detroit Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon.
“The success of this investigation is a testament to the strength of collaboration between the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, DEA, and ATF. By combining local proactive investigative efforts with federal resources, this partnership dismantled a major drug trafficking operation and secured the successful prosecution of a large-scale drug dealer, resulting in a lengthy prison sentence. Together, we remain committed to holding those who poison our communities and illegally possess firearms accountable and making our neighborhoods safer.”
The Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET), a division of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Carowan prosecuted it on behalf of the United States.
Justice Department Finds Duke Law School Discriminates Based on Race in AdmissionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today investigative findings that Duke University School of Law (Duke Law) intentionally discriminated based on race in granting and denying admission to its 2023, 2024, and 2025 incoming classes. Duke Law’s discriminatory conduct violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which banned race discrimination in higher education.
“Duke Law School doesn’t get a free pass to discriminate against white and Asian students simply because it thinks it has good intentions,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Using ‘diversity’ essay questions to identify preferred races for admission is still illegal discrimination based on race, and this Department is committed to eliminating it everywhere we find it, including in our nation’s law schools.”
The Department’s investigation found that post-SFFA, Duke Law emphasized racial diversity in admissions and engaged in a deliberate effort to preserve race-based outcomes for its incoming classes. Duke Law revised its Mission Statement to express its goal to “help build and sustain a dynamic legal profession that embodies a commitment” to a number of stated values, such as equal justice, public service, and a “diversity of perspective and experience.” Duke Law’s application included short answer essay questions, which allowed candidates to discuss how they would further Duke Law’s mission. Admissions reviewers were then instructed to “tag” responses to these short answer questions. To capture answers related to “diversity of perspective and experience” reviewers used the “Diversity/Services” tag. Reviewers were also instructed to use tags to capture specific applicant characteristics that are commonly correlated with race, such as being a Pell grant recipient. Thus, while Duke Law’s published policies assert that admissions reviewers did not see racial demographic data, Duke Law directed its admissions staff to highlight applicant information that could be used to advance Duke Law’s racial diversity goals.
As a result, a black or Hispanic applicant has a substantially higher likelihood of admission to Duke Law than a white or Asian applicant with the same academic credentials. When qualifications are not similar, the result is starker: in 2024 and 2025, the median LSAT scores of rejected white and Asian applicants exceeded the median LSAT scores of admitted black applicants.
As recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to monitor and ensure their compliance with Title VI and SFFA’s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school’s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit.
Note: Read the Department’s Findings Letter here.
Justice Department Files Complaint to Stop Nevada Firm from Manufacturing and Selling Adulterated and Misbranded Dental ProductsRead the Press Release
The United States filed a complaint today seeking to permanently enjoin a Nevada-based medical device manufacturer from manufacturing and selling adulterated and misbranded products.
In a civil complaint for permanent injunction filed on Aug. 6, the United States alleges that Gregory S. Steiner and Roslynn L. Steiner (the Steiners), and their company, Steiner Biotechnology LLC., violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by failing to comply with current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) and Quality System (QS) requirements and by selling or holding for sale dental products, including synthetic bone grafting materials and dental cement, that are adulterated. Some of the Steiners’ devices are also adulterated and misbranded for failing to submit premarket applications or adequate premarket notices for their devices.
“Today’s action reflects the Department of Justice’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding patients and maintaining accountability within the medical device industry,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When medical device manufacturers fail to meet their obligations under federal law, we will take appropriate steps to ensure patient safety.”
“Patients deserve confidence that the medical devices they rely on are safe and effective, said Michelle Tarver, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “The FDA is committed to holding manufacturers accountable when they fail to meet federal requirements and will continue working to safeguard patients and protect the public health.”
The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, alleges FDA investigators inspected Steiner Biotechnology’s facility at least four times from 2018 to 2025 and observed repeated violations of CGMP and QS requirements, such as failing to: establish and maintain adequate procedures to control the design of the device; adequately validate processes according to established procedures; establish and maintain adequate procedures for validating the device design, including risk analysis; establish and maintain procedures to adequately control environmental conditions; adequately maintain and implement procedures to fully investigate the cause of nonconformities relating to product, processes, and the quality system; identify the action(s) needed to correct and prevent recurrence of nonconforming product and other quality problems; verify or validate the corrective and preventive action to ensure that such action is effective and does not adversely affect the finished device; and to submit relevant information on identified quality problems, as well as corrective and preventive actions, for management review.
FDA also repeatedly warned the Steiners that their company was distributing Class III medical devices for which they do not have an approved premarket application, a cleared premarket notification submission, or an effective investigational device exemption. Despite numerous warnings from FDA over the past seven years and the Steiners’ repeated promises, the Steiners continue to violate the FDCA.
According to the complaint, Steiner Biotechnology’s dental products are sold throughout the country. The government’s lawsuit seeks injunctive relief requiring the Steiners to implement sanitation and process improvements and to comply with the FDCA’s requirements before manufacturing or distributing any additional dental products.
Trial Attorney Kyu Yun Kim of the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch is handling the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia T. Tomova for the District of Nevada, and Associate Chief Counsel Leah A. Edelman in FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.
Additional information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch.
The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence.
Jury finds Columbus man guilty of drug crime within Marietta school zone, firearms crimesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted Stephen Sullens, 29, of Columbus, on all counts as charged, finding him guilty of three drug and gun crimes.
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Aug. 4 before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on July 18, 2024, Sullens possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Saint Mary’s Catholic School. Marietta police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Sullens was in the vehicle in an alley behind a residence on 5th Street. When officers encountered the vehicle and its occupants, a police canine alerted, and officers discovered fentanyl and a pistol with a loaded magazine.
As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Sullens was originally indicted in this case in June 2025. He was convicted of three counts as charged in a superseding indictment in July 2026.
Sullens faces at least six years and up to life in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden; and officials with the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are representing the United States in this case.
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Jamestown man sentenced on multiple drug chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jun N. Martinez, 33, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl; 400 grams or more of fentanyl; 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to time served (approximately 70 months) by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
During the conspiracy, Martinez received several large packages of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin via mail from an out of state source. He also provided large quantities of crystal methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl to an individual known to law enforcement, who then sold the drugs to others for profit. The individual then provided additional funds to Martinez for more narcotics. During a trip in September 2020, to acquire more narcotics, Martinez’s vehicle was stopped by an Illinois State Police Trooper. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 9,589 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products. In October 2020, during the execution of a search warrant at Martinez’s Wescott Street residence, investigators recovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a drug ledger and approximately $62,000.
This case was 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 United States 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Scott Forster, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana, New York Field Division.
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Jamestown man charged with fentanyl and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, NY — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Dasai Bradberry, 24, of Jamestown, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life.
According to the complaint, on August 4, 2025, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a Bush Street residence associated with Bradberry. During the search, investigators recovered a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, approximately 22 grams of suspected fentanyl, Oxycodone pills, $1,303.00 in cash, and drug paraphernalia.
Bradberry made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained pending trial.
This is HSTF. This case 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 United States 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Jamaican National Sentenced for Role in Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly VictimsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Jamaican national residing in Georgia has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a nationwide sweepstakes fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims.
Owen Demoy Byfield, 33, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 24 months imprisonment, ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution, and received a judicial order of removal, allowing for his deportation once he completes his sentence.
Byfield pleaded guilty on January 13, 2026, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, between March 2022 and October 2024, Byfield and his co‑conspirators operated a sweepstakes scam that falsely claimed victims had won large cash prizes. Elderly victims across the United States, including Rhode Island, were contacted through mailings, commercial carriers, phone calls, text messages, and other communications and were instructed to send money or grant access to their financial accounts to obtain their supposed winnings.
The conspirators used fictitious names and directed victims to speak with individuals posing as “prize representatives.” Victims were told they needed to pay taxes, fees, or other costs, or risk being removed from a fabricated “winner list.” In one instance, Byfield used approximately $171,635 of fraudulent proceeds to make a down payment on a residence in Georgia.
“Byfield helped run a scheme that preyed on older Americans and stole from some of the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “When criminals target elderly victims, hide behind fake identities, and move fraud proceeds through complex channels, federal prosecution is not just appropriate — it is necessary. This office will continue to pursue and disrupt schemes that exploit seniors for profit.”
“Byfield and his co-conspirators hooked their victims by offering them the dream of a life-changing sweepstakes prize before extracting hundreds of thousands of dollars from them for fake ‘fees’ and ‘taxes’ that were swiftly laundered before victims could even realize they’d been scammed,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “After HSI’s investigation with our law enforcement partners, Byfield is not only facing federal prison time, he will be removed from the United States. Exploitation of vulnerable members of our community can’t be tolerated, and we’ll use all tools at our disposal to seek justice for victims.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Warwick Police Department.
More information about the Department’s efforts to support older Americans is available through the Elder Justice Initiative. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877‑FTC‑HELP. Additional resources for elder fraud victims are available through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov
Interim Jackson County Executive Philip LeVota Indicted for BriberyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Interim Jackson County Executive has been indicted by a federal grand jury for engaging in a bribery scheme related to the 2026 election for Jackson County Executive.
Philip LeVota, 61, was charged in a five-count sealed indictment on July 16, 2026, by a federal grand jury sitting in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment was unsealed today upon LeVota’s initial court appearance. LeVota is charged with honest services fraud, federal program bribery, Travel Act violations, and making a false statement to federal law enforcement agents.
As alleged in the indictment, from March 16, 2026, to March 31, 2026, LeVota took multiple actions aimed at inducing a specific candidate to abandon the 2026 election for Jackson County Executive. As part of the scheme, LeVota entered into an agreement for the candidate to abandon the election in exchange for the candidate and a colleague of the candidate receiving full-time positions in the government of Jackson County. When approached by federal law enforcement agents on April 6, 2026, LeVota made false statements related to the agreement.
“The allegations contained in the indictment are incredibly serious and should send a clear warning to any officeholders who violate their oath. My office will aggressively pursue all allegations of public corruption and will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold wrongdoers accountable. Bottom line, the citizens in the Western District deserve to have faith in their public officials, whether elected or appointed.” said United States Attorney Matthew Price.
“The citizens of Jackson County deserve honesty, transparency, accountability, and integrity from those entrusted with public office. Today’s indictment announcement alleges serious breaches of those principles and represents a significant moment for our community.” said Chris Ormeord, FBI Kansas City- Special Agent in Charge. “Public trust is the foundation of an effective government. Citizens must have confidence that public officials will uphold the law and serve the public interest above all else.”
The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsels Patrick D. Daly and Nicholas P. Heberle and Assistant United States Attorney J. Benton Hurst. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Attached is a copy of the indictment:
levota_indictment.pdfIllinois Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Shaquille Strauther, 33 years old, of Sauk Village, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Strauther was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
“A convicted felon and parolee will spend the next three years in prison after being caught with a stolen gun. On February 26, 2026, Shaquille Strauther illegally possessed a loaded .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol in his waist during a traffic stop in Schererville, Indiana. At the time he possessed the firearm, which had previously been reported stolen, Strauther was on parole following a prior felony conviction for home invasion with a firearm. Thanks to the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the case was able to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dean R. Lanter. The Defendant has been incarcerated, the gun was recovered, and our community and nation is safer,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Illinois Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Failing to Pay Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 30, 2026, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller sentenced George Dilles (age 55) of Inverness, Illinois, to 15 months in prison. Dilles had pled guilty to one count of failure to truthfully account for and pay employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7202.
According to court records, Dilles was the president and part-owner of NG Enterprises, Inc. (d.b.a. Visiting Angels), a company that provided elderly home personal care in the Milwaukee area and employed from 50 to 110 workers. Dilles was required to withhold federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes from his employees’ wages, hold those amounts in trust, and pay them over to the IRS. Additionally, he was responsible for filing quarterly tax returns (Forms 941) reporting those amounts to the IRS, and for paying the employer’s matching portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
For 17 quarters from 2019 through 2023, Dilles willfully failed to file employment tax returns and pay over taxes to the IRS of more than $1.2 million. Dilles used some of the funds on personal expenses, including mortgage payments and purchases of a Maserati and a McLaren. He also used employment tax returns, which he had not filed with the IRS, to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program loan in the amount of $312,500.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Stadtmueller emphasized the serious nature of Dilles’ conduct, the substantial loss to the IRS, and the need to provide adequate deterrence to others who might engage in similar conduct. He also ordered Dilles to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release.
“This was not a mistake or oversight. The defendant was alerted by his accounting firm repeatedly that he needed to submit these tax payments but ignored the warnings and used the money to finance a luxurious lifestyle,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “As Judge Stadtmueller observed, there is an important message sent by this prison sentence that hopefully will deter others from considering engaging in illegal conduct such as this.”
“Failure to pay over withheld payroll taxes is a serious criminal offense because it harms employees by jeopardizing their Social Security and Medicare benefits,” said Adam Jobes Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office. “Employers have a clear duty to withhold these taxes and remit them to the IRS, and IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to pursue anyone who collects these funds and fails to pay them over.”
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Scully prosecuted.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.
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For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Illegal immigrant from Honduras pleads guilty to reentering the country and stealing the identity of a U.S. citizenRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An illegal immigrant from Honduras pled guilty today to aggravated identity theft and reentering the United States following a previous removal. Carlos Alexis Chavez-Paz was sentenced to two years and one day in prison and remains subject to the previous order of removal.
According to court documents, Chavez-Paz has illegally entered or reentered the United States four times and has been deported on three previous occasions.
On Jan. 10, 2025, at a DMV customer service center in Stafford County, Carlos Alexis Chavez-Paz presented an authentic Kentucky driver’s license bearing a picture that appeared to be Chavez-Paz, but with the name of another person. Chavez-Paz also presented a counterfeit Puerto Rican birth certificate, a counterfeit Social Security card, and mail in the in the identity theft victim’s name. The Social Security card contained the victim’s Social Security number. He presented the documents in support of an application for a Virginia driver’s license in the victim’s name in an effort to evade detection by immigration authorities.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Eitzen 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-CR-100.
Illegal alien living in Dallas sentenced to 13 years in federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jose Romero-Sanchez, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 6, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Romero-Sanchez, a Mexican national illegally living in Dallas, was part of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine imported from Mexico into Dallas and the North Texas area. Romero-Sanchez received 40-45 kilograms of methamphetamine from his source in Mexico at a time. Romero-Sanchez stored the illegal drugs at his Dallas residence before distributing the drugs in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere. A search of Romero-Sanchez’s residence resulted in the seizure of over 49 kilograms of methamphetamine, a digital scale, bulk U.S. currency, a drug ledger, and a bill counter.
This case 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 United States 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 Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Delivers Federal Jury Conviction of Pensacola Armed Drug TraffickerRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Jovon “Playa Pat” Booker, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was convicted by a jury in federal court on one count of discharging a handgun in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and a separate count of possessing firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Prior to the jury being selected in Pensacola, Booker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and five counts of money laundering through high end jewelry purchases. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the convictions.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the unified commitment of our state and federal law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe by ridding our streets of a violent, drug peddling thug. Thanks to the aggressive prosecution by my office and outstanding trial work by my prosecutors, his reign of terror has come to an end and he’ll spend his days locked behind federal bars where he belongs.”
At trial, the jury received evidence that Booker ran a multi-million dollar interstate drug trafficking network wherein he transported hundreds of kilograms of highly potent marijuana from the Seattle area into Pensacola, Florida, between 2020 – 2025. Booker used the proceeds of his crimes to purchase vehicles, such as a Lamborghini Urus, as well as diamond encrusted jewelry and Cartier and Patek Philippe watches. The jury heard evidence that Booker did not report a single dollar of legitimate income to the government during this timeframe. During the course of his drug trafficking conspiracy, on May 12, 2024, at the Paparazzi Bistro & Lounge in Pensacola, Booker shot one of his own co-conspirators at point-blank range in an attempt to murder him over a drug debt owed to Booker. At a later date, in July 2025, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a federal search warrant at Booker’s residence and located a loaded assault rifle he possessed to protect all the controlled substances in the house. The jury received all of this evidence and found Booker guilty as charged.
Booker is scheduled for sentencing before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on November 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Booker faces and mandatory minimum 20 years up to life imprisonment on the charges. In addition, law enforcement seized over $500,000 of jewelry, vehicles, firearms, and United States currency from Booker that will all be forfeited to the government.
The case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pensacola Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Thomas Geeker.
This prosecution 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 United States 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 comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
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.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Attacking ICE OfficerRead the Press Release
Enrique Lopez-Mejia injured the officer attempting to arrest him following his eighth illegal reentry into the United States
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Enrique Lopez-Mejia, 41, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou to 24 months in prison for assaulting and resisting a United States Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officer.
The assault occurred when immigration agents attempted to stop a vehicle occupied by Lopez-Mejia and other illegal aliens. He attempted to evade officers by driving erratically, stopping abruptly, then fleeing from his car in Grand Rapids. When caught, Lopez-Mejia pushed an officer to the ground and wrestled with him until other officers succeeded in handcuffing him and securing him in their patrol car. The defendant injured an officer’s knee during the confrontation, which required medical treatment.
Lopez-Mejia is illegally in the United States for the eighth time, after having been ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2005 and being deported seven times between 2005 and 2016. After the completion of his sentence, he will again be removed to his native Guatemala.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “This case deserves our attention because it is an example of the dangerous work we ask our immigration officers to do every day. Lopez-Mejia has been removed from the United States seven times since 2000. He has been convicted numerous times for illegally re-entering the United States, and for committing state offenses once he got here. He is already subject to a lifetime ban from this country. This time, when he was found here yet again, he attacked and injured one of the officers who was trying to apprehend him. My office fully supports the important and dangerous work our immigration officers are asked to do and will always vigorously prosecute attacks like this one.”
“ICE officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to uphold our nation’s immigration laws and protect our communities,” said ICE ERO Detroit Field Office Director Matthew Putra. “This sentencing sends a clear message that individuals who assault federal officers will be held accountable. I commend our officers and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan for their work in bringing this case to justice.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations - Grand Rapids investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Daniels prosecuted it.
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.
Four Managers and Supervisors of Illinois Mine Indicted for Failing to Evacuate Miners During Underground Fire, Conspiracy to Obstruct Investigators, and Falsifying RecordsRead the Press Release
Ronald Dale Koontz, 69, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Demitrios George Macropoulos, 38, of Buckeye, Arizona, Randy L. Nowland, 67, of Waltonville, Illinois, and Cory Taylor Humphrey, 37, of Prospect, Kentucky, have been charged with multiple crimes related to an underground fire that occurred in the MC#1 Mine in Franklin County, Illinois, in August 2021.
The indictment returned Tuesday charges Koontz, Macropoulos, Nowland, and Humphrey with conspiring to defraud the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by concealing the fire and other hazards at the mine and taking steps to interfere with MSHA’s investigation of the fire and administration of safety-related orders in the aftermath of the fire. The Indictment charges the defendants with keeping miners underground and continuing to mine coal for all or portions of three shifts while unsuccessfully fighting a fire. The defendants are charged with failing to evacuate the mine and notify MSHA as required by mandatory safety standards under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (the Mine Act). Nowland and Humphrey are also charged under the Mine Act with falsification of records required to document mine hazards. Koontz and Macropoulos are charged with obstruction of an MSHA proceeding for entering the mine in violation of an MSHA safety order withdrawing miners from the mine. Koontz is further charged with obstruction for directing another supervisor to delete a record reflecting a telephone call he made. A fifth conspirator and former mine manager, Brandon Timothy Parsons, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud MSHA on Aug. 28, 2025 in a related criminal proceeding filed in August 2025.
“As Congress has long recognized, a strong, productive coal industry depends on miners who feel safe and trust that their leaders are not putting them at unnecessary risk,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division. “Supporting MSHA’s work to protect coal miners is an important part of ENRD’s mission.”
“When people in positions of authority conceal deadly conditions and then cover up their actions, they put lives at risk and prevent federal authorities from doing the job the law requires them to do. That kind of obstruction is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois. “These charges hold accountable those who chose to protect the company’s financial interests over the safety of the people they are obligated to protect.”
As alleged in the Indictment, in August 2021, Koontz was the general manager of a company that provided oversight and services to the corporate operator of the MC#1 Mine. Macropoulos was the mine superintendent of the MC#1 Mine and Nowland and Humphrey were shift mine managers. On or about the afternoon of Aug. 13, 2021, an underground fire was ignited while mine personnel used cutting torches to cut collapsed steel beams in the mine. According to the Indictment, when the fire could not be extinguished within 10 minutes, rather than implementing the approved Mine Emergency Evacuation and Firefighting Plan, the defendants, and their co-conspirator Parsons, allegedly agreed that they would not evacuate miners or notify MSHA. Instead, the defendants are alleged to have directed coal mining to continue during ad hoc firefighting efforts through the morning of Aug. 14. Nowland and Humphrey are charged with signing records of required mine examinations, falsely certifying that no hazardous conditions existed in the mine.
On August 14th, Parsons tried to conceal the existence of the fire from those not already aware of it by evacuating the mine of hourly employees on the false pretense that a belt used to carry coal from underground to the surface was broken. Members of the conspiracy, including Koontz, Macropoulos, and Parsons, are alleged to have then gone underground to continue their attempts to fight the fire.
Later that morning, MSHA received an anonymous tip about the fire and, by that afternoon, ordered that the mine be evacuated after inspectors confirmed the existence of the fire. Despite the evacuation order, over the next several days, it is alleged that conspirators re-entered the mine in violation of MSHA’s order on two occasions to assess the fire and manipulate the conditions underground to fool underground gas detectors so that MSHA would allow mining to resume. When MSHA began collecting portable gas detectors worn by miners during the fire as part of its investigation, a member of the conspiracy allegedly encouraged another co-conspirator to get rid of the portable gas detector he had worn. That co-conspirator concealed his portable gas detector away from the mine.
If convicted, the defendants each face possible incarceration. If found guilty, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, Special Agent in Charge of the DOL-OIG Great Lakes Region Megan Howell, Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley of the FBI Springfield Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Lana N. Pettus of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin F. Burke for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Managers and Supervisors of Franklin County Mine Indicted for Failing to Evacuate Miners During Underground Fire, Conspiracy to Obstruct Investigators, and Falsifying RecordsRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Ronald Dale Koontz, 69, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Demitrios George Macropoulos, 38, of Buckeye, Arizona, Randy L. Nowland, 67, of Waltonville, Illinois, and Cory Taylor Humphrey, 37, of Prospect, Kentucky, have been charged with multiple crimes related to an underground fire that occurred in the MC#1 Mine in Franklin County, Illinois, in August 2021.
The indictment returned Tuesday charges Koontz, Macropoulos, Nowland, and Humphrey with conspiring to defraud the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by concealing the fire and other hazards at the mine and taking steps to interfere with MSHA’s investigation of the fire and administration of safety-related orders in the aftermath of the fire. The Indictment charges the defendants with keeping miners underground and continuing to mine coal for all or portions of three shifts while unsuccessfully fighting a fire. The defendants are charged with failing to evacuate the mine and notify MSHA as required by mandatory safety standards under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (the Mine Act). Nowland and Humphrey are also charged under the Mine Act with falsification of records required to document mine hazards. Koontz and Macropoulos are charged with obstruction of an MSHA proceeding for entering the mine in violation of an MSHA safety order withdrawing miners from the mine. Koontz is further charged with obstruction for directing another supervisor to delete a record reflecting a telephone call he made. A fifth conspirator and former mine manager, Brandon Timothy Parsons, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud MSHA on Aug. 28, 2025 in a related criminal proceeding filed in August 2025.
“As Congress has long recognized, a strong, productive coal industry depends on miners who feel safe and trust that their leaders are not putting them at unnecessary risk,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division. “Supporting MSHA’s work to protect coal miners is an important part of ENRD’s mission.”
“When people in positions of authority conceal deadly conditions and then cover up their actions, they put lives at risk and prevent federal authorities from doing the job the law requires them to do. That kind of obstruction is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “These charges hold accountable those who chose to protect the company’s financial interests over the safety of the people they are obligated to protect.”
As alleged in the Indictment, in August 2021, Koontz was the general manager of a company that provided oversight and services to the corporate operator of the MC#1 Mine. Macropoulos was the mine superintendent of the MC#1 Mine and Nowland and Humphrey were shift mine managers. On or about the afternoon of Aug. 13, 2021, an underground fire was ignited while mine personnel used cutting torches to cut collapsed steel beams in the mine. According to the Indictment, when the fire could not be extinguished within 10 minutes, rather than implementing the approved Mine Emergency Evacuation and Firefighting Plan, the defendants, and their co-conspirator Parsons, allegedly agreed that they would not evacuate miners or notify MSHA. Instead, the defendants are alleged to have directed coal mining to continue during ad hoc firefighting efforts through the morning of Aug. 14. Nowland and Humphrey are charged with signing records of required mine examinations, falsely certifying that no hazardous conditions existed in the mine.
On August 14th, Parsons tried to conceal the existence of the fire from those not already aware of it by evacuating the mine of hourly employees on the false pretense that a belt used to carry coal from underground to the surface was broken. Members of the conspiracy, including Koontz, Macropoulos, and Parsons, are alleged to have then gone underground to continue their attempts to fight the fire.
Later that morning, MSHA received an anonymous tip about the fire and, by that afternoon, ordered that the mine be evacuated after inspectors confirmed the existence of the fire. Despite the evacuation order, over the next several days, it is alleged that conspirators re-entered the mine in violation of MSHA’s order on two occasions to assess the fire and manipulate the conditions underground to fool underground gas detectors so that MSHA would allow mining to resume. When MSHA began collecting portable gas detectors worn by miners during the fire as part of its investigation, a member of the conspiracy allegedly encouraged another co-conspirator to get rid of the portable gas detector he had worn. That co-conspirator concealed his portable gas detector away from the mine.
If convicted, the defendants each face possible incarceration. If found guilty, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, Special Agent in Charge of the DOL-OIG Great Lakes Region Megan Howell, Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley of the FBI Springfield Field Office made the announcement.
The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Lana N. Pettus of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin F. Burke for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Four Georgia Men Sentenced for $17 Million Pandemic-Relief FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Four Georgia men who conspired to defraud taxpayers by unlawfully claiming millions in pandemic relief funds designed to help small businesses and workers have been sentenced to prison following a National Fraud Enforcement Division investigation that stemmed from Operation Sweet Silence, a major organized crime takedown in Columbus.
“Stopping fraud and protecting taxpayer resources is a central mission for this office and DOJ,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This multimillion-dollar pandemic fraud was uncovered during Operation Sweet Silence, a coordinated law enforcement effort that dismantled a major criminal gang in Columbus. With our law enforcement partners, we will pursue every lead wherever it goes to ensure justice and safeguard the public.”
"This scheme attempted to steal nearly $17.5 million from programs meant to help struggling workers and small businesses survive the pandemic—not bankroll luxury purchases and personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta Marlo Graham. “The FBI will aggressively pursue anyone who exploits national emergencies for profit."
“These defendants took COVID relief funds meant for businesses working to keep employees on payroll,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our federal partners are actively investigating and will continue to hold accountable those who defrauded these programs at a time when the country was most in need of economic relief. Protecting taxpayer funds remains a top priority.”
Christopher Upshaw, aka “Troub,” 26, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $411,112.21 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury. Upshaw pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on Feb. 4.
Johnathon Swift, aka “JB,” aka “John Boy,” 34, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $417,095.56 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury. Swift previously pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on Jan. 21.
Dontavis Williams, aka “Turk,” 41, was sentenced to serve 115 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $156,531.74 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury. Williams pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on Jan. 21.
Donterious Sparks, 37, was sentenced to serve 41 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $311,072.55 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury. Sparks previously pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud on Jan. 21.
U.S. District Judge Clay Land sentenced the defendants on Aug. 5. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, law enforcement first noticed unusually large IRS deposits into the bank accounts of Tommie Mullins, 32, of Columbus, as part of Operation Sweet Silence, a broader organized crime investigation. Almost simultaneously, court-ordered wiretaps captured Mullins discussing a 20% cut from a fraudulent Employee Retention Credit (ERC) scheme. Law enforcement consulted with IRS agents and opened a formal investigation into the pandemic tax fraud. The ERC was a tax credit created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage businesses to keep people employed. To learn more about Operation Sweet Silence, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/op-sweet-silence-ends-zohannon-gang-seizes-guns-and-drugs-columbus
Upshaw registered DOPE! Apparel, LLC with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office on June 26, 2022. As part of the scheme, Upshaw filed five falsified returns on April 29, 2023, using this business to fraudulently claim COVID-related tax credits, including credits to assist employers with the cost of keeping staff employed and to assist with the cost of employers providing paid sick and family leave wages to employees for COVID-related leave. As a result of these falsified returns, the IRS issued five refunds to Upshaw’s business: $65,990.85, $109,680.76, $64,945.17, $65,328.07, and $105,167.36, totaling $411,112.21. Investigators discovered Upshaw did not have any W-2s filed from 2019 through 2023; there was also no record of Upshaw filing any tax returns for 2019, 2020, 2022, or 2023, despite claiming COVID-related tax credits for 2022.
In addition, the Georgia Department of Labor records revealed Upshaw did not file Georgia individual income tax returns for 2020 and 2022 through 2023, nor did the agency have any records whatsoever for Dope! Apparel, LLC, or that Upshaw’s company employed any staff or paid any of the qualified wages or sick and family leave wages that were claimed on the Form 941 returns. Upshaw cashed the checks and used some of the money to purchase a luxury vehicle.
Swift, Williams, and Sparks similarly filed falsified tax returns, fraudulently claiming they were entitled to COVID tax credits: Swift obtained $417,095.56; Williams obtained $156,531.74; and Sparks obtained $311,072.55. All three co-defendants used LLCs registered to their names to file false tax returns claiming COVID tax credits they were not entitled to. The four co-defendants received a combined 16 checks totaling $1,295,812.06. The checks were deposited into bank accounts controlled by the defendants or cashed. The total attempted loss was $2,250,423.67.
The defendants also recruited others to participate in this scheme. In exchange for a percentage of the refund, the defendants would electronically file returns on behalf of others. They also assisted some people with establishing a limited liability company and obtaining an EIN. The defendants submitted over 150 Form 941 returns on behalf of others, resulting in an additional total combined attempted and actual loss amount of $15,239,326.17. The total combined attempted and actual loss to federal taxpayers was $17,489,749.80.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.
The FBI and the IRS investigated the case.
Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis prosecuted the case for the Government.
Founder of Cryptocurrency Financial Services Firm “MyTrade” Sentenced for Market Manipulation and Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The founder and primary operator of “MyTrade,” a financial services firm known in the cryptocurrency industry as a “market maker,” was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to manipulate cryptocurrency markets on behalf of client cryptocurrency companies.
Liu Zhou, 41, a Canadian citizen and Chinese national, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to pay a fine of $10,000. In October 2024, Zhou was charged along with 17 co-conspirators and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud.
MyTrade provided financial services to cryptocurrency clients through its “MyTrade MM” website and online application. Those services included the wash trading of client cryptocurrencies across multiple cryptocurrency exchanges. Wash trading occurs when a single trader, or a number of traders working in coordination, buy and sell the same asset repeatedly in order to mislead the market by artificially inflating the trading volume or price of the asset via trades that have no lawful commercial purpose. Wash trading is a form of fraud intended to stimulate interest in an asset. MyTrade MM’s clients had access to a dashboard available through MyTrade MM’s website that allowed clients to specify the desired amount of daily wash trades, a service described as “Volume Support,” on identified cryptocurrency exchanges. MyTrade MM used computer programs known as “bots” to generate the fraudulent wash trades for clients.
MyTrade MM’s unlawful wash trading service was identified through an undercover law enforcement operation which included the creation of NexFundAI, a purported cryptocurrency company that had a website ((https://nexfundai.com) and an Ethereum-based token that traded on the Uniswap cryptocurrency exchange before being disabled by law enforcement.
In discussions with purported NexFundAI promoters, Zhou described how MyTrade MM “does self-trades - a buy and a sell in the same second,” and that its volume bot can be used to execute “pump and dumps.” Zhou also described the “objective” as finding “other buyers from the community, people you don’t know about or don’t care about” because “we have to make [the other buyers] lose money in order to make profit.” As of Oct. 1, 2024, MyTrade MM was providing the “volume support” function, which consisted of wash trades made by trading bots, to dozens of clients.
As part of Zhou’s plea in October 2024, MyTrade MM was required to cease providing “Volume Support” services and to permanently deactivate its wash trading bots, which had been responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of daily wash trades for approximately 60 different cryptocurrencies. MyTrade MM was also required to add the following disclaimer to its website: “Volume support is a form of wash trading and illegal under the laws of the United States.”
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. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 150 Months in Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Antonio Kelly, 43 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Kelly was sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
“A convicted felon chose to possess a firearm on October 13th, 2024, and will spend 12 and a half years in prison and 3 years on supervised release as a result of his choices. The Defendant’s criminal history included felonies for Resisting Law Enforcement and Possession of Methamphetamine. Thanks to the cooperation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Fort Wayne Police Department, the case was brought by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Adam Mildred.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fort Myers Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Enticing Minors to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Receiving, Possessing and Accessing Child Sexual Abuse Images and VideosRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – Michael Lawrence Milewski (32, Fort Myers) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek to 30 years in federal prison for enticing minors to engage in sexual activity, receiving and possessing images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, and transferring obscene matter to a minor. Milewski was also sentenced to a term of life of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Milewski had entered a plea of guilty on April 30, 2026.
According to court documents, from December 2024, through February 2025, Milewski used a social media application to persuade, induce, and entice minors to engage in sexual activity for which Milewski could have been charged with a criminal offense of sexual performance by a child or production of child pornography.
In June 2025, law enforcement launched an investigation into Milewski, after a minor disclosed that she had been communicating with an adult online who had requested images and videos of her engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Milewski’s social media account records revealed messages that were sexual in nature and that Milewski had engaged in with several minors, and images and videos depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that Milewski requested and received from the minors.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and with assistance from the Cape Coral Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.
This 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 and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Sisseton-Wahpeton Housing Officials Plead Guilty to EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Eric Shepherd, age 53, of Wilmot, South Dakota, and Olivia Locke, age 60, of Sisseton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on August 3, 2026, and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
Shepherd was the executive director of the Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority (SWHA) between September 2019 and July 2025. Locke was the chief financial officer. During that time, Locke and Shepherd issued and cashed over $3,500,000 in unauthorized SWHA checks for their personal enrichment.
“Stealing from the government is stealing from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our federal prosecutors are dedicated to ensuring that criminals like these are caught and sentenced to federal prison, so it becomes abundantly clear that crime does not pay.”
“Olivia Locke and Eric Shepherd abused their positions of trust by engaging in multiple fraud schemes and stealing more than $3.5 million in federal funds intended to serve some of the community’s most vulnerable residents,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “This is not an isolated act of misconduct but a deliberate effort that diverted millions of dollars in critical resources designed to assist those most in need. HUD OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable individuals who misuse public funds and exploit positions of trust for personal gain.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for November 9, 2026. The defendants were detained pending sentencing.