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Monday 24 August 2026
St. Louis Bar Co-Owner Admits FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The co-owner of a St. Louis bar on Monday admitted obtaining a credit card in the name of one of his co-owners and using it to charge nearly $30,000.
Anthony Saputo, 44, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of engaging in illegal transactions with an access device. Saputo admitted that on Sept. 9, 2021, while another of the bar’s co-owners was out of the country, he applied for and obtained an American Express card by using her name and Social Security number without her knowledge or authorization. In the next two months, Saputo charged nearly $30,000 on the card, including a $3,000 cash advance that he used to pay his rent and car loan. Some of the charges were also business expenses related to the opening of the bar. Saputo failed to pay the balance, incurring significant penalties and interest.
Saputo, of St. Louis County, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to release any ownership interest in the LLC that owns the bar. He will also be ordered to pay restitution.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.
Southern District of Georgia federal indictments include murder, drug- and firearm-related charges and healthcare fraudRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple individuals have been indicted by the August term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for a host of charges.
Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include:
- Robert Kye Sturdy, 67, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute – Jesup, was indicted for First Degree Murder.
- Lenard Lorenzo Kearse, 38, of Rincon, Georgia, was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, and Carrying a Firearm during and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; and,
- Perry Patalano, 63, of Augusta, was indicted for Healthcare Fraud, Theft of Government Money, Property or Records, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Prisons-Criminal Investigations Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Matthew Breedon, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl I. Knoche.
Shiprock Man Sentenced for Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for an assault that left a victim with life-threatening injuries.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben, Jr., 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted his ex-girlfriend while he was intoxicated. Officers detained Ben at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital and received treatment for critical injuries, including a hematoma, an orbital fracture, nasal fractures, multiple broken ribs, and lung damage that necessitated the use of a ventilator. She was transferred to an intensive care unit in Albuquerque for further treatment.
Ben pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury of a dating partner. Upon his release from prison, Ben will be subject to three years of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky prosecuted the case.
Romanian National Illegally in the United States Makes Initial Appearance for Identity TheftRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Romanian national, illegally present in the United States, made his initial appearance in court Friday after a grand jury charged him for allegedly using a counterfeit foreign passport and other documents as part of a fraud scheme to steal money from American victims.
“We will not allow fraudsters to hide behind computer screens and stolen credentials,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Law enforcement will continue to track down and prosecute those who compromise the financial security of innocent citizens.”
“Identity-based fraud schemes are not harmless paperwork crimes, they are calculated efforts to hide behind false documents, deceive victims and steal their money,” said Jonathan Sherwin, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for HSI Las Vegas. “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI Las Vegas and our partners are bringing the full weight of law enforcement to bear against individuals who use counterfeit identities and online scams to target victims in the United States.”
According to court documents, on February 26, 2026, Eustatiu Brat, also known as “Bosko Obradovic,” allegedly possessed and used a counterfeit Canadian passport and Quebec driver’s license. He allegedly used the counterfeit passport as part of a larger scheme to advertise vehicles for sale online and to swindle victims of their money.
Brat is charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. A jury trial is scheduled to begin October 19, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. If convicted, the statutory penalty is a mandatory two-year period of imprisonment to be served consecutively to any other sentence.
This case was investigated by HSI. The case is being prosecuted by the District of Nevada.
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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers from the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and Nevada Gaming Control Board. with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Rochester man pleads guilty to receipt of child pornographyRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Rashad Rabah, 33, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
In August 2025, Rabah attempted to collect a package containing a large amount of fentanyl from the U.S. Postal Service Jefferson Road Processing and Distribution Center in Henrietta, NY, which was shipped from Arizona. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted the package and staged a controlled delivery to Rabah. At the time of the delivery, investigators collected Rabah’s cellular telephone. A preliminary search of the phone revealed Rabah’s involvement in illegal activity, including child pornography and child exploitation crimes involving minors in the Rochester area.
A subsequent analysis of Rabah’s phone and online accounts revealed that from at least April 2022, through August 7, 2025, he engaged in sexually explicit online and text conversations with a minor victim, a child in the Rochester area, during which Rabah solicited the minor victim to create and send to him sexually explicit images and videos. The investigation revealed that Rabah paid the minor to engage in this conduct and solicited other minors in the Rochester area. Rabah was also part of an online forum in a particular social media platform that was dedicated to the abuse and exploitation of minors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a future date.
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Ringleader of a Multi-State Bank Fraud Scheme Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Sumter County man has been sentenced for his role in a multi-state bank fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Eddarrius Tyjuan Wallace, 37, of York, Alabama, to 60 months in prison and a $25,000 fine. In May, Wallace pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.
“This type of fraud is a double problem: it steals money from the federal government and undermines the integrity of our banking system,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “My office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who steal from the government and manipulate the financial system for personal gain.”
“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit U.S Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain," said TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Joel Weaver. “TIGTA's mission is to protect the integrity of our nation's tax administration system. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
According to court documents, between June and September 2023, Wallace organized and managed a multi-state bank fraud conspiracy targeting the fraudulent deposit and withdrawal of United States Treasury checks. Wallace recruited and trained others to carry out his fraud scheme. In June 2023, the scheme was brought to the attention of law enforcement when a bank in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, reported that two U.S. Treasury checks with forged endorsements had been deposited. Over the course of the conspiracy, multiple fraudulent deposits and withdrawals were made in Alabama and Mississippi totaling over $1.8 million. During this time, Wallace was on bond for state offenses.
On September 19, 2023, officers with the Madison Police Department in Mississippi arrested Wallace and five others during a traffic stop. Wallace was the driver and had $11,969 of cash in his pocket. Officers searched the vehicle and found a fraudulent identification card, mail, and multiple bank debit cards with names that did not match any of the car’s occupants.
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.
The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the cases along with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Madison, Mississippi, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Repeat Offender Receives 15 Year Federal Sentence for Child Exploitation Offense and Supervision ViolationsRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Michael K. Wallace, 40, of Evansville, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Distribution of Sexually Explicit Material Involving Minors. Wallace was also ordered to pay $3,000 per identifiable child victim.
According to court documents, Wallace was previously convicted in August 2012 of felony possession and receipt of sexually explicit material involving minors and sentenced to federal prison. After his release in February 2025, he was required to register as a sex offender and report to the U.S. Probation Office for supervision.
On October 17, 2025, during a meeting with probation officers, Wallace was questioned about reports that sexually explicit videos of minors were being distributed from a residence he was known to frequent. Wallace admitted that he had taken a cell phone from a workplace trash can, kept it hidden in his dresser, and later used the unapproved device to access the internet from a nearby home. He used a VPN to conceal his IP address and location. Investigators determined that Wallace created an account on the social media app KIK and used it to distribute and receive sexually explicit images of minors.
Both the use of the internet and the possession of an unapproved device were violations of Wallace’s federal supervised release conditions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
“This defendant’s decision to seek out images depicting the horrific sexual abuse of children immediately after his release from federal prison is shocking, though not surprising. It demonstrates a reckless disregard for the laws designed to keep our communities safe from predators like him,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The serious federal prison sentence imposed here reflects our office’s commitment to protecting vulnerable victims and ensuring that those who violate the terms of their release face serious consequences.”
“Michael Wallace already did federal time for child‑exploitation crimes, and even after his release, he went right back to the same behavior while under federal supervision,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “He hid his online activity and used social media to keep circulating sexually explicit material involving children. That shows a total disregard for the law and for the kids who were victimized. The FBI and our partners will keep going after people who traffic in this material, and we will hold repeat offenders accountable.”
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger who prosecuted this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.
If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood
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Pine Ridge Man Convicted After Trial of Federal Drug Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Clayton High Wolf, Jr., age 41, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on August 20, 2026.
The charge for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a $10 million dollar fine, at least five years up to life supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
High Wolf, Jr. was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. The investigation determined that beginning in October 2024, High Wolf, Jr. worked with numerous individuals to sell methamphetamine on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to end-users. During the investigation, law enforcement agents arrested High Wolf, Jr. following a high-speed pursuit through residential streets in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. When he was caught, officers discovered High Wolf, Jr. in possession of 90 grams of methamphetamine destined for further distribution.
“The conviction of this methamphetamine dealer distributing that poison on the Pine Ridge Reservation will improve public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our federal prosecutors and their teams do incredible work and are dedicated to the mission of trying to ensure that every community in South Dakota is as safe as it can possibly be.”
This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation will be ordered, and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pills Sold on Social Media, Overdose Result in Lengthy Sentence for Maryland ManRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christion Sayyid Gill, 27, of Hagerstown, Maryland was sentenced today to more than 17 years in federal prison for his role in a business that was selling fentanyl-laced pills online, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
“Fentanyl is deadly, and in this case, it nearly killed two teenagers,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Parents, talk to your kids about the dangers of buying pills online—counterfeit pills often look exactly like real prescription medication. And to anyone considering a scheme like this, law enforcement will find you and bring you to justice.”
Christion Sayyid Gill, sentenced to 210 months, and his codefendant built what investigators described as a highly organized digital drug marketplace. Working alongside his co-defendants, they used platforms like Telegram, Instagram, Snapchat, Signal, and Linktree to advertise and sell counterfeit pills designed to look like Oxycodone. Behind the polished online presence, however, the pills were laced with fentanyl.
The danger of the scheme became clear when officers in Frederick, Maryland, responded to a suspected overdose involving two juvenile females. The blue pills found at the scene—later confirmed to contain fentanyl—were traced back to the scheme and a codefendant who travelled from Martinsburg, West Virginia to deliver the drugs. From a Hagerstown, Maryland base of operation, they arranged online orders and traveled throughout the tristate area to deliver drugs directly to customers.
A search of Christion Sayyid Gill’s home revealed the scope of the operation. Investigators seized more than 20 grams of fentanyl, nearly four pounds of methamphetamine, 146 grams of cocaine, two firearms, and $49,950 in cash—a snapshot of a drug business built for volume.
Jayden Gill, 22, was convicted in November 2025 and is currently serving a 260-month federal sentence for his role in the scheme. A third defendant, Jamil Nicholas Gardner, 33, of Baltimore, is awaiting trial and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case.
Agencies involved in the investigation include the United States Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; and multiple Maryland law enforcement agencies including the Brunswick Police Department, Frederick City Police, Maryland State Police, Hagerstown Police Department, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Persistent Violator: Alien Admits Third Illegal Entry into AmericaRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Reginaldo Nunes Dos Santos, 49, of Brazil, pled guilty Tuesday, July 28, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and James P. D’Amato, Acting Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector made the announcement.
Dos Santos had been arrested two previous times for entering the United States illegally. Most recently, he was arrested in Texas in 2019 and was subsequently deported in 2020.
On June 11, 2026, Dos Santos was arrested after a traffic stop near Watertown, New York.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “The United States is a nation of opportunity, and we welcome those who follow our laws and pursue legal pathways to build a life here. This defendant chose a very different path, illegally entering our country three separate times. After being arrested and deported under the first Trump Administration, he later used the prior administration’s immigration failures to return, placing the financial burden of his unlawful behavior on hardworking taxpayers. Now, under the current Trump Administration, he has once again been arrested for violating our immigration laws. His repeated disregard for U.S. law has resulted in a federal prison sentence, after which he will be deported. Let this be a clear reminder: those who continually violate our nation’s immigration laws will face American justice and be subject to deportation.”
“Through intelligence-driven targeting and coordinated enforcement efforts, agents from the Wellesley Island Station arrested a repeat immigration law violator in Watertown, NY. The agents of the U.S. Border Patrol will continue to remain vigilant, alert, and always ready to protect our borders and secure our homeland,” said James P. D’Amato, Acting Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol Buffalo Sector.
United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi sentenced Dos Santos to two months’ imprisonment. Following his sentence, Dos Santos is subject to deportation.
United States Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Whalen prosecuted the case.
Orleans Parish Men Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances and Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On August 13, 2026, LAQUAN GRANT (“GRANT”), age 32, and DEMOND SMITH, (“SMITH”), age 28, both of Orleans Parish, were indicted in a four-count indictment, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Count One charged GRANT AND SMITH with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). Count Two charged GRANT AND SMITH with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count Three and Count Four charged SMITH AND GRANT, respectively, with felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8).
According to the indictment, on or about March 19, 2026, GRANT AND SMITH did intentionally possess, with intent to distribute, a quantity of marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, and Tapentadol, a Schedule II controlled substance, while in possession of firearms, to further their drug trafficking enterprise. SMITH, knowing that he had prior felony convictions in Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana in 2022, did knowingly possess a firearm, specifically, a Cobra Model CB38, .38 caliber pistol, and ammunition. The firearm and ammunition were in and affected interstate commerce.
GRANT knowing that he had prior felony convictions in Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana did knowingly possess a firearm, specifically, a Glock Model 19X, nine-millimeter caliber pistol, and ammunition. The firearm and ammunition were in and affected interstate commerce.
GRANT is also charged with a sentencing allegation, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(e)(1), because the offenses for which he was previously convicted, described in Count Four, are violent felonies and serious drug offenses committed on occasions different from one another.
If convicted of Count One, GRANT AND SMITH face up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100. If convicted of Count Two, GRANT AND SMITH face five (5) years up to life imprisonment, imposed consecutively to any other sentence, a fine up to $250,000, up to five (5) years of supervised release, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100. If convicted of Count Three and Count Four, SMITH AND GRANT, respectively, face up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory assessment fee. GRANT also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment under Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(e)(1).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime 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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Orleans Parish Man Indicted on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On August 7, 2026, CALIV THORNTON (“THORNTON”), age 19, a resident of Orleans Parish, was indicted in a two-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced, United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, on or about February 25 and March 2, 2026, WALKER, knowing that he had been previously convicted of felony crimes, did knowingly possess a firearm, specifically, a Glock, Model 23, .40 caliber pistol.
If convicted of Counts One and Two, THORNTON faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime 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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Operation Clean Sweep III Indicts 39 Child Predators and Checked 887 Registered Sex Offenders for ComplianceRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. Attorney Chris Nassar announced that law enforcement has indicted 39 defendants, and several others have been identified and remain under investigation after the launch of Operation Clean Sweep III in March.
Operation Clean Sweep III (operation) aims to hold child predators accountable throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma. This operation is partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force (TACETT), created by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). More than 25 federal, state, and tribal law enforcement partners helped prevent, identify, investigate, and ultimately prosecute child exploitation.
From March 2026 through August 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office received referrals from eight of the 11 counties within the Northern District of Oklahoma. Sixty-six cases were opened for investigation. To date, 39 defendants have either been charged by Complaint or Indicted, with the remaining still under investigation. Of the 39 defendants charged, 26 were charged with possessing child sexual abuse material, eight were charged with producing child sexual abuse material, and nine were charged with coercion and enticement for using phones and applications to target minor children. Most importantly, 21 minor children have been identified and separated from the defendants. This number does not represent the children in the child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement agencies will partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to identify those children.
From January 2026 through August 2026, NCMEC sent 8,621 CyberTips to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations – Internet Crimes Against Children (OSBI-ICAC) unit. Of those CyberTips, 2,086 cases were opened for investigation. Law enforcement partners in the Northern District of Oklahoma received 586 cases for further investigation.
During this operation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office, and the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service conducted compliance checks on those required to register as sex offenders in the Northern District of Oklahoma. The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) provides a comprehensive set of standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. In total, law enforcement checked 887 individuals in 10 of the 11 counties within the Northern District of Oklahoma. Investigators found that 34 individuals were not compliant with SORNA standards.
“Clean Sweep III is ending as an operation; however, the cases are not,” said U.S. Attorney Chris Nassar. “Investigations and prosecutions will continue on every open matter that has not yet been charged. The team that built this operation is not standing down. The experience, the relationships, and the enforcement effort will continue. We will keep bringing child predators to justice in the Northern District of Oklahoma.”
Operation Clean Sweep III was led by U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury, George Jiang, Kate Brandon, Michele Hulgaard, Jessica Wright, Stacey Todd, Jack Osborn, Augustus Forster, Stephanie Ihler, Blithe Craves, and Chris Kelly also assisted in the operation. The law enforcement who participated in the operation are personnel from the Homeland Security Investigations – Tulsa office, the FBI, Tulsa Police Department, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Bixby Police Department, the Glenpool Police Department, the Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oologah Police Department, the Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the Skiatook Police Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Bristow Police Department, the Pryor Police Department, the Owasso Police Department, the Bartlesville Police Department, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations.
If you or someone you know is a victim of child exploitation, confidential help is available. Resources and contact information for child exploitation are available through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual. 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 Justice.gov/PSC.
An indictment or complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
North Carolina Man Who Sought Murder-for-Hire Plot Sentenced to over 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Xin Guang Guo, 48, of Plymouth, North Carolina, was sentenced this afternoon to 188 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III for his effort to pay another individual $30,000 to kill two people residing in the Philadelphia area.
The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in October of last year, charged by indictment the same month, and pleaded guilty in April to two counts of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire.
As detailed in court filings and statements, on September 30, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) received information that the defendant wanted to contract a hitman to murder his former business partner and the business partner’s paramour (“Person-1” and “Person-2”).
Investigators received copies of text messages written by the defendant, whom they were able to identify as Xin Guang Guo, detailing his plan and providing identifying information about Person-1 and Person-2.
In subsequent phone calls monitored by the ATF, Guo discussed the terms of the contract, in which he would pay $15,000 for each murder. Guo also arranged to meet an individual he thought was the hitman in Philadelphia on October 6, so Guo could give him $2,500 to buy a gun.
At the October 6 meeting, the defendant gave the $2,500 to an ATF undercover officer and requested photographic proof that Person-1 and Person-2 had been murdered before he would pay the remaining balance. The agreement was made, Guo departed in his vehicle, and shortly thereafter was arrested by the ATF without incident.
“The defendant orchestrated the death of two people,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “It does not matter whether you pull the trigger or pay someone else to do it. It also does not matter that, in this case, the plan failed. Anyone who takes action to take the life of another faces a lengthy stay in federal prison.”
“Xin Guang Guo thought he could get away with paying a killer to commit two murders for him, and even wanted photos of the bloody crime,” said ATF Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “Our ATF Special Agents caught him cash-in-hand, and now he’s going to prison for a long time for his insidious crime.”
This case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McCool.
New York Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A New York man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to commit bank fraud.
U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Yongliang Deng, 35, to time-served (approximately one day) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Deng was also ordered to pay restitution. Deng pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026.
According to court records, Deng provided his personal information and government-issued identification documentation to a co-defendant, who used Deng’s information to apply for and obtain a residential mortgage loan from a Maine bank to buy a residence in Eddington. Deng obtained the mortgage by misrepresenting that he would occupy and use the property as his primary residence. During an interview with federal agents, Deng admitted that the Eddington property was an investment property that had been rented out, and that he had never resided there. The property was instead used to illegally cultivate marijuana.
Neither Deng nor any property associated with the conspiracy was licensed through the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.
The FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case, with assistance provided by the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office.
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. The Maine HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; DEA; IRS-Criminal Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Border Patrol; Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
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Netarts Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a FelonRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Netarts, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon.
Ciedric Royce Broussard, 42, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release.
According to court documents, on February 20, 2023, Tillamook County deputies and Oregon State Police (OSP) troopers responded to a disturbance after Broussard threatened a victim with a firearm. Broussard refused to exit the home. After a standoff in the bathroom, law enforcement officers arrested Broussard. Law enforcement officers also recovered a gun with a fully loaded 31-round magazine. In total, 108 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the residence.
Broussard was initially charged in Tillamook County and was released the following day.
On April 4, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Broussard with felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition. On December 4, 2024, Broussard pleaded guilty to both charges.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis Burkhart.
Modesto Man Sentenced to 37.5 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of MinorsRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Jacob Jacobsen, 31, of Modesto, was sentenced today to 37.5 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for the sexual exploitation of minors and receipt of child sexual abuse images. Jacobsen will also be required to pay special assessments of $25,000 and to forfeit devices used in committing the crimes, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant Announced.
According to court documents, the mother of a 13-year-old girl in Memphis, TN, informed law enforcement that someone, later identified as Jacobsen, had been communicating with the minor through Snapchat. Investigators executed numerous search warrants and discovered that Jacobsen had contacted dozens of minor females while using the Snapchat screen names “trippinj” and “treydawgg2000.” Jacobsen often purported to be 16 or 17 years old when communicating with the victims and soliciting sexually explicit photographs and videos. Jacobsen admitted to investigators that he had been obtaining sexually explicit images of minor females for more than five years prior to his arrest.
Jacobsen pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
“Jacobsen preyed upon some of the most vulnerable members of our society for years. Now, thanks to the quick thinking of a Tennessee mother, and the swift and decisive action of our law enforcement partners and prosecution team, this significant sentence will ensure the public is protected from this child sexual predator for decades to come,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
The FBI Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency, and the FBI Sacramento, Ripon Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Medicare Advantage Provider Monogram Health Agrees to Pay $2.4M to Settle False Claims Act SuitRead the Press Release
Monogram Health Professional Services PC and Monogram Health Inc., (Monogram Health), headquartered in Tennessee, have agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false diagnosis codes in order to increase payments that they received from the Medicare Advantage program.
“When companies submit false diagnosis codes, they unlawfully exploit a system built to support vulnerable seniors,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reinforces the Department’s commitment to protecting taxpayer money and ensuring that Medicare Advantage payments are based on accurate information.”
“When it comes to how federal money is being spent, taxpayers deserve to know that this Justice Department is looking out for them,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “My office will continue to work to ensure that money for public health programs is spent how it’s intended, as today’s settlement shows.”
“Health care companies that seek to inflate profits by inaccurately reporting the medical conditions of Medicare Advantage enrollees will be held accountable,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This settlement underscores HHS‑OIG’s commitment to protecting the integrity of taxpayer‑funded federal health care programs. Medicare Advantage exists to deliver medically necessary care to beneficiaries, not to serve as a vehicle for improper financial gain.”
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays the MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each Medicare beneficiary enrolled in their plans. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary. In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To calculate the payment amounts, CMS uses a health-based risk adjustment model — the Hierarchical Conditions Category (HCC) model — that takes into account diagnoses reported by healthcare providers.
In general, the more severe the diagnosis or costly the associated treatment, the higher the risk score and the higher the corresponding payments to the MAO. The diagnoses must be supported by the medical record of a face-to-face visit between a patient and a provider, and for outpatient visits, must have required or affected patient care, treatment, or management at the visit.
Monogram provides in-home care and related services to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA Plans pursuant to contracts with certain MAOs. Under these contracts, Monogram was eligible to be paid more by the MAOs if the beneficiaries in its care had higher risk scores because the MAO received higher payments from CMS for those beneficiaries. These risk sharing arrangements gave Monogram a financial incentive to submit additional diagnosis codes in order to increase its patients’ risk scores and the corresponding payments made by CMS.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan, 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2023, Monogram knowingly submitted diagnosis codes within the following four HCCs that were not clinically accurate, not supported by documentation in the beneficiary’s medical records, and/or did not require or affect patient care, treatment or management: HCC 21 (Protein-Calorie Malnutrition), HCC 55 (Substance Use Disorder); HCC 48 (Coagulation Defects and Other Specified Hematological Disorders), and HCC 88 (Angina Pectoris). The submission of these diagnosis codes resulted in false claims that inflated the risk scores of the Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, thereby causing CMS to make higher capitated payments to the MAOs than it would have paid without these diagnosis codes.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Ajay Gupta, a physician formerly employed by Monogram. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Dr. Gupta will receive approximately $380,000 as his share of the recovery in this case. The lawsuit is captioned U.S. ex rel. Dr. Ajay Gupta v. Monogram Health Professional Services, et. al., Case No. 2:22-cv-08758 MWF-JCx (C.D. Cal.).
Monogram received credit under the Department of Justice’s guidelines in Justice Manual § 4-4.112 for taking cooperation into account in cases involving False Claims Act allegations.
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was investigated by Fraud Section Attorney Jennifer Cook and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter B. Thomson for the Central District of California.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: This release has been updated from a previous version
Medicare Advantage Provider Monogram Health Agrees to Pay $2.4 Million to Settle False Claims Act LawsuitRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Monogram Health Professional Services PC and Monogram Health Inc., headquartered in Tennessee, have agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false diagnosis codes to increase payments that they received from the Medicare Advantage program.
“When it comes to how federal money is being spent, taxpayers deserve to know that this Justice Department is looking out for them,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office will continue to work to ensure that money for public health programs is spent how it’s intended, as today’s settlement shows.”
“When companies submit false diagnosis codes, they unlawfully exploit a system built to support vulnerable seniors,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reinforces the Department’s commitment to protecting taxpayer money and ensuring that Medicare Advantage payments are based on accurate information.”
“Health care companies that seek to inflate profits by inaccurately reporting the medical conditions of Medicare Advantage enrollees will be held accountable,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This settlement underscores HHS‑OIG’s commitment to protecting the integrity of taxpayer‑funded federal health care programs. Medicare Advantage exists to deliver medically necessary care to beneficiaries, not to serve as a vehicle for improper financial gain.”
Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays the MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each Medicare beneficiary enrolled in their plans. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary.
In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To calculate the payment amounts, CMS uses a health-based risk adjustment model — the Hierarchical Conditions Category (HCC) model — that considers diagnoses reported by healthcare providers.
In general, the more severe the diagnosis or costly the associated treatment, the higher the risk score and the higher the corresponding payments to the MAO. The diagnoses must be supported by the medical record of a face-to-face visit between a patient and a provider, and for outpatient visits, must have required or affected patient care, treatment, or management at the visit.
Monogram provides in-home care and related services to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA Plans pursuant to contracts with certain MAOs. Under these contracts, Monogram was eligible to be paid more by the MAOs if the beneficiaries in its care had higher risk scores because the MAO received higher payments from CMS for those beneficiaries. These risk sharing arrangements gave Monogram a financial incentive to submit additional diagnosis codes to increase its patients’ risk scores and the corresponding payments made by CMS.
The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, during the period from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023, Monogram knowingly submitted diagnosis codes within the following four HCCs that were not clinically accurate, not supported by documentation in the beneficiary’s medical records, and/or did not require or affect patient care, treatment or management: HCC 21 (Protein-Calorie Malnutrition), HCC 55 (Substance Use Disorder); HCC 48 (Coagulation Defects and Other Specified Hematological Disorders), and HCC 88 (Angina Pectoris).
The submission of these diagnosis codes resulted in false claims that inflated the risk scores of the Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, thereby causing CMS to make higher capitated payments to the MAOs than it would have paid without these diagnosis codes.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Ajay Gupta, a physician formerly employed by Monogram. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Dr. Gupta will receive approximately $380,000 as his share of the recovery in this case. The lawsuit is captioned United States of America ex rel. Dr. Ajay Gupta v. Monogram Health Professional Services, et. al., Case No. 2:22-cv-08758 MWF-JCx (C.D. Calif.).
Monogram received credit under the Department of Justice’s guidelines in Justice Manual § 4-4.112 for taking cooperation into account in cases involving False Claims Act allegations.
This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was investigated by Assistant United States Attorney Hunter B. Thomson of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section and Justice Department Fraud Section Attorney Jennifer Cook.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Mason City Woman Sentenced to More than 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tina Smith, age 46, from Mason City, was sentenced August 18, 2026, to more than 11 years in federal prison, after an April 17, 2026, guilty plea to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Evidence in the case revealed between March 6, 2024, through at least September 6, 2024, Smith, and others, were involved in an ongoing conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine around the Mason City area. Law enforcement utilized a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine from Smith on 7 different occasions.
Smith was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 136 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, 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 25-3065.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Justice Department Sues Ohio Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Against Female TenantsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Alfred Falgiani Jr., 72, of Girard, Ohio, the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Girard, Ohio, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Falgiani sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2008. According to the complaint, Falgiani offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, and took adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.
“When landlords exploit their position of power to harass or intimidate tenants, they violate the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who abuse vulnerable residents and will work tirelessly to ensure that tenants can live free from sexual harassment and coercion.”
“No one should have to live in fear of a landlord making highly inappropriate advances,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Housing owners and managers who engage in loathsome behavior and infringe on a person’s right to feel secure in their own home will face justice.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Alfred Falgiani, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291 (press 1 for English, press 2 for Sexual Harassment, then press 4 to leave a message related to Alfred Falgiani), or send an email to [email protected]. Individuals may also submit a report online.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This lawsuit is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 54 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Justice Department Sues Ohio Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Against Female TenantsRead the Press Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Girard, Ohio, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Alfred Falgiani, Jr., 72, of Girard, sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2008. According to the complaint, Falgiani offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, and took adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.
“Everyone deserves a home where they feel safe and protected. When landlords exploit their position of power to harass or intimidate tenants, they violate both the law and the basic dignity that housing should provide,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who abuse vulnerable residents and will work tirelessly to ensure that tenants can live free from sexual harassment and coercion.”
“No one should have to live in fear of a landlord making highly inappropriate advances,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Housing owners and managers who engage in loathsome behavior and infringe on a person’s right to feel secure in their own home will face justice.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination.
Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Alfred Falgiani, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291 (press 1 for English, press 2 for Sexual Harassment, then press 4 to leave a message related to Alfred Falgiani), or send an email to [email protected]. Individuals may also submit a report online.
More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This lawsuit is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 54 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Jury Convicts Las Vegas Business Owner of Cryptocurrency Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury today convicted a Las Vegas business owner of fraudulently obtaining $24 million.
“Financial fraud undermines the foundational trust of our economic system,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This verdict demonstrates our absolute commitment to aggressively pursuing bad actors who manipulate records to steal millions and ensuring they face full accountability in a court of law.”
“Today’s verdict reflects the seriousness of Brent Kovar’s scheme and the impact it had on hundreds of investors,” said IRS Criminal Investigation’s San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. “Criminals who build operations on false guarantees, fabricated profits and nonexistent reserves, erode trust in our financial system, and leave victims facing real financial harm. IRS-CI special agents and professional staff are well suited and will continue to follow the money and hold accountable those who exploit emerging technologies to commit fraud.”
“The victims in this case thought they were engaged in revolutionary technological advancement, but it was merely a deception crafted by the falsehoods and trickery of Mr. Kovar,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “The FBI, along with its partners, remain dedicated to thoroughly investigating and holding accountable those who misuse their authority; however, this effort cannot be achieved alone. If you believe you have information related to fraud or know someone who may be a victim, please submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”
“Mr. Kovar defrauded investors to enrich himself, luring victims with false claims that his investment was insured by the FDIC,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “We will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to protect financial consumers and the Nation’s financial system, while ensuring fraudsters are caught and held accountable.”
From late 2017 to July 2021, Brent C. Kovar owned Profit Connect, a Las Vegas-based company that purportedly used artificial intelligence software on a supercomputer to mine cryptocurrency and verify other cryptocurrency transactions. He falsely represented the company as a profitable company that paid investors a fixed rate of return of 15% to 30% APR and provided a 100% money-back guarantee. Kovar also falsely represented that Profit Connect was backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency reserves. Kovar knew his company was not profitable, had no reserves, did not and could not pay the fixed rates of return to investors, and had no legitimate means for the money-back guarantee. He used investor money to operate Profit Connect, to buy gifts for employees, to buy a house for himself, and to repay investors as if those repayments came from mining cryptocurrency and verifying cryptocurrency transactions. In total, Kovar fraudulently obtained $24 million from at least 400 investors.
Following a nine-day trial, Kovar was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud; two counts of mail fraud; and two counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2026, and he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 280 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
IRS-CI, FBI, and FDIC OIG investigated this case; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Brister and James Gaeta are prosecuting this case.
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Jury Convicts Fayette County Man of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a MinorRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – Following roughly 45 minutes of deliberation a federal jury found a Fayette County man guilty of one count for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
James W. Berner, 46, from Ramsey, was charged in February 2025 after an investigation revealed Berner had recorded a video of the minor victim showering. Berner was using a phone application that wirelessly controlled the minor victim’s cell phone camera. With this phone app, Berner could remotely view and screen record what was happening within the minor victim’s cell phone camera view without the camera showing it was activated. In December 2024 and January 2025, Berner used this phone application to remotely view the minor victim showering. At the time of the offense, the minor victim was 14 years old.
“This verdict delivers justice for truly reprehensible conduct. Recording a child in a private and vulnerable moment is a gross violation of trust and basic human decency,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “I commend our trial attorneys and law enforcement partners who walked into court and faced this predator down and delivered justice.”
I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their outstanding work on this case,” said Fayette County Sheriff Ronnie Stevens. “Protecting children is our highest priority, and we cannot do it alone. Bringing this individual into federal court with their commitment to prosecuting this case, to ensure this individual will be put in prison for a very long time.”
Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and St. Elmo Police Department investigated the case with substantial assistance from FBI Springfield. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ali Burns and Madalyn Campbell prosecuted this case.
“This verdict reflects our collective commitment to protecting children from those who seek to exploit them,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “The defendant’s actions were a profound violation of a young person’s privacy and safety. We are grateful for the collaboration of our partners in Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and St. Elmo Police Department, whose dedication ensured this victim received justice. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to hold offenders accountable and safeguard the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 8, 2026 at 10:30 am in the Benton Courthouse.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Jackson Man Sentenced to 8 Years for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced on Friday, August 21, 2026, to 96 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Hinds County.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Derrick Demond Epps, 44, was found by Jackson Police Department to be in possession of a firearm on September 14, 2025, during an altercation in front of a local convenient store in South Jackson. Epps had previous felony convictions including aggravated assault.
Epps was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 13, 2026, and pleaded guilty on April 17, 2026.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Jackson Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Investiture ceremony marks Kriegshauser leadershipRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office -District of Kansas held an investiture ceremony at the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas, for U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. Chief Judge John W. Broomes administered the oath.
Kriegshauser serves as the 43rd U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas. He began serving as Interim U.S. Attorney in July 2025 and was eventually confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025. An investiture is a formal, ceremonial event to mark the appointment. Judges, former U.S. Attorneys, law enforcement, and community members attended the event on August 21, 2026.
Kriegshauser supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes and litigation of all civil matters in which the U.S. has an interest. He leads a staff of attorneys, paralegals, and support professionals working in offices associated with the federal courts in Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka.
“Nearly two-thirds of Kansas’ 420 law enforcement agencies have fewer than 10 full-time officers. We have been working with our partners to alleviate some of the strain on agencies feeling overwhelmed,” said Kriegshauser. “My goal is for the federal government to be a force multiplier in support of state and local officers. There are certain cases like transnational drug cartels and cybercrime that the federal government is in a unique position to bring criminals to justice.”
Through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, USAO-KS projects for 427 indictments, which is fifth among the 25 medium USAO districts (up from 10th last FY) and 29th among all 94 districts in the country (up from 48th last FY). This caseload reflects a projected 39 percent increase for USAO-KS year on year. In particular, violent crime indictments are projected to be up 50% compared to last fiscal year.
Here are some noteworthy sentencings, convictions, guilty pleas, and indictments since Kriegshauser took office.
FINANCIAL FRAUD
• Two former employees of the Wyandotte County District Court received prison sentences for using their positions in the accounting office to steal approximately $980,000 in taxpayer funds.
• A federal jury convicted union leaders of racketeering, fraud, and embezzlement in a scheme involving theft of union-member dues through the award of no-show jobs, lavish travel, unearned vacation payouts, and an unauthorized $7 million loan made to a union-related bank.VIOLENT CRIME
• Four defendants in a kidnapping received prison sentences in a crime where the victim was bound and blindfolded for approximately 10 hours.
• An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced to 20 years in prison for violently attacking a federal law enforcement agent, the maximum punishment allowed under the statute. The defendant assaulted and strangled an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation officer.PROJECT SAFE CHILDHOOD
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after he directed a foreign national living in another country to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and send him the images.
• A Kansas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he uploaded photographs of women and children he knew into a publicly available Artificial Intelligence platform. He then utilized AI to manipulate and merge their images into hundreds of depictions of child sexual abuse material.NATIONAL SECURITY
• The FBI arrested three men on charges that they conspired to provide support ISIS, a foreign terrorist organization. The defendants allegedly discussed violent attacks on U.S. servicemembers.
• An Oklahoma man pleaded guilty after lying to U.S. customs officials while attempting to board a flight to China with proprietary information belonging to his employer.FENTANYL & OTHER NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
• An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced to 20 years in prison as the ringleader of a drug trafficking ring supplied by a Mexican cartel. A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation led to the convictions of more than a dozen defendants who either worked for or were clients of the operation.
• Fifteen defendants were sentenced to prison after the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) dismantled a Kansas City metro-based drug trafficking ring linked to Mexico. The smuggled cocaine was distributed in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.Ryan A. Kriegshauser
Kriegshauser began his legal career at a firm in Kansas City litigating constitutional claims, complex commercial litigation, and regulatory defense. Kriegshauser then led the Kansas Secretary of State's Office as Deputy Secretary of State for the Office of Legal Counsel and Policy before becoming General Counsel at the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner. In 2018, Kriegshauser entered private practice where his work included constitutional claims. election law, business litigation as well as other civil and criminal matters.
Kriegshauser received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He continues to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Commander.
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Independence, Missouri Elementary Substitute Teacher Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An elementary school substitute teacher for the Independence, Mo. School District has been charged by criminal complaint with distributing and possessing child pornography.
Caleb J. Eyde, 21, appeared in federal court today on a five-count criminal complaint.
According to court documents, multiple cyber tips reports were made after Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) was uploaded to Discord, a group communication platform. The results of the investigation led local law enforcement and federal agents to Eyde. Investigators believe Discord records indicate Eyde was distributing, trading, and purchasing CSAM from other users. A forensic examination of Eyde’s electronic devices uncovered images and videos depicting CSAM saved to Eyde’s devices.
The charges contained in this complaint 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 Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Child Exploitation Task Force and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
For more information about online safety for kids please visit https://www.fbi.gov/onlinesafety. To report a tip visit, https://tips.fbi.gov/home.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Immigration Fraud for Using and Possessing a Counterfeit Document to Obtain EmploymentRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Edgar Diaz, age 47, pled guilty on August 12, 2026, to one count of immigration fraud. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Buffalo Acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney made the announcement.
Diaz is a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States. In June 2019, while pending an immigration proceeding, Diaz was allowed to participate in the Enforcement and Removal Operations Custody Management Division’s Alternative to Detention Program (“ATD”), in lieu of being held in immigration custody. As part of the ATD, Diaz wore an ankle bracelet that allowed him to be tracked using GPS equipment. On June 7, 2019, Diaz cut the ankle bracelet and remained a fugitive until he was arrested in Virginia in May 2026.
As part of his plea, Diaz admitted that on January 28, 2019, he used and possessed a counterfeit permanent resident card bearing his name and photograph but a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services number that had not been assigned to him to obtain employment at a farm in Marietta, New York.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “The Trump administration’s commitment to securing the homeland remains a top priority. This defendant has been a fugitive for nearly seven years, and now that the President has restored law and order in our country, the dedicated special agents at Homeland Security Investigations were able to track down Diaz and bring him to justice. With this plea, he will serve a term of imprisonment and then be subject to deportation.”
ICE ERO Buffalo Acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney said, “When individuals abscond from supervision and use counterfeit documents to secure employment, they undermine the lawful immigration process and the security it is designed to protect. Immigration laws are not merely suggestions, and the sanctity of those statutes is vital to public safety and the security of our borders. Today and always, ERO will continue to make immigration enforcement a priority to protect our communities and uphold a system the American people can trust.”
Diaz will be sentenced on December 10, 2026, by Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. Diaz faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Thomson is prosecuting the case.
Hutchinson man pleads guilty to producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, William “Bill” Bright, 58, of Hutchinson pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography.
In June 2025, Bright went to a Kansas truck stop for a sexual meetup with a 15-year-old girl with whom he’d been exchanging private messages. The “girl” was actually a law enforcement officer, and Bright was arrested. Officers obtained a search warrant for Bright's cellphone where they discovered CSAM images of two minor victims under 14 years old. Text messages indicate Bright requested the images from the victims and that he was aware the victims were minors.
Bright is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office are investigating 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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Huntington Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Troy Alan Glover, 33, of Huntington, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 17, 2025, Glover sold 111 grams of methamphetamine and 9.7 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while in the informant’s vehicle in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Glover admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand.
Glover further admitted that he sold approximately 111 grams of methamphetamine and 9.9 grams of fentanyl on March 14, 2025, and approximately 19.9 grams of fentanyl on March 26, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $940. Glover also admitted that he sold approximately 18.5 grams of fentanyl to the confidential informant on April 28, 2025, in Huntington in exchange for $900.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-139.
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Henderson Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Almost 27 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Trowbridge, also known as “Snow,” 41, of Henderson, NC, to almost 27 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and more than 2.2 pounds of heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a felon.
“Drug trafficking organizations can no longer hide in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We shut down this network, and we are coming for the rest to clean these predators off our streets and protect the citizens. If you sell drugs, we will find you, prosecute you, and put you in prison for a long time. Simple lesson: Drugs kill; prison awaits—do right.”
In August 2019, the DEA, ATF, and other state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Henderson Police Department, initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in Henderson, North Carolina.
The DTO obtained kilogram-level quantities of heroin and fentanyl from New Jersey and sold the drugs throughout Vance, Durham, Warren, Wake, Wilson, Franklin, and Granville counties. They regularly distributed fentanyl in baggies marked with a “Toy Story” stamp; a trademark they used to identify their product.
Law enforcement identified Trowbridge as the leader of the organization and, through controlled purchases along with physical and electronic surveillance, pinpointed several locations in Henderson used by the group, including 56 Kelly Road, 100 Kelly Road, and 66 Pinecone Lane.
The group would hide heroin and fentanyl in various places inside residences, as well as in buckets, stacks of tires, or in the woods out around the property. Drone footage showed that members of the DTO regularly drove back and forth between 66 Pinecone Lane to 56 Kelly Road, from the stash house to the trap house. They conducted hand-to-hand transactions selling drugs to customers at the trap house. Trowbridge often used numerous drug mules to transport and sell his drugs. In one instance, authorities stopped one of his mules in Maryland and found more than 2 pounds of fentanyl in the mule’s car.
The investigative findings set the stage for the next phase of the operation, culminating on November 17, 2022, when law enforcement simultaneously executed search warrants at 66 Pinecone Lane, 56 Kelly Road, and 100 Kelly Road. During those searches, authorities seized the following:
• 66 Pinecone Lane:
38 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the wood line)
Four shotguns
Four rifles
A loaded 9mm handgun
A 31‑round magazine
A .45‑caliber handgun
Multiple firearm magazines, including a drum magazine
More than 2,000 rounds of assorted ammunition
• 56 Kelly Road:
A .40‑caliber firearm
A large‑capacity magazine
25 rounds of .40‑caliber ammunition
Four rounds of .38‑caliber ammunition
$10,304 in U.S. currency
A stolen firearm
• 100 Kelly Road:
A loaded rifle
$88,931 in U.S. currency
A loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine
80 grams of heroin and fentanyl stamped with a “Toy Story” emblem (found in a bucket in the woods between 56 Kelly Road and 100 Kelly Road)
Several DTO members have already been convicted and sentenced in federal court for their roles in the drug trafficking organization. Bridgett Burrows; seven and a half years in federal prison; Marques D. Gray eight years; Daquan Lovely; eight years and one month; Joseph Trowbridge; seven years; and Dwayne Trowbridge eight years. To view press conference go to: https://youtu.be/F0447PvHZ3Q?si=7maFYBu9KpHnyEa3
“This sentence reflects the commitment of law enforcement agencies working together to hold those who traffic fentanyl accountable,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong partnerships and coordinated enforcement, we will continue disrupting the flow of this deadly drug and doing everything we can to keep our communities safe. Together, we are working toward a Fentanyl Free America.”
“This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common mission. Partnerships make our communities safer and send a clear message to drug traffickers: there is no jurisdictional boundary that will protect you from our unified law enforcement efforts,” said Marcus Barrow, Henderson Police Chief.
This prosecution is part of Operation TYM 2 Block the Bridge 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.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. This case was investigated by the ATF, DEA, NCSBI, Henderson Police Department, and Vance County Sheriff’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-332-M-1.
Gainesville Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Terry Lajace Lee, 43, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “We will not stop strictly enforcing the law, and we will not be deterred from keeping our streets safe from dangerous criminals, like this repeat felon. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, crime-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with continued successful prosecutions like this.”
Court documents reflect that during a traffic stop on February 21, 2026, the defendant was found to be driving with a suspended license. A subsequent search of the defendant and his vehicle revealed marijuana and a handgun. The defendant is not permitted to have a handgun due to four prior felony convictions.
Lee faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Gainesville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
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.
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.
Fresno Man Sentenced to 52 Months in Prison for Operating a $9 Million Real Estate Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Matthew Campbell, 43, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 52 months in federal prison for defrauding investors in a $9 million Ponzi scheme, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, since 2012, Campbell operated two real estate investment companies, Preferred Property LLC and Ampez Rehab Investments LLC, which he used to buy, sell, build, and renovate properties, as well as to solicit investor money to fund his operations. Beginning in 2018, Campbell began using his businesses to conduct a Ponzi scheme. He knowingly made false representations about his company’s finances, the return on investment, and distributions to attract new investors, and then used those funds to pay returns to earlier investors. To obtain new investments, he promised unrealistically high returns. Between January 2018 and October 2025, Campbell obtained more than $9.1 million in investor funds from over 40 investors that he used in unauthorized ways. At least $2,293,000 in new investor funds went to pay old investors and continue the scheme.
"Mr. Campbell took advantage of the hard-earned savings of innocent people who were trying to secure their financial futures," said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. "By masking a fraudulent Ponzi scheme as a legitimate real estate opportunity, he violated federal law and exploited the trust of dozens of investors. This sentence reflects our office's unwavering commitment to seeking justice for the American People and holding accountable those who seek to do them harm."
“Today’s sentence ensures Matthew Campbell will pay a price for his crimes, but it cannot erase the breach of trust and financial devastation families and retirees who placed their confidence in Campbell suffered. Each investor believed Campbell’s claim that his legitimate real estate business could offer guaranteed returns, not knowing those promises were impossible to fulfill,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh. “The FBI is committed to investigating all allegations of financial fraud to both protect the public and ensure those who take advantage of the American people will face justice.”
This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Arelis M. Clemente prosecuted the case.
Campbell pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. A restitution hearing is scheduled for October 22, 2026.
Founder of Cryptocurrency Trading Fund Convicted of Defrauding InvestorsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury today convicted Japheth Dillman of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in a cryptocurrency trading fund. The jury’s verdict follows a 10-day trial before U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dillman, 48, of San Francisco, CA, defrauded more than 20 investors out of nearly $1 million through false statements about the trading fund he helped start. At trial, the evidence showed that Dillman and a coconspirator raised funds from investors by misleading them about the capabilities and profitability of Block Bits Capital. From June 2017 to August 2018 Dillman and his associates raised money from investors by claiming the fund would profit from automated cryptocurrency trading by using a software tool called the “Autotrader” that that the firm had developed and was complete and working. In fact, Dillman knew that this automated algorithm was not working and investor funds were not and could not be used as Dillman had promised.
The evidence at trial also showed that Dillman and his co-conspirator used investor money to pay themselves and make risky and speculative investments in other cryptocurrency ventures, while lying to investors about the risky nature of these investments. In fact, these investments resulted in huge losses, and Dillman falsely told investors that Block Bits cryptocurrency trading had led to significant profits when if fact the trading led to more losses of investor funds.
Dillman is currently released on bond. Dillman’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 8, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Seeborg. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each count of conviction in violation of wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Charles Bisesto are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello, Lynette Dixon, Andy Ding, and Royce Epperson. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, San Francisco Regional Office.
Former Washington man who made images of child sexual abuse sentenced to 15 years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A former King County resident who was charged with crimes in state and federal court related to his abuse of a 4-year-old was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for production of images of child sexual abuse, announced First Assistant U.S. Assistant Charles Neil Floyd. Justin D. Carr, 38, who resided in Renton, Washington, was arrested on May 14, 2024, after images of child sexual abuse were discovered on his phone while he was driving with a witness to Colorado. Today’s sentencing is the final of three: he was sentenced to 15 years in King County Superior court for sexual assault of a child; in Colorado he was sentenced for possession of child pornography and in Seattle, 15 years in prison for producing the images of child sexual abuse. U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson sentenced Carr to lifetime federal supervised release following his prison term.
“This prison sentence will protect the public for a significant period, while the lifetime supervised release should ensure Mr. Carr cannot prey on a vulnerable child again,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “These cases and the protection of children are a priority for our office, and I appreciate the partnership we have with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to keep these offenders away from children.”
According to records filed in the case, Carr and an adult witness were traveling to Colorado when the witness discovered images on Carr’s phone of the molestation of a 4-year-old child that the witness recognized. The witness immediately called 9-1-1 and Carr was arrested.
The metadata of the images indicated it was produced in Renton, Washington. The Renton Police Department and the FBI were involved in the investigation.
Carr will serve the 15-year federal sentence concurrent with a 15-year state sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation crimes in federal court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Serviceman Sentenced for Child Sexual Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A former serviceman received a federal-prison term, today, for committing child sexual abuse crimes.
U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox sentenced Daniel Lara-Salazar, 33, to 15.5 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexually exploiting a child. Lara-Salazar committed these crimes while serving in the U.S. Military.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; and J. Charles Smith III, State’s Attorney for Frederick County.
According to his guilty plea, Lara-Salazar, who was stationed in Puyallup, Washington, coerced and enticed a minor female victim, who resided in Maryland, to engage in sexually explicit conduct. From June 2024, through July 2024, Lara-Salazar sexually exploited her by producing and causing the production of sexually explicit images and videos.
In June 2024, Lara-Salazar began using Snapchat to message the minor victim. Then Lara-Salazar demanded the minor victim send sexually explicit images and videos to him. Snapchat has a feature that causes images to disappear upon receipt. In some instances, the minor victim sent images to Lara-Salazar that were not retained or visible when law enforcement reviewed the account.
Law enforcement later discovered that Lara-Salazar used Snapchat to communicate with three other minor females, who lived in Texas and elsewhere. He also coerced and enticed them to send sexually explicit images.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joyce R. King who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md.
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Former City Councilmen for Baldwin Park and Compton Sentenced to Federal Prison for Their Roles in Bribery SchemesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two former city councilmen for Baldwin Park and Compton were each sentenced to 18 months in federal prison terms today for engaging in corrupt acts while they were elected officials, including the payment and acceptance tens of thousands of dollars in bribes for a police union’s support and to obtain official city permits for marijuana cultivation.
Ricardo Pacheco, 63, of Baldwin Park, who served on the Baldwin Park City Council from 1997 until his resignation in 2020 and served as the city’s mayor pro tempore in 2018, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also fined him $10,000 and ordered him to forfeit $219,755. A restitution hearing will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Judge Wright today also sentenced Isaac Jacob Galvan, 39, of Compton, who served on the Compton City Council from 2013 to 2022, to 18 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $323,557 in restitution.
Ricardo Pacheco
Pacheco pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of federal program bribery and admitted to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes – including $20,000 in cash – from a Baldwin Park Police officer working at the FBI’s direction, in exchange for the councilmember’s political support of the Baldwin Park Police Association’s contract with the city.
Pacheco, who agreed to fully cooperate with federal prosecutors, solicited and received a total of $37,900 in bribes from a Baldwin Park police officer from January through October 2018 to support and vote for the Police Association’s contract, which was worth at least $4.4 million over three years. The police officer who made the payments did so at the direction of the FBI after another officer and he approached the FBI and agreed to assist in its ongoing corruption investigation. In exchange for the payments, Pacheco voted in favor of the Police Association contract in March 2018.
The payments to Pacheco included a $20,000 cash bribe in October 2018, which the police officer provided to him in an envelope in a Baldwin Park coffee shop. Pacheco also solicited and received $17,900 in checks that he directed be made out to his church and sham political action committees he had set up using other individuals’ names but which he controlled.
In June 2020, Pacheco resigned from his Baldwin Park City Council seat as part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He also forfeited $83,145 in cash proceeds seized by the FBI, which included $62,900 that Pacheco said he had buried in his backyard in two locations.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Isaac Jacob Galvan
Galvan pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of federal program bribery and one count of evasion of tax assessment. He admitted to paying $70,000 in bribes to Pacheco – then serving on the Baldwin Park City Council – in exchange for Pacheco’s votes and support for commercial marijuana permits and further admitted to failing to report to the IRS more than half a million dollars in income.
In June 2017, Baldwin Park began permitting the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of marijuana within its city limits. Soon afterward, Pacheco began soliciting bribes from businesses seeking marijuana development agreements and related permits in the city. In exchange for the illicit payments, Pacheco agreed to use his position in city government to assist the companies with obtaining marijuana permits, including voting in their favor.
Galvan – then serving on the Compton City Council – offered his consulting services to W&F International Corp., a Diamond Bar-based import-export business, who wanted a marijuana permit in Baldwin Park. After securing W&F International Corp. as a consulting client, Galvan facilitated $70,000 in bribes to Pacheco from Yichang Bai, 52, of Arcadia, W&F’s the owner and operator.
Galvan paid the bribes in exchange for Pacheco’s political support of and promise to deliver Baldwin Park’s approval of marijuana permits for W&F. Pacheco then delivered, voting in favor of W&F’s marijuana permit in June and July of 2018 and voting later that year in favor of W&F’s bid to relocate its operations.
Throughout the scheme, Galvan and Bai took steps to cover up their illegal payments to Pacheco by concealing Bai and W&F’s connection to the payments for Pacheco. For example, Bai collected checks from third parties who owed him money and then gave Galvan the checks with blank payee lines. Galvan then gave the checks to Pacheco.
Shortly after the votes to approve W&F’s relocation, Pacheco contacted Galvan and asked him to obtain more money from W&F for his legal defense fund. Galvan told Bai that Pacheco wanted $25,000 for his fundraiser, but Bai insisted only on paying $20,000. Bai provided a total of seven checks from different bank accounts that were not Bai’s or W&F’s. Galvan arranged for the checks to be delivered to Pacheco as further payment in exchange for his votes and support of W&F’s marijuana permit.
Galvan also failed to file federal individual tax returns for the years 2017 through 2020, evading assessment of the federal taxes he owed in several ways. For example, he concealed his ownership and control of I&I LLC, a shell company Galvan used to solicit bribes for public officials and to facilitate paying those bribes.
Galvan also directed individuals to issue checks with blank payee lines to later be cashed and converted into income for himself, and he individuals to write checks for income he earned to conduits, who would pay for Galvan’s living expenses, including his rent.
In total, Galvan failed to report approximately $560,525 in income for the tax years 2017 through 2020, causing a total loss to the United States Treasury of $115,816.
Bai pleaded guilty on February 23 to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. On July 6, Judge Wright sentenced him to 20 months in federal prison and fined him $3,000.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Morse and Kedar S. Bhatia of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Neil P. Thakor of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted both Pacheco and Galvan.
Flint man sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute heroinRead the Press Release
FLINT — Isiah L. Claiborne, 38, of Flint, was sentenced last week to 224 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin, U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Detroit Field Division.
U.S. District Court Judge Shalina D. Kumar sentenced Claiborne following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin. Judge Kumar ordered Claiborne’s sentences to be served concurrently to his state sentences for felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm. Claiborne was convicted of those offenses following a trial in Genesee County Circuit Court involving the murder of Devaroe Davis. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on Claiborne’s murder-related charges, and those remain pending in state court. Judge Kumar ordered that Claiborne serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.
According to court documents, on October 1, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Claiborne’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement officers seized over a kilogram of heroin, quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, and two semi-automatic firearms.
This investigation was conducted by special agents of the DEA’s Flint Resident Office in conjunction with agents from the FBI and ATF offices in Flint.
Felon Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing “Machine Gun” in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A felon has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a machine gun in Chicago.
On Sept. 12, 2025, ANTONIO LUKES possessed a handgun equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device that made the firearm capable of firing in fully automatic mode. Lukes was standing next to an empty vehicle near Jackson Boulevard and Western Avenue on the West Side of Chicago with the firearm concealed in his waistband. As Chicago Police officers drove by Lukes in their squad car, the firearm fell out of his waistband to his feet. Lukes ran from the officers but was arrested after a brief chase. Lukes had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Lukes, 40, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. On Aug. 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Lukes to 28 months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The investigation was conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis.
“Defendant’s crime is a serious one,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Skiba argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “The Glock that defendant possessed that night was no ordinary firearm. The switch made a dangerous weapon even more dangerous still.”
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer of Unlawfully Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese CompetitorRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.
CHIH-YEE JEN worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Ill., where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based KUNSHAN GUOLI ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, XIAOQIN DU, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.
After a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Friday convicted Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisc., of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione.
“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”
“The FBI and our prosecutorial partners are relentless in combatting trade secret theft and holding accountable those who seek to compromise private sector innovation and the safety of our nation,” said FBI Acting SAC Whalen. “As detailed throughout the trial, Jen's conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and his possession of stolen trade secrets shows a blatant disregard for his former employer's proprietary information and America's security. This conviction reaffirms that the theft of trade secrets will be thoroughly investigated and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
Two other former Philips engineers—FINCE TENDIAN, 57, of Aurora, Ill., and VLADIMIR NEVTONENKO, 77, of Arlington Heights, Ill.—pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, KUNSHAN YIYUAN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the Court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.
Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer for Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese CompetitorRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Chicago convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems Friday of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor.
“The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.”
“Jen acted at the expense of his U.S. employer by stealing closely guarded x-ray technology trade secrets for the benefit of a Chinese competitor,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Protecting America’s private sector companies is a priority for the FBI, and this conviction underscores our commitment to defend the homeland. Know that if you choose to steal trade secrets, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.”
Chih-Yee Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisconsin, worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Illinois, where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co Ltd. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, Xiaoqin Du, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary.
After a week-long trial, Jen was convicted of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
Two other former Philips engineers — Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora, Illinois, and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights, Illinois — pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1 at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m.
Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, Kunshan Yiyuan Medical Technology Co. Ltd., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione for the Northern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Convicts Massachusetts Resident for Attempting to Sex Traffic a Minor at a Manchester HotelRead the Press Release
CONCORD – After a 4-day trial, a Haverhill, Massachusetts man was found guilty by a federal jury of attempting to sex traffic a 12-year-old as part of a proactive federal and local law enforcement operation that took place in November of 2024, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Sharath Chandra Bollu, age 25, was convicted of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. United States Chief District Court Judge Samantha Elliott ordered Bollu detained pending sentencing, which is scheduled for November 24, 2026.
On November 14, 2024, in a proactive law enforcement operation, agents posted and monitored an advertisement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. The advertisement contained images of what appeared to be two minor females, and a contact phone number. Law enforcement agents monitored this line and used it to communicate with potential sex buyers, including Bollu. During a text conversation and several phone calls between an undercover agent and Bollu, the agent stated that a 12-year-old girl was available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. Bollu communicated with the number from November 14 into the evening of November 15, 2024. He then traveled to a hotel in Manchester, which was the designated location for the commercial sex date. He brought condoms and $100 in cash to the hotel.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Vicinanzo and Charles Rombeau are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Employee of LAX Service Provider Charged in Federal Complaint with Possessing 11 Kilograms of Fentanyl in Men’s Bathroom at AirportRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An employee of a service provider working at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and a fellow South Bay resident have been arrested and charged in a federal criminal complaint with possessing a bag containing approximately 11 kilograms (24.3 pounds) of fentanyl in an airport bathroom, where it was to be taken and transported on a Minnesota-bound flight, the Justice Department announced today.
Miguel Angel Tuz-Noh, 24, of Lennox, who works at LAX, and Anthony Olvera, 23, also of Lennox, are charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Both defendants were arrested on August 19 and made their initial appearances on August 21 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered each of them released on $10,000 bond. Their arraignments are scheduled for September 17.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Tuz-Noh is an LAX employee whom law enforcement believes has ties to a drug trafficking organization. On August 19, law enforcement observed Tuz-Noh and Olvera attempt to exchange narcotics in a men’s bathroom at one of the airport’s terminals.
Soon afterward, law enforcement detained both defendants and opened a duffle bag Olvera had carried. Inside the duffle bag were 10 brick-type packages containing a total of approximately 11 kilograms of fentanyl. Law enforcement believes Olvera had agreed to fly with the fentanyl to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
A criminal complaint contains merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants would each face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles Airport Police are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Kent M. Walters of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
Drug Trafficker Will Spend Next 24 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Anthony Bernard Coles, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 292 months in federal prison for trafficking dangerous drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Coles, also known as “Pay Day,” and “Him Him,” 39, sold methamphetamine and cocaine on multiple occasions in Harrison County. During a search of his residence, investigators seized more than 150 grams of fentanyl, a stolen 9mm Glock pistol, 9mm ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. The firearm and ammunition were found hidden inside air vents.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Department of Justice Announces Launch of National Fraud Detection Center to Combat Fraud Against Taxpayer-Funded ProgramsRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the launch of the National Fraud Detection Center (NFDC), a prosecutor-led, multi-agency team designed to investigate the most harmful actors defrauding federal government programs, including illicit actors overseas and those operating fraud schemes across federal programs. The NFDC will bring together law enforcement agencies and analytical capabilities to generate criminal leads to drive more impactful prosecutions and enhance fraud-fighting results for the American people.
“The creation of the NFDC marks a decisive shift in how the federal government detects and investigates complex fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By breaking down institutional silos, embedding analysts from across the IG community, and leveraging shared technology, the NFDC is actively closing the window of opportunity for bad actors who seek to exploit taxpayer dollars. Today’s announcement sends a clear message: if you defraud federal programs, we have the tools and the law enforcement partners to find you.”
The NFDC solves for a lack of cross-program visibility that has long hindered efforts to deter fraud on taxpayer-funded programs and has enabled some fraud actors to further perpetrate schemes across multiple taxpayer-funded programs without detection. The NFDC closes this gap by bringing partners across federal and state government together to break down silos and work collaboratively in a whole-of-government approach to eliminate fraud.
The NFDC’s success relies directly on the collaborative strength of our partners across federal and state government. The inaugural members of the NFDC include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, FinCEN, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Treasury Department, and the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Department of War Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Small Business Administration, and Social Security Administration. The NFDC presents a unified front to identify fraud across agencies and prosecute the most nefarious criminals, domestic and abroad.
The Department also extends its sincere gratitude to our state partners whose efforts further power the NFDC. We proudly acknowledge the leadership and contributions of the Secretaries of State of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina; the State Treasurers of Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina; and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. These partnerships strengthen our capacity to detect fraud and protect taxpayer dollars.
This Fraud Division initiative is being led by Acting Assistant Director Amanda Riedel of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and Acting Chief Cody Matthew Herche of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section.
For more information on the Department’s anti-fraud enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/fraud.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the 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.
Chinese National Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 94 Kilograms of MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Chinese National Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 94 Kilograms of Marijuana
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Wenjian Zhuo, age 32, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was sentenced July 28, 2026, to 27 months in prison for possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute it. Zhuo was convicted by a jury after a two-day trial in federal court in Syracuse in February.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Enforcement Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, made the announcement.
Evidence presented during the two-day trial proved that on January 22, 2025, Zhuo drove from New York City to the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation where his van was loaded with 94 kilograms (approximately 207 pounds) of marijuana. Zhuo began to transport the marijuana back to New York City where he intended to deliver it when Border Patrol pulled him over and seized the marijuana.
“Our partners at the U.S. Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration are working tirelessly to protect our nation and to crack down on those who traffic illegal drugs into our country,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This prison sentence reaffirms this administration’s commitment to stopping the flow of dangerous drugs along our northern border — and it delivers a clear message: if you push illegal substances into our communities, we will identify you, we will prosecute you, and you will face justice for your actions. Following this sentence, the Department of Homeland Security will be able to pursue action to revoke Zhuo’s legal status and begin the process of deportation. Legal immigrants who violate our laws and put Americans at risk are subject to review and potential revocation of their legal status as part of ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message to those individuals who attempt to traffic illegal marijuana across our border, that actions have consequences,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “This defendant traveled hundreds of miles to obtain and transport 94 kilos of marijuana with the intent to distribute it in New York City. The DEA New York Enforcement Division, alongside our U.S. Border Patrol and law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in securing our border and disrupting those drug trafficking individuals and organizations looking to flood our neighborhoods with illegal drugs.”In addition to the 27 months of imprisonment, United States Senior District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered that Zhuo be subject to 3 years of supervised release once released and pay a $5,000 fine.
U.S. Border Patrol and DEA investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuted the case.
Chautauqua County man pleads guilty to production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Klos, 21, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 30 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Between August 2021 and May 2024, Klos communicated with a minor victim online. In May 2024, utilizing an online chat application, he coerced the 13-year-old minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions, specifically describing the images he wanted. The minor victim, at Klos’s direction, produced and sent the images to him via the internet. A search of Klos’s cell phone recovered the images of the minor victim. In addition, Klos also enticed her to produce images of her minor sibling for his gratification.
During the investigation, Klos admitted to investigators that he engaged in multiple online relationships with other minor females, via internet chat websites or social media applications. During these communications, Klos engaged in sexually explicit conversations.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Arcara.
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Cerro Gordo County Husband & Wife Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Bruce Sogard, age 68, from Jewell, was sentenced July 1, 2026, to more than 8 years in federal prison, after a February 12, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Cheryl Zeien Sogard, age 63, from Mason City, was sentenced August 18, 2026, to more than 4 years in federal prison, after an April 20, 2026, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
Evidence in the case revealed that between January 2025, and continuing to at least September 20, 2025, Sogard and Zeien were involved in an ongoing methamphetamine distribution conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa, where the pair were obtaining multiple pounds of methamphetamine from Colorado. Law enforcement also utilized a confidential source to purchase methamphetamine on multiple occasions from Zeien and Sogard. During the execution of a search warrant on the couple’s home, law enforcement located multiple scales, packaging materials, a drug ledger, marijuana, THC gummies, and several firearms.
Sogard and Zeien were sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Sogard was sentenced to 107 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Zeien was sentenced to 59 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Sogard and Zeien are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, 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 25-3061.
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California man sentenced to more than 3 years for drug traffickingRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A California man who was found with 57 pounds of methamphetamine in his car, among other illicit drugs, was sentenced Thursday to three years and two months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Heriberto Eddie Garcia, 46, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Garcia worked for a drug trafficking organization transporting meth, cocaine, fentanyl, and cash to various western states, including Montana.
In late 2023, law enforcement learned from a source that Garcia was flying from Santa Ana, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, and then driving to Billings with a shipment of illicit drugs. At the direction of the DEA, Montana Highway Patrol troopers pulled Garcia over on Jan. 22, 2024, and with a warrant searched his car. They found 57 pounds of meth and a kilogram of cocaine. In an interview with law enforcement, Garcia said he had been in Des Moines and then South Dakota picking up money. He had travelled to Billings previously to pick up $70,000 for methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA conducted the investigation.
Broome County Man Pleads Guilty to Gun OffenseRead the Press Release
BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Bryan Nixon, age 32, of Endicott, New York pled guilty on July 27, 2026, in Syracuse, New York to possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Bryan DiGirolamo and Vestal Police Department Chief of Police Vince Stavola, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Nixon admitted that he possessed a loaded handgun in February of 2025 during a vehicle stop by police, subsequently fled, disassembled the handgun during his flight and ultimately struck another vehicle before exiting the roadway and throwing parts of the disassembled firearm into a wooded area. At the time of this offense, Nixon was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law because he had been previously convicted of a felony for attempted robbery.
When he is sentenced by Hon. Brenda K. Sannes on November 24, 2026, Nixon faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
“As alleged, Nixon knowingly possessed a firearm illegally as a previously convicted felon, and when stopped by police, fled in an attempt to evade arrest and discard the firearm,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “This Administration is committed to cracking down on repeat offenders, and with the help of our partners at the Vestal Police Department and ATF, defendants like Nixon should be on notice: repeat violent offenders carrying deadly weapons will be caught and will be prosecuted.”
Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division ATF Bryan DiGirolamo said, “Convicted felons who choose to illegally possess firearms put our communities at risk and will be held accountable. This guilty plea demonstrates the value of the close partnership between ATF, the Vestal Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Together, we will continue working to reduce violent crime.”
Vestal Police Department Chief of Police Vince Stavola said, “This incident is a prime example of why we continue to work closely with our federal partners to make sure violent offenders are held accountable. Nixon entered the Town of Vestal and put the lives of our residents, motorists, and police officers at risk without hesitation or regard for the consequences of his actions. That was clear when he illegally carried a firearm into our town, menaced a police officer, and fled from a lawful traffic stop, ultimately striking another motorist. Nixon knew what he was doing was illegal, evident by the fact that he tried to destroy evidence by dismantling and concealing the firearm. Thankfully, our federal partners were able to take action stemming from this incident, now he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.”The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Vestal Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Grabowski is prosecuting the case.
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.