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Tuesday 16 June 2026
Depew man pleads guilty to entering secure area at the Buffalo Niagara International AirportRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that that James R. Muench Jr., 45, of Depew, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. to entering aircraft or airport area, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.
According to the plea, on May 20, 2025, Muench drove his vehicle up to a closed security gate outside the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. He initially stopped at the gate, but then repeatedly rammed his vehicle into the gate, eventually bending the metal gate. Muench then drove his vehicle through the damaged and partially open gate and continued onto the aircraft operational area of the airport. Muench drove through various secure parts of the airport including the inner airfield roads, aircraft taxiways, the commercial passenger aircraft ramp area, and the active airport runways, where aircraft take off and land.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police, under the direction of Chief Brian Patterson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford.
Sentenced is scheduled for October 15, 2026, before Magistrate Judge Schroeder.
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Department of Justice Files Suit to Stop Ongoing Medicaid Fraud Related to New York’s $10 Billion Home-Care ProgramRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the State of New York Department of Health, New York State Medicaid Director Amir Bassiri, and Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), an Alpharetta, Georgia-based company that has managed New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Program (CDPAP) since 2025.
“New York’s backroom deal with PPL has cost taxpayers millions of dollars and cast countless Medicaid patients to the curb,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s action is the latest reminder that the Justice Department is mobilizing every available tool to protect taxpayer-funded programs from fraud and corruption.”
“One of the Justice Department’s key priorities is protecting the public fisc and delivering savings to American taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “New York’s failure to police a favored vendor that unlawfully siphoned millions of dollars of Medicaid funding is egregious and betrays the public trust. The Justice Department is acting to ensure that federal laws regarding truthful statements and fair dealing in federal health care programs are upheld and to prevent additional harm from being exacted against the public by Public Partnerships LLC and New York.”
The lawsuit aims to stop an alleged fraud scheme by which PPL has generated millions of dollars in unauthorized profits funded by federal taxpayers in connection with its takeover of New York’s $10 billion-dollar CDPAP program. The lawsuit alleges that the New York Department of Health awarded PPL the lucrative CDPAP contract after conducting a sham bid process, and then, despite learning of PPL’s intent to deviate from the representations made in its bid and violate the financial terms of the contract, failed to take action to hold PPL accountable and to protect public funds from misuse, resulting in a fraud scheme that remains unchecked to this day. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin all defendants from making further misrepresentations about the CDPAP program and from charging American taxpayers millions of dollars unauthorized by the contract.
CDPAP is a Medicaid program that provides home care through lay caregivers to Medicaid patients with disabilities or significant medical needs. In spring 2024, the New York Legislature passed a statute that consolidated the management of CDPAP from hundreds of pre-existing “fiscal intermediaries” to a single fiscal intermediary, setting up one of the most lucrative contracts for administering a Medicaid program in the nation. The lawsuit alleges that although New York purported to conduct a fair bidding process to select the single fiscal intermediary during summer 2024, New York pre-selected PPL for the billion-dollar contract by conducting a sham bid process that resulted in PPL being awarded the contract in late 2024.
The lawsuit further alleges that PPL and New York repeatedly made knowing misrepresentations to the public concerning the date by which PPL’s transition could be completed, intentionally concealing that, since the contract’s inception, both PPL and New York were aware that the transition would likely not be complete by April 1, 2025 – the contractually designated transition date – and would result in severe disruptions to patient care and harm to patients across the state. Worse yet, PPL and New York, without explanation, have disregarded key limits the contract imposed on the revenues and profits PPL was entitled to receive under the contract – limits that were central to the goal of saving hundreds of millions of dollars through the CDPAP transition.
Instead of ensuring that PPL complied with the contract and protecting the American taxpayers, New York has permitted PPL to raid the CDPAP program of millions of dollars in excess revenues, billing at hourly rates in excess of those anticipated by New York prior to the contract award. As a result of PPL’s self-dealing and New York’s failure to require it to comply with the terms of the contract, the purported cost savings that the CDPAP transition was to provide largely have been erased. To date, New York and PPL repeatedly and willfully have misled the public and the New York Legislature concerning important aspects of the CDPAP transition, including, without limitation, the gross mismanagement of the program by PPL and New York.
This case was investigated by the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch. This case is being litigated by Assistant Director Patrick Runkle and Trial Attorneys Francisco Unger and Shimeng Zhang.
D.C. Man Sentenced to Five Years for Armed Carjacking in Columbia HeightsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Avery Ricardo Robinson III, 26, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in connection with an armed carjacking last year in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Robinson carjacked his victim for sport. He terrorized his victim at gunpoint, left his victim with a death threat ringing in his ears, and then abandoned his victim’s stolen vehicle only a mile away,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office will continue to pursue serious sentences for defendants who treat their neighbors as prey.”
Robinson pleaded guilty March 10, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Loren L. AliKhan to one count of carjacking. In addition to the five-year prison term, Judge AliKhan ordered Robinson to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 72-month prison term.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, 2025, in the early morning hours, the victim parked a 2017 Nissan Altima near the 1400 block of Park Road NW. Robinson rode up on a bicycle, pulled a firearm from his waistband, and demanded the victim's possessions.
Robinson forced the victim at gunpoint to throw his cellphone to the ground, hand over the car keys, and remove a necklace from his own neck. Robinson then warned the victim he would shoot him if he saw him again. Left with no phone and no transportation, the victim walked away.
Robinson used the keys he had taken from the victim to get into the Nissan Altima and drive off. Police recovered the vehicle about a mile from the scene. Two days later, when Robinson was arrested, he was found in possession of a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber.
At the time of the carjacking, Robinson was on bench warrant status in connection with two separate cases involving stolen vehicles. He previously was convicted in 2025 of unlawful taking of a motor vehicle in Maryland.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney.
Surveillance cameras captured the carjacking on video. In this picture, Robinson holds a firearm in his right hand as he reaches towards his victim.
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Crescent City Man Charged with Threatening to Kill the PresidentRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Ryan Brown (27, Crescent City) has been charged by indictment with two counts of threatening to kill the President of the United States. If convicted of both counts, Brown faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on April 16, 2026, Brown transmitted an online message to “whitehouse.gov,” directed to the President, in which he threatened to blow up the White House in one week’s time. Subsequently, on May 25, 2026, Brown sent another message to “whitehouse.gov” stating, in part, that he would kill the President in cold blood.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.
Corvallis Man Sentenced to Almost 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—A Corvallis, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and for violating his supervised release on a prior federal case, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
Blaine Garrett Reposa, 41, was sentenced to a total of 234 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release.
“This repeat offender has continued to exploit and victimize children who have already endured profound abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be held accountable.”
“Today’s sentence is representative of the FBI and our partners’ commitment to pursuing child sex offenders through investigative tenacity and teamwork,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “We work tirelessly with our partners, as we did here with the Corvallis Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, to bring offenders like Blaine Reposa to justice, and to give victims an opportunity to heal. These types of crimes have no place in our community.”
According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at Reposa’s residence in October 2024 after the Corvallis Police Department learned that Reposa was uploading CSAM. Detectives seized multiple devices from Reposa’s residence. One smartphone contained more than 6,000 images and more than 2,500 videos of CSAM, mostly of male minors, including infants and toddlers. Another smartphone revealed additional evidence with searches for CSAM, more than 300 images, and 20 videos of CSAM.
Between May and July 2024, Reposa sent CSAM to nine different users on Session, a messaging platform. In October 2024, Reposa sent a Telegram user almost 40 videos of CSAM.
On September 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a three-count indictment charging Reposa with distribution of child pornography.
On March 10, 2026, Reposa pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment charging distribution of child pornography.
The FBI and Corvallis Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet prosecuted the case.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Contractor Charged with $188K in Bank Fraud Scheme Using Fabricated Lien WaiversRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Richard Turner, 38, of Yorktown, Indiana, has been charged in a federal indictment alleging nine counts of bank fraud.
According to court documents, Turner worked as a general contractor and owned Turner Remodeling LLC. In March 2025, Company A, a healthcare facility in Muncie, Indiana, hired Turner for an expansion and renovation project. On April 5, 2024, Company A obtained a construction loan of approximately $785,225 from Bank A to pay Turner and his business for the work. Under the loan agreement, Bank A would release funds only after Turner submitted lien waivers certifying that he had paid subcontractors for their services, including plumbing and electrical work not performed by Turner Remodeling LLC.
Instead, Turner allegedly submitted falsified lien waivers to Bank A, claiming that five subcontractors had completed work they did not perform. He is also accused of forging subcontractors’ signatures—individuals who never agreed to perform the renovations. After receiving funds from the bank, Turner allegedly used the money for personal expenses, including gambling. In total, he is accused of stealing $188,000 through the submission of nine fraudulent lien waivers.
FBI Indianapolis’ Muncie Resident Agency is investigating this case. If convicted, Turner will be sentenced by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who is prosecuting this case.
An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Complaint Filed Seeking to Revoke the Naturalization of Indian NationalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Yesterday, the District of Oregon filed a civil denaturalization complaint against a native of India who illegally procured his citizenship by lying about his identity and immigration history.
According to court documents, Jaswinder Singh, a.k.a. Balwinder Singh, 54, applied for an immigration benefit in August 1990 under the name Balwinder Singh. In November 1990 an immigration judge denied the application and ordered Singh to be deported from the United States. After unsuccessfully appealing, Singh was ordered to surrender in July 1993, but failed to do so.
In November 1994, using a second identity, Jaswinder Singh, Singh filed a second application for an immigration benefit. Singh provided a different identity, date of birth, and date of entry to the United States. In August 2003, an immigration judge issued an order granting Singh’s application. After certifying under penalty of perjury the information provided was true, Singh became a permanent resident.
Singh signed his naturalization application under penalty of perjury certifying that the application and the evidence submitted with it were all true and correct and on June 3, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved the naturalization application.
The complaint charges Singh with illegal procurement of naturalization because he was not lawfully admitted for permanent resident status and because he provided false testimony in his naturalization interview. The complaint also charges that Singh procured citizenship through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. The Immigration and Nationality Act requires the U.S. District Court to revoke Singh’s naturalization if it finds him liable on any of the charges.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security.
The claims in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Role in Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy Case Brought by HSTFRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal prison term in connection with his leadership role in a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme.Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Yahya Sowe, 42, of College Park, to 114 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to engage in a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. Additionally, Judge Maddox ordered Sowe to pay $13,050,827.03 in restitution, and to forfeit $1 million. Sowe, who pled guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy on December 15, 2025, admitted that more than $11 million in money laundering occurred pursuant to his management or supervisory role in the conspiracy.
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; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud along with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
According to court documents, beginning in 2021, and continuing until his arrest in February 2024, Sowe conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of multiple frauds, including business email compromise schemes.
The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others.
Sowe and his co-conspirators used and controlled several different encrypted electronic communication accounts, which they used in furtherance of the money laundering and to supervise and manage the members of the conspiracy. The co-conspirators worked with each other to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts in the name of shell entities; and launder fraud proceeds.
Pursuant to the conspiracy, the co-conspirators often engaged in multiple financial transactions in quick succession, frequently layering wire-fraud proceeds in multiple subsequent transactions. These financial transactions made it more difficult for the victims and law enforcement to recover the fraud proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland previously charged 14 defendants in connection with the money laundering conspiracy – 13 already pled guilty. Faizou Gnora, 28, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice.
The District Court previously sentenced:
- Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, Maryland, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $1,247,950, and a forfeiture of $431,750;
- Victor Killen, 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $7,070,656.46, and a $3 million forfeiture order;
- Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, Maryland, to 72 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, along with restitution of $2,938,424.65, and a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture;
- Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33, to 40 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $5,648,816.23;
- Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, and restitution of $8,306,930.95;
- Martin Ogisi, 37, of Severn, Maryland, to 33 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $11,077,044.17;
- Kevin Colon, 34, of Curtis Bay, Maryland, to 27 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and restitution of $2,515,159.63;
- Areal Harris, 27, of Hanover, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $3,159,482.83;
- Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Washington, DC, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $1,473,125.58;
- Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $733,941.48.
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.
This prosecution is also part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation, and praised the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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- Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, Maryland, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $1,247,950, and a forfeiture of $431,750;
Burlington Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing 9.5 Pounds MethRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on June 10, 2026, to 10 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, in March 2024, law enforcement encountered Michael Alexander Patoir, 48, during a traffic stop. Patoir was in possession of more than nine and a half pounds of methamphetamine in the backseat of his vehicle.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Patoir will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines County Sheriff's Office and the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force investigated the case.
Buffalo man pleads guilty to drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anthony Franklin, 44, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life and a $5,000,000 fine.
On July 22, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Franklin’s Highview Road residence, seizing approximately 254 grams of crack cocaine, 121 grams of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, three firearms, ammunition, and a loaded magazine. Also on July 22, 2025, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop of Franklin’s vehicle. He failed to stop, sped away and fled the area. Franklin’s vehicle was later found on Rich Street in Buffalo, and he was apprehended shortly after.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.
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Buffalo man going to prison for more than 16 years for selling cocaine that resulted in a death and serious bodily injuryRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Theodore Hill a/k/a Ty, 28, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of distribution of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 200 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
On December 5, 2023, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Hill sold cocaine to an individual identified as M.M. On December 9, 2023, Buffalo Police responded to a report of suspected drug overdoses at M.M.’s residence. M.M. was discovered deceased and it appeared that he had been deceased for at least over 24 hours. A second individual, R.H., was discovered unresponsive, lying on the floor next to M.M. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition. R.H. sustained serious, long-term injuries as a result of the overdose.
On January 25, March 2, and March 15, 2024, Buffalo Police conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Hill, contacting him at the same number that M.M. used. On March 24, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Clemo Street residence, during which law enforcement seized quantities of cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
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Broken Arrow Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Justin Michael Hunter, age 38, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Hunter with knowingly possessing one 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 35 rounds of 9mm ammunition on June 18, 2025, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department.
The Honorable D. Eward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hunter was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Brockton Woman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds in Connection with Stolen $931,000 Tax Refund CheckRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Brockton woman pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026 in federal court in Boston to stealing a nearly $1 million United States Treasury tax refund check.
Lana Ruel, 70, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 1, 2026. In December 2025, Ruel was arrested and charged.
Ruel attempted to deposit a United States Treasury tax refund check issued to a healthcare company in Brooklyn, New York. Prior to the attempted deposit, Ruel incorporated a company in Massachusetts and opened a bank account in the same name of the healthcare company that was the payee on the tax refund check. After the attempted deposit, the bank froze Ruel’s account. Ruel then called the bank and said that she could “explain what the check was, where it came from, and what it’s for…”
Over a period of two years, Ruel created four additional companies in Massachusetts that did not have a legitimate business purpose. For one of those companies, Ruel opened an account at approximately 10 different banks. Ruel also received wire transfers in some of the accounts and then wired the funds to different accounts or made cash withdrawals. The banks have closed all these accounts.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is 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.
Bowling Green Man Sentenced to 13 1/2 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced on June 8, 2026, to 13 and a half years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking and firearm offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.
Steven Wayne Dye, Jr., 38, was sentenced to 13 1/2 years in federal prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for possessing with the intent to distribute 176.5 grams of methamphetamine, possessing a handgun as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Dye was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses:
On July 24, 2023, in Simpson Circuit Court, Dye was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (two counts), firearm enhanced trafficking in marijuana, receiving stolen property, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, enhanced second degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and first-degree promoting contraband.United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Just three years ago, Dye was convicted of significant drug trafficking and firearm felonies in Simpson Circuit Court. His conviction and sentence didn’t get his attention; he returned to Simpson County armed with a firearm and continued to push poison into the community. Now, because of extraordinary coordination between the ATF and KSP, Dye will be serving 13 1/2 years in federal prison. Let this be a lesson to others with a callous disregard for the safety of our communities: if you don’t change your ways, law enforcement will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Horbert stated, “Steven Dye disregarded the law and chose to deal in dangerous weapons and narcotics. Because of those decisions, he will now serve a lengthy sentence in federal prison. ATF proudly partnered with Kentucky State Police and the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure the community’s safety from this offender and will continue to pursue those who blatantly violate federal firearms and narcotics laws.”
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. stated, “Strong collaborations with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the ATF and our law enforcement partners are essential to protecting Kentuckians. This defendant showed a blatant disregard for public safety, and the successful dismantling of this narcotics operation was made possible through these partnerships. I commend everyone involved for their tireless efforts to hold criminals accountable and keep our communities safe.”
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the Bowling Green office, prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Athens Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Athens, Illinois, man, Christopher Wagy, 28, was sentenced on June 9, 2026, to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government established that Wagy had purchased multiple cellular phones for a minor child in another state and directed her to take explicit photos of herself. Wagy then shared those images on the internet. The government also noted that Wagy continued this conduct despite attempted intervention by the victim’s family and law enforcement.
During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless found that Wagy’s clear pattern of behavior showed he presented a risk of reoffending and that the sentence imposed was necessary to protect the public.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Wagy in July 2025, and he pleaded guilty to all four counts of the indictment in December 2025.
The statutory penalties for sexual exploitation of a child are 15 to 30 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are five to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years up to a lifetime of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
“A sentence of 28 years ensures that this defendant will not be able to prey upon other young children,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “While no sentence can undo what has happened to these victims, our Office will continue to seek justice by prosecuting those who take advantage of our most vulnerable population.”
“This defendant went to great lengths to target and manipulate a vulnerable child despite repeated warnings from law enforcement and the victim's family,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Preseley. “A 28-year sentence ensures that his defiant and predatory behavior is permanently halted. This case is a powerful example of how the FBI works seamlessly with our partners throughout the United States to protect children, no matter where the predator is located.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case along with Goodyear Arizona Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Maryland. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner K. Jacobs and Mary Beth Rodgers represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Wagy was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Albany Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Following a Multinational InvestigationRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.—An Albany, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while still on probation for a 2014 state conviction for child sexual abuse.
Matthew Lynn Windom, 55, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and a life term of supervised release.
“The successful identification of this repeat offender demonstrates the power of international partnerships in combatting crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “My office will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state, federal, and international partners to identify, locate, and prosecute those who exploit our most vulnerable population and ensure justice for every child.”
“Children are among our most precious and vulnerable members of society,” said Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “We hope this sentence makes clear that the possession of child sexual abuse material—or any form of child exploitation—will be met with serious consequences. HSI remains committed to relentlessly investigating and pursuing those who commit these crimes.”
According to court documents, a multinational investigation revealed Windom potentially possessed and shared CSAM on the New Zealand-based platform “Mega.” Investigators first obtained and executed a search warrant on Windom’s home, where they found digital devices and stories about child sex abuse and a duffel bag with children’s underwear. No CSAM was found on the seized devices, but investigators later executed a search warrant on one of Windom’s email accounts. He was found to be in possession of CSAM and was arrested pursuant to a federal complaint on Jan. 8, 2025.
On Feb. 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Windom with possession of child pornography. Windom pleaded guilty on March 10, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
HSI investigated the case, which originated from a lead generated by Australia’s New South Wales Police Force and the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. The Albany Police Department supported HSI’s execution of the federal search warrant. Assistant United States Attorney William M. McLaren prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to contact HSI at (866) 347-2423 or submit a tip online at report.cybertip.org.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty of Conspiracy, False Distress Signals, and False StatementsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SETH EMDE (“SETH”), age 23, resident of Randolph County, Alabama, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026, to conspiracy to commit a federal offense against or defraud the United States or an agency thereof, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; and communication of a false distress message to the United States Coast Guard, in violation of Title 24, United States Code, Section 521(c) announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, Melvin Emde, the father of SETH EMDE, attempted to evade prosecution in North Carolina, where he had been charged with a sex crime. Facing that pending case, Melvin Emde and SETH EMDE devised a plan to stage Melvin Emde’s death to avoid further legal proceedings. On August 7, 2023, the two men created a false report claiming that Melvin Emde had fallen into the Mississippi River during a fishing trip. SETH EMDE placed a 911 call asserting that his father had gone overboard, prompting a significant response by the United States Coast Guard. Subsequent investigation revealed that the distress report was fabricated and that both Melvin Emde and SETH EMDE knowingly provided false information as part of the scheme to help Melvin Emde avoid prosecution.
At sentencing, which is set for September 16, 2026, SETH faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment for the conspiracy count and a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment for communicating a false distress signal. Each offense also carries a potential supervised release term of up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000, along with a mandatory special assessment.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Coast Guard - Investigative Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Afghan National Accused in Ambush Killing of National Guard Member Near White House Is Indicted on Additional Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, an Afghan national accused in the November ambush shooting of National Guardsmen near the White House, was charged today in a 17-count Superseding Indictment filed in U.S. District Court, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed in the shooting. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was seriously injured. Two additional Guardsmen were wounded in the attack.
“Sarah Beckstrom was 20 years old, serving her country in the nation's capital, when Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly drove across the country and executed her in cold blood steps from the White House,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “That is not just a crime, it is a major offense against the United States. We will pursue every penalty the law permits as we seek justice for Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.”
The new charges involving the murder of Beckstrom are eligible for the imposition of the death penalty. The grand jury also returned several special findings that will trigger review by the Department of Justice’s Capital Case Committee to determine whether the Department will seek the death penalty.
Lakanwal was arraigned on the Superseding Indictment today before U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta.
Lakanwal remains charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of the D.C. Code.
According to court documents, Lakanwal allegedly drove his Toyota Prius from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to the District of Columbia, while in possession of a stolen firearm.
On November 26, at about 2:13 p.m., Lakanwal opened fire without provocation at 17th and I Streets, NW, near the Farragut West Metro Station, shooting Beckstrom and Wolfe in their heads. Two officers in the National Guard who were nearby subdued the suspect.
At the scene, investigators recovered a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that had been reported stolen in Seattle in 2023.
Beckstrom, who was serving in the West Virginia National Guard, succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving, November 27. Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 25, of Martinsburg, W. Va., continues to recover from his injuries.
Joining the U.S. Attorney in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox and Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
The charges in an Indictment are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, IndictedRead the Press Release
Note: View indictment here.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges.
“As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.”
“The arrests of these rioters is a win for law and order. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “We have ZERO tolerance for violence against our law enforcement. If you assault or obstruct law enforcement, you will face the consequences.”
“For those who choose to threaten or harm federal officers, the Department of Justice will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “The direct actions alleged in the indictment are un-American. And they will be met with swift justice.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough investigation into a deeply troubling trend: coordinated violence targeting federal law enforcement officers in an effort to cause chaos and impede law enforcement operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of HSI St. Paul. “We have uncovered evidence of organized groups deliberately planning and executing criminal acts, including assaults, threats, destruction of government property, and attempts to impede federal officers. We fully respect and defend the First Amendment right to peaceful protest. However, when protest crosses the line into violence or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and will not be tolerated. Our message is clear: you may disagree with the laws, and you have the right to protest them, but you must abide by them or face the consequences. The law is not optional, and any attempt to undermine it through violence or intimidation will be met with swift and decisive action.”
“The charges unsealed today in the District of Minnesota are directly in line with Joint Task Force Vanguard’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to counter groups that use violence and the threat of violence to achieve political ends,” said Co-Director Brian Lynch of Joint Task Force Vanguard. “Acts of political violence are priority matters for federal law enforcement and will be zealously investigated and prosecuted.”
An eight-count indictment charges 15 members and associates of the DAMN for a broad range of crimes including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
As outlined in the indictment, DAMN is an organization dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement. Direct action refers to disruptive and obstructive tactics used by participants to forcibly challenge, block, or stop immigration raids, detentions, and deportations. DAMN describes itself as “…a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly.” DAMN also trains its members in the use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, event planning, role differentiation, and rapid mass mobilization against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions.
DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-groups, such as the Black Cat Worker’s Collective, Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and other organizations.
Many self-proclaimed “antifascist” or “Antifa” groups in the United States exist at the local level, in small units called affinity groups. Antifa groups frequently blend anarchist and communist views. The Black Cat Worker’s Collective (BCWC) is a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution. Militant class struggle includes disrupting rallies, digital campaigning, community organizing, and physical confrontation, often justified as collective self-defense. BCWC members advocate, promote, and utilize militant tactics and violence. BCWC members are intricately involved in the planning and execution of direct actions. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club is another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to “community self-defense.”
The Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page described that, “The Black Cat Worker’s Collective is a class struggle anarchist organization committed to workplace struggle, housing justice, community self-defense, internationalism, and revolution.”
On February 5, Kyle Wagner was arrested in Minneapolis for doxxing a federal agent in the Eastern District of Michigan. When he was arrested, Wagner wore a sweatshirt that had “I’m Antifa!” on the front. Law enforcement recovered several Antifa patches in Wagner’s residence. See below.
Antifa patches recovered by law enforcement at Wagner’s residence.
Wagner being arrested.
DAMN members worked closely with rapid response networks (RRNs) to identify and harass federal immigration and law enforcement officers in order to harass and prevent officers from performing their official duties. RRNs are “inherently militant” with the “explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.”
DAMN worked closely with other direct action groups, Antifa affinity groups, RRNs, and other organizations to plan for and execute certain direct actions. DAMN infiltrated and exploited lawful protests to more efficiently carry out its direct actions targeting operations involving ICE as well as supporting federal and state law enforcement. DAMN relied upon otherwise lawful protesters and “strength in numbers” to distract law enforcement and enable DAMN members to carry out its direct action operations.
DAMN members almost exclusively communicate on Signal Messenger, which is an encrypted message application. DAMN members often organize themselves into different sub-groups on Signal Messenger based on their roles and responsibilities.
DAMN members hold meetings on a regular basis. DAMN members advocate and practice “operational security” or “OPSEC.” For example, DAMN members collect cell phones prior to meetings to prevent recordings.
DAMN members organized and participated in direct actions against federal and local law enforcement on Jan. 23 and March 1. DAMN members deployed “hard” and “soft” blockades against federal law and immigration enforcement as well as against Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies during both of the direct actions. DAMN successfully shut down operations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Whipple Building), during both direct actions.
Members of DAMN’s “hard blockade” team used vehicles, trailers, Czech hedgehogs (a static obstacle made of metal angle beams), and other items to obstruct the roads used by law enforcement near the Whipple Building to impede the movement of federal law enforcement and immigration officers. See below for examples of items used for “hard blockade” during the January 23 and March 1 direct actions.
A flipped trailer used by DAMN during a blockade.
Debris and a Czech hedgehog used by DAMN during a blockade.
Members of the “soft blockade” team wield homemade shields constructed from plastic, wood, and metal to physically resist the efforts of law enforcement, and to aggressively “wedge” or break through teams of officers on foot. See below for one of the “soft blockades” that was set up on March 1.
“Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1.“Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1.
DAMN members engage in “commuting” tactics, which include identifying, following, surveilling, harassing, and confronting federal immigration enforcement with the goal of preventing, hindering, delaying, and impeding the enforcement of federal immigration law. DAMN members use the Whipple Watch Signal group chat, which facilitated the identification of federal immigration and law enforcement vehicles and documents identifying information, such as license plate numbers, in databases. The databases include information like whether a vehicle has been identified as belonging to federal law enforcement, when it was last seen, how many times it was seen, the kinds of activities it was engaged in, if it was in a caravan, and if someone saw federal agents with tactical gear inside, all to help determine how aggressive the response to that particular vehicle should be. DAMN members often rely on information and intelligence produced by the Whipple Watch and other Signal group chats to target, harass, and confront federal immigration and law enforcement officers. Once someone relays information about a federal immigration or law enforcement officer’s location, “dispatchers” relay “verified” information to “commuters,” who deploy to the identified area to interfere with, prevent, hinder, delay, impede, and directly confront federal immigration enforcement, including “de-arresting” people that federal law enforcement have arrested.
“Commuters” follow federal immigration enforcement officers from locations, like the Whipple Building, to the officers’ residences and other locations. “Commuters” often work with “co-pilots,” who communicate with “dispatchers” in real-time. “Dispatchers” relay identifying information about immigration and law enforcement vehicles to “commuters” and “co-pilots.” DAMN members often engage in “commuting” tactics with other members.
For example, on May 4, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Isaac Sant drove a Hyundai Sonata and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. St. Croix County deputies stopped the Hyundai Sonata in Hudson, Wisconsin, and identified Sant as the driver.
On May 18, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Natasha Rakotz drove a Honda Civic and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area of Minnesota State Highway 55 and Minnesota State Highway 5. Rakotz “brake checked” the officer and “side swiped” the officer’s vehicle, causing a collision.
Below is an image of Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into the federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.
Image of Natasha Rakotz trying to ram her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.
On May 15, an unindicted coconspirator sent a message describing a HSI agent’s government-issued vehicle as well as his license plate number in the “Whipple 3.0” Signal group chat. The unindicted coconspirator described the government-issued vehicle having a “reflective hat & vest on dash.” In the same chat, an unindicted coconspirator referred a different government-issued vehicle in the area (Government Vehicle 2) and stated, “This vehicle was confirmed at whip and hasn’t been added to the DB (database) – currently near the 28th and Bloom situation.” DAMN member Isaac sant sent a message in the “DAMN” Signal group chat, stating, “Alerta alerta: There’s an ICE raid in progress RIGHT NOW at 28th and Bloomington. Ford F150…” Sant provided the license plate number for the government-issued vehicle and continued, “three agents out of vehicle. I am not on scene. Get over there if you can!” DAMN member Brian Apland responded, “Omw (on my way).” At this time, HSI agents were performing their duties and conducting interviews. DAMN member William Morgan showed up to the scene and approached one of the agents and knocked the agent’s notes out of his hand. Morgan also kicked the government-issued vehicle, causing dents. Isaac Sant was also present at the scene. Below is the damage to the government-issued vehicle.
Government vehicle damaged by member of DAMN.
Below is an image of William Morgan and Isaac Sant on the scene.
A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle.
A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle.
DAMN members trained other direct action and Antifa affinity groups throughout the country about how to forcibly obstruct, prevent, delay, hinder, and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. These trainings were referred to as the “Anarchist Speaking Tour.” DAMN members provided training and best practice at “Anarchist Speaking Tour” events in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle in April 2026.
On April 8, DAMN members Callum Robinet, William Morgan, and others took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robinet explained to the participants that, “So this is an anarchist speaking tour. We’re all anarchists.”
On April 18, DAMN members Isaac Sant, Cameron Kennedy, and William Morgan took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Seattle, Washington. Kennedy described the history of violent resistance in Minneapolis. He described the looting and burning of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct as “the happiest moment of my life.” Kennedy explained, “A lot of mutual aid networks that were later characterized…this resistance to ICE came from the George Floyd uprising.” Kennedy described himself as a “revolutionary anarchist.”
Kennedy discussed the Jan. 23 direct action at the Whipple Building, stating that DAMN utilized a “soft blockade with shields at one entrance. He continued that there were “two other deployment teams…those deployment teams had trailers that they had bought off of Facebook Marketplace for really cheap and they essentially tried to blockade the other entrances simultaneously with this blockade (pointed to soft blockade on the projector). One of those trailers was deployed and flipped and successfully shut access. The other was about 30 seconds away from successful deployment before the team was actually pepper sprayed. They managed to avoid arrest…and they managed to drive away, albeit losing the trailer in the process.”
Kennedy also spoke about the direct action at the Whipple Building on March 1. Kennedy pointed to a projector screen and said, “the one you see over here is another shield wall on March 1st.” He continued, “this demonstration had four components to it. There was a above ground march that was led by indigenous sundancers that would take up gate one of the Whipple Building and the others were designed to essentially shut down the other two points of egress…there was 3 deployment teams. The first deployment team brought in shields.” The second deployment team “was sent in and they had something to be like tank busters…” Kennedy described these items as similar to “images of like D-Day, they’re like the metal X structures that you see and actually when the vehicles hit them, it digs back into the road and will stop the vehicle.” Kennedy explained, “I was on deploy 2 or deploy 3 and I had a 10-foot U-Haul box truck and a 30-foot trailer that I was going to use to block one of the entrances.”
Isaac Sant said, “We’re here from Minneapolis. We’re on tour to talk about our experiences resisting the ICE occupation.” He stated, “I think the Twin Cities real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization is these rapid response networks.” Sant stated, “I am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It’s called Blackcat.”
During the event, Sant discussed the logistics of “commuters,” who follow, harass, and confront federal immigration enforcement vehicles. Sant described, “…commuters were on a phone call in real time with a dispatcher who was somewhere with a dispatcher who was somewhere in the privacy of her own room reporting on like that convoys movements. That dispatcher was in a relay chat that allowed for communication between the Elliott Park and the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood…” Sant further explained, “We don’t recommend that anybody ever commute or control by yourself because it’s an inherently dangerous thing. So you always want to do that with a buddy who’s your copilot. So like you’re driving and looking for ice, your co-pilots on the phone talking to dispatch and however many other commuters on a Signal call…you might ask that dispatcher for plate checks, like they’re looking at a database of license plates and you’re not. And you might be like, so a lot of like your day and you’re like, hey I wonder if that’s ICE…And like you see a suspicious looking white Jeep Wagoneer, your copilot like reports a dispatch…and then you follow that car until you can’t anymore.” Sant then described Whipple Watch as a “counter surveillance project,” stating, “This is a very like boring and unglamorous and unsexy side of our work, but basically what I and my comrades do is we go down to Whipple building and hang out there all day and photograph every ICE vehicle that’s coming in and out of the vehicle.” Sant continued that, “Now in April and we have it down to a science and it’s more or less instantaneous. We maintain a searchable database in conjunction with data collection group called Defrost that’s publicly searchable on a website…Defrost is the list of every vehicle that we’ve ever seen ICE in make and model plates and like where and how many times it’s been spotted…So what we’ve started to experiment with now is we maintain a second database that’s only current plates. We erase it at the end of every night and we refresh it the next morning…and hot dishes is just a database of like all the active plates that left Whipple that day. So commuters can know like what we’re, we have confirmed on the road at the moment….What we do is, I mean we have a two fold motive of like getting their plates and blasting those out to all the neighborhoods and also just like wasting their time and resources.”
DAMN members emphasize a violent, militant approach and are highly critical of the non-violent, peaceful protests. DAMN members often advocate, promote, and celebrate violent resistance to purported fascist groups and the government.
For example, the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook cover page reads “Welcome to Minneapolis!” and has an image of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct in the background. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was burnt down and destroyed during the riots following the death of George Floyd. Stillshot from the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page below.
Screenshot of the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page.
On Feb. 5, Cameron Kennedy posted on Facebook, “I swear I’m going to lose my f*****g mind if I see that ‘if 3.5% of the population is committed to peaceful revolution, they win’ bulls**t…It’s given far to (sic) many well meaning people, a fake a** idea of what it takes to win. It has folks attacking militant elements of the resistance and aiding the state against them because they think violence or even property destruction is counter revolutionary. They could not be more wrong. I want to make this as clear as I can: YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a f*****g fairytale…” See post below.
Facebook post by Cameron Kennedy.
On Jan. 24, Kyle Wagner posted a video on his Instagram account “kaos.follows,” while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Wagner admitted to being Antifa. Wagner stated, “[I]f you are [caught up], it’s time to suit up. Boots on the ground. Nicollet and f*****g 26th. My house is four blocks away. Anywhere between Franklin and Nicollet, and 26th and Nicollet, show up ready to go. Okay, no, not talking about peaceful protests anymore. We’re not talking about having polite conversations anymore…This is exactly what I said was going to f****** come when we didn’t f****** go march on f****** Whipple with guns. Sorry but welcome to America 2026 where the Second Amendment is the only thing that’s going to keep you f****** protected from literal f****** Nazi gun men that are killing innocent people in the street with impunity. This is not a f****** joke. There’s nothing fun to chant about it. Get your f****** guns and stop these f****** people.” Stillshot of Wagner from the video below.
Screenshot of Kyle Wagner in a video from his Instagram page.
The following defendants are named in the DAMN indictment:
- Isaac Auman Sant, also known as “Isaac Dalto” and “Ike,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Interstate Stalking.
- Emmett James Doyle, also known as “Plotnikov,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Cameron Kennedy, also known as “Cam,” “Olive Knite,” and “Knite,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Callum Robinet, also known as “Juliet K,” “Juliet,” and “Cal,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Erik Davis, also known as “Errico,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Brian Stillwell Apland, also known as “Tiny,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Kyle Wagner, also known as “Kaos,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Interstate Threats.
- Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davis, also known as “Gabriel Van De Water” and “Nube,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Treasure Cay Thoreson, also known as “Schatzi,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Nathan Junho Kim, also known as “Moon Bear,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Alec Stewart, also known as “Mac,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Douglas Misterek, also known as “Doug” and “D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Dustin Scott Beisell, also known as “Sparky,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- William Morgan, also known as “Willow” and “Willow Tree,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Interstate Stalking, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Destruction of Government Property.
- Natasha Rakotz, also known as “Anuran,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Assault on a Federal Officer.
This case was investigated by HSI.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
15 Members of Direct Action Minnesota, a Minneapolis-Based Direct Action Group with Antifa Ties, IndictedRead the Press Release
Note: View indictment here.
The Justice Department today announced that 15 members and associates of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN) have been charged with various federal crimes, including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
Over the last 24 hours, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a coordinated law enforcement operation culminating in the arrest of 12 DAMN members. Two DAMN members are at-large, and one was previously in federal custody on separate charges.
“As alleged, these defendants, which included members of Antifa groups, engaged in an unrelenting campaign of harassment and violence targeting federal and local law enforcement,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their actions created a dangerous environment that threatened not only their intended targets, but the community as a whole. These arrests demonstrate the Department’s commitment to law and order and stopping organized political violence in Minneapolis and beyond.”
“The arrests of these rioters is a win for law and order. If you lay a hand on law enforcement, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “We have ZERO tolerance for violence against our law enforcement. If you assault or obstruct law enforcement, you will face the consequences.”
“For those who choose to threaten or harm federal officers, the Department of Justice will hold you accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “The direct actions alleged in the indictment are un-American. And they will be met with swift justice.”
“Today’s announcement is the result of a thorough investigation into a deeply troubling trend: coordinated violence targeting federal law enforcement officers in an effort to cause chaos and impede law enforcement operations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of HSI St. Paul. “We have uncovered evidence of organized groups deliberately planning and executing criminal acts, including assaults, threats, destruction of government property, and attempts to impede federal officers. We fully respect and defend the First Amendment right to peaceful protest. However, when protest crosses the line into violence or criminal activity, it becomes unlawful and will not be tolerated. Our message is clear: you may disagree with the laws, and you have the right to protest them, but you must abide by them or face the consequences. The law is not optional, and any attempt to undermine it through violence or intimidation will be met with swift and decisive action.”
“The charges unsealed today in the District of Minnesota are directly in line with Joint Task Force Vanguard’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to counter groups that use violence and the threat of violence to achieve political ends,” said Co-Director Brian Lynch of Joint Task Force Vanguard. “Acts of political violence are priority matters for federal law enforcement and will be zealously investigated and prosecuted.”
An eight-count indictment charges 15 members and associates of the DAMN for a broad range of crimes including conspiracy to impede a federal officer, multiple counts of interstate stalking, interstate threats, solicitation to commit a crime of violence, multiple counts of assault on a federal officer, and destruction of government property.
As outlined in the indictment, DAMN is an organization dedicated and committed to direct action against federal law and immigration enforcement. Direct action refers to disruptive and obstructive tactics used by participants to forcibly challenge, block, or stop immigration raids, detentions, and deportations. DAMN describes itself as “…a decentralized coalition of working-class people engaged in various forms of community defense against the current Federal Occupation happening within the wider metro area, and against state and a far-right violence more broadly.” DAMN also trains its members in the use of shields against law enforcement, surveillance, event planning, role differentiation, and rapid mass mobilization against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions.
DAMN is comprised of members from several sub-groups, such as the Black Cat Worker’s Collective, Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club, and other organizations.
Many self-proclaimed “antifascist” or “Antifa” groups in the United States exist at the local level, in small units called affinity groups. Antifa groups frequently blend anarchist and communist views. The Black Cat Worker’s Collective (BCWC) is a Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group committed to militant class struggle, community self-defense, and revolution. Militant class struggle includes disrupting rallies, digital campaigning, community organizing, and physical confrontation, often justified as collective self-defense. BCWC members advocate, promote, and utilize militant tactics and violence. BCWC members are intricately involved in the planning and execution of direct actions. The Ray Rainbolt Memorial Shooting Club is another Minneapolis-based Antifa affinity group dedicated to “community self-defense.”
The Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page described that, “The Black Cat Worker’s Collective is a class struggle anarchist organization committed to workplace struggle, housing justice, community self defense, internationalism, and revolution.”
On Feb. 5, Kyle Wagner was arrested in Minneapolis for doxxing a federal agent in the Eastern District of Michigan. When he was arrested, Wagner wore a sweatshirt that had “I’m Antifa!” on the front. Law enforcement recovered several Antifa patches in Wagner’s residence. See below.
Antifa patches recovered by law enforcement at Wagner’s residence. Wagner being arrested.DAMN members worked closely with rapid response networks (RRNs) to identify and harass federal immigration and law enforcement officers in order to harass and prevent officers from performing their official duties. RRNs are “inherently militant” with the “explicit aim of combating and stopping a federal agent with a gun.”
DAMN worked closely with other direct action groups, Antifa affinity groups, RRNs, and other organizations to plan for and execute certain direct actions. DAMN infiltrated and exploited lawful protests to more efficiently carry out its direct actions targeting operations involving ICE as well as supporting federal and state law enforcement. DAMN relied upon otherwise lawful protesters and “strength in numbers” to distract law enforcement and enable DAMN members to carry out its direct action operations.
DAMN members almost exclusively communicate on Signal Messenger, which is an encrypted message application. DAMN members often organize themselves into different sub-groups on Signal Messenger based on their roles and responsibilities.
DAMN members hold meetings on a regular basis. DAMN members advocate and practice “operational security” or “OPSEC.” For example, DAMN members collect cell phones prior to meetings to prevent recordings.
DAMN members organized and participated in direct actions against federal and local law enforcement on Jan. 23 and March 1. DAMN members deployed “hard” and “soft” blockades against federal law and immigration enforcement as well as against Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office deputies during both of the direct actions. DAMN successfully shut down operations at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building (Whipple Building), during both direct actions.
Members of DAMN’s “hard blockade” team used vehicles, trailers, Czech hedgehogs (a static obstacle made of metal angle beams), and other items to obstruct the roads used by law enforcement near the Whipple Building to impede the movement of federal law enforcement and immigration officers. See below for examples of items used for “hard blockade” during the January 23 and March 1 direct actions.
A flipped trailer used by DAMN during a blockade. Debris and a Czech hedgehog used by DAMN during a blockade.Members of the “soft blockade” team wield homemade shields constructed from plastic, wood, and metal to physically resist the efforts of law enforcement, and to aggressively “wedge” or break through teams of officers on foot. See below for one of the “soft blockades” that was set up on March 1.
“Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1. “Soft blockade” by DAMN on March 1.DAMN members engage in “commuting” tactics, which include identifying, following, surveilling, harassing, and confronting federal immigration enforcement with the goal of preventing, hindering, delaying, and impeding the enforcement of federal immigration law. DAMN members use the Whipple Watch Signal group chat, which facilitated the identification of federal immigration and law enforcement vehicles and documents identifying information, such as license plate numbers, in databases. The databases include information like whether a vehicle has been identified as belonging to federal law enforcement, when it was last seen, how many times it was seen, the kinds of activities it was engaged in, if it was in a caravan, and if someone saw federal agents with tactical gear inside, all to help determine how aggressive the response to that particular vehicle should be. DAMN members often rely on information and intelligence produced by the Whipple Watch and other Signal group chats to target, harass, and confront federal immigration and law enforcement officers. Once someone relays information about a federal immigration or law enforcement officer’s location, “dispatchers” relay “verified” information to “commuters,” who deploy to the identified area to interfere with, prevent, hinder, delay, impede, and directly confront federal immigration enforcement, including “de-arresting” people that federal law enforcement have arrested.
“Commuters” follow federal immigration enforcement officers from locations, like the Whipple Building, to the officers’ residences and other locations. “Commuters” often work with “co-pilots,” who communicate with “dispatchers” in real-time. “Dispatchers” relay identifying information about immigration and law enforcement vehicles to “commuters” and “co-pilots.” DAMN members often engage in “commuting” tactics with other members.
For example, on May 4, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Isaac Sant drove a Hyundai Sonata and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin. St. Croix County deputies stopped the Hyundai Sonata in Hudson, Wisconsin, and identified Sant as the driver.
On May 18, a federal immigration officer left the Whipple Building in his government-issued vehicle. DAMN member Natasha Rakotz drove a Honda Civic and followed the federal immigration officer from the Whipple Building to the area of Minnesota State Highway 55 and Minnesota State Highway 5. Rakotz “brake checked” the officer and “side swiped” the officer’s vehicle, causing a collision.
Below is an image of Natasha Rakotz ramming her Honda Civic into the federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.
Image of Natasha Rakotz trying to ram her Honda Civic into a federal immigration officer’s government-issued vehicle.On May 15, an unindicted coconspirator sent a message describing a HSI agent’s government-issued vehicle as well as his license plate number in the “Whipple 3.0” Signal group chat. The unindicted coconspirator described the government-issued vehicle having a “reflective hat & vest on dash.” In the same chat, an unindicted coconspirator referred a different government-issued vehicle in the area (Government Vehicle 2) and stated, “This vehicle was confirmed at whip and hasn’t been added to the DB (database) – currently near the 28th and Bloom situation.” DAMN member Isaac sant sent a message in the “DAMN” Signal group chat, stating, “Alerta alerta: There’s an ICE raid in progress RIGHT NOW at 28th and Bloomington. Ford F150…” Sant provided the license plate number for the government-issued vehicle and continued, “three agents out of vehicle. I am not on scene. Get over there if you can!” DAMN member Brian Apland responded, “Omw (on my way).” At this time, HSI agents were performing their duties and conducting interviews. DAMN member William Morgan showed up to the scene and approached one of the agents and knocked the agent’s notes out of his hand. Morgan also kicked the government-issued vehicle, causing dents. Isaac Sant was also present at the scene. Below is the damage to the government-issued vehicle.
Government vehicle damaged by member of DAMN.Below is an image of William Morgan and Isaac Sant on the scene.
A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle. A member of DAMN at the scene of a damaged government vehicle.DAMN members trained other direct action and Antifa affinity groups throughout the country about how to forcibly obstruct, prevent, delay, hinder, and impede federal immigration enforcement operations. These trainings were referred to as the “Anarchist Speaking Tour.” DAMN members provided training and best practice at “Anarchist Speaking Tour” events in Chicago, Ann Arbor, and Seattle in April 2026.
On April 8, DAMN members Callum Robinet, William Morgan, and others took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Robinet explained to the participants that, “So this is an anarchist speaking tour. We’re all anarchists.”
On April 18, DAMN members Isaac Sant, Cameron Kennedy, and William Morgan took part in the “Anarchist Speaking Tour” in Seattle, Washington. Kennedy described the history of violent resistance in Minneapolis. He described the looting and burning of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct as “the happiest moment of my life.” Kennedy explained, “A lot of mutual aid networks that were later characterized…this resistance to ICE came from the George Floyd uprising.” Kennedy described himself as a “revolutionary anarchist.”
Kennedy discussed the Jan. 23 direct action at the Whipple Building, stating that DAMN utilized a “soft blockade with shields at one entrance. He continued that there were “two other deployment teams…those deployment teams had trailers that they had bought off of Facebook Marketplace for really cheap and they essentially tried to blockade the other entrances simultaneously with this blockade (pointed to soft blockade on the projector). One of those trailers was deployed and flipped and successfully shut access. The other was about 30 seconds away from successful deployment before the team was actually pepper sprayed. They managed to avoid arrest…and they managed to drive away, albeit losing the trailer in the process.”
Kennedy also spoke about the direct action at the Whipple Building on March 1. Kennedy pointed to a projector screen and said, “the one you see over here is another shield wall on March 1st.” He continued, “this demonstration had four components to it. There was a above ground march that was led by indigenous sundancers that would take up gate one of the Whipple Building and the others were designed to essentially shut down the other two points of egress…there was 3 deployment teams. The first deployment team brought in shields.” The second deployment team “was sent in and they had something to be like tank busters…” Kennedy described these items as similar to “images of like D-Day, they’re like the metal X structures that you see and actually when the vehicles hit them, it digs back into the road and will stop the vehicle.” Kennedy explained, “I was on deploy 2 or deploy 3 and I had a 10-foot U-Haul box truck and a 30-foot trailer that I was going to use to block one of the entrances.”
Isaac Sant said, “We’re here from Minneapolis. We’re on tour to talk about our experiences resisting the ICE occupation.” He stated, “I think the Twin Cities real contributions to the field of revolutionary organization, of insurrectionary organization is these rapid response networks.” Sant stated, “I am in an anarchist, revolutionary organization. It’s called Blackcat.”
During the event, Sant discussed the logistics of “commuters,” who follow, harass, and confront federal immigration enforcement vehicles. Sant described, “…commuters were on a phone call in real time with a dispatcher who was somewhere with a dispatcher who was somewhere in the privacy of her own room reporting on like that convoys movements. That dispatcher was in a relay chat that allowed for communication between the Elliott Park and the adjacent Loring Park neighborhood…” Sant further explained, “We don’t recommend that anybody ever commute or control by yourself because it’s an inherently dangerous thing. So you always want to do that with a buddy who’s your copilot. So like you’re driving and looking for ice, your co-pilots on the phone talking to dispatch and however many other commuters on a Signal call…you might ask that dispatcher for plate checks, like they’re looking at a database of license plates and you’re not. And you might be like, so a lot of like your day and you’re like, hey I wonder if that’s ICE…And like you see a suspicious looking white Jeep Wagoneer, your copilot like reports a dispatch…and then you follow that car until you can’t anymore.” Sant then described Whipple Watch as a “counter surveillance project,” stating, “This is a very like boring and unglamorous and unsexy side of our work, but basically what I and my comrades do is we go down to Whipple building and hang out there all day and photograph every ICE vehicle that’s coming in and out of the vehicle.” Sant continued that, “Now in April and we have it down to a science and it’s more or less instantaneous. We maintain a searchable database in conjunction with data collection group called Defrost that’s publicly searchable on a website…Defrost is the list of every vehicle that we’ve ever seen ICE in make and model plates and like where and how many times it’s been spotted…So what we’ve started to experiment with now is we maintain a second database that’s only current plates. We erase it at the end of every night and we refresh it the next morning…and hot dishes is just a database of like all the active plates that left Whipple that day. So commuters can know like what we’re, we have confirmed on the road at the moment….What we do is, I mean we have a two fold motive of like getting their plates and blasting those out to all the neighborhoods and also just like wasting their time and resources.”
DAMN members emphasize a violent, militant approach and are highly critical of the non-violent, peaceful protests. DAMN members often advocate, promote, and celebrate violent resistance to purported fascist groups and the government.
For example, the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook cover page reads “Welcome to Minneapolis!” and has an image of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct in the background. The Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct was burnt down and destroyed during the riots following the death of George Floyd. Stillshot from the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page below.
Screenshot of the Black Cat Worker’s Collective Facebook page.On Feb. 5, Cameron Kennedy posted on Facebook, “I swear I’m going to lose my f*****g mind if I see that ‘if 3.5% of the population is committed to peaceful revolution, they win’ bulls**t…It’s given far to (sic) many well meaning people, a fake a** idea of what it takes to win. It has folks attacking militant elements of the resistance and aiding the state against them because they think violence or even property destruction is counter revolutionary. They could not be more wrong. I want to make this as clear as I can: YOU WILL NEVER WIN WITH NON-VIOLENCE ALONE. Ever. No one has. No one will. You absolutely need militants to win. I’m sorry the world is so cruel but this is the real world, not a f*****g fairytale…” See post below.
Facebook post by Cameron Kennedy.On Jan. 24, Kyle Wagner posted a video on his Instagram account “kaos.follows,” while wearing a bullet-proof vest. Wagner admitted to being Antifa. Wagner stated, “[I]f you are [caught up], it’s time to suit up. Boots on the ground. Nicollet and f*****g 26th. My house is four blocks away. Anywhere between Franklin and Nicollet, and 26th and Nicollet, show up ready to go. Okay, no, not talking about peaceful protests anymore. We’re not talking about having polite conversations anymore…This is exactly what I said was going to f****** come when we didn’t f****** go march on f****** Whipple with guns. Sorry but welcome to America 2026 where the Second Amendment is the only thing that’s going to keep you f****** protected from literal f****** Nazi gun men that are killing innocent people in the street with impunity. This is not a f****** joke. There’s nothing fun to chant about it. Get your f****** guns and stop these f****** people.” Stillshot of Wagner from the video below.
Screenshot of Kyle Wagner in a video from his Instagram page.The following defendants are named in the DAMN indictment:
- Isaac Auman Sant, also known as “Isaac Dalto” and “Ike,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Interstate Stalking.
- Emmett James Doyle, also known as “Plotnikov,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Cameron Kennedy, also known as “Cam,” “Olive Knite,” and “Knite,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Callum Robinet, also known as “Juliet K,” “Juliet,” and “Cal,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Erik Davis, also known as “Errico,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Brian Stillwell Apland, also known as “Tiny,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Kyle Wagner, also known as “Kaos,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Solicitation to Commit a Crime of Violence, and Interstate Threats.
- Hannah Margaret Van De Water Davis, also known as “Gabriel Van De Water” and “Nube,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Treasure Cay Thoreson, also known as “Schatzi,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Nathan Junho Kim, also known as “Moon Bear,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Alec Stewart, also known as “Mac,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Douglas Misterek, also known as “Doug” and “D Munny Big Dog Orf Orf,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- Dustin Scott Beisell, also known as “Sparky,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
- William Morgan, also known as “Willow” and “Willow Tree,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, Interstate Stalking, Assault on a Federal Officer, and Destruction of Government Property.
- Natasha Rakotz, also known as “Anuran,” is charged with Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer and Assault on a Federal Officer.
This case was investigated by HSI.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Sant et al Indictment - MN.pdf
Monday 15 June 2026
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15thRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas joins the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC) and other government agencies and organizations across the country to spread the word about government and business imposter scams. The EJCC’s Never EVER campaign is a nationwide effort to create awareness about imposter scams.
These scammers pretend to be someone they’re not — including government agencies and well-known businesses — to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or get your personal information.
June is also National Elder Fraud Awareness Month. USAO-KS hosted an Elder Fraud Bingo event in Overland Park to help educate seniors citizens about scammers and various tactics they use to defraud victims, including government imposter scams.
“Elder fraud is a cruel and heartbreaking crime. Seniors, who have spent a lifetime earning and saving, should never see their retirement stolen by criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Losing money to fraud is hard at any age, but it’s especially devastating for older people with limited ability to replace their lost income. These victims have done nothing wrong except trust the wrong person or be fooled by a scam. My office is fully committed to aggressively prosecuting these offenders and strengthening education efforts to protect older adults from scams.”
In December 2025, a federal grand jury in Wichita indicted two defendants for allegedly defrauding a victim as part of a scheme that involved co-conspirators posing as federal law enforcement agents. They are accused of falsely convincing the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it to them for safekeeping. The members of this conspiracy, including the indicted men, allegedly primarily target elderly retired individuals, falsely asserting they are with a government agency and telling victims that their identity has been compromised in ways that could result in jail time and major financial loss for victims.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.
To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, the “Never EVER” campaign asks you to keep these things in mind:
• Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
• Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
###World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Do you know how to spot a government imposter? This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico joins the Elder Justice Coordinating Council and other government agencies and organizations across the country to spread the word about government and business imposter scams.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.
To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:
- Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
###
Winter Park Plastic Surgery Center Settles Claims to Improve Access to Services for Patients with DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Kamran Azad MD P.A., d/b/a Azad Plastic Surgery (APS), a plastic surgery center in Winter Park, has agreed to settle allegations that it violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into APS after receiving a complaint from an individual alleging APS refused to provide him with plastic surgery services because he has Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). During the investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office received a second complaint from an individual alleging APS refused to provide her with plastic surgery services because she has Crohn’s disease. As a result of the investigation, the United States determined that APS violated the ADA when it discriminated against the complainants by refusing to schedule them for plastic surgery consultations because they have HIV and Crohn’s disease, respectively. APS relied on incorrect assumptions and stereotypes about HIV and Crohn’s disease, not on current medical knowledge, when deciding to deny the complainants access to its services.
Under the terms of the settlement agreement, APS must pay a total of $40,000 in compensatory damages, with $20,000 to be paid to each complainant. APS must adopt, maintain, and enforce a non-discrimination policy regarding the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability, and post that policy on its website. APS must also provide training to all personnel on the non-discrimination requirements under the ADA. The training will also cover HIV discrimination and providing plastic surgery services for patients with HIV. Finally, for the next two years, APS must report any disability discrimination complaints it receives to the United States.
Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra N. Karahalios handled this case.
Title III of the ADA prohibits public accommodations, including professional offices of health care providers, from discriminating against individuals on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations (“goods or services”). In general, Title III prohibits public accommodations from subjecting an individual on the basis of disability to a denial of the opportunity to participate in or benefit from its goods or services. Specifically, public accommodations shall not impose or apply eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or any class of individuals with disabilities from fully and equally enjoying any goods or services being offered. Public accommodation must make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures necessary to afford an individual with a disability with their goods or services.
Individuals who believe they may have experienced discrimination may contact the Civil Rights Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida by calling our Civil Rights Hotline at (813) 274-6095 or emailing us at [email protected]. To fill out our civil rights complaint form, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights-complaint-form.
The Attorney General is authorized to investigate alleged violations of Title III of the ADA and to bring a civil action in federal court if the United States is unable to secure voluntary compliance in any case that involves a pattern or practice of discrimination or that raises issues of general public importance. Ensuring that professional offices of health care providers do not discriminate against patients with disabilities is an issue of general public importance.
For more information on the ADA, visit www.ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (Voice) or (833) 610-1264 (TTY). Accessibility specialists are available to answer questions from individuals, businesses, and state or local governments. All calls are confidential.
Settlement AgreementWestern District of Missouri Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Honorable R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, joined national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2026. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
“Seniors are among the most likely to be targeted by fraud, false billing scams, and abuse. Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse and is estimated to cost older adults more than $25 billion every year,” stated U.S. Attorney Price. “Combatting elder fraud and abuse is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners. As part of our elder justice initiative, my office has expanded our fraud and forfeiture practice, focusing on prosecuting offenders and seizing assets to be returned to victims. Everyone can protect their loved ones and the community by reporting instances of elder abuse when they see it.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusted relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the goodwill or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor Schemes, scammers impersonate government employees and falsely report suspicious activity to request that potential victims provide their Social Security numbers for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask the victim to give them remote access to their computer to identify a fake problem, and then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The U.S Attorney’s Office continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. Additionally, the office consistently works with courageous whistleblowers who provide vital information to protect people and the community from fraud and abuse that targets the elderly.
Examples of cases protecting elder members of our community prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in 2025 and 2026 include the following:
- In May 2026, United States Attorney R. Matthew Price awarded the Hometown Heroes Award to United States Postal Inspection Service inspectors who intercept mail packages sent by elderly victims to scammers and return them to the victims. The packages contain cash, money orders, gift cards, and credit cards that victims send at the direction of scammers.
- In May 2026, Syed Makki, an Indian national, was sentenced to 15½ years’ imprisonment for his role in a government imposter wire fraud conspiracy in which he picked up gold bars worth millions from elderly victims throughout the country.
- In May 2026, Amanda Rutherford, 46, of Junction City, Kan., was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for stealing firearms and collector coins from an elderly couple for whom she claimed to be a caregiver, and sold those coins in Clay County, Mo.
- In February 2026, Peter A. Lee, an attorney in Stockton, Mo., pleaded guilty to wire fraud for defrauding vulnerable clients, including the elderly, of funds for his personal gain. The clients he defrauded included decedent estates and a special needs trust. From January 2019 through February 2025, Lee obtained $296,140 in client funds.
- In December 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture complaint against $1.2 million in digital currency seized in connection with fraudulent online investment schemes called TMGM and NEEX, that targeted older victims and others.
- In July 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized more than $325,000 in cryptocurrency connected to an online investment scam called Triangular, that targeted older victims and others.
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
West Mifflin Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking CocaineRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of trafficking cocaine and cocaine base, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Richard Jasek, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was informed that Jasek distributed and/or possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine or cocaine base on three separate dates in late 2024 and early 2025. Specifically, Jasek admitted to, on February 20, 2025, possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, and, on both January 29, 2025, and December 17, 2024, possessing with intent to distribute, and distributing, quantities of cocaine.
Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both on each count. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and West Mifflin Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jasek.
Wasilla doctor sentenced to three years for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla neurologist was sentenced today to 3.4 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, law enforcement became aware of Jeffrey Sponsler, 68, in February 2025, when another individual saw him masturbating to a video of two nude children being played from a laptop. Based on that information and after obtaining a warrant, law enforcement searched Sponsler’s home for electronics and other evidence of child exploitation.
During the search, law enforcement discovered dozens of electronics throughout the house, including desktop computers, laptops, external hard drives, memory cards, DVDs and even VHS tapes. He also possessed copies of several books depicting nude children and very young adults.
Forensic review of his devices revealed an extensive collection of CSAM. Sponsler ordered videos and pictures of nudist and naturist communities abroad. He then used his computer to edit images from the videos to create his own videos and slideshows of CSAM focused on girls roughly 7 to 12 years old. He edited photos by zooming in on young girls’ genitalia. He saved the edits and put them into a PowerPoint presentation, and creating slideshows of exclusively children’s genitalia.
Sponsler’s unique method of collecting CSAM makes it difficult to calculate exactly how many images and videos he possessed. One external hard drive contained about 59,000 images and videos of nude minors. Among those, there were at least 110 images and 18 videos that Sponsler cropped himself to create CSAM, totaling at least 1,500 CSAM images defined by the sentencing guidelines.
Prior to his arrest, Sponsler was a practicing neurologist and owned his own clinic, Alaska Brain Center. He also owned Alaska Music and Arts, a karate, music and dance studio.
On May 21, 2025, Sponsler was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently arrested. On March 5, 2026, Sponsler pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Sponsler to pay a $20,000 fine and serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his federal prison sentence.
“Mr. Sponsler meticulously curated his collection of CSAM to feed his fixation of children and was able to fly under the radar of law enforcement for many years due to his unique collection methods,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Thankfully, a concerned member of the community reported Sponsler’s behavior and he will no longer live as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, fronting as a trusted member of the community and professional, while sexualizing children from behind closed doors at day’s end.”
“Sponsler portrayed himself as a trusted member of our community, when in reality, he had been viewing, organizing, and collecting a disturbing amount of CSAM for his own perverse gratification,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Schlegel of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Our children are safer now thanks to a concerned citizen who reported Sponsler’s crimes to the FBI. This sentencing reinforces the message that sexual exploitation crimes against children will not be tolerated by our community, the FBI, and our dedicated law enforcement partners.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Vermont U.S. Attorney’s Office Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – First recognized on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day provides an opportunity for dialogue and action on the issues of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation – crimes that are often overlooked or unreported. In 2026, government agencies and business across the United States are using this day to raise awareness about imposter scams and providing information about how to recognize and avoid them.
In imposter scams, criminals pretend to be someone they are not – including government agencies and well-known businesses. The scammers attempt to trick people into giving them money, access to financial accounts, and/or access to personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, in an attempt to cause panic and force quick action before a person has time to think critically and/or talk to someone they trust.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
Common imposter scams that have targeted Vermonters in recent months include:
- “Juror Scams,” where scammers impersonate a U.S. Marshal, court clerk, or local law enforcement officer to threaten recipients with fines and jail time for “failing to appear” for jury duty or obtaining personal information by seeking to “verify” identity.
- “DMV” or “Toll Scams,” where scammers pretend to be seeking collection of unpaid tickets, fees or tolls, threatening recipients with suspension of a license or registration if they do not pay immediately.
- “Family Emergency Scams,” where scammers impersonate law enforcement, or falsely claim a relative is in distress or under arrest, and demand payment for rescue or “bail” money for the relative’s release.
- “Money Protection Scams,” where a scammer pretends to be with a government agency who “noticed” suspicious activity in an account, and seeks transfer of the funds to a “safekeeping” account.
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont is working tirelessly with our federal investigative partners to pursue scammers who reach into Vermont to cause fear and confusion for the sake of illicit profit,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. “We have had successes identifying these criminals to hold them accountable in the criminal justice system, and we will continue to prioritize investigation and prosecution of these offenders. But the best method to address this risk is prevention. I encourage everyone to become aware of the common methods used by scammers and help protect each other from these forms of abuse.”
Here are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to a financial scam:
- Slow down, breathe, and take your time. Scammers thrive on panic and urgency; slowing down phone and text interactions will help you spot the signs of fraud.
- Don’t share personal or financial information with anyone you don’t know.
- If someone contacts you and makes demands, write down the phone number and hang up. Independently find the agency phone number from a trusted source before calling back.
- If the person asking for money or information claims to be a relative, a friend, or someone you know, do not respond right away. Instead, contact the person independently or ask a trusted family member or friend for help.
- In-person collection is a red flag; government agencies will not send someone to your home to collect cash.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if a stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — please report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Department of Justice also has a National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11, as well as resources for elder abuse awareness, prevention, and reporting at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The U.S. Administration on Aging also helps connect older adults and their families to services through its Eldercare Locator, reachable at 1-800-677-1116 and eldercare.acl.gov.
Utah Known Gang Member Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm as a Previously Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A known Utah gang member and felon was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment today, concurrent to any time imposed by the state of Utah for parole violations and/or new offenses, after he illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition, which he is restricted from possessing as a felon.
Raymond Ace Ortiz, aka Gizmo, 39, of St. George, Utah, pleaded guilty on April 3, 2026. In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was also sentenced to three years' supervised release.
According to Ortiz’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on November 6, 2025, Ortiz was taken into custody at a West Valley City residence by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (VFAST) pursuant to a warrant for his arrest for a state parole violation. As members of VFAST knocked on the front door, Ortiz went to the back door with a firearm. Ortiz was shot during the encounter, and a loaded Taurus G2C 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number was recovered from the area. Ortiz admitted he possessed the firearm during the encounter. Ortiz was previously convicted of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person in Utah Third District Court.
This case was investigated by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Victoria K. McFarland of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
United States Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, joins the Department of Justice and the Elder Fraud Coordinating Council, along with other government agencies and organizations across the country in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). WEAAD provides an opportunity for all of us to promote dialogue and action on the issue of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This year’s Elder Justice Coordinating Council’s campaign, entitled Never EVER, helps to raise awareness about how to recognize and avoid imposter scams.
Imposters are scammers who pretend to be someone they’re not — including government agencies and well-known businesses — to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account. To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:
•Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
•Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
•Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting our seniors from the growing threat of elder fraud and financial exploitation. As part of that effort, we have reached out to senior citizen groups and community organizations to provide information on common scams, warning signs and steps individuals can take to safeguard themselves and their loved ones. We recently presented to a group of seniors at Congregation Shaarey Zedek and have other presentations planned for this summer. For those senior citizen groups and community organizations interested in having a representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office speak to their group, please contact Public Affairs Officer Gina Balaya at 313-226-9758 or email at [email protected].
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. To learn more about who to avoid imposter scams visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters
U.S. Attorney’s Office observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and warns of government and business imposter schemesRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – This World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois joins the Elder Justice Coordinating Council and other government agencies and organizations across the country to spread the word about government and business imposter scams.
Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the FTC received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they are not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies, so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they are from a well-known business, saying there is suspicious activity on your account. To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they are from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it is all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they are with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they are not.
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:
- Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they are from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. Visit ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida Observes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Today, United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe joins the Department of Justice and public safety partners across the nation in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated, nationwide, by raising awareness and educating the public about the various forms of elder abuse as well as available resources to minimize risks.
“Senior citizens are among our nation’s most vulnerable populations,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “It is our duty to protect them from anyone who seeks to exploit or cause them harm. We remain resolute in our commitment to leverage our resources and develop partnerships throughout the Middle District of Florida to protect these treasured citizens.”
MDFL Outreach Efforts
As part of the Middle District of Florida’s elder fraud efforts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has engaged in community outreach efforts to citizens and industry professionals throughout the district, raising awareness about scams and schemes criminals use to exploit victims. This year, the USAO-MDFL partnered with the Hillsborough County Aging Services’ annual celebration of Older Americans Month at the Oaks Senior Center in Tampa. USAO-MDFL outreach staff disseminated resources about financial fraud scams targeting seniors, phone scams, and provided tips to empower older veterans. More than 100 attendees participated in this event.
The community outreach team also participated in the Gulfport Fraud Prevention forum to engage senior citizens in discussions about prevalent fraud schemes and various prevention strategies.
Significant Prosecutions
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has achieved significant results in several recent elder fraud investigations.
In March 2026, Craig Stevens was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison for conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to pay $19,762.38 in forfeiture. Stevens was employed as a personal care assistant for an elderly victim at an assisted living facility in Palm Coast. He obtained and shared the victim’s personal identifiable information with co-defendants Jataiya Johnson and Aaron Harden. The group used the victim’s personal information to access the victim’s bank accounts and apply for credit cards and loans under the victim’s name.
In March 2026, Luis Emilio Hernandez pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud an elderly victim following Hurricane Ian. Hernandez falsely represented himself as a licensed contract who would repair the victim’s home after it was damaged by the storm. Relying on these misrepresentations, the 85-year-old victim wrote multiple checks to Hernandez, totaling over $1.2 million, with no work on the home. Sentencing is pending.
In March 2026, Eric Stone pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Stone was fired from Fidelity Investments in June 2021 due to allegations that he had solicited and obtained loans from his clients. After he was terminated, he began to solicit money from former clients by way of personal loans, promising to repay, but never doing so. One victim, 75 years old, provided loan proceeds to Stone, was told there was an investigation into the funds and Stone had incurred costs and fees that also needed to be paid before he could repay her. who created fake email accounts, sent fake text messages, and pretended to hire attorneys to further defraud the victim. The victim’s total loss amount to Stone was $2,037,103. Sentencing is pending.
In June 2025, Pranav Patel was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was also ordered to forfeit $1,791,301 in fraudulent proceeds he obtained. Patel was involved in a fraud scheme targeting senior citizens that involved call centers abroad who fraudulently identified themselves as government agents. In some instances, the conspirators told victims that there were outstanding warrants for their arrest, and they needed to pay a fee to clear the warrants. On other occasions, the conspirators told victims that they needed to provide their money and gold to the officers for safekeeping.
Although elder fraud may occur in a variety of ways, the most common financial schemes that are targeting older adults are:
- Jury Duty Scams – Convince victims to pay for failing to comply with jury duty service.
- Tech Support Scams – Convince victims to pay for non-existent computer problems.
- Non-Delivery Scams – Induce victims to pay for goods or services online but never receive them or convince victims that additional payment or personal information is required to complete a package delivery.
- Romance Scams – Lull victims into believing they are in an online romantic relationship and money needs to be sent to pay for a visit to the U.S. or for some other purpose.
- Grandparent Scams – Dupe victims into thinking that their grandchildren or other relatives are in trouble and need money right away for bail or another emergency.
- Charity Scams – Solicit donations for fake charities, or by altering or “spoofing” caller IDs to show the name of a real charity on the phone.
- Lottery Scams – Use phone calls, letters, or emails to convince victims that a large fee or taxes must be paid before they can receive lottery winnings.
- Debt Collection Scams – Threaten arrest and jail time if payment for a fake debt is not made immediately.
- Money Mule/Money Laundering Scams – Convince victims to use their bank accounts to quickly move funds in and out of those accounts thereby laundering ill-gotten funds.
- Timeshare Scams – Target timeshare owners with false promises of resale and exit from their timeshares for a fee.
- Sham Business Opportunities – Convince victims to invest in lucrative business opportunities or fake investments.
- Family/Caregiver Scam – Relatives or acquaintances of the elderly victims take advantage of them or otherwise get their money.
- Home repair Scam – Criminals appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services that they never provide.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office urges the public to report suspected elder fraud by calling the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311) Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. EST or visiting the Elder Justice Initiative at Justice.gov/elderjustice for additional information and resources.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin joins communities across the nation in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, an observance dedicated to raising awareness about the mistreatment, neglect, and exploitation of older adults.
“Protecting older members of our community is one of our highest priorities,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “Our office is committed to prosecuting those who target seniors and educating communities about how to recognize and report signs of abuse.”
Each year, an estimated one in ten older Americans experiences some form of elder abuse. This mistreatment can take many forms, including financial exploitation, emotional or psychological harm, physical abuse, neglect or abandonment, and sexual abuse. To address these threats, the Department of Justice collaborates with federal, state, local, and tribal partners to vigorously enforce federal laws that protect the elderly.
In support of local awareness efforts, representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office will participate in a community resource fair organized by Milwaukee County DHHS Aging & Disabilities Services at Washington Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event brings together service providers and community members to share information on preventing elder abuse and connecting older adults and caregivers with critical resources.
“As the nation commemorates World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and celebrates America’s 250th anniversary we are reminded that protecting older adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation is a shared responsibility,” said Attorney Schimel. “Honoring the principles of liberty, dignity, and justice that have defined our nation for 250 years includes safeguarding some of our most vulnerable citizens and ensuring they can live free from harm and financial exploitation.”
The Justice Department relies on the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraud and abuse. Anyone with concerns about potential abuse, neglect, or fraud should contact local law enforcement or the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
For resources, reporting guidance, and additional information on federal efforts to combat elder abuse, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice
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For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Government imposter scams are a serious problem, especially among the elderly. Did you know that in 2025, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million?
Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland is observing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) by joining the Elder Justice Coordinating Council (EJCC), and other government agencies and organizations across the country, in spreading the word about government and business imposter scams. This is an opportunity to promote dialogue and action about the issue of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
One of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s key priorities is combatting elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to stamping out elder fraud through investigating and prosecuting those who victimize our older citizens,” said Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. “We’ll continue to work tirelessly to recover victim funds through restitution and forfeiture and engage in community outreach efforts, alongside our state and local partners, to keep people informed about how to spot and prevent fraud.”
In response to this global issue, EJCC launched its Never EVER Campaign, to help raise awareness about how to recognize and avoid imposter scams. These imposter scammers lie and pretend they are employed with the government when they’re not. Their goal is to trick victims into giving them money and/or access to financial accounts or personal information.
Tips for recognizing and avoiding a government imposter are:
- Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
First recognized on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, WEAAD seeks to promote a better understanding of the abuse and neglect suffered by millions of older adults – crimes that are often overlooked or unreported. WEAAD brings attention to the cultural, social, economic, and demographic factors that contribute to elder abuse.
Learn more about imposter scams at ejcc.acl.gov/imposters. If you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/elder-justice-initiative.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes the 20th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Today, U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford recognizes the 20th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day dedicated to raising awareness of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the elderly.
“As we recognize World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting seniors from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “Elder abuse cases strike at some of the most vulnerable members of our community, often causing devasting harm. Prosecuting these crimes sends a clear message that exploitation of our seniors will not be tolerated.”
The Department of Justice is committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to preventing and prosecuting fraud on America’s seniors.
Recent District of Oregon elder fraud cases include:
U.S. v. Rexona Caldararu: In May 2026, a Romanian national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for defrauding elderly victims by stealing their bank cards and taking money from their bank accounts. Read more.
U.S. v. Jeffrey Thomas Higgins: In June 2026, Jeffrey Thomas Higgins pleaded guilty after stealing his clients’ shares of stocks, selling them, and transferring the proceeds into his personal bank account for almost 17 years. Read more.
U.S. v. Jonathan Anthony Kinsella: In February 2026, Jonathan Anthony Kinsella was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after he and his co-defendants targeted an elderly victim and stole over $250,000 worth of gold, cash, and firearms. Read more.
The Justice Department relies on the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting suspected fraud and abuse. Anyone with concerns about potential abuse, neglect, or fraud should contact local law enforcement or the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced that the Northern District of Mississippi, recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2026. The Department of Justice joins the Elder Justice Council and other government agencies and organizations across America to spread the word about government and business imposter scams.
These imposter scammers lie and pretend to be someone they’re not. Their goal? Trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or your personal information. They make up complicated stories about so-called emergencies so you’ll panic and act quickly before you have time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust.
One common scam starts with an unexpected call from someone who says they’re from a well-known business, saying there’s suspicious activity on your account.
To “help” you, they transfer you to someone who says they’re from the government. This so-called helper, who claims to be from the FBI, the FTC, or some other law enforcement agency, urges you to move your money to “protect it” — maybe by transferring it to an account they give you, depositing it in a “government account” or crypto ATM for “safekeeping,” or getting cash or gold and giving it to a courier. But it’s all a lie. No one from the government will ever ask you to do these things. Only scammers will.
Other lies might involve a “suspended Social Security number” or supposed eligibility for government benefits. In all cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. The agency name might be real or made up (but real-sounding), and some scammers might show you an employee ID or badge — all to seem more real. But they’re not.
United States Attorney Scott Leary points out that “even with the collective resources of State and Federal law enforcement, we don’t have enough officers to prevent every scam. Criminals are creative and relentless. We need our community. If you see something, say something. Come forward when you notice something suspicious, and we will work aggressively to make sure that our community is a safer place to live.”
To recognize and avoid a government imposter, keep these things in mind:
- Never ever will someone from the government say: “Your money isn’t safe. Move it to protect it.” Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government threaten to suspend your government benefits if you don’t pay immediately. Only a scammer will.
- Never ever will someone from the government demand that you pay with a payment app, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards.
Talk to someone you trust if you’re worried about a problem with your account or identity — especially if the stranger says they’re from the government or the situation is serious or involves a crime. If you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Find out more when U.S. Attorney Leary discusses with Tanya Carter as a public service announcement.
Ten Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that ten defendants in a drug trafficking organization led by Hussein Iman, age 22, of Springfield, Massachusetts, have been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss for drug trafficking and money laundering offenses.
According to court records, Iman managed an organization that distributed ounces of fentanyl and cocaine base throughout Vermont beginning by October 2023 and continuing even after Iman’s July 2024 arrest. Iman initially ran the organization from Springfield, Massachusetts using a social media account, and continued to direct its activities while detained in jail.
Law enforcement conducted a total of five controlled purchases from Iman’s organization through the social media account between April and July 2024. Iman had other people, including juveniles, transport drugs to Vermont for distribution from multiple locations in Orange and Washington Counties. Iman’s drug customers included at least one juvenile. Iman and other members of the organization possessed firearms and used violence to further their drug trafficking activities. In social media messages, Iman bragged about directing violence against individuals to further his drug trafficking business. Iman also conspired with co-defendants to launder the financial proceeds from the distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base.
One of the locations that Iman used as a drug distribution hub was a 14-acre property in Williamstown, Vermont that was controlled and maintained by co-defendant Joseph Cadorette, II. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Williamstown property in July 2024, they found a juvenile who had been reported missing, six firearms, ammunition, fentanyl, cocaine base, and a large amount of U.S. currency.
Hussein Iman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use a place for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to launder money, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base. On October 9, 2025, he was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was represented by Tristram Coffin, Esq.
Joseph Cadorette, II, age 38, of Williamstown, Vermont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use a place for the purpose of distributing and using a controlled substance. On October 23, 2025, he was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. He was represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq.
Abdirahman Aden, age 24, of Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On September 4, 2025, he was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. He was represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq.
Marcus Santiago, age 24, of Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. On August 4, 2025, he was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. He was represented by Kevin Henry, Esq.
Michael Bernier, age 42, of East Montpelier, Vermont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money. On May 7, 2026, he was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release. He was represented by Stephanie Greenlees, Esq.
Amanda Delisle, age 39, of Leicester, Vermont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money. On November 21, 2025, she was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. She was represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.
Christina Byrd, age 43, of Granville, Vermont, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base. On November 25, 2025, she was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. She was represented by Michael Straub, Esq.
Geneva Brown, age 22, of Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money. On May 5, 2026, she was sentenced to five years of probation. She was represented by Frank Twarog, Esq.
Anthony Matarazzo, age 38, of Barre, Vermont, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and cocaine base. On September 2, 2025, he was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. He was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol; the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department; the Vermont State Police, including its Narcotics Investigation Unit; the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations; the Hampden County, Massachusetts Sheriff’s Office; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Barre Town Police Department; and the Barre City Police Department.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ophardt stated: “This armed and violent drug trafficking organization, which distributed fentanyl and cocaine base throughout central Vermont, was dismantled thanks to the diligent and thorough investigation spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute dangerous narcotics distribution organizations.”
“Today’s tenth and final sentencing marks a significant milestone in the dismantlement of this drug trafficking ring and the end of a long, painstaking investigation. HSI and our law enforcement partners followed the trail of this sprawling conspiracy to Vermont where Iman and his conspirators peddled fentanyl and cocaine base with blatant disregard for the danger they inflict on the community. Deadly drugs have taken too many lives and destroyed too many families in Vermont. HSI will continue to work ceaselessly to dismantle drug trafficking networks and bring traffickers to justice,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Cate and Andrew Gilman.
South Carolina woman pleads guilty to money launderingRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Saluda, South Carolina woman has been sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to money laundering.
The sentence was imposed by Federal District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Laura Frantz, 62, of Saluda, pled guilty to Money Laundering, and has been sentenced to 27 months in prison, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138,673, and three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“One cannot simply wash away the origins of illegally obtained money through financial schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This guilty plea demonstrates that those who attempt to conceal criminal proceeds will face the consequences.”
As detailed in court documents and testimony, between 2020 and 2023 in Richmond County, Georgia, Frantz knowingly engaged in monetary transactions involving proceeds from a business email compromise scheme that caused victim companies to transfer funds into bank accounts controlled by the defendant. Frantz was not entitled to those funds. The FBI warned Frantz on multiple occasions that her conduct was potentially criminal. Despite those warnings, she continued to withdraw and use portions of the fraudulently obtained funds.
“The FBI and its partners will relentlessly pursue individuals looking to illegally move funds for illicit purposes,” said Matt Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Augusta Office. “Anyone engaged in this type of criminal activity should realize they are not outside of the reach of law enforcement.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Jennifer S. Thompson.
Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tamara Sawyer Indicted for Theft, Fraud, and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment in a significant public corruption case against Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tamara Sawyer. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.
Tamara (“Tami”) Sawyer was sworn into office on August 29, 2024. As alleged in the indictment, between that date and June 22, 2025, Sawyer embezzled, stole, and knowingly converted $44,607.35 in public funds to her own use. She carried out the scheme by using procurement cards issued to other county employees, a county travel card, and by obtaining travel advances.
The indictment alleges that Sawyer used these cards to pay for a wide range of personal expenses for herself and others, including alcohol, food and goods ordered through web‑based delivery services such as Uber Eats and Instacart, as well as charges at bars, hotels, restaurants, the Memphis Tigers, FedEx Forum, Turo, local fundraisers, and payments to various PayPal accounts—including her own. Many of these transactions occurred on weekends or holidays when the clerk’s office was closed. Although Sawyer claimed the expenses were for official business, the investigation determined they were personal in nature.
The indictment further alleges that Sawyer also used the procurement cards as part of a money‑laundering scheme. She transferred stolen funds to a PayPal account controlled by a friend, who kept a small portion and returned the remainder to Sawyer through CashApp.
Sawyer has been charged in the six-count indictment with the federal offenses of Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, Honest Services Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises.
If convicted of all charges, the maximum possible punishment for these offenses is imprisonment for up to 20 years, a fine of up to $500,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of local government programs receiving federal funds against public corruption, theft, fraud, waste, and abuse is a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice. We commend the FBI for their diligent and thorough investigation in this case."
"Public servants are entrusted by all of us to act in the best interests of the public they serve," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "As alleged, the defendant brazenly abused her authority as a General Sessions Court Clerk to steal taxpayer dollars to serve herself. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to combat public corruption and aggressively pursue those who betray public trust."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States Government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Prior felon going to prison on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Cameron Gelsomino, 24, of Burt, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography after a prior conviction, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prsion and 10 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
In August 2023, Gelsomino was convicted of Possessing Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child in Niagara County Court and sentenced to serve 30 days’ incarceration and 10 years’ probation. In May 2024, he possessed a cell phone, which contained approximately 56 images and two videos of child pornography.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone and the Niagara County Probation Department, under the direction of Director Deborah M LaRock.
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Orleans Parish Resident Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that STERLING PIPKINS (“PIPKINS”), age 42, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, to drug trafficking. Sentencing is set for September 10, 2026.
According to court documents, PIPKINS sold cocaine to an individual he thought was a legitimate buyer during a controlled narcotics transaction in New Orleans on July 31, 2023.
The maximum penalty for distributing cocaine is twenty years imprisonment, followed by a minimum of three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Orleans Parish Resident Guilty of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that STERLING PIPKINS (“PIPKINS”), age 42, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, to drug trafficking. Sentencing is set for September 10, 2026.
According to court documents, PIPKINS sold cocaine to an individual he thought was a legitimate buyer during a controlled narcotics transaction in New Orleans on July 31, 2023.
The maximum penalty for distributing cocaine is twenty years imprisonment, followed by a minimum of three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Orange County Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – Chase Dean Suriano (26, Ocoee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to 12 years in federal prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Suriano to forfeit a computer and multiple drives used in the commission of the offense. Suriano pleaded guilty on March 12, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began investigating Suriano after an individual reported that they had observed child sexual abuse material saved on the computer of another user, later identified as Suriano, while Suriano was screensharing. The FBI executed a search warrant on Suriano’s residence, which resulted in the seizure of numerous electronic devices. A forensic review of the devices revealed that Suriano used a browser on his computer to search for, download, and collect child sexual abuse material. In total, Suriano’s devices contained more than 7,500 images and over 900 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, a significant amount of which involved infants and toddlers. Additionally, at the time of the investigation, Suriano was the subject of a stipulated-to 10-year final injunction for protection against sexual violence following reports by a 7-year-old child that the child had been sexually abused by Suriano when Suriano was 18 years old.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Ohio Doctor Ordered to Pay Nearly $1M for Facilitating Fraud on MedicareRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – An Ohio physician has been sentenced for her role in a healthcare fraud conspiracy that fraudulently billed Medicare for more than $1,842,524.
Muna Orra, 42, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced to five years of probation by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after she pleaded guilty in January to making False Statements Related to Health Care Matters. She was also ordered to pay $997,641 in restitution to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare provides health benefits mainly to individuals age 65 and older or to those who meet certain criteria.
According to court documents, Orra used her position as a licensed medical doctor in the state of Ohio to issue doctor’s orders for durable medical equipment (DME), primarily braces, and genetic testing for patients who did not need the equipment and tests she authorized.
From about February 2018 to September 2021, Orra was employed by a telemedicine company based in the state of Georgia as an independent contractor physician. The telemedicine company provided her with documents containing patients’ details such as medical exam notes and recommended treatment plans, along with a detailed written order for the DME or genetic tests. Orra would review the patient files and electronically approve the orders, which she submitted to the telemedicine company to use for billing. The telemedicine company then submitted bills for the equipment and tests, with Orra’s orders as purported proof those items were medically necessary.
However, the investigation found that Orra did not meaningfully review the patient records to determine if the prepared orders were medically reasonable and necessary, nor did she conduct required assessments that could only be performed in person despite signing orders indicating that she did. The investigation also revealed that when Orra opened the electronic patient files, she frequently executed her electronic signature on the relevant order within just seconds of accessing the patient file.
In total, Orra caused Medicare to be billed approximately $93,473 for medically unnecessary genetic testing orders and $1,749,051 for medically unnecessary braces for patients. Medicare paid approximately $64,189 on those bills for genetic testing and $933,452 on the bills for braces.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Erica Barnhill led the prosecution.
To submit a complaint about healthcare fraud or abuse of services, visit oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud.
Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Kanawha County Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Ford, also known as “Jason” and “J,” 44, of Van Buren Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Ford admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ford transported several pounds of methamphetamine to West Virginia from Detroit, Michigan, between June 2024 and April 2025. Ford supplied the methamphetamine to co-conspirator Amanda Marie Mace, who re-distributed it to others including co-conspirators Michael Allen Corkhill and Quanda Kiev Wilborne for further distribution. As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine. During one controlled buy, Mace sold a quantity of methamphetamine while Ford sat in a vehicle parked nearby after communicating by phone with Mace during the time leading up to the transaction.
Ford and Mace, also known as “A,” 43, of South Charleston, are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of the federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Nine defendants in the main indictment pleaded guilty including Ford, Mace, Corkhill, and Wilbourne. Mace was sentenced on March 9, 2026, to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, each for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Corkhill, also known as “Mike” and “Mike Mike,” 31, of Dunbar, and Wilborne, also known as “Quan” and “Queso,” 30, of Charleston, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-78.
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Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Pablo Villasenor-Ochoa, 38, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty last Thursday to alien in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
According to court documents, on December 21, 2025, Villasenor-Ochoa pulled out a handgun, loaded it, and threatened to kill his partner and himself. On December 23, 2025, law enforcement located the firearm in a vehicle used by Villasenor-Ochoa.
On June 2, 2026, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Villasenor-Ochoa with alien in possession of a firearm.
Villasenor-Ochoa faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 26, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating the case. Valuable assistance was provided from Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
Mexican National Sentenced After Transporting 1,295 kilograms of Cocaine on Board a Vessel Subject to U.S. JurisdictionRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that one of three Mexican nationals, Francisco Hernandez Penaloza, 65, was sentenced on Friday, June 12, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 46 months’ imprisonment for his role in conspiring to transport and possess with intent to distribute approximately 1,295 kilograms of cocaine on board a vessel subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
According to court documents, on September 5, 2024, during a routine patrol in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, a Royal Canadian Naval ship, the HMCS Yellowknife, intercepted a go-fast vessel after it was sighted approximately 427 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. A United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment was aboard the HMCS Yellowknife. The go-fast vessel was dead in the water, floating adrift with bales and large fuel barrels visible on its deck. It displayed no indicia of nationality with no flag flown.
The USCG Detachment conducted a right of visit boarding on the vessel as it was suspected of illicit maritime activity. Three people were encountered on board the vessel, including the defendant. A search of the vessel revealed 35 bales consistent with the packaging and transport of a large quantity of narcotics. The three people on board were detained. The bales were removed, and the vessel was sunk due to the damage to the hull. The packages inside the bales were tested by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory, which confirmed that the bales contained a total of 1,295 kilograms of cocaine.
This case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Kyle Payne of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
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.Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Role in Prolific Human Smuggling Organization that Moved Aliens from Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle EastRead the Press Release
A Mexican national extradited from Mexico was sentenced today to 87 months prison for his role in a smuggling organization that operated for several years at the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to the indictment, Raul Saucedo-Huipio, 51, of Mexicali, Mexico, and co-conspirators facilitated the travel of large numbers of aliens from and through numerous countries into the United States between 2018 and 2022. The smuggling organization charged the aliens as much as tens of thousands of dollars to illegally cross the Mexico-U.S. border. Saucedo-Huipio was a manager or supervisor in this extensive alien smuggling operation and would frequently brandish a firearm in his waistband before they crossed the border. The aliens traveled from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico to ultimately reach the United States. The conspiracy moved well over 200 people, and the actual number is likely much higher.
“Human smuggling is not a victimless crime. It is a direct assault on our national security and an exploitation of some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This criminal organization not only moved aliens across the border; it stole from them and left them in desperate situations. Human smuggling causes so many additional problems that communities and government programs ultimately inherit. It is dangerous and a drain on our resources.”
“Violent human smugglers like Saucedo-Huipio use intimidation, violence and coercion to achieve their goals – financial gain no matter the harm caused,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “One of the many HSI missions include investigating human smuggling organizations to dismantle them and bring those responsible to face justice in a court of law. The sentence imposed today serves not only as punishment, but as an opportunity for the offender to reflect on the damage inflicted on so many people. Behind bars is where Saucedo-Huipio belongs.”
Saucedo-Huipio and co-conspirators directed aliens to cross the border by various means. They provided a ladder to climb over the border fence, pointed out holes in the fence that could be crawled through, and provided a plank for waterway crossings. Saucedo-Huipio oversaw one smuggling event where three small children had to cross a wooden plank lying atop a body of water. In addition to moving aliens across the border, Saucedo-Huipio and his co-conspirators also robbed the aliens of money, cell phones, and other belongings, often while armed with guns and knives.
In March 2023, Saucedo-Huipio and Ofelia Hernandez-Salas were arrested in Mexico pursuant to an extradition request from the United States. In December 2024, Hernandez-Salas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and three substantive counts of bringing an alien to the United States for commercial benefit or private financial gain. She was sentenced to 11 years in prison on May 13 for her role in the organization. In March 2026, Saucedo-Huipio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and bringing an alien to the United States.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HSI Yuma investigated the case with assistance from CBP USBP, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, working in concert with HSI Tijuana, INTERPOL, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI also received substantial assistance from CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force and U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Saucedo-Huipio, and the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Mexican Foreign Ministry for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) provided significant assistance as well.
Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Crowley for the District of Arizona prosecuted the case, with significant assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Metro Area Man Sentenced to 216 Months After Social Media Schemes Led to Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Alec Deschryver, 26, who has lived in various cities in the Denver metro area, was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of carjacking involving firearms.
According to the plea agreement, in October 2023, Deschryver used a social media marketplace to contact a woman who was selling a Mercedes sedan and arranged to meet her and see the car. Deschryver, who arrived at the woman’s house with a second defendant, arranged a test drive of the vehicle with the woman’s husband. Once in the vehicle, Deschryver drove the Mercedes onto rural roads, stopped the car and brandished a firearm while threatening the man who was with him for the test drive. Deschryver drove away in the car and later sold it to an unwitting individual.
In a second instance, in November 2023, Denver Police responded to a report of an armed carjacking that resulted in a shooting. In a similar scheme, Deschryver had responded to an advertisement for another Mercedes sedan listed on the same social media marketplace. Deschryver test drove the vehicle. Anticipating a sale, the seller went to remove a child safety seat from the backseat when Deschryver brandished a firearm. The victim backed away but was shot in the leg. Deschryver stole the vehicle. It was later recovered when the second defendant gave the car to a family member.
“This case demonstrates two important things. First, violent criminals in our communities will be prosecuted and held accountable for their behavior,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Second, this is an important reminder to the general public to use caution when engaging on social media marketplaces to sell or purchase goods.”
“Engrained in the culture of ATF is working alongside our local law enforcement partners which contributed to the success in stopping these multi-jurisdictional violent crimes," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Ashbridge. "Together, we operated as a powerful network that has delivered accountability and made our communities safer.”
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Denver Police Department, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northglenn Police Department.
The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00012-GPG
Member of Nihilistic Violent Extremist Group “764” Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL — Shawn Krishendat Premsook, 26, of Clermont, Florida, has pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.
According to the government’s factual basis, Premsook was a member of “764” and other Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups for approximately two years. During that time, Premsook joined these groups in extorting minors to engage in self-harm. On multiple occasions, he caused a minor girl to cut herself and use her blood to write messages such as his online moniker. Premsook also collected and distributed gore and child pornography images and videos of children who had been victimized by 764 members.
764 and related groups are NVEs who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and engage with other extremists abroad. The 764 network’s accelerationist goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors.
Premsook faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each distribution offense, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each possession offense.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan for the Middle District of Florida is prosecuting the case with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.
Member of Nihilistic Violent Extremist Group “764” Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Shawn Krishendat Premsook, 26, of Clermont, Florida, has pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.
According to the government’s factual basis, Premsook was a member of “764” and other Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups for approximately two years. During that time, Premsook joined these groups in extorting minors to engage in self-harm. On multiple occasions, he caused a minor girl to cut herself and use her blood to write messages such as his online moniker. Premsook also collected and distributed gore and child pornography images and videos of children who had been victimized by 764 members.
764 and related groups are NVEs who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and engage with other extremists abroad. The 764 network’s accelerationist goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors.
Premsook faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each distribution offense, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each possession offense.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Varadan for the Middle District of Florida is prosecuting the case with valuable assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.