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28 July 2026
Clermont Mortgage Consultant Pleads Guilty in Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Kenneth Blair (54, Clermont) has pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Blair entered his guilty plea while on pretrial release and awaiting sentencing for a similar mortgage fraud scheme. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, from as early as May 2024, and continuing through July 2025, in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere, Blair and others devised a scheme to defraud financial institutions by making materially false and fraudulent representations. Blair’s role in the bank fraud scheme included preparing and submitting fictitious and fraudulent paystubs and employment promotion letters for his clients in the names of companies to show fabricated income from employers. This caused the mortgage lenders to approve and fund mortgage loans for otherwise unqualified borrowers in exchange for undisclosed payments to Blair from his clients. The fraudulent mortgage loans were subsequently purchased and guaranteed by government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as the Federal Housing Administration.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Charleston Man Sentenced for Straw Purchase CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Isaiah Levi Creasey, 23, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, for making a false statement in connection with the purchase of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 25, 2025, Creasey purchased a Glock model 19X 9mm pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in South Charleston. As part of his guilty plea, Creasey admitted that he purchased the firearm for a juvenile and falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that he was the purchaser of the firearm when he knew he was buying it for the juvenile. Creasey further admitted that he intended to deceive the firearms dealer into believing he was the actual buyer of the pistol, and that following the purchase he gave the pistol to the juvenile who was waiting in his vehicle outside of the business.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin 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.
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. 2:26-cr-9.
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California woman sentenced to 18 months for bank fraudRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A California woman who defrauded a local bank of over $170,000 was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $170,666, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
A federal jury found Kristin Renee Zelonish Edwards, 39, guilty on four counts of bank fraud in February 2026 after a two-day trial.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Edwards defrauded Glacier Bank of over $170,000 by depositing 12 fraudulent savings bonds at four different bank branches in Northwest Montana.
Edwards traveled from California to Montana to deposit the savings bonds, making four trips between October 2022 and January 2023. Glacier Bank received notice in February 2023 from the United States Treasury Department that one of the savings bonds deposited by Edwards was fraudulent. Glacier Bank’s security officer called Edwards and informed her of the fraudulent bond. Her response was that she found the savings bonds while going through boxes of her deceased grandmother’s items with her mother.
Witnesses testified Edwards never received bonds from her grandmother’s estate. The savings bonds deposited by Edwards that were alleged to have been purchased by her grandmother had issue dates as early as 1980 – seven years before Edwards was born. The fraudulent savings bonds have Edwards’ Social Security Number printed on them, which means, if Edwards’ story were true, her grandmother bought the bonds in Edwards’ name and with Edwards’ Social Security Number years before Edwards was born.
The U.S. Secret Service analyzed the savings bonds and found they had several common defects and were not made with the printing presses used for authentic savings bonds. Edwards’ fraudulent savings bonds also share a common source with other fraudulent savings bonds that were deposited in Idaho and Colorado by Edwards’ unindicted co-conspirator.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katy Stack and Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service.
Bringhurst Man Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Caleb Bonnell, 20 years old, of Bringhurst, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to cyberstalking, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Bonnell was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
“The Defendant terrorized the victim and the victim’s family member using cyberstalking and swatting, which are abuses of human beings through the use of technology. The Defendant will spend some time in jail to think about his vicious choices. From September 2025 through December 2025, the Defendant used various electronic devices to harass and intimidate the victim and the victim’s family member. The Defendant sent hundreds of unwanted text messages, emailed the victim’s school several times, sent over seventy social media messages to the victim’s classmates, and made a threatening statement about the victim on an online application. The Defendant also “swatted” the victim’s residence by making false reports to law enforcement, which caused officers to dispatch to the victim’s home. Technology has the potential greatly serve the public and improve our lives. Here, the Defendant used it for deplorable means and has been punished for it thanks to the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Caroll County Police Department and the San Diego Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius, and we are safer for their combined efforts,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
"Technology has made it easier for criminals to target victims, but it has not changed the serious consequences of these crimes," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley. "Cyberstalking and swatting are dangerous offenses that can terrorize victims, strain public safety resources, and place both innocent people and responding officers at unnecessary risk. The FBI is committed to investigating these crimes and ensuring those who use the internet to threaten or intimidate others are brought to justice."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Caroll County Police Department and the San Diego Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Role in Deadly CarjackingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man learned his fate in federal court, today, for his role in multiple carjackings, including one that resulted in a murder.
U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Antonio Purisima, 25, to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for carjacking resulting in death. Purisima engaged in a carjacking spree with multiple co-conspirators.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to court documents, in June 2022, Purisima conspired with co-conspirators Jerritt Barron, 24, Jeremy Matheny, 27, and Nefertiti Moore, 23, all from Baltimore, to commit several armed carjackings. On June 15, Purisima, Barron, and Matheny followed a victim from Maryland Live! Casino, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to her Glen Burnie residence.
After the victim parked near her home, two co-conspirators approached her, as they brandished handguns, and demanded money and her car keys. The two masked suspects then drove away in the victim’s car which was recovered less than one hour later in Baltimore.
Then on June 19, Purisima, Barron, Matheny, and Moore, who rode in a black pick-up truck, attempted to carjack a vehicle near an Interstate 95 ramp in Baltimore. Moore exited the truck and flagged down the victim. Then the co-conspirators blocked the victims’ vehicle with their car from entering the ramp to I-95. Purisima and Barron then exited their vehicle and approached the victim. A co-conspirator then shot the victim who later died from the injuries. The co-conspirators then fled the scene.
Historical cell site data placed Purisima, Matheny, and Moore at or near the scene of the murder. In May 2026, Judge Bredar sentenced Barron to 40 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and Matheny to 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for their roles in the deadly carjacking.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement extracted latent fingerprints from the Glen Burnie victim’s carjacked vehicle that matched Matheny and Purisima. Additionally, historical cell-site data placed Matheny and Purisima at Maryland Live! Casino and at the scene of the carjacking. Additionally, when law enforcement arrested Matheny on June 22, they confiscated a cellphone in Matheny’s possession.
After searching the phone, law enforcement uncovered photos of Purisima, Barron, and Matheny posing with firearms while at Maryland Live! Casino. The casino’s video surveillance shows the co-conspirators entering a vehicle and then following the victim as she drove her car.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and BPD, for their work in the investigation, along with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who is prosecuting this federal case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Baldwinsville Man Charged with Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Travis Corley, age 46, of Baldwinsville, New York, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with distribution of child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo made the announcement.
The complaint, which was filed July 16th, 2026, alleges that Corley used a Peer-to-Peer network to share child pornography with other users over the internet.
Corley had an initial appearance July 16th, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Mitchell J. Katz. At a detention hearing July 17, 2026, Corley was released pending trial. The charge in the complaint carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
“Our partners at Homeland Security Investigations work tirelessly to protect children from online predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “Their dedication has ensured that countless offenders are brought to justice. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative that empowers law enforcement to use advanced investigative tools to identify and stop those who exploit children, reinforcing our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the most vulnerable.”
“The defendant’s alleged use of online platforms to distribute child pornography represents a depraved assault on safety, dignity, and innocence,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone. “HSI Syracuse is fully committed to aggressively identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who prey on children and victimized communities, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect them.”The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI is investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Armed Bridgeport Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ORONDE JEFFERSON, 42, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a drug-related firearm offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department learned that Jefferson’s associate, Moeties Brown, was selling narcotics in the vicinity of Brown’s residence on Maple Street in Bridgeport. On November 20, 2024, investigators observed Jefferson and Brown at Brown’s residence, and Brown and others engaging in suspected drug sales. Jefferson was arrested on state charges after he was searched and officers found him in possession of 32 individual glassine folds of fentanyl, a ziplock bag containing 71 capsules of crack cocaine, and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun equipped with a loaded high-capacity magazine. Brown was also arrested after a search of his person revealed a distribution quantity of marijuana, and a search of his vehicle and residence revealed more than 100 grams of fentanyl, two handguns, and ammunition.
Jefferson was arrested on federal charges on May 9, 2025. On March 23, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Jefferson’s criminal history includes convictions for robbery, firearms, burglary, and larceny offenses.
Jefferson, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 25.
On May 19, 2026, Brown pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 5.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Stratford Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk, Trumbull, and Westport Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary G. Vitale and Daniel George.
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.
Albuquerque Man Charged in Alien Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man is accused of recruiting drivers and using his residence as a stash house to facilitate the movement of undocumented noncitizens through New Mexico, including an unaccompanied 17-year-old juvenile.
According to court documents, on May 7, 2026, Border Patrol agents responded to a sensor activation near the Interstate 25 checkpoint north of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and encountered two Mexican nationals, including an unaccompanied 17-year-old juvenile, attempting to circumvent the checkpoint. The individuals told agents they were waiting for a man in a red truck who was supposed to transport them to Albuquerque.
Agents located the driver nearby in a red truck. After waiving his Miranda rights, the driver admitted he had picked up the aliens in El Paso, Texas, dropped them off south of the checkpoint, instructed them to walk around the checkpoint to avoid detection, and planned to pick them up afterward and continue transporting them to Albuquerque. The driver further identified Brian Ramirez, 25, as a coordinator of the smuggling operation and identified stash houses in Albuquerque and the El Paso area used to harbor undocumented noncitizens.
Through subsequent enforcement actions, cellular telephone evidence, and WhatsApp communications showing Ramirez coordinating smuggling loads, directing pickup locations, and communicating with the driver shortly before his arrest, agents confirmed the use of an apartment in southwest Albuquerque as a stash house connected to alien-smuggling activity.
On July 9, 2026, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the Albuquerque residence and located Ramirez. After waiving his Miranda rights, Ramirez admitted he worked for an alien-smuggling organization by recruiting drivers and using his residence to harbor undocumented noncitizens for payment. Ramirez further acknowledged housing approximately 20 undocumented noncitizens at the residence and stated he had been expecting to receive one or two aliens on May 7, 2026, the same day the driver was apprehended while attempting to transport two undocumented noncitizens, including a juvenile, to Albuquerque.
Ramirez is charged with conspiracy to violate 8 U.S.C. § 1324, bringing in and harboring certain aliens, and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. If convicted of the current charge, Ramirez faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Muñoz of the U.S. Border Patrol's El Paso Sector made the announcement today.
The U.S. Border Patrol's El Paso Sector investigated this case with assistance from HSI Las Cruces, ICE ERO, USBP Las Cruces Station Disrupt Unit, El Paso Sector Targeting Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanisha V. Henson is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
27 July 2026
Weill Cornell Medicine Resolves Criminal Investigation with Agreement to Maintain and Enhance Remedial Measures and Procedures to Prevent Sexual Abuse of PatientsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Criminal Division Chief, Amanda Houle, announced today a voluntary compliance agreement (the “Agreement”) under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) with Weill Cornell Medicine (“WCM”), pursuant to which WCM acknowledges that policies and programs during physician Darius Paduch’s tenure at WCM were inadequate to detect, prevent, and respond to the sexual abuse of patients.
“Today’s landmark agreement with WCM is a direct reflection of our Office’s pledge to prioritize combating sexual abuse through a victim-centered approach,” said Criminal Division Chief Amanda Houle. “When victims are front of mind for our core community institutions—including in healthcare—sexual abuse is better detected, reported, and prosecuted so that perpetrators are held responsible and others are deterred. Today’s agreement shows the benefits to victims when we pair criminal accountability for individual perpetrators with institutional obligations to maintain the strongest possible controls to safeguard against future sexual abuse. Thanks to the work of our dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Darius Paduch is spending his life in prison for his horrific crimes and, importantly, WCM, a leader in healthcare for New Yorkers, is committed to maintaining an industry-leading sexual-abuse prevention program and to self-reporting any future federal crimes involving sexual misconduct to our Office. In addition to requiring continued enhancement of controls and reporting, the agreement requires WCM to commit $30 million and other non-financial support to establish the WCM Institute for Safe Patient Care and Patient Empowerment. We look forward to working with the Institute to set new, higher standards for collaboration among medical institutions, patient safety organizations, regulators, and law enforcement aimed at stopping sexual abuse and ensuring prompt reporting of sexual misconduct in the healthcare system and in our community more generally.”
“Along with U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, I am proud to announce this agreement as a milestone in our ongoing victim-oriented effort, which is carried out every day by the women and men of the Southern District, including in our Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit. In the past 18 months, our Office has charged more than 45 individuals with federal sex crimes, including teachers, licensed therapists, bankers, and others in positions of significant trust, as well as gang members and drug traffickers. Our Office will continue with full force to prosecute perpetrators and to hold institutions to the highest standards in protecting victims.”
“As the public has seen time and again, when medical institutions fail to implement and enforce robust safeguards to protect patients from sexual abuse, victims suffer unspeakable harms, and the public trust in the doctor-patient relationship is undermined,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s agreement sends a strong, clear message to all healthcare institutions: patient sexual abuse should never happen in our healthcare system, and institutions must devote the necessary resources to build and continuously monitor and improve programs that detect, report, and prevent sexual abuse—without exception. The agreement also underscores the commitment of our Office, in particular our Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit, to protecting victims from sex crimes in all corners of society. Together with our law enforcement partners, including the FBI and the NYPD, we are working with our schools, hospitals, businesses, government organizations, and other institutions to ensure that processes for identifying predators are improved and victims feel safe coming forward.”
Title III of the ADA prohibits places of public accommodation from discriminating against any individual on the basis of disability. Victims of Darius Paduch’s sexual abuse suffered from certain genetic conditions, as well as sexual and erectile dysfunction, each of which constitutes a “disability” under the ADA. In 2024, following a criminal trial in this District, Paduch was convicted of six counts of inducement to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, and five counts of inducement of a minor to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(a), (b), and 2. Paduch was sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes.
The out-of-court Agreement resolves a yearslong criminal investigation during which the U.S. Attorney’s Office determined that over Paduch’s tenure, WCM maintained policies and programs insufficient to detect, prevent, and respond to Paduch’s widespread sexual abuse of patients. Specifically, as detailed in the Agreement announced today, the investigation found, among other things, the following:
- From at least 2009 to 2019, Paduch sexually abused many of his patients—including boys as young as 13 years old. During that time, WCM policy delegated to the now-former Urology Department chair (the “Former Urology Chair”) primary responsibility and authority to investigate staff and patient complaints, as well as the discretion to escalate complaints to the Dean or Vice Dean of the Medical School.
- Between 2012 and 2014, the Former Urology Chair and the WCM Human Resources Department received reports of instances of Paduch using inappropriate sexual language and engaging in inappropriate conduct with colleagues.
- In 2015 and 2016, the Former Urology Chair received two reports from two doctors that Paduch had manually masturbated one patient to become erect for an exam and directed another patient to masturbate while Paduch remained in the room. The Former Urology Chair did not escalate these allegations against Paduch or report them to others at WCM.
- In March 2018, WCM, including the Former Urology Chair, received a complaint alleging that Paduch told a patient to masturbate in his presence to become erect for an exam and showed the patient photographs of other men’s penises during the consultation. WCM assigned that complaint to a WCM employee who had not received training and had no experience in investigating sexual abuse allegations. The Former Urology Chair did not inform the investigator or anyone else at WCM of the prior complaints relating to Paduch.
- In November 2018, an adult male patient reported to the Former Urology Chair that Paduch had engaged in what the patient described as sexual and nonsexual misconduct, including masturbating in front of the patient on Paduch’s boat and sending him lewd electronic messages. The report was assigned to the same inexperienced investigator assigned to handle the March 2018 complaint. As a result of the investigation, WCM ended Paduch’s employment at WCM by not renewing Paduch’s faculty appointment at WCM. WCM sent Paduch’s patients a letter noting that Paduch was no longer practicing at WCM but did not provide the reason for his non-renewal. Further, when the Former Urology Chair received inquiries from a separate medical institution where Paduch was subsequently hired and abused patients, he did not disclose the reason for Paduch’s termination from WCM or disclose any patient complaints.
Since learning of Paduch’s sexual abuse, WCM has paid or agreed to pay victims over $1 billion to settle civil claims to date, and is committing additional funds to address detection, prevention, and reporting of sexual abuse and misconduct in the healthcare setting. To that end, WCM will commit $30 million to create the Institute for Safe Patient Care and Patient Empowerment, which will be dedicated to the adoption of meaningful sexual abuse and misconduct risk mitigation policies, procedures, and practices at healthcare providers in New York and nationwide.
As part of the Agreement, WCM also acknowledged that the policies and programs that WCM had in place at the time of Paduch’s offenses were not adequate to detect, prevent, and respond to sexual abuse of patients and, in fact, failed to detect and sufficiently respond to Paduch’s conduct. WCM has proactively taken significant remedial measures that WCM has committed to maintaining and enhancing during the term of the Agreement. Under the Agreement, WCM will maintain, monitor, and, as necessary or appropriate, enhance such measures, which include a chaperone requirement with routine compliance oversight and monitoring and policy changes to fill governance and procedural gaps regarding the escalation and investigation of patient misconduct complaints. Further, during the term of the Agreement, WCM is required to self-report to the U.S. Attorney’s Office any evidence of a criminal violation involving sexual misconduct. WCM must also conduct three separate internal reviews during the term of the Agreement to evaluate WCM’s sexual misconduct prevention programs. WCM must certify semiannually its compliance with the terms of the Agreement.
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Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit in the Criminal Division, with assistance from the Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marguerite B. Colson, Elizabeth A. Espinosa, Ni Qian, and David J. Kennedy are in charge of the case.
Vallejo Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dequan Mitchell, 23, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 33 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, at age 16, Mitchell murdered a man. While on probation for that crime, investigators discovered Mitchell was involved in posting a firearm for sale in an illicit gun trafficking application. When police searched Mitchell’s mother’s home, they discovered a loaded Glock 23 with an extended clip. That gun was the same gun Mitchell offered to sell for $1,200 in the gun trafficking forum. Subsequent investigation revealed that the gun was stolen from a carjacking victim in October 2025. Because of his prior conviction, Mitchell is prohibited from possessing firearms. He pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County Probation Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
United States Attorney Moore Capito to Hold Press Conference Following David Elliott Pritt HearingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito will hold a press conference today, Monday, July 27, 2026, with law enforcement partners following the 3:30 p.m.hearing in USA vs. David Elliott Pritt.
WHAT: Press Conference
WHEN: Monday, July 27, 2026, following 3:30 p.m. preliminary-detention hearing
WHERE: Fifth Floor, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston
*** Cameras and other recording devices are not allowed in the courtroom per U.S. District Court policy. Media will be escorted to and from the fifth floor. Media are asked to set up in the press conference area in advance of the hearing. ***
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.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Warns Non-Citizens Against Voting in Upcoming ElectionsRead the Press Release
Ahead of Wyoming’s August 18th, 2026, Primary Election, U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced a coordinated effort with federal law enforcement is underway to safeguard the federal election process.
The message from the U.S. Attorney’s Office is clear: Federal authorities are monitoring the voting process to guarantee compliance with federal voting laws and ensure that only U.S. citizens participate.
"The right to vote is a fundamental pillar of our democracy," said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. "We encourage every eligible citizen to take part in the upcoming election, and we are working directly with our law enforcement partners and election officials to ensure fairness and protect lawful participation. If you are not a U.S. citizen and you vote or attempt to vote, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law!"
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reminds the public that federal laws protect voters from intimidation, disruption, and fraud at the polls. Residents can report potential federal election crimes or voting rights violations directly to the Department of Justice or local law enforcement.
Members of the public who believe they have information regarding possible election fraud or unlawful voting activity may contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or submit tips online through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.tips.fbi.gov/
Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at the DOJ Voting Section website.
U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. Announces Promotions and Organizational Changes within the Northern District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. today announced changes in management personnel for the district.
“From day-one on the job I have been impressed with the caliber of personnel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These promotions are well earned!” said Williams. “Additionally, it is my sense that a refined focus on national security and homeland defense issues is warranted. I am pleased to bring that into reality with the advent of a newly formed National Security section in our Criminal Division.”
U.S. Attorney Williams’ first order of business was to establish senior leadership. Catherine L. Crosby will remain the First Assistant U.S. Attorney (FAUSA) for the district. For the past five months, Catherine has served as the FAUSA while simultaneously serving as the Criminal Division Chief, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, and for three months as the Acting U.S. Attorney.
Deputy Chief Kristy Peoples has been chosen to serve as Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney (EAUSA). In this role, she will supervise employees in the Discovery Center, Law Enforcement Coordination Committee, and a new media department. The EAUSA will also serve in many ways as the Ambassador for the office to local, state, and federal law enforcement and District Attorneys. And she will work with the U.S. Attorney and FAUSA on special projects, while maintaining a select docket of cases.
Deputy Chief Jonathan B. Ward has been chosen to serve as the Criminal Division Chief. The Criminal Division is growing in size with the addition of more Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), a new National Security Section, two Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC), Asset Forfeiture, and the Victims’ Team. AUSA Brittany Byrd will serve as Deputy Chief over the Violent Crime Section, and AUSA Daniel McBrayer will serve as Deputy Chief over the White-Collar Fraud Section. Deputy Chiefs will also manage paralegals assigned to their sections and maintain cases of their own.
AUSA Will McComb will serve as a second Senior Litigation Counsel, alongside SLC Ryan Rummage. The two prosecutors will assist all AUSAs with best practices and strategies and work alongside newer AUSAs for mentorship.
Effective July 26, 2026, U.S. Attorney Williams is standing up a new National Security Section of the Criminal Division. AUSA Henry Cornelius will serve as the National Security Section’s first Deputy Chief. AUSAs in the National Security Section will be the primary points of contact for national security cases.
“Strong leadership is essential to the success of any organization,” said Williams. “I am confident these leaders will continue to bring the experience, integrity, and dedication necessary to move our office forward.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama represents the interests of the United States in federal court in a broad array of federal crimes and the litigation of civil matters. The Northern District is the largest of three districts in the State of Alabama. It has a population of more than 2.8 million, encompasses 31 of the state’s 67 counties, and contains 2 of the state’s most populous cities, Birmingham and Huntsville. Staff serve in the headquarters office in Birmingham and a branch office in Huntsville. U.S. Attorney Williams, who was sworn in as the presidentially appointed, senate confirmed U.S. Attorney in May 2026, serves as the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the district.
U.S. Attorney Announces New Senior Leadership TeamRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey has announced a new Senior Leadership team to help further the mission in the Northern District of West Virginia.
The Senior Leadership Team includes First Assistant Christopher J. Prezioso, Administrative Officer Sybil D. Ott, Criminal Division Chief Stephen L. Vogrin, Civil Division Chief Jordan V. Palmer, and Deputy Criminal Chiefs Jarod J. Douglas, Lara Omps‑Botteicher, and Zelda E. Wesley. Andrew R. Cogar has been appointed as district‑wide Senior Litigation Counsel, and Randolph J. Bernard has been appointed as Counsel to the U.S. Attorney.
“There’s a saying that you’re only as good as those you surround yourself with, and I know this team of professionals will benefit the district and the citizens of the 32 counties we serve,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “I look forward to leading this team to further the mission of this office and the initiatives set forth by the Department of Justice.”
This leadership group will strengthen the district’s core public safety priorities, including disrupting drug‑trafficking networks, reducing violence, protecting residents from fraud and financial crimes, and supporting vulnerable members of the community. The office will also continue advancing civil enforcement efforts, including the civil prosecution of program‑benefits fraud to safeguard federal resources and protect taxpayer dollars. In addition, the district remains committed to combatting illegal immigration by addressing associated criminal activity and working closely with federal partners to enforce immigration laws. Through coordinated action and continued collaboration with state, local, and federal agencies, the team will further the office’s mission of safeguarding the Northern District of West Virginia.
Aligned with the Department of Justice’s mission to “uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights,” this leadership team is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and professionalism in all aspects of the office’s work.
To learn more about the Senior Leadership Team, visit www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/meet-us-attorney/senior-management-team.
Two Evansville Meth Dealers Sentenced to Federal Prison Following Crossroads Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE- Two Evansville men have been sentenced to federal prison for operating a methamphetamine trafficking ring in Vanderburgh County. The Crossroads Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) led the investigation.
Isaac J. Horne, 47, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of methamphetamine distribution. Christopher M. Youngblood, 42, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Both men will also serve five years of supervised release following their prison terms.
According to court documents, Horne acted as the primary source of supply for a conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine throughout Vanderburgh County. Horne supplied the drugs to distributors, including Youngblood, who then sold them to lower-level dealers and users.
Horne took coordinated steps to avoid detection by law enforcement. These efforts included storing narcotics in residences belonging to others, directing associates to deliver drugs on his behalf while he stayed elsewhere, and receiving payments through accounts held in other people’s names.
According to the government’s investigation, over the course of just seven months between May and December 2024, Horne and Youngblood distributed approximately 16 pounds (7.25 kilograms) of methamphetamine in the Evansville area.
Horne is a known drug trafficker with an extensive criminal history, including two prior convictions for dealing cocaine and multiple violent offenses, such as two felony domestic battery convictions. In 2023, he was also convicted of disorderly conduct after threatening to kill a corrections officer, rushing the officer, and striking him repeatedly in the head.
Youngblood also has multiple prior felony convictions, including manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.
“Sixteen pounds of methamphetamine is an extraordinarily large amount to distribute in just seven months. This represents thousands of individual doses introduced into our community. Every distribution increases the risk that more individuals will become addicted and that additional crimes will be committed to support drug use,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The consequences of large-scale methamphetamine trafficking are felt not only by users, but by their loved ones, the victims of related crimes, healthcare providers, employers, and law enforcement. The Crossroads HSTF will continue to focus federal, state and local resources on criminals who destabilize Hoosier communities.”
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana.
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Tuolumne County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Stephen Tyler Prock, 58, of Jamestown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 20 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence allowed under the statute, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material commonly referred to as CSAM, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Judge Thurston also ordered Prock to pay $23,000 in restitution to four victims whose images he possessed.
According to court documents, between May 2018 and March 2020, Prock received approximately 100 videos of CSAM and used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to distribute CSAM to others around the world. On March 4, 2020, Prock was in the process of downloading more CSAM onto his computer when federal agents arrived at his home with a search warrant and seized his computer.
On April 23, 2026, following a three-day trial, a jury found Prock guilty of receipt and distribution of CSAM.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Thrice Deported Mexican Illegal Alien Charged with Illegally Reentering the U.S.A. after Allegedly Killing a 6-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – On July 22, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging an illegal alien born in Mexico, Jaime Santiago-Corona, also known as “Jaime Guzman Corona,” 33, with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Santiago illegally reentered the United States without permission from immigration authorities after he had previously been deported multiple times.
On July 3, 2026, authorities arrested Santiago after he allegedly ran a stop sign at County Home Road and Warren Jones Road in Pitt County and crashed into a car driven by a mother with her two children, ages 4 and 6. The mother and her 4‑year‑old daughter suffered serious injuries. In an unspeakably tragedy, 6‑year‑old Calli died at the scene. The State Highway Patrol charged Santiago with several crimes, including misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. ICE issued a detainer asking North Carolina officials to keep Santiago in custody.
Santiago has a long history of violating immigration laws; deported three separate times: October 9, 2019, June 12, 2023, and again on June 17, 2024. The federal grand jury charged him with violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison and deportation.
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.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) is investigating the case. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the federal division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing individuals who are subject to removal or unlawfully present in the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-00031-FL-KS-1.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Related to Disappearance and Death of 14-year-old Sioux Falls GirlRead the Press Release
Mark Milk, who is alleged to be involved in the disappearance and death of a 14-year-old Sioux Falls girl, McKenna Wendel, was ordered detained, pending a detention hearing set for 2:30 p.m. on July 30, 2026, following his initial appearance today in federal court.
Milk, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Trial in Milk’s case is set for September 28, 2026, in the United States District Court in Sioux City.
Milk and his co-defendant, Jon Rogness of Brookings, South Dakota, were indicted on June 17, 2026. The indictment charges Milk with five counts, alleging that he:
Possessed with intent to distribute and distributed cocaine, the use of which resulted in McKenna Wendel’s death;
- Possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed THC;
- Transported a minor across a state line with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity;
- Conspired to conceal objects with the intent to impair their integrity and availability for an official proceeding; and
- Concealed objects with the intent to impair their availability for an official proceeding.
If convicted, Milk faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment; a $1,000,000 fine; and up to 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Rogness’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for August 6, 2026. The indictment charges Rogness with two counts:
- Conspiracy to conceal objects with the intent to impair their integrity and availability for an official proceeding; and
- Accessory to Milk after the alleged cocaine possession and distribution resulted in McKenna Wendel’s death.
If convicted, Rogness faces a possible maximum sentence of 35 years’ imprisonment; a $250,000 fine; and up to 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
As with any criminal case, an indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. It is being investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department; Sioux Falls Fire Rescue; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Department; Minnehaha County Search and Rescue; Brookings County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Office; Brookings Police Department; Brookings Fire Department; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Brookings County Attorney’s Office; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Attorney’s Office; the Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Criminal Investigation; Iowa State Patrol; Lyon County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department; Lyon County Attorney’s Office; the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office; U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation; and U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 26-4032.
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- Possessed with the intent to distribute and distributed THC;
Sentencing Set for West Virginia Cemetery Owner Who Defrauded CustomersRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A sentencing hearing has been set for the North Central West Virginia cemetery owner who defrauded hundreds of customers, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.
Jeffrey Phares, 65, of Fayetteville, West Virginia, will be sentenced November 10, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in federal court in Wheeling before U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey. Phares pleaded guilty to wire fraud in March, admitting to misleading victims who placed orders for grave markers, accepting their money, sending design approvals, and then using the funds for his personal use. Phares owned and operated four cemeteries including: Greenlawn Memorial Park in New Martinsville, Elkins Memorial Gardens in Elkins, Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Clarksburg, and Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Jane Lew.
According to court documents, there are approximately 225 victims with more than $600,000 in unfulfilled grave marker orders.
As part of the plea agreement, Phares has agreed to pay restitution to the victims of his offense conduct, and to provide the government with all necessary documentation to determine the amount of restitution, which will be determined prior to sentencing.
If you are a victim and have submitted your contract with Phares to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, U.S. Probation, and/or the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, your information has been received and is being reviewed as a part of the restitution process.
Phares faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include the FBI, the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Seattle restaurant owner pleads guilty to failing to pay over employment taxes of more than $1.4 millionRead the Press Release
Seattle – The owner of a restaurant in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to pay over more than $1.4 million in unemployment, Social Security, and Medicare taxes – some of which were withheld from employee paychecks, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Ruadhri McCormick, 44, of Seattle, owns and operates Single Shot restaurant. Between 2014 and 2024 he employed as many as 87 people as servers, bartenders, and cooks. While McCormick withheld payroll taxes from employee paychecks, he kept the money and failed to pay it over to the Internal Revenue Service. McCormick faces up to five years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly K. Evanson on October 5, 2026.
“While the restitution is owed to the IRS, those who are hurt by this conduct are the employees,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “The failure to pay over the taxes means the employees may not be eligible for many federal benefits that they paid for and may have been counting on. Mr. McCormick needs to make this right.”
“Mr. McCormick’s employees trusted him with their tax withholdings. Little did they know that Mr. McCormick took advantage of this trust and kept over $1 million of these funds for himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “Employers have an obligation to their employees to do the right thing. Today’s guilty plea is a step toward justice for those harmed by Mr. McCormick’s criminal actions.”
For thirty-six quarters between 2014 and 2024, McCormick failed to pay $1,027,362 in payroll taxes that had been withheld from employee paychecks. McCormick also failed to pay the employer portions of the Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes, and federal unemployment taxes – more than $400,000 – bringing the total tax loss to $1,446,341. McCormick agreed to pay that full amount as restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
Additionally, McCormick admitted in his plea agreement that he did not file his personal income taxes from any tax year 2015 through 2024.
In the plea agreement prosecutors agree to recommend no more than 15 months in prison, however the recommendation is not binding on Judge Evanson, and she can impose any sentence allowed by law.
Willful failure to pay over tax is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Watts Staniar.
Sacramento Resident Pleads Guilty to Bank and Tax Fraud Scheme Involving the Submission of Fraudulent PPP Loan ApplicationsRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Anthony West pled guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aiding the filing of a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian announced.
West, 59, of Sacramento, California, was charged by Information on June 9, 2026, with one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344, and one count of aiding the filing of a false tax return, in violation 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). In pleading guilty to the charges in the Information, West admitted that from April 2020 through February 2021, he submitted multiple false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications with various federally insured banks. During the same period, he also submitted multiple false Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These applications claimed that West owned multiple businesses, including a freight logistics company, car dealership, and multimedia company. In reality, West’s businesses were shell companies with no legitimate employees and no payroll expenses. In total, West attempted to obtain $1,321,279 from his false PPP and EIDL applications and actually obtained $571,179. Upon receiving the loan proceeds, West used the funds for his own personal enrichment and living expenses.
As part of his scheme, West aided the filing of a false tax return that claimed nearly one million dollars in nonexistent revenues. The return was part of an effort by West to make one of his businesses appear to be legitimate to the SBA, even though it had no real business activity, no revenues, and no employees.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe made the announcement.
West’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026, before United States District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. West faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud count and a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine on the tax fraud count. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.
Retired Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Sentenced for PPP FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A retired Sergeant for the Massachusetts State Police was sentenced on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, which was later forgiven.
Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year of probation. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, restitution in the amount of $21,333 and forfeiture of $21,333. In April 2026, Halfkenny was charged with one count of wire fraud.
In 2021, Halfkenny was employed full-time as a Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police earning $160,378 per year. He also owned and rented several real estate properties in Boston. In March 2021, Halfkenny submitted a PPP loan application for his real estate business, falsely representing that he had a monthly payroll expense of $8,488. In support of this application, Halfkenny provided a fabricated IRS Schedule C. Based on his misrepresentations, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued Halfkenny, and later forgave, a $21,220 PPP loan.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.
Red Lake Man Sentenced to 41 Months’ Imprisonment for Domestic Assault by a Habitual OffenderRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Allen Robert Cloud, 46, has been sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment for domestic assault by a habitual offender. Cloud was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud on July 23, 2026.
According to court documents, on July 11, 2025, Cloud violently assaulted his long‑term partner, Victim 1, on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. After locating Victim 1 at a neighbor’s home, where she had been hiding from him, Cloud pushed her, kicked her, and pulled her hair. Cloud then forced Victim 1 to leave the neighbor’s house and prevented her from escaping. When Cloud fell asleep, Victim 1 again attempted to flee, but Cloud chased her down and struck Victim 1 on the head with a piece of concrete. Emergency medical services later arranged for Victim 1 to be airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Prior to the July 2025 assault, Cloud had at least five Tribal Court convictions for Criminal Domestic Violence and Stalking involving domestic assaults committed between April 2010 and April 2023, all involving Victim 1.
Cloud pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender resulting in substantial bodily harm.
“The courage of victims to seek assistance in domestic assault situations is critical to holding offenders accountable. My office remains committed to preventing domestic violence and safeguarding those who have been victimized,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
This case was investigated by the Red Lake Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.
Murray County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leran Ortiz Pittman, 42, of Davis, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Davis Police Department.
On October 21, 2025, Pittman pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Pittman knowingly possessed a semi-automatic pistol on January 7, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pittman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Mother and Son Charged in Stabbing That Left Victim Critically InjuredRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A mother and son from Zuni have been charged in federal court for their alleged roles in an assault in which two victims were stabbed and one suffered life-threatening injuries.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2026, at a residence on the Zuni Pueblo, Zachary Booqua, 18, and his mother, Kayla Marie Concho, 36, both enrolled members of the Zuni Pueblo Indian Tribe, allegedly assaulted Jane Doe and John Doe while the group was drinking alcohol. Following an argument, Booqua knocked John Doe unconscious and began punching him in the face. When Jane Doe attempted to pull Booqua off, both Booqua and Concho began punching Jane Doe in the face as well. Booqua then stabbed John Doe.
Booqua and Concho are both charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the current charges, Booqua and Concho eachface up to 20 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Most Wanted COVID-19 Fraud Fugitive Returned from Jamaica to Face Charges in $32 Million SchemeRead the Press Release
A fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List was returned Saturday to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges for her alleged role in a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Elaine Escoe, 41, was charged by indictment in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering. After a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, Escoe failed to appear for her court appearance and fled to Jamaica. Acting on information developed by the FBI, Jamaican authorities captured Escoe after receiving a tip. She was returned to South Florida Saturday through the coordinated efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), and the JCF Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team.
“This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.”
“Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This Most Wanted Fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs. The Fraud Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people.”
“The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May of 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice. She is charged for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering – connected with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe brings the number of high value targets returned by the FBI to over 30 just since June. Led by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud – the FBI and our partners continue to see an unprecedented level of success taking down the worst of the worst alleged fraudsters. In just week weeks, we have captured four subjects on three different continents charged with a combined nearly $1.8 billion in fraud, collectively on the run for over 3,500 days, each hiding overseas – now returned and all in custody in 1.5 months. Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated – and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide.”
“Elaine Escoe allegedly helped orchestrate a sprawling scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million from programs created to keep American businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “After being charged, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica. Defendants cannot escape accountability simply by leaving the country. Thanks to the determined work of our federal, state, and international partners, she is back in South Florida and will now face the charges against her. This coordinated effort demonstrates that we will pursue fugitives wherever they go and bring them back to face justice.”
According to court records, Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue, and operations of purported businesses to qualify for and maximize federal relief funding.
To support the fraudulent applications, the conspirators created fake tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other false financial records that lenders and program administrators relied upon in approving loans and grants. Some applications were submitted on behalf of businesses controlled by the conspirators, while others were submitted for third parties in exchange for substantial kickbacks — sometimes as much as 50% of the loan proceeds. The fraud proceeds were subsequently laundered among the conspirators.
Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the scheme. Following a December 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark were convicted by a federal jury. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan previously pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Cher Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months, and McGhow to 42 months.
FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office.
On June 4, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List. The list included Herb Kimble, a fugitive in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme, who, on June 8 — just four days later — was apprehended in the Philippines and was soon after charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. On June 8, Escoe was added to the Most Wanted Fraudsters List, and she was apprehended less than two months later.
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.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-80076.
Milton, Vermont Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on July 24, 2026, Willard Perry, 68, of Milton, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 15-year term of supervised release. The Court will hold a separate hearing as to restitution on September 16, 2026. Perry previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, also known as child pornography.
According to court records, Perry possessed over 50,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse materials, including content depicting prepubescent female children between the ages of three and seven, who were bound, blindfolded, and sexually assaulted.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Willard Perry was represented by Brooks McArthur, Esq.
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.
Member of Bronx Drug Gang Convicted of Racketeering and Attempted Murder in the Shooting of A Baby GirlRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that on Friday, July 24, 2026, a jury found SAMUEL BAUTISTA, a/k/a “Sammy,” guilty of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault, and additional firearms and drug-related charges. BAUTISTA was found guilty following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2026.
“On the evening of January 19, 2022, Bautista, an armed drug trafficker, shot at a rival dealer but missed, instead striking an 11-month-old baby girl who was seated in a car seat beside her mother in the face,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Somehow, she survived, but with devastating injuries. It was such an outrageous crime that it captured the attention of people across this city and this country the night it occurred. New Yorkers want gun toting criminals off our streets and we hear them. We will not allow armed drug traffickers to take this city from the women and men who are raising their families here. And to the gangs who think the streets of New York are their territory to fight over, we remind you that you can cover your head, you can cover your face, but eventually, we will find you. And when we find you, you will be convicted and you will go to federal prison.”
According to the charging instruments, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial:
From 2011 to 2023, members of 2860, a violent drug-trafficking organization and street gang based at 2860 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, New York, distributed large quantities of cocaine base, in a form commonly referred to as “crack,” to their customers on the street. Notwithstanding a prior federal drug-trafficking conviction for this very criminal activity, BAUTISTA was released from federal prison in 2016 and resumed armed drug trafficking. At all times, the members of 2860 fought with rival dealers, with whom they clashed on many occasions, including on January 19, 2022, when BAUTISTA shot at a rival dealer and instead hit the baby girl.
A number of BAUTISTA’s co-conspirators and fellow members of 2860 previously pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing, and the rival dealer whom BAUTISTA targeted on January 19, 2022, was also convicted and sentenced on multiple drug and firearms-related charges.
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BAUTISTA, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault in aid of racketeering, and multiple firearms and drug-related charges. The racketeering conspiracy and multiple firearms and drug-related charges all carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. BAUTISTA faces a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years.
Mr. Clayton praised the victim’s parents for their commitment to obtaining justice for their daughter and the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bureau of Prisons, the New York City Department of Correction, and the Utica Police Department for their assistance.
This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to address strategically specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright and Ryan W. Allison are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Sandy Alcantara.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Gun, Drug Charges After Fleeing Police in Stolen VehicleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Fulani Hasan Tahrike Herrod, 24, a Maryland resident and a convicted felon, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a “ghost gun,” ammunition, and crack cocaine recovered following a police pursuit through Northwest Washington that ended when he crashed a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Herrod pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. A sentencing date is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2026. Herrod faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison on the ammunition count and 20 years in prison on the drug count.
According to court papers, on March 8, 2026, a United States Park Police (USPP) officer monitoring police radio during a high-visibility patrol learned that a license plate reader had spotted a stolen vehicle, a black BMW sedan with Maryland tags, traveling in the area of Columbia Road NW.
The officer located the BMW near 16th Street and Irving Street NW and attempted to stop it. Herrod, the sole occupant, disregarded the officer's emergency lights and sirens and fled, running multiple traffic lights, driving at a high rate of speed, driving the wrong way, and colliding with several parked vehicles.
The pursuit ended in the area of 14th Street and Military Road NW, when Herrod drove over a curb and struck a parking sign, disabling the vehicle. As the officer attempted to handcuff him, Herrod got up and ran on foot, jumping a stone wall and crossing a grassy area before he was taken into custody with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department.
A search incident to arrest recovered a Maryland driver's license and $170 in cash from Herrod. In plain view on the driver's side floorboard of the vehicle, officers found a loaded, privately manufactured 9mm “ghost gun” bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. A backpack recovered from behind the driver's seat contained cocaine base, baking soda, a substance labeled as a cannabis concentrate, and a large quantity of small plastic bags. Laboratory testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed 22.34 grams of cocaine base and 6.06 grams of cocaine.
Herrod previously had been convicted in Montgomery County, Maryland, of possessing a loaded handgun in a vehicle, attempting to elude a uniformed police officer by fleeing on foot, and related traffic offenses.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Park Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss, with significant assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ursula Simmons.
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Man who led drug trafficking conspiracy while incarcerated sentenced to over 18 additional years in prison in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Terrance Edward Brown, 44, of Hampton Roads, was sentenced today to 18 years and 8 months in prison for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and heroin and conspiracy to launder money.
According to court documents, in 2013, Brown was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Beginning in 2022 while Brown was incarcerated, he, along with Sylvia Naupendai Bryant and Felisa Alexander, procured cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl from out-of-state sources and had it shipped in wholesale quantities to Virginia. At Brown’s direction, Bryant and Alexander supplied those narcotics to, among others, Donte Antrell Cartwright, Rudy Malik Collick, Brandon Rashad Hargrow, Marlow Rodrico Malone, Marquis Ryan Scott, Sherrod Demaine Benns, Brehon Kanell Davis, Terry Damaine Burke, and David Liequan Hairston for further distribution.
From June 2022 to Dec. 13, 2023, Brown and his co-conspirators sent at least $1,147,768 in drug proceeds via electronic money transfers, bank deposits, and bulk cash shipments to both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.
Bryant was sentenced on June 9 to two years and six months in prison.
Cartwright was sentenced on May 26 to seven years and eight months in prison.
Collick was sentenced on Jan. 22 to 14 years in prison.
Hargrow was sentenced on Jan. 22 to seven years and six months in prison.
Malone was sentenced on May 13 to 11 years and eight months in prison.
Scott was sentenced on May 7 to six years in prison.
Benns was sentenced on Jan. 13 to five years and 10 months in prison.
Burke was sentenced on May 14 to two years and six months in prison.
Hairston was sentenced on July 21 to six years and three months in prison.
Davis is currently awaiting sentencing.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the Federal Bureau of Prisons National Gang Unit; Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS); and the Norfolk Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the FBI; HSI; ATF; Drug Enforcement Administration; Diplomatic Security Service; USMS; CGIS; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-53.
Man Sentenced to 57 Months’ Imprisonment for Homicide by Vehicle While DUI at National ParkRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher M. Thomas, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 22, 2026, to 57 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehlachick for homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in June 2024, Thomas was driving his vehicle through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area while high on methamphetamine. Multiple cars and two motorcycles had come to a stop more than 400 feet in front of Thomas to let deer cross the road. Thomas did not stop but continued to travel at a high rate of speed. Thomas crashed full speed into one of the motorcyclists, who was pronounced dead on scene. A subsequent blood draw from Thomas and forensic analysis revealed Thomas had significant levels of amphetamine and methamphetamine in his blood.
In imposing the sentence at the top of Thomas’s sentencing guideline range, Judge Mehalchick noted the serious and deadly nature of the offense, the need to provide just punishment, and the need to deter Thomas and others from committing similar offenses.
The National Park Service and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.
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Local Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor in PensacolaRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Christopher W. Glover, 47, of Simms, Alabama, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is a reminder that parents need to be aware of the online threats facing our kids from sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are relentless in their pursuit of these sick individuals preying upon our kids, and my office will continue to follow through on those investigations and arrests with aggressive prosecutions to keep our children safe online.”
Court documents and pretrial hearings revealed that Glover communicated with who he believed to be a 14-year-old female and offered to pay her hundreds of dollars in return for sexual acts in October 2025. Glover then traveled from Alabama, where he worked for the Baldwin County School District, to Pensacola to meet with the minor. The purported minor, however, was an undercover law enforcement officer. When Glover reached Pensacola to engage in the sexual acts with the child, he was taken into custody. He possessed over $200 in cash in order to pay for the illicit sexual acts.
“This case demonstrates the unwavering dedication of our investigators, whose meticulous undercover work helped secure a 10‑year federal prison sentence and protect future victims,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “Their steadfast determination is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when law enforcement works tirelessly to pursue justice, making our communities safer and uphold the values we stand for every day."
Glover’s term of imprisonment will be followed by ten years of supervised release. Glover will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
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.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Inver Grove Heights Man Sentenced to 54 Months’ Imprisonment for Being a Felon in Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Raul Gutierrez, Jr., 33, of Inver Grove Heights, was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of firearms. He was sentenced before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim on July 27, 2026.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2026, Gutierrez participated in a violent civil disturbance in Minneapolis where he and others broke into a vehicle belonging to the FBI. When his accomplice arrived, the vehicle was already extensively damaged, and the rear hatch was open. The accomplice broke into a vault in the cargo area of the vehicle and removed a rifle bag and a satchel of ammunition. The bag contained a semiautomatic rifle and a silencer, both of which are firearms under federal law. The accomplice gave the bag to Gutierrez, who took it to his car and drove away. Gutierrez abandoned the firearms a short time later, and his accomplice took the firearms to his home.
Before Gutierrez possessed the rifle and silencer, he had been convicted of burglary of a building in Dunn County, Wisconsin, and domestic assault-strangulation in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Both of those are felony convictions that barred Gutierrez from possessing firearms.
“Today’s sentencing reflects my office’s commitment to taking dangerous individuals off the streets and protecting the people of Minnesota. Stealing FBI firearms during a violent disturbance poses an unacceptable risk to public safety, and we will continue working with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“Today's sentence underscores the fact that violence, theft, and damage to public property have no place in lawful protests,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “To the contrary, criminal behavior like the theft of law enforcement weapons endangers the law-abiding public engaged in First Amendment expression. As we work to uphold the Constitution and protect the public, the FBI and our federal, state, and local partners will not tolerate dangerous and destructive behavior. This sentence proves there are serious consequences for those who seek to use lawful demonstrations as a cover for criminal behavior.”
“When a convicted felon took possession of a stolen FBI rifle and silencer, the danger extended far beyond the scene of the unrest,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spence Burnett of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF, working alongside members of the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, located and arrested Gutierrez just hours after the firearm was stolen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office carried the case forward in court, and this sentence holds Gutierrez accountable for the danger his actions created in the community.”
Gutierrez pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026. His accomplice, Alexio Miranda, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm on June 26, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Semivan are prosecuting this case.
Note: Previous press release on Gutierrez’s accomplice here.
Illegal alien admits attempting to meet minor for sexRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Honduras living in Donna has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice or coerce a minor into engaging in sexual activity.
Anael Jossue Rodriguez-Rodas had been communicating with someone he believed to be a 16-year-old girl over the course of three days. During those conversations, Rodriguez-Rodas said he wanted to have sex with her and sent her a picture of two adults engaging in sexual activity to demonstrate what he wanted.
Eventually, Rodriguez-Rodas made plans to meet up with her at a local park and intended to take her back to his house to have sex.
Law enforcement took him into custody upon his arrival.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing Oct. 6. At that time, Rodriguez-Rodas faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Edinburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and M. Alexis Garcia are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
ISIS supporter admits to disseminating terrorist propaganda via social mediaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 30-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to concealing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and making false statements.
Anas Said is a pledged supporter of Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and used various social media accounts to post, share, or disseminate ISIS propaganda.
He also discussed ISIS propaganda using Telegram, where he received feedback on media he personally created. In one message, he discussed sending his clip to the Sarh al-Khilafah Institution, which agreed to publish it on their channel. According to court records, Sarh al-Khilafah, a/k/a Tower of the Caliphate, is a media entity that uses social media platforms to produce content ranging from operational security tips to guides on chemicals and explosives. They are also known for aggregating (ISIS) content online.
Said admitted to knowing Sarh al-Khilafah was a media entity working on behalf of, and in coordination with, ISIS. Prior to publishing his media, Said removed his name as designer of the video, thus concealing his material support of ISIS.
Said also pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement regarding a weapon he possessed and discussed on social media. As part of the plea, he admitted to making the following statement: “I am thinking and hoping to kill the infidels with a weapon and as many people as possible in order to heal my heart.”
U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the plea on July 24 and will impose sentencing Oct. 16. At that time, Said faces up to 10 years in federal prison for concealing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and a maximum of five years for making material false statements. He could also be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 maximum fine on each count.
Said has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.
FBI Houston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) conducted the investigation with special assistance from police departments in Houston and Sugar Land, as well as the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The JTTF also includes Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secret Service, Houston Metro Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and Federal Air Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.
Houston Pair Admit to Conspiring to Defraud DoorDash by Impersonating Delivery DriversRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Evan Edwards pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-defendant, Oluwatobi Otukelu, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, and was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracies. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence.
Edwards, 26 and Otukelu, 26, both of Houston, Texas, were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 17, 2024. Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1349 today, and Otukelu pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 371 on April 20, 2026.
In pleading guilty, Edwards and Otukelu both admitted to conspiring with each other and other co-conspirators to steal wages from DoorDash contractors known as “Dashers.” Specifically, Edwards and Otukelu admitted that they used the personal identifying information of Dasher victims without authorization to falsely impersonate Dashers to DoorDash support, take over Dashers’ online accounts, create unauthorized accounts, and direct payments of Dasher wages to accounts they controlled. Edwards and Otukelu also admitted to using the stolen funds to pay for goods and services, including vehicles, airline tickets, cosmetic procedures, and personal training.
Otukelu admitted that he and his co-conspirators stole at least $743,235.55 from Dasher victims and attempted to obtain at least an additional $69,276.30. Edwards agreed that she and Otukelu obtained at least $160,115. Both admitted to stealing from at least 138 individual Dasher victims.
Edwards’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Martínez-Olguín. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle J. Kane and Anupam Dhillon are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Homeland Security Task Force Search Warrants Result in Seizure of 1,311 Grams of Fentanyl, 50 Firearms in Kansas City, MissouriRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 17, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, with the help of prosecutors, executed multiple federal search warrants, in Kansas City, Mo. The effort was part of the Homeland Security Task Force, a multi-agency Department of Justice Initiative, that works to protect U.S. citizens from security threats and violent crime.
The search warrants resulted in the combined seizure of 1,311 grams of fentanyl, 50 firearms, 1,559.2 grams of methamphetamine, 20,479 grams of marijuana, nearly $40,000 in cash, and six pill presses, among other illegal items.
“This Homeland Security Task Force operation demonstrates the tremendous impact of strong partnerships among federal, state, and local law enforcement working toward a shared mission,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price of the Western District of Missouri. “By combining our resources and expertise, we are making our communities safer and ensuring that those who commit violent crimes are held fully accountable under the law.”
Several Kansas City, Mo. residents, including one Mexican national, were charged by criminal complaints during the operation:
Cornelius D. Phelps, 40; Maurice C. Beasley, 30; Jose E. Marquez-Echeverria, 30; and Porsha E. Dixon, 40, were charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
In addition, Phelps and Dixon were charged with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Andre Evans, 46, and Andre Evans Jr., 18, were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Taron D. Ford, 41, was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, psilocybin, and marijuana. In addition, Ford was charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of firearms.
Xavier Lambros, 27, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The charges contained in these complaints are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Jennings and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Guy. It is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Jackson County Drug Task Force, and Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, and Grandview Police Department.
Homeland Security Task Force
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
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Haysville man instructed Australian to create and send him child pornographyRead the Press Release
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after he directed a foreign national living in another country to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and send him the images.
According to court documents, Ronald Waltrip, 62, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography.
Waltrip used a social media account to exchange messages with an adult male in Australia. The messages show that Waltrip asked about a six-year-old child who was in the man’s custody and directed him to engage in sexual acts with the child. The man complied and at Waltrip’s request, created images of the child sexual abuse. The Australian man sent CSAM recordings to Waltrip.
“Waltrip and his co-conspirator may be on different continents, but they share the same evil fantasies. Waltrip’s crime is so egregious that even after he gets out of prison, he will be under the supervision of probationary officers for the rest of his life,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Wichita Police Department investigated the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.###
Gunman Pleads Guilty to Daytime Robbery of Brinks Armored Truck in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, David Ortiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the gunpoint robbery of a Brinks armored truck transporting money belonging to a Bank of America branch. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. When sentenced, Ortiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment for brandishing a firearm, in addition to any sentence imposed for the bank robbery charges, and restitution.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.
“The defendant planned and carried out a violent armed robbery in broad daylight, threatening Brinks armored truck employees with a firearm while stealing more than half a million dollars destined for a neighborhood bank,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This calculated crime may have looked like a scene out a movie, but it was terrifyingly real, and placed the victims in fear for their lives. Today’s guilty plea ensures that the defendant will face the consequences of his violent actions.”
"This was a brazen, violent crime that put innocent people in immediate danger. The FBI and NYPD moved quickly to track down David Ortiz to ensure he faced federal charges,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Violent robberies have absolutely no place in New York, and we will not hesitate to go after those who threaten our communities. Our work with our partners has led to this guilty plea.”“This defendant planned and executed an armed robbery outside a bank in Queens, threatening employees at gunpoint and stealing more than $500,000 from an armored truck,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “He thought he could get away with this dramatic crime, but his plan was no match for the skilled NYPD detectives and the investigative tools they used to track and arrest him. I thank our investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for working to hold this criminal accountable.”
According to court filings and statements made during the plea hearing, on the morning of June 2, 2025 at approximately 8:43 a.m., Ortiz and an accomplice, both wearing masks and armed with guns, staged an ambush outside a Bank of America branch located at 205-02 Linden Boulevard in Queens, New York. The pair arrived before the scheduled cash delivery and waited for Brinks employees to transport money from an armored truck into the bank. When the employees began wheeling a bag of cash toward the bank entrance, Ortiz brandished a firearm, ordered the employees to the ground, and stole the service weapon of one of the armored car guards. At the same time, Ortiz’s accomplice loaded the bag containing approximately $542,000 into a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle which did not have license plates. The two men then fled with the stolen cash. Later, NYPD officers recovered a mask, a jacket, and a firearm discarded by Ortiz in the vicinity of Hilburn Avenue and Dunkirk Street. The stolen cash has not been recovered and Ortiz’s accomplice remains at large.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Special Assistant United States Attorney Brachah Goykadosh and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Amzallag are charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
DAVID ORTIZ
Age: 49
Brooklyn, New York and TexasE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 2-CR-343 (EK)
Gresham Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal Law Enforcement Officer During Weekend Riot Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— A Gresham, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today after he was charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer during a declared riot near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Ginovanni Joseph Brumbelow, 22, pleaded guilty to assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, on June 14, 2025, Brumbelow struck a federal officer in the back of the head with a wooden stake while the officer was arresting another individual during a riot at the ICE facility in South Portland.
On July 15, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Brumbelow with assault on a federal officer, assault of a federal officer with a dangerous weapon and civil disorder.
Brumbelow faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on October 19, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, Brumbelow has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victim.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
The FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.
German Subsidiary in Peachtree City Settles PPP Fraud Claim for $2.6 MillionRead the Press Release
NEWNAN, Ga. - Universal Environmental Services, LLC (“UES”), a Peachtree City, Georgia-based subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, will pay $2.6 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act in connection with applying and obtaining forgiveness for a loan under the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”).
“When people provide false information to obtain government-backed loans, they break the law and misdirect resources away from those who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to enforce the False Claims Act to recover such funds, plus penalties.”
The government’s investigation arose after a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that, in 2020, UES applied for a second-draw loan under the PPP. Such loans were only offered to “small” businesses, which the program rules and loan application defined to mean businesses that employed fewer than 300 employees, including all members of the corporate family. UES is a subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, the Avista Oil Group, and the entire corporate family employs well over 300 employees. Yet UES stated on the loan application that it employed 287 employees, a figure that reflected only its domestic employees. Based on this incorrect information, a bank approved an approximately $2 million loan, which the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) later paid off at taxpayers’ expense.
Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The whistleblower will receive $312,000 from the settlement. UES will also pay the whistleblower’s attorney fees.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, United States ex rel. Verity Investigations LLC v. Universal Environmental Services, LLC, No. 3:24-cv-00109-LMM.
The investigation and resolution of this matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony DeCinque. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Karem also participated in the investigation, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted Pandemic Program fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the SBA Office of the Inspector General Complaint Submission at: https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Georgia Teen Pleads Guilty in Possession of Shotgun on U.S. Capitol GroundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Carter Camacho, 18, of Smyrna, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building as well as possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Camacho entered his plea before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm within the United States Capitol Buildings or Grounds and one count of receipt of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026.
According to the court documents, on Feb. 17, 2026, Camacho parked a white Mercedes SUV on Maryland Ave. SE, between First and Third Streets. About 12:07 p.m., Camacho exited the vehicle and ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing.
Camacho reached the steps on the western side of the Capitol. A uniformed officer with the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) asked Camacho what he was carrying. Camacho produced the firearm. The officer ordered Camacho to halt and lie down on the ground.
Once Camacho was on the ground, USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock.
Officers placed Camacho in handcuffs. Camacho told USCP officers that he was there to talk to a Member of Congress.
USCP officers traced Camacho’s path to the white Mercedes SUV and located a fixed blade knife on the ground about forty feet from the vehicle. Officers then searched the vehicle and located Camacho’s cell phone. A subsequent search of the cell phone, led to the discovery of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators determined that Camacho had purchased CSAM and was in possession of dozens of CSAM images and over 100 CSAM videos.
This case is being investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan, who is detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the United States Capitol Police.
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Camacho ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing. Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police
USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock. Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police
Former U.S. Navy SEAL Sentenced for Transporting Explosives to Throw at Law Enforcement at California ProtestsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A former U.S. Navy SEAL who intended to use explosives against law enforcement officers at California protests and whose actions prosecutors argued were motivated by extremist, antisemitic beliefs was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on June 12, 2025, Gregory Vandenberg, 49, was traveling from El Paso, Texas, to San Diego, California, to attend the “No Kings Day” protests scheduled for June 14, 2025. While in New Mexico, Vandenberg visited a travel center off Interstate 10 near Lordsburg and purchased six large mortar fireworks, which are designed to shoot high into the air and explode, and 72 M-150 firecrackers, which are designed to sound like gunfire. During this visit, he told the store clerk that he intended to throw fireworks at police officers at the upcoming protests. He asked detailed questions about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their ability to harm others. He also discussed taping multiple fireworks together to increase their explosive force. Vandenberg emphasized that he was not interested in the color or display of the fireworks, only in their ability to create explosions and injure law enforcement officers. He also encouraged the clerk to join him at the protests and discussed distributing fireworks to others at the event.
Employees, alarmed by Vandenberg’s statements and his repeated expressions of intent to throw explosives at law enforcement officers, recorded his license plate and contacted law enforcement. Authorities later alleged that Vandenberg intended to use the fireworks against law enforcement personnel during the protests, conduct that prosecutors described as posing a serious risk of injury or death to officers and bystanders alike.
Federal agents tracked Vandenberg to Tucson, Arizona, and arrested him the following morning while he was sleeping in his car at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Vandenberg initially claimed to be traveling for work (despite being unemployed at the time) and later falsely stated he was visiting friends in Phoenix that weekend.
A search of his vehicle revealed the purchased fireworks, along with clothing displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist imagery, including a shirt bearing the Al-Qaeda flag and another calling for the destruction of Judea. Agents also discovered that the home screen on Vandenberg’s phone displayed the Taliban flag. Investigators further determined that Vandenberg had worn a custom-made shirt bearing the word “AMALEK” during his visit to the travel center, which he stated meant “destroyer of Jews.”
A review of Vandenberg’s phone revealed antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-U.S., and extremist content, including internet searches and messages expressing hostility toward Jews and Israel. According to court records, investigators found messages indicating that Vandenberg viewed the United States government as being controlled by Israel and Jewish people and that those beliefs motivated his desire to target law enforcement officers at the protests. Prosecutors argued that his conduct was driven by extremist, antisemitic views and posed a grave threat to public safety.
On January 12, 2026, following a five-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Vandenberg of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California. Upon his release from prison, Vandenberg will be subject to one year of supervised release.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Tucson Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office, Tucson Police Department, U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.
Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Agrees to Plead GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Inspector – a federal law enforcement officer authorized to carry a firearm, make arrests and execute search warrants – has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims and then laundering the cash and failing to report it to the Internal Revenue Service. The defendant allegedly used the stolen cash to pay for a pool patio, granite countertop for his outdoor bar, lighting for his pool and bar, Caribbean cruise expenses, and escorts.
Scott Kelley, 52, of Pembroke, Mass., has agreed to plead guilty to 44 counts of a 45-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Boston. Specifically, Kelley has agreed to plead guilty to five counts of wire fraud; five counts of mail fraud; five counts of mail theft by a postal officer; 23 counts of money laundering; one count of structuring to evade reporting requirements; and five counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs has scheduled a change-of-plea hearing for July 29, 2026, at 1:00 pm.
Kelley was a Postal Inspector at the Boston Division headquarters of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. In 2015, Kelley became the Team Leader of the Mail Fraud Unit, which, among other things, investigated lottery and other scams that targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable populations.
According to the indictment, between January 2019 and Aug. 11, 2023, Kelley used deceptive emails to cause unwitting postal employees to intercept packages that a USPIS algorithm had flagged as likely having been mailed by scam victims, and send them to him. In total, Kelley allegedly requested that approximately 1,950 packages be intercepted and mailed to him. It is alleged that Kelley opened intercepted parcels that looked or felt like they might contain cash, and stole any cash inside.
The indictment identifies seven victims who were scammed into mailing cash in parcels that Kelley allegedly intercepted and opened, and that he stole the cash inside. The average age of the victims was 75, with the oldest victim being 82. The victims mailed between $1,400 and $19,100 cash. One victim died after Kelley was indicted.
The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The charge of structuring provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. 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; Michael Ray, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Professional Responsibility, Technical and Sensitive Operations Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Eric L. Hawkins of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Expatriated Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced to Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
A Cayman resident who renounced his U.S. citizenship was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for tax evasion.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Justin Ryan Schmidt, formerly of Austin, managed a hedge fund focused on cryptocurrency investments. Over a period of several years, Schmidt earned a total of at least $7 million from his hedge fund but did not report any of this income on his 2020, 2021 or 2022 tax returns. Instead, Schmidt falsely reported earning income of $5,000 or less during each of those years. At the same time, he held millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts that he failed to disclose to the IRS.
“Today’s sentence makes clear that renouncing U.S. citizenship does not shield you from American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Mr. Schmidt deliberately hid millions in income and assets from the IRS, filed false statements, and cheated America’s tax system. Despite his best efforts to evade the reach of the Justice Department, Mr. Schmidt will now begin to reap the true reward of his crimes.”
“Schmidt benefited from being a U.S. citizen but didn't want to pay the taxes to reap the benefits. When it was profitable to renounce his citizenship, he turned his back on his country, even lying about how much he was worth to avoid paying one last time,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Texas Field Office. “As criminal investigators for the IRS, we aren't limited by our nation's borders. He may have walked out on our country, but he didn't leave our sight.”
Schmidt renounced his U.S. citizenship in March 2022. Individuals who expatriate from the United States are required to report certain information to the IRS about their net worth, income, assets, and liabilities as of the date of their expatriation. Schmidt filed a false expatriation statement reporting that his net worth was $25,000, knowing that his net worth at the time exceeded $2 million. He also falsely stated that he had complied with his tax obligations for the preceding five years.
In 2023, Schmidt paid approximately $5.8 million to purchase a house in Snowmass Village, Colorado, and sold it three months later for approximately $9 million. Schmidt had a duty to report his U.S. sourced income but did not report the gains from this sale and evaded payment of taxes by submitting false documents to prevent taxes from being withheld on the sale.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas ordered Schmidt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3.4 million in restitution to the United States.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
IRS-CI investigated the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler and Trial Attorney Michael Jones of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Gardner for the Western District of Texas.
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.
Eufaula Resident Sentenced for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Frank William Shouse, 69, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 18 District Attorney’s Office.
On October 21, 2025, Shouse pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on August 21, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately an ounce of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, from his Eufaula residence. On August 29, 2025, agents executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and discovered approximately two and one-half ounces of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine packaged for distribution in multiple small baggies.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Shouse will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.
Dominican National Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Passport Fraud and Identity Theft OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic unlawfully residing in the United States, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 50 months of imprisonment for passport fraud and identity theft offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez, who lived in Waterbury, was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity. Investigators discovered that the victim’s identity had two different FBI fingerprint profiles, and that the Waterbury Police Department had arrest records and booking photographs of Rodriguez posing at the victim.
On March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes.
Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as the victim and as a U.S. citizen. He has been detained since his arrest.
On April 28, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of using a passport secured by a false statement and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Rodriguez will be removed to the Dominican Republic when he completes his prison term.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.
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.
District Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Homicide in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tyree Irving, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in D.C. Superior Court to 18 years in prison for the killing of Davane Williams on January 15, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Irving pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to one count of second-degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. On July 24, 2026, the Honorable Judge Neil Kravitz ordered Irving to the 18-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release.
On January 15, 2019, at 2:59 p.m., Irving walked toward the Tyler House, at the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Williams and several other men were standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance pathway to the Tyler House. Irving, who had a .40 caliber pistol concealed in his clothing, approached the group and immediately started yelling at Williams. After yelling at Williams for less than 10 seconds, Irving pulled the .40 caliber pistol out and fired five shots at Williams, striking him five times. Irving put the pistol away and then ran away southbound across M Street and changed clothes before fleeing southbound away from the Sursum Corda neighborhood. Irving was arrested on February 27, 2019, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Wes Faulkner, who prosecuted the case.
Crawfordville Man Indicted for Federal Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Todd James Mitchell, 54, of Crawfordville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm silencer. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Mitchell appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Mitchell faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of an unregistered firearm silencer.
The case was investigated by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Corrupt Guatemalan Mayor Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charge as Part of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) InitiativeRead the Press Release
A former Guatemalan mayor, Romeo Ramos Cruz, 58, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Ramos Cruz arrived in the United States on Aug. 4, 2025, following extradition from Guatemala, where he had been detained at the request of the United States.
According to court documents, from 2022 through 2023, Ramos Cruz served as a member of a Guatemala-based drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting cocaine intended for U.S. markets. During this time, Ramos Cruz served as the mayor of Santa Lucia municipality in Guatemala’s Escuintla Department and exploited his official position to facilitate the organization’s operations. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Ramos Cruz appointed a known drug trafficker to a high-ranking position in the municipal police force and also used his authority and access as mayor to coordinate logistics and transportation of a cocaine shipment destined for the United States, agreeing to help disguise the shipment from Venezuela to Guatemala as a donation of cement to his municipality. He prepared a letter on official municipal letterhead intended to help the shipment evade inspection by Guatemalan authorities.
Ramos Cruz faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing has been set for Dec. 2.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) made the announcement.
The FBI WFO led U.S. investigative efforts with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Division and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs working with Guatemalan law enforcement authorities, INTERPOL, and the FBI provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Ramos Cruz to the United States.
Trial Attorneys Roger Polack and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) are prosecuting the case.
MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.
MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.