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Thursday 11 June 2026
Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine, Possessing a Machinegun, and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – An armed drug trafficker was sentenced to 20 years in prison today for distributing methamphetamine, possessing a machegun, and other offenses, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. William Chase Pate, 39, of Morganton, N.C., was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his 20-year prison term.
“This case is a classic example of how drug dealing and firearm violence go hand-in-hand,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, “and we will use federal charges to take violent drug dealers off the street.”
According to filed court documents, from 2023 to 2024, Pate was involved in a conspiracy involving the distribution of methamphetamine in Burke and Catawba Counties. During the investigation, Pate sold methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement at least 12 times. On December 12, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Pate’s residence, seizing over 472 grams of methamphetamine, a rifle, a handgun loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition, two digital scales, clear plastic baggies with residue, and firearm accessories. Law enforcement interviewed Pate who said he would frequently travel to Georgia to purchase methamphetamine from his supplier, and that he would pick up between two and five kilograms of methamphetamine a time. Investigators also found two videos on Patel’s seized phone, depicting the defendant firing a firearm that had been converted to a machinegun with a conversion device commonly known as a “Glock switch.” Pate has a prior felony conviction for manslaughter, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On December 17, 2025, Pate pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Morganton Department of Public Safety, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Hickory Police Department, and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Armed Career Criminal from Memphis Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery and Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Freddy Najil, who robbed three banks at gunpoint in the span of three months, will spend the next 211 months in federal prison for bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Court Chief Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On June 6, 2024, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Arkansas charged Najil, 37, of Memphis, Tennessee, in a two-count Indictment with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of bank robbery. On March 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi charged Najil in a six-count Indictment with two counts of bank robbery, two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On May 9, 2025, Najil consented to the transfer of his Mississippi case to the Eastern District of Arkansas for plea and sentencing. On November 3, 2025, Najil pleaded guilty to bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the 17-year and 7-month sentence, Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Najil to serve three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On February 9, 2024, officers with the Horn Lake (Mississippi) Police Department responded to a bank robbery at Renasant Bank. Witnesses advised and security footage confirmed the suspect, later identified as Najil, pointed a firearm at four different bank employees while demanding money. In total, Najil fled with approximately $2,724 from Renasant Bank.
On April 18, 2024, officers with the Southaven (Mississippi) Police Department responded to an armed robbery at the Securtrust Bank. The suspect, later identified as Najil, pointed a firearm at the bank teller, directed her “not to do anything stupid,” and fled with $12,251 from Securtrust Bank.
On May 3, 2024, officers with the West Memphis Police Department responded to an armed bank robbery at Evolve Bank. There, Najil pointed a firearm at employees, demanded money, and fled with $22,251. Hidden in the cash were GPS monitoring devices, which were used to locate and track Najil’s movements. West Memphis police officers and Arkansas State Police Troopers pursued the suspect in a black Infiniti GS3 into Memphis, where it crashed. Najil fled on foot, with money flying from his arms, until he was apprehended by authorities. Najil was located near loose bills and a .40 caliber pistol. At the scene, police recovered approximately $22,134 in U.S. currency.
During post-Miranda interviews, Najil admitted to officers that he robbed the banks in Horn Lake, Southaven, and West Memphis. He further admitted that he stole the vehicle he used to commit the bank robbery in West Memphis on May 3, 2024.
Najil’s multiple prior convictions for violent felonies and serious drug offenses classify him as an armed career criminal and therefore subject him to an enhanced sentence. His criminal history includes eight convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, six convictions for second-degree kidnapping, a conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, a conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, and a conviction for possession of cocaine.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jackson, Mississippi, Field Offices, with assistance from the Horn Lake Police Department, Southaven Police Department, Memphis Police Department, Arkansas State Police, and the West Memphis Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Eldridge for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee, Senior Litigation Counsel, for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Armed Career Criminal from Memphis Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery and Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Freddy Najil, who robbed three banks at gunpoint in the span of three months, will spend the next 211 months in federal prison for bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Court Chief Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On June 6, 2024, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Arkansas charged Najil, 37, of Memphis, Tennessee, in a two-count Indictment with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of bank robbery. On March 4, 2025, a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi charged Najil in a six-count Indictment with two counts of bank robbery, two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On May 9, 2025, Najil consented to the transfer of his Mississippi case to the Eastern District of Arkansas for plea and sentencing. On November 3, 2025, Najil pleaded guilty to bank robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the 17-year and 7-month sentence, Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Najil to serve three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On February 9, 2024, officers with the Horn Lake (Mississippi) Police Department responded to a bank robbery at Renasant Bank. Witnesses advised and security footage confirmed the suspect, later identified as Najil, pointed a firearm at four different bank employees while demanding money. In total, Najil fled with approximately $2,724 from Renasant Bank.
On April 18, 2024, officers with the Southaven (Mississippi) Police Department responded to an armed robbery at the Securtrust Bank. The suspect, later identified as Najil, pointed a firearm at the bank teller, directed her “not to do anything stupid,” and fled with $12,251 from Securtrust Bank.
On May 3, 2024, officers with the West Memphis Police Department responded to an armed bank robbery at Evolve Bank. There, Najil pointed a firearm at employees, demanded money, and fled with $22,251. Hidden in the cash were GPS monitoring devices, which were used to locate and track Najil’s movements. West Memphis police officers and Arkansas State Police Troopers pursued the suspect in a black Infiniti GS3 into Memphis, where it crashed. Najil fled on foot, with money flying from his arms, until he was apprehended by authorities. Najil was located near loose bills and a .40 caliber pistol. At the scene, police recovered approximately $22,134 in U.S. currency.
During post-Miranda interviews, Najil admitted to officers that he robbed the banks in Horn Lake, Southaven, and West Memphis. He further admitted that he stole the vehicle he used to commit the bank robbery in West Memphis on May 3, 2024.
Najil’s multiple prior convictions for violent felonies and serious drug offenses classify him as an armed career criminal and therefore subject him to an enhanced sentence. His criminal history includes eight convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon, six convictions for second-degree kidnapping, a conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, a conviction for possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver, and a conviction for possession of cocaine.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jackson, Mississippi, Field Offices, with assistance from the Horn Lake Police Department, Southaven Police Department, Memphis Police Department, Arkansas State Police, and the West Memphis Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Eldridge for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee, Senior Litigation Counsel, for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
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Albion man and Jamestown woman charged in separate complaints with child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kimony Hamilton, 22, of Albion, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography. In addition, Kaitlyn Seekings, 28, of Jamestown, NY, was charged in a separate criminal complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography. The distribution and receipt of child pornography charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, in March 2025, the New York State Police (NYSP) received multiple reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Snapchat users identified as “kseekings25,” (defendant Seekings) “angel_smith354,” “jordan638p,” and “jordan2025_3,” (defendant Hamilton) had uploaded image files of suspected child pornography. In July 2025, the NYSP executed a search warrant at an Albion, NY, address, during which they spoke with an individual, later identified as Kemony Hamilton, who stated that he received child pornography from a friend he met online named “Kate Seekings.” Subsequent investigation recovered messages shared between the two during which they shared files containing child pornography as well as discussed meeting in Jamestown so that Hamilton could have sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old female that “Seekings” would provide access to.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins. The complaints are the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional assistance was provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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A Vancouver, Washington, Woman was Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in the Death of Two BrothersRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Vancouver, Washington, woman was sentenced to federal prison last Tuesday for distributing fentanyl resulting in two overdose deaths, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
Alondra Stephanie Trujillo, 34, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $6,349.00 in restitution.
“This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the severe and destructive impact fentanyl has across our community,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “We are steadfast in our mission to pursue offenders who distribute this poison and endanger Oregonians.”
“This case highlights the dangers of fentanyl and the dangers of buying counterfeit drugs of any type,” said acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “You can lose your life, as these two brothers learned, when these street drugs are marketed as one thing and instead contain fentanyl. This lengthy sentence won’t bring back the brothers, but hopefully it will serve as a deterrent to anyone who thinks about engaging in this type of deadly deception.”
“The tragic fentanyl poisoning deaths of two brothers underscore the deadly reality of illicit fentanyl and the irreversible harm caused by those who distribute it,” said Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division Robert A. Saccone. “DEA remains relentless in its pursuit of drug traffickers who endanger our communities for profit. Through Fentanyl Free America, DEA is combining aggressive enforcement, strategic partnerships, intelligence-driven investigations, and public awareness efforts to eliminate the fentanyl threat.”
According to court documents, on July 12, 2020, two brothers in Woodburn, Oregon, were pronounced deceased from an accidental fentanyl overdose after their mother and first responders attempted life-saving measures to save them. Investigators learned that Trujillo sold counterfeit pills containing fentanyl the day prior to their overdose deaths.
On Oct. 17, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Trujillo with one count of distribution of fentanyl. Trujillo pleaded guilty on May 13, 2025.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Woodburn Police Department investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Longview Police Department, Everett Police Department, and Portland Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady Adams prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.
Wednesday 10 June 2026
Wolf Point man sentenced to 15 years in prison for parking lot murderRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A man from Wolf Point who shot and killed one man and wounded another last fall was sentenced today to 188 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Ethan Louis Murphy, 27, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of second degree murder and one count of using a firearm in a crime of violence.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Murphy, carrying a handgun, walked up to two men in a grocery store parking lot and shot them, killing one and injuring the other.
Law enforcement first responded at 8:41 p.m. Sept. 28, 2025, when a 911 call reported gunshots in the Wolf Point Albertsons parking lot on the Fort Peck Reservation. Wolf Point police officers arrived and found two men on the ground, one of them dead from a gunshot wound to the head and the other injured.
Officers with Fort Peck Tribal Criminal Investigations and the FBI investigated the scene and collected four 9mm Luger casings. Surveillance from the grocery store showed Murphy walking up to one of the victims with his gun drawn and shooting him a single time in the head when the victim pulled out a black machete. Murphy then shot the second victim. A bystander called out, “It was Ethan, it was Ethan.”
Murphy turned himself in two days later on Sept. 30, 2025. Law enforcement found him in the passenger seat of a car with the pistol and ammunition they later matched to the shooting.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, and the Wolf Point Police Department conducted the investigation.
Westchester Man Charged with Robbery Spree That Targeted Convenience Stores in Mount Vernon and New RochelleRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JABARI CLARKE in connection with a series of gunpoint robberies in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, New York. CLARKE was arrested today and presented in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznik, who ordered him detained.
“As alleged, Jabari Clarke carried out a spree of gunpoint robberies of gas stations and convenience stores,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “If you use a gun to rob a store, you should expect federal charges and to be off the streets—that’s the message and the reality New Yorkers want and deserve.”
“Jabari Clarke allegedly committed gunpoint robberies threatening the safety of the general public and terrorizing innocent civilians,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI’s Westchester Safe Street’s Task Force continues to target gun violence plaguing our communities.”
As alleged in the Indictment:
Between May and June of 2025, CLARKE robbed four gas stations and convenience stores in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle. In each of these robberies, CLARKE or his accomplices brandished firearms and stole cash before fleeing. Through these gunpoint robberies, CLARKE stole thousands of dollars of cash.
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CLARKE, 22, of New Rochelle, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. CLARKE is also charged with four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, each of which carries an additional mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison that must be served consecutively to any other prison terms imposed.
The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the FBI, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and the New Rochelle Police Department in connection with this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin L. Brooke and Ioannis D. Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Two defendants sentenced to federal prison for theft of mail, bank fraud and identity theft in AugustaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A federal judge has ordered two defendants to be confined in federal prison after conviction for mail theft, bank fraud and identity theft.
The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Joshua M. Holmes, 21, of Miami, was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to Theft of Mail, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft.
Holmes’ codefendant, Coleshia Carter, 22, of East Point, Georgia, was also sentenced during court proceedings to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release and fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“The actions of these defendants not only impacted the business victims in and around Augusta, but also undermined the integrity of our financial systems,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Let this case serve as a reminder that crime does not pay, and that we will do whatever we can to serve justice and safeguard our communities.”
As described in court documents, from January 2023 to January 2024, the defendants took part in a mail theft scheme in which they would steal mail from Augusta area U.S. postal receptacles and washed checks found in the mail to create counterfeit checks which were then deposited into unauthorized accounts or used for large purchases.
“This sentencing is a statement that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to partner with fellow law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to collectively pursue criminals who victimize Postal customers.”
The FBI, United States Postal Inspection Service and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigated the cases, which were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia First Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes.
“These sentences should make clear that those who illegally use Americans’ personal information to facilitate fraud will face serious consequences,” said Matthew Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in FBI Atlanta’s Augusta office. “The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to deliver justice for the victims of complex fraud schemes.”
Two Former Utah Court Clerks Arrested and Facing Federal Charges after Allegedly Helping Illegal Aliens Evade ICE ArrestRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An indictment was unsealed, and two former Utah state court clerks have been arrested after they allegedly helped an illegal alien evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest. The clerks also allegedly obstructed immigration proceedings and the lawful enforcement of United States immigration laws by helping at least one of three other illegal aliens escape out a backdoor of the Logan City Municipal Justice Court so that ICE could not arrest or deport them.
Jennifer Joma, 27, and Lauren Kelsey Morrow, 26, both of Logan, Utah, were indicted June 3, 2026.
According to allegations in court documents, on April 9, 2026, Joma and Morrow were working at the Logan City Municipal Justice Court in Logan when an ICE Enforcement and Removal Officer (ICE-ERO) entered the justice court to arrest an illegal alien for immigration related charges. The ICE officer had an administrative warrant for the illegal alien who was at the justice court for a court hearing. The ICE officer left the secure area and eventually went outside and waited in his car for his target to leave the courthouse before trying to make the lawful arrest.
As alleged in court documents, after Joma and Morrow learned that ICE was there to arrest an illegal alien, they took steps to identify ICE’s target. These steps included misusing court databases to determine the alienage of everyone who was listed on the court docket. During their searches, they identified multiple non-U.S. citizens, and before those non-citizens would leave the courthouse, Joma and Morrow intercepted them. ICE’s intended target was among the unauthorized aliens whom Joma and Morrow helped slip out a backdoor of the courthouse. Joma and Morrow led the individuals down a secure area, several hallways, and eventually out of the courthouse without being seen by ICE.
After sneaking out the back door of the courthouse for the first time with an alien, Morrow and Joma were spotted on a surveillance camera waving and smiling at it, and Morrow used her middle finger in an obscene gesture at the camera. On the second trip, Joma drove off with three aliens in her car before returning alone to the courthouse for work.
Joma and Morrow are charged with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, and obstruction of proceedings before departments and agencies. Joma is also charged with transporting illegal aliens. Their initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for June 11, 2026, at 10:15 a.m., in courtroom 8.4 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant United States Attorney Todd Bouton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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jenniferjoma_laurenmorrow.indictment.pdf jenniferjoma.positionregardingdetention.pdf laurenmorrow.positionregardingdetention.pdfTexas couple indicted for psychic fraud scheme allegedly stealing millions from vulnerable peopleRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two Texas residents were arrested this week on an indictment from the Western District of Washington for their scheme to defraud emotionally vulnerable victims by posing as “psychics” who could “cleanse” the victims’ romantic bad luck, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Bridgette Doreen Evans, AKA Jolene Travis, 47, and her partner, Vinnie John Uwanawich, 44, of Frisco, Texas, will make their initial appearance in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas today on charges of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of mail fraud.
“As alleged in the indictment, these perpetrators of ‘fortune teller fraud’ came into the lives of these victims at a time when their judgement was clouded by emotional loss and feelings of hopelessness,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Floyd. “Ms. Evans preyed upon their needs, convincing victims that she could ‘remove a curse’ and help them find love. In truth her scheme was simply to help herself to their wealth, leaving them further devastated.”
“This case is yet another demonstration of how fraudsters exploit vulnerable situations to gain their victims' trust, even creating fake identities in an attempt to evade accountability and further schemes that last years,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “The schemes may change, but the greed driving them does not. The FBI and our partners will follow the money to unravel these scams and ensure the conspirators responsible face the consequences of their actions.”
According to the indictment, Evans and Uwanawich stole at least $2.5 million from at least three victims between April 2021 and July 2024. Evans operated under the fake name Jolene Travis and advertised her “psychic services” on social media. Her posts were designed to attract people who were struggling with romantic or personal problems: people experiencing divorce, death of a loved one or feelings of isolation.
Evans allegedly told the victims she could perform readings and rituals to determine the cause of their misfortune. Ultimately, she told them their “curse” was tied to their money or finances. After asking for a detailed accounting of the victims’ financial holdings, she would tell the victim the only way to remove the curse was to liquidate the holdings and send the money in gold coins or cash so that she could “cleanse” the money. She represented to the victims that after she cleaned it, she would return it to them. While she returned some small amounts to clients to lull them into further trusting her, she never returned the vast majority of the $2.5 million.
Uwanawich, Evans’ husband, facilitated her fraud by managing bank accounts that received payments from victims, selling gold coins, transferring and spending fraud proceeds, and vouching for Evans with victims.
The indictment details how Evans used the fake identity because she had previously been convicted of psychic frauds in Florida and Texas. In fact, during part of the fraud scheme, Evans was incarcerated in Florida, so Evans’ co-conspirators took on the Jolene Travis alias to keep the fraud going.
Evans allegedly convinced a second victim to send $86,000 in electronic payments to Evans for her “cleansing work.” A third victim was defrauded of more than $258,000 when Evans convinced her to take out loans to buy a Corvette to be delivered to Evans and to give Evans access to her credit cards to pay off the victim’s “karmic debts.”
Evans also operated under the names Joy John and Joy Paige. The FBI continues to investigate the scheme and wants anyone who thinks they may be a victim to report the crime to www.ic3.gov.
Conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud crimes are all punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas is assisting with the initial appearance today.
evans_indictment.pdfTexas Man Indicted for $4 Million Investment ScamRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –On May 14, 2026, SHAWN R. WARE, SR., age 53, was indicted on six-counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the indictment, WARE obtained over $4 million from over twenty victims between 2019 and the present, by falsely promising to invest the victims’ funds in fictitious business ventures. WARE promised the victims that they would receive significant returns on their investments within a short period of time. WARE induced victims to send him money by telling victims that he would invest their funds in real estate, a website business, computer equipment, sound equipment for rappers, and a night club. The indictment further alleges that WARE spent the victims’ money on luxury items and personal travel. When victims requested that their money be returned, WARE concocted phony excuses for the unavailability of their funds, and asked victims to send him additional money to do such things as “close out” a deal, release funds from overseas, move funds from a foreign bank account, or pay taxes.
If convicted of Counts One through Six, WARE faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years in prison, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, per count. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each count is also applicable.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Texas Couple Sentenced for Running an Illegal Pyramid SchemeRead the Press Release
A Texas couple was sentenced yesterday to 40 years each in prison for running a fraudulent chain-referral pyramid scheme, following their convictions by a jury on conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering charges in January 2026.
“At the peak of the pandemic, LaShonda and Marlon Moore launched an investment fraud scheme and cheated struggling Americans out of $30 million,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This fraud scheme exploited people out of their hard-earned money at a time when they needed it most. Opportunistic fraudsters like the Moores belong in prison.”
“The Moores’ get rich quick scheme has earned them a well-deserved stay in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “Playing games with other peoples’ money while promising unrealistic returns is stealing and will be prosecuted and punished.”
“The harm caused by greed-driven, deceptive investments promising returns too good to be true cannot be overstated,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The mission of the USPIS continues, to aggressively investigate such schemes and hold fraudsters fully accountable.”
“Those who exploit uncertainty and hardship for personal profit undermine the safety and security of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christina Foley of the U.S. Secret Service Dallas Field Office. “The Moores took advantage of trust and hope during a time of national crisis, causing significant harm to thousands of victims. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: the Secret Service remains steadfast in our mission to investigate and disrupt these schemes, and those who prey on vulnerable communities for personal gain will be held fully accountable.”
“The Moores used a polished image and a reality TV appearance to build trust, but behind the scenes, they orchestrated a deceptive pyramid scheme built on fake ‘playing boards’ and false promises of 800% returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office. “This scheme deliberately targeted the African American community, exploiting cultural trust and community ties. These sentences make it clear: if you abuse trust and exploit communities, you will face justice.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, LaShonda Moore, 38, and Marlon Moore, 39, of Frisco, Texas, co-founded and ran “Blessings in No Time,” known as “BINT,” an illegal chain-referral pyramid scheme that targeted victims during the COVID‑19 pandemic from June 2020 to June 2021. BINT targeted and recruited victims with false and misleading promises through weekly live-stream video broadcasts to thousands of participants across the United States during the COVID-19 shutdown. Victims were falsely promised that they would earn 800% returns on each $1,400 investment and were guaranteed a refund if they were unsatisfied. The Moores falsely held out BINT as a way for people to help their own community by paying “blessings” of at least $1,400 to participants who had already joined. The Moores falsely promised that new participants’ “blessing” payments would be paid back eight-fold within a few weeks. BINT was falsely presented as an altruistic invitation-only community to help others during the economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The defendants structured BINT to operate on “playing boards” that had positions for participants on four levels: eight Fires, four Winds, two Earths, and one Water. Once eight new participants were recruited to fill all eight Fire positions on the playing board, each Fire was directed to “bless” or pay at least $1,400 to the participant in the Water position. A Water participant then received eight payments totaling more than $11,000. After a Water participant received his or her payment, other participants at lower levels would move up one level on the playing board and then be required to recruit new participants into the Fire positions to perpetuate the scheme. To profit from the investment scheme, the defendants placed themselves in positions on the playing boards so that they received many of the ultimate payments, and they otherwise diverted substantial money to themselves that was paid by the participants. The defendants’ pyramid scheme victimized more than 10,000 people across the country and inflicted more than $30 million in victim losses.
USPIS, USSS, and IRS-CI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Theodore Kneller and Adam L.D. Stempel of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin Jr. for the Eastern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
TD Bank Insider Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes, Laundering Millions to ColombiaRead the Press Release
A former retail banker at TD Bank N.A., Leonardo Ayala, 26, of Homestead, Florida, was sentenced today to two years in prison and three years of supervised release for accepting bribes and facilitating the laundering of more than $5.5 million to Colombia.
According to court documents, Ayala accepted bribes and exploited his position as a retail banker at TD Bank to help launder narcotics proceeds to Colombia. From June to November 2023, Ayala opened fraudulent accounts, issued over 150 debit cards to shell companies, and unblocked debit cards that TD Bank had restricted due to suspicious activity. These bank accounts and debit cards were used to make more than 12,000 ATM withdrawals in Colombia, funneling approximately $5.5 million out of the United States. In exchange, Ayala received more than $6,000 in bribes from his co-conspirators.
Ayala pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and accepting bribes as a bank employee.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey; Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG) New York Region made the announcement.
The IRS-CI Newark Field Office and the FDIC OIG New York Region investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Pesce for the District of New Jersey prosecuted the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) 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 Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
TD Bank Insider Sentenced to Prison for Accepting Bribes, Laundering Millions to ColombiaRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A former retail banker at TD Bank, N.A., Leonardo Ayala, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for accepting bribes and facilitating the laundering of more than $5.5 million to Colombia, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Ayala, 26, previously pleaded guilty before the Honorable Esther Salas to a two-count Information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and for receipt of bribes by a bank employee. Judge Salas imposed the sentence in Newark federal Court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, Ayala accepted bribes and exploited his position as a retail banker at TD Bank to help launder narcotics proceeds to Colombia. From June to November 2023, Ayala opened fraudulent accounts, issued over 150 debit cards to shell companies, and unblocked debit cards that TD Bank had restricted due to suspicious activity. These bank accounts and debit cards were used to make more than 12,000 ATM withdrawals in Colombia, funneling approximately $5.5 million out of the United States. In exchange, Ayala received more than $6,000 in bribes from his co-conspirators.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Newark Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) New York Region made the announcement. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the Morristown Police Department for its assistance with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Bank Integrity Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) 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 Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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Defense counsel: Stephen Natoli, Esq.
St. Croix Man Pleads Guilty to Causing Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI - United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Mario Felix, 36, of St. Croix, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson III on June 9, 2026, to the federal charge of causing the attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, On December 31, 2022, a package was randomly selected for inspection during inbound examination of USPS mail. The box was opened by federal officers who found a book inside containing several plastic bags containing a total of 800 blue pills. A Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory analysist tested and confirmed that the pills contained 88.67 grams of fentanyl. The defendant’s fingerprints were found on the plastic bag containing the book.
Text messages discovered during the investigation between the defendant and an individual revealed that the defendant asked for the individual’s mailing address and last name. When the individual asked what he was sending, the defendant sent a picture of the book containing the fentanyl pills, stating that there was something inside the book. He told the individual that he was going to give the individual $800 once the individual received the package.
The charge of causing the attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum term of five years and a maximum term of 40 years of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry.Sisters indicted for wide ranging wire fraud and identity theft scheme involving debit cards and gift cardsRead the Press Release
Seattle – One of two sisters who allegedly defrauded a national retailer and individuals by gift card and debit card fraud, appeared yesterday and pleaded not guilty to a 16-count indictment in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Hayley Brown Lundquist, 30, of Snohomish County was ordered detained pending trial currently scheduled for August 3, 2026. Brown Lundquist’s sister, Samantha Fleischacker Gillihan, 34, of Arlington, was arrested last month and pleaded not guilty to the indictment. She was released on her personal recognizance.
“As alleged in the indictment, these two defendants cut a wide swath of fraud in Snohomish County,” said First Assistant Neil Floyd. “We put a priority on assisting local law enforcement who are struggling to put a stop to persistent offenders who continue to commit crimes despite local arrests.”
“This investigation demonstrates the importance of thorough local investigations and the value of strong partnerships across all levels of government,” said Lynnwood Police Chief Coleman Langdon. “What began as a municipal investigation ultimately revealed criminal activity that extended beyond the scope and jurisdiction of a single agency. Through close coordination with federal authorities, investigators were able to leverage additional resources, expertise, and prosecutorial capabilities to pursue a more comprehensive response to the criminal conduct involved.”
“These subjects are charged with stealing tens of thousands of dollars by draining gift cards they had not purchased, as well as debit cards obtained by exploiting other people’s identities,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners like the Lynnwood Police Department take wire fraud and identity theft seriously and are committed to holding fraudsters accountable.”
According to the indictment, the two defendants used a sequencing scheme to load gift card numbers on their smart phones – numbers for gift cards they never purchased that may have been purchased by others. The women would use any balance on the gift cards to purchase merchandise and then return the merchandise for cash or other value. Some of the merchandise was sold to others. In all the pair defrauded the retailer of more than $80,000.
In addition to the gift card scheme, Brown Lundquist and her sister used stolen debit cards belonging to other people to purchase merchandise. At times they used fraudulently obtained debit cards along with fraudulently obtained gift cards to make purchases. At the time of her arrest, Brown Lundquist had identity information for numerous people in her possession.
Each woman is charged with multiple counts of wire fraud for their gift card and debit card scheme. Each is also charged with Aggravated Identity Theft for using a real person’s information in connection with the debit card purchases.
Finally, Brown Lundquist is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because of her previous felony convictions in Snohomish County: In 2019 she was convicted of three counts of possession of stolen property; and in 2022 she was convicted of possession of a stolen vehicle and identity theft. Those convictions mean she cannot possess firearms, but law enforcement found two handguns in her bedroom, alongside fraudulently obtained merchandise, on August 5, 2024.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two-year sentence to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case. Being a felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Lynnwood Police Department with assistance from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Forstein.
Sisseton Woman Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Fentanyl and Failure to AppearRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Sisseton, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Failure to Appear. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026.
Laycie Williams, age 29, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for Possession With Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and four years in federal prison for Failure to Appear, with the sentences to be served consecutively for a total of 14 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Williams was also ordered to pay $3,968 in restitution and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance stemmed from an incident that occurred in February 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. In the early morning hours of February 26, 2023, Williams and the victim were socializing at a residence in Aberdeen. Co-defendant Carlin Mellette arrived at the residence and provided Williams with three pills containing fentanyl. Williams shared the pills with the victim, who ingested only half of one pill, resulting in the fentanyl overdose death of the victim. Williams and Mellette were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. Williams pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024.
Following her guilty plea, Williams was released on bond pending sentencing. On May 19, 2025, Williams failed to appear for her scheduled sentencing hearing. Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 for Failure to Appear. She pleaded guilty to that offense on November 3, 2025.
Mellette pleaded guilty to Distribution of a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death, and he was sentenced in May 2025 to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
“This is another tragic demonstration of the deadly and horrific nature of illicit fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The heartbreaking reality is that many of its victims never intended to take it at all. The victim here took only half the intended dose in one of these illegal pills, manufactured to look like a prescription opioid, and that was the end of her life. One mistake, one counterfeit pill, one irreversible moment can bring death and destruction to any family, in any of our communities, at any time. I can promise you that this Administration and every level of law enforcement across South Dakota are doing everything possible to dismantle the drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations bringing these poisons into our country.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the FBI Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Aberdeen Police Department, the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, the Potter County Sheriff’s Office, the Gettysburg Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Williams was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sarcone Leads Revival of NDNY Health Care Fraud Task ForceRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York convened a meeting of the NDNY Health Care Fraud Task Force, bringing together representatives from federal and state agencies, regulatory partners, and private-sector stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in the fight against health care fraud.
The meeting marks the revitalization of a task force designed to support information sharing, investigative coordination, and strategic enforcement efforts across the Northern District of New York. The task force was established in 2004 and was suspended in 2020.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III was joined by Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division, Colin M. McDonald, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz.
“I commend the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York for its decisive leadership in revitalizing the NDNY Health Care Fraud Task Force,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice, National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By convening federal, state, regulatory, and private-sector partners, this Office is sending a clear message: health care fraud will not be tolerated in this country. Focused initiatives like this task force are vital to protecting vulnerable patients, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and preserving the integrity of our health care system. I look forward to working closely with this outstanding team in the fight against fraud.”
“The reconvening of this task force should put all fraudsters on notice,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John Sarcone. “Those who enrich themselves through stealing from the hardworking American taxpayers will be relentlessly investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable to the highest standard under the law. I thank Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for joining our task force meeting and for his leadership in advancing the Trump Administration’s whole-of-government approach to these investigations. Together our partner agencies with the full support of the federal government, will use every available tool to identify fraud, dismantle criminal schemes, and recover taxpayer dollars. Health care fraud is not a victimless crime, every fraudulent claim submitted, every false bill paid, and every scheme designed to exploit our system steals from the taxpayers and exploits the integrity of programs that millions depend upon.”
Federal Bureau of Investigations Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli, stated: “The criminals committing health care fraud operate across jurisdictions, exploit technology, move money rapidly, and often rely on the assumption that government agencies will remain siloed in their response. Our responsibility is to prove them wrong. Americans expect government funds to be used as intended, and the strength of this task force is found in our collective ability to share intelligence and coordinate resources to ensure anyone who chooses to abuse our systems is swiftly investigated and brought to justice.”
“The mission of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in federal health care programs. Our agency is incredibly grateful to have such strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as well as private entities that contribute to safeguarding health care programs,” stated Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Fraud in our health care system is a billion-dollar problem that affects taxpayers, vulnerable populations, and citizens who rely on health care providers to prioritize care over greed. This task force is an exemplary effort of public and private partnership to protect the federal health programs that serve millions of beneficiaries.”The task force will focus on identifying emerging fraud trends, coordinating investigations among partner agencies, sharing intelligence, and pursuing both criminal and civil enforcement actions against individuals and organizations engaged in fraudulent conduct involving federal and state health care programs.
The inaugural meeting included representatives from the following entities:Federal agencies: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG); U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
New York State agencies: New York State Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU); New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG); New York State Office of the State Comptroller (OSC); New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS); New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE).
Program integrity contractor: Northeastern Unified Program Integrity Contractor (NE UPIC).
Private-sector partners: UnitedHealthcare; MVP Health Care; Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; Fidelis Care; Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan (CDPHP); MetLife.
FAUSA Sarcone said “I want to sincerely thank all our task force members—federal, state, and private—for their commitment to this mission. Working together, sharing intelligence, resources, and investigative tactics to detect fraud, we can hold offenders at all levels accountable, recover taxpayer dollars and root out fraud. I applaud their commitment to proactively pursuing these fraudsters.
The United States Attorney’s Office expects future announcements and press conferences in the coming months announcing investigations, prosecutions, and task force updates
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.
San Francisco Company Agrees to Pay over Three Million Dollars to Resolve Allegations That They Submitted False Claims for Healthcare PaymentsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco-based Circle Medical Care of California, Circle Medical Technologies, Inc., and their Chief Medical Officer and medical director Dr. Nicole Tsang, D.O., have agreed to pay a total of $3,325,000 to the United States and the State of California to settle allegations that they knowingly submitted claims for payments to federal healthcare programs and California commercial insurers for services by providers who did not actually provide or supervise those services, in violation of the federal False Claims Act and corresponding state statute.
Circle operates an online telehealth platform through which it offers mental health treatment and primary care medical services through contract providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants located throughout the country. Circle submits claims for payment to federally funded health programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE, and to California commercial insurers. The United States and California allege that Circle submitted claims for payment to these programs and insurers for services, and received reimbursement, between January 1, 2018, and May 31, 2025, despite knowingly identifying the name and NPI (National Provider Identifier) number of rendering providers who did not actually provide or supervise the services rendered, and failed properly to supervise the nurse practitioners and physician assistants who rendered medical services to its patients during this period.
Under the settlement agreement, Circle will pay $475,000 to the United States and $2,850,000 to California.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), and Assistant Inspector General and Health Care Fraud Division Director Jennifer K. Dietz of the Defense Health Agency Office of Inspector General (DHA-OIG) made the announcement.
“The integrity of our federal health care system depends on the accuracy of the information submitted by providers,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “This resolution sends a clear message that we will seek to hold accountable anyone who compromises that integrity. Our priority is to protect both the patients who rely on these vital services and the tax dollars that fund them.”
“Submitting claims under another provider’s identity undermines the integrity of our federal health care programs and puts patients at risk,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Breeden. “This resolution reflects our commitment to holding entities accountable when they knowingly sidestep required Medicare safeguards and misrepresent who is actually delivering care.”
The settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Jason Vellen. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and State of California ex rel. Jason Vellen v. Circle Medical Care of California, Circle Medical Technologies, Inc., Dr. Nicole Tsang, D.O, and George Favvas, No. 3:24-cv-02024-TSH (N.D. Cal.). In connection with the settlement, Mr. Vellen will receive $80,750 from the United States and $997,500 from California.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Savith Iyengar handled this matter. The resolution resulted from a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the California Department of Insurance, and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
San Antonio Heroin Dealer Sentenced in Homeland Security Task Force CaseRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison for trafficking more than 2.5 kilograms of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the Homeland Security Task Force investigation.
According to court documents, from June 28, 2024, to Oct. 15, 2025, Jose Luis Hernandez aka “Chino,” 46, delivered heroin to a buyer three times. Hernandez first delivered 3.4 ounces of heroin as a “sample” to the buyer. Hernandez later delivered 16.4 ounces of heroin and 1.99 kilograms of heroin. Hernandez coordinated smuggling the heroin into the United States from Mexico.
Hernandez was charged in a four-count indictment on Oct. 15, 2025. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 27, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez presided over the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
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Saint Francis Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Saint Francis, South Dakota man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on June 2, 2026.
Ryan Leading Cloud, age 29, was sentenced to time served through June 12, 2026, equal to approximately seven and a half months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100.00 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Leading Cloud was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on July 27, 2025, in Todd County, South Dakota, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Leading Cloud was arrested for disorderly conduct, and he was transported to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Correctional Facility. Upon arrival at the Adult Correctional Facility, Leading Cloud spit at a corrections officer, hitting the officer that had transported Leading Cloud.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.
Leading Cloud was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sacramento Man Charged with Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment against Raymond Fetzer, 38, of Sacramento, charging him with receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. The indictment was unsealed today following Fetzer’s arrest.
According to court documents, between April 16, 2024, and March 2, 2026, Fetzer was in receipt of CSAM downloaded from the internet.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Sokolich is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Fetzer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty by beyond a reasonable doubt.
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. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 1, 2026.
Alex Montileaux, 32, was sentenced to seven years and seven months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Montileaux was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
On November 7, 2025, Montileaux was a passenger in a car stopped by the police. A drug dog detected the presence of illegal drugs in the car. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement found a loaded pistol along with two loaded magazines for the pistol. The pistol and magazines had previously been reported stolen, and Montileaux was involved in the theft of the pistol. Montileaux had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Possessing a firearm after such a conviction is a federal felony.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Summerset Police Department, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Montileaux was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Randolph, Vermont Woman Sentenced to 21 Months’ Imprisonment for Illegal Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 9, 2026, Donna Robinson, age 44, of Randolph, Vermont was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 21 months of imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Robinson previously pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon.
According to court records, Robinson was arrested after law enforcement responded to a shooting that occurred at a residence in Barre, Vermont on April 24, 2025. Investigators determined that Robinson and her significant other had gone to the residence to confront another individual about a drug-related dispute. While there, Robinson’s significant other tried to hand a firearm to Robinson. The gun fired, fatally wounding Robinson’s significant other. Law enforcement subsequently located two firearms concealed under rocks outside the residence. Robinson, who had previously been convicted of felony drug offenses and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms, admitted to law enforcement that she had previously handled and shot both firearms and that she moved the firearms after the shooting.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Vermont State Police; and the Barre City Police Department for their investigative efforts in this case.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Cate. Robinson was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.
Orange County Man Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint Alleging He Defrauded Bank Out of Nearly $100 MillionRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with defrauding a bank out of nearly $100 million by manipulating title policies to make collateral that had been pledged to the bank look more valuable than it truly was.
Mahender Makhijani, 44, of Corona del Mar, is charged with bank fraud.
He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the United States District Court in Santa Ana.
“When criminals are allowed to deceive lenders, the spillover effects can harm consumers and businesses,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Today’s arrest highlights our office’s continued determination to combat threats to our nation’s banking system.”
“Today’s arrest highlights the strength of IRS Criminal Investigation’s financial expertise. As alleged, Mr. Makhijani falsified title insurance records, concealed true lien positions, and used a network of shell companies to mislead a federally insured bank out of nearly $100 million,” said Darren Lian, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Our special agents followed the money through layered transfers and disguised accounts, uncovering a scheme designed to deceive at every turn. When individuals manipulate documents and abuse financial systems for personal gain, IRS CI will expose the truth and ensure they are held accountable.”
“Schemes like the one outlined in today’s complaint pose a significant risk to banks and the nation’s financial system,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG). “FDIC-OIG will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to identify threats and protect the system, keeping it safe for both financial institutions and consumers.”
“The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) vigorously investigates, and pursues the prosecution of, those who defraud the Federal Home Loan Bank System and its members,” said James Shields, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Western Region. “We are committed to working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable criminals who seek to enrich themselves by defrauding the banking system.”
“Today’s arrest demonstrates that those who allegedly engage in fraudulent activity that impacts the safety and soundness of financial institutions will be held accountable for their actions,” said Brian Tucker, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Makhijani controls Cantor Group V LLC, a Newport Beach-based company with a lending relationship with Bank #1. Under the terms of their agreement, Bank #1 advanced nearly $100 million to Cantor for Cantor to originate or buy loans secured by real estate. Cantor was supposed to then pledge the loans it secured, and their underlying collateral, to Bank #1, paying back the bank from the loans’ proceeds.
Their agreement’s terms required Cantor to only pledge to Bank #1 loans in which Cantor had secured the first lien in the underlying collateral, which would make Bank #1 first in line to foreclose on the underlying property should the loan’s borrower be in default. By contrast, a second or later lien is worth much less as collateral because Bank #1’s ability to foreclose on the property would be subordinated to other creditors.
As part of its due diligence to ensure Cantor had only pledged first lien-backed loans, Bank #1 required Cantor to submit title insurance policies that showed Cantor’s first lien position.
From September 2024 to April 2025, Makhijani falsified title insurance policies to make them falsely state that Cantor was in the first lien position with respect to certain real estate serving as collateral. In fact, other creditors were ahead of Cantor. To falsify the title policies, Makhijani or a subordinate edited them in Adobe and then edited or removed the metadata, such as by printing out the altered title policies before scanning them.
After falsifying the title policies, Makhijani caused his then-employee to submit the false title insurance policies to Bank #1. Makhijani also engaged in several teleconferences with Bank #1’s representatives and lied about the title issues that Bank #1 had identified. In December 2024, he caused a spreadsheet with false explanations for the title issues to be submitted to Bank #1.
In making its lending decisions to Cantor, Bank #1 relied on the false information Makhijani provided. Had it known the true value of the collateral that Cantor had pledged, Bank #1 would have considered Cantor to be in default and then demanded full and immediate repayment, which would have required Cantor to repay Bank #1 nearly $100 million.
In August 2025, Bank #1 filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court in connection with the alleged fraud.
A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Makhijani would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison.
FDIC-OIG; IRS Criminal Investigation; the FBI; FHFA-OIG; and the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are continuing to investigate this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Y. Fu and Gregory W. Staples of the Orange County Office are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney Tara B. Vavere of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the asset forfeiture portion of this case.
Okreek Man Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of an Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Okreek, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on June 2, 2026.
Sheldon Denoyer, age 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of the unregistered firearm was also ordered.
Denoyer was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
This conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 13, 2023, in Mission, South Dakota, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Denoyer was observed standing on a street corner with a short-barreled rifle, firing it into the air. Denoyer then got into a vehicle and departed the area. A short time later he was observed exiting the vehicle, leaving the rifle behind, and fleeing from law enforcement. The rifle was recovered and found to have a barrel length of 11 ¾ inches. The rifle was not registered to Denoyer in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer record as required by federal law.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.
Denoyer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Gregory Kimble, 37, was sentenced on Tuesday to 97 months by U.S. District Judge Chad Meredith for felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in the early hours of January 1, 2025, officers responded to a hotel in Covington and encountered a woman who told them that she had just discharged Kimble’s pistol in the hallway outside his hotel room before fleeing to the lobby. She also indicated that Kimble had discharged the pistol in the hotel room hours before. Officers did not find the pistol on January 1, 2025, but they did find a spent cartridge and two live rounds of ammunition in Kimble’s room. They also observed a bullet hole in the wall outside his room.
On January 2, 2025, Kimble engaged in a text message conversation from jail regarding the retrieval of his property from the hotel. During that conversation, Kimble asked the other person to let Kimble know when he goes to the hotel so that Kimble could provide him with “specific instructions on how to do something else very important.” Law enforcement thereafter returned to the hotel and located a pistol hidden on a ceiling tile in the hotel’s internal stairwell that matched the woman’s description of Kimble’s pistol, as well as the ammunition found in Kimble’s hotel room. Kimble admitted to possession of the firearm and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony. Kimble also admitted that he had hidden the firearm on the ceiling tile.
Kimble was previously convicted of trafficking in controlled substances in 2019.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Field Division; and Chief Justin Wietholter, Covington Police Department, announced the sentence.
he investigation was referred to ATF by the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, who separately indicted Kimble for other, state-level felony crimes in connection with Kimble’s conduct on January 1, 2025. The investigation was conducted by the Covington Police Department and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Oahu Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Destroying Cellphone Evidence to Thwart Federal Firearms InvestigationRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jordan Ishida, 27, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact by destroying two cellphones that were evidence in a federal firearms case.
According to information presented to the court, on November 5, 2023, Honolulu Police Department (HPD) officers were dispatched to a reported crime scene on Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu. Upon arrival, HPD officers encountered Chris Hong Tran and Ishida outside Tran’s vehicle. HPD officers recovered a magazine loaded with nine 9mm rounds of ammunition from Tran’s pocket, as well as a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol and a pepper ball gun from Tran’s vehicle. HPD officers also recovered an additional magazine loaded with six 9mm rounds of ammunition from the roadway near Tran’s vehicle. Further investigation revealed that Tran shot pepper balls at numerous individuals before brandishing the 9mm firearm at a bystander outside of a nightclub.
The FBI had been actively investigating Tran—a felon with two prior federal convictions for methamphetamine trafficking—for firearms offenses when he was arrested for the November 5, 2023 incident. The next day, Tran was charged federally for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Knowing that Tran had been charged and that the FBI was looking for the two cell phones Tran had on the night of his arrest, Ishida destroyed one of the phones on November 7 and discarded it in a sewer drain, and she gave the second phone to another individual with instructions to destroy it.
Ishida testified at an evidentiary hearing that was held in connection with her sentencing. The court found Ishida’s testimony to be untruthful and, as a result, applied an additional sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice.
Tran was previously sentenced on February 13, 2025 to 108 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for the underlying firearms offense.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker prosecuted the case.
Nicaraguan National Extradited from Costa Rica to Face Passport Fraud and Counterfeit Currency ChargesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Nicaraguan national has been extradited from Costa Rica to face charges in two indictments unsealed today alleging a scheme to furnish counterfeit United States passports and traffic in counterfeit United States currency.
According to court records, between January and June 2020, Armando Morales Obando, 63, residing in Costa Rica, allegedly conspired with others to manufacture and sell counterfeit U.S. passports to individuals in South Florida. Morales Obando allegedly negotiated the sale of five fraudulent U.S. passports, coordinated the collection of payments totaling $5,500, and arranged for the passports to be shipped from Nicaragua to Broward County. The counterfeit passports allegedly contained the identifying information of real individuals but bore photographs of other persons and were represented as valid documents for international travel.
Additionally, Morales Obando allegedly conspired with others to manufacture and distribute counterfeit U.S. currency. Morales Obando and his co-conspirators allegedly created $20,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency and exchanged it for $6,000 in genuine U.S. currency.
Morales Obando is charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S., two counts of passport fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. In a related case, Morales Obando is charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. and uttering counterfeit currency. If convicted, Morales Obando faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the counterfeit currency count, up to 10 years in prison on each passport fraud count, up to five years in prison on each conspiracy counts, and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on each aggravated identity theft count.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. The Costa Rican government provided valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Morales Obando.
The DSS Miami Field Office and HSI Miami are investigating the case, with assistance from the DSS Overseas Criminal Investigations Unit at U.S. Embassy San José, and U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting both cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 24-cr-20431 and 24-cr-20552.
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New York Educational Technology Company Agrees to Settle Federal Grant Fraud Claims for $274,634Read the Press Release
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a settlement agreement with New York Educational Technology Company, LangInnov Inc. (LangInnov). The settlement agreement addressed allegations that LangInnov violated the federal False Claims Act (FCA) by 1) performing research and development funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program outside of the United States, which was expressly prohibited 2) double-booking payroll to both the SBIR program and a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, and 3) not primarily employing its principal investigator as required under the program. LangInnov agreed to pay $50,000 and to forgo $224,634.25 remaining unpaid on an SBIR award to settle these allegations. The settlement was based on LangInnov’s ability to pay.
“SBIR awardees are required to conduct all research and development in the United States to ensure that funds are used to support small businesses and technological advancements in the U.S. and to protect national security interests,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “As alleged, LangInnov disregarded this requirement by improperly conducting federally funded work overseas. The settlement in this matter demonstrates our commitment to holding those who defraud government programs accountable for their actions.”
United States Attorney Nocella thanked the Office of the Inspector General for the National Science Foundation (NSF OIG) for its partnership in the investigation.
“When companies fail to follow the requirements of the SBIR program, it is not only a misuse of taxpayer dollars but also takes away funding from deserving U.S. businesses. NSF OIG remains committed to pursuing oversight of these programs to ensure taxpayer funds are invested in the United States to benefit U.S. businesses, the U.S. economy, and national security. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for supporting this important proactive effort,” stated Megan E. Wallace, NSF’s Acting Inspector General.
NSF participates in the SBIR program, a critically important and highly competitive program created to fund technological advancements within the United States. Funding for this program strengthens the competitive free enterprise system and the United States economy. To maximize that impact, SBIR regulations require all research and development to be conducted in the United States. Additionally, the primary employment of the principal investigator for an SBIR project must be with the small business for the duration of the award.
The PPP was intended to provide emergency financial assistance to American small businesses by providing forgivable loans for payroll and certain other expenses. SBIR awardees were permitted by NSF to apply for PPP loans but were not permitted to receive or request compensation for the same costs for both programs.
LangInnov applied for and was awarded Phase I and Phase II SBIR awards by NSF to research and develop an innovative application for bilingual students. LangInnov also obtained a PPP loan which was subsequently forgiven by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The United States Attorney’s Office commenced its investigation based on NSF OIG’s proactive initiative to protect national security interests by identifying SBIR recipients who improperly operate outside of the United States. As alleged, LangInnov improperly booked payroll to the Phase I SBIR award for its Chief Operating Officer for 100 hours of work performed in Paris, France. LangInnov also falsely stated in its PPP application that the United States was the principal place of residence for all employees and double-booked payroll to both the SBIR award and the PPP loan, including payroll for work in Paris. Additionally, LangInnov failed to primarily employ its principal investigator for the duration of the Phase I award. NSF suspended payments on the Phase II award when it learned of the conduct. At the time, $224,634.25 was the unpaid balance remaining on the award.
The claims asserted against LangInnov are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
The investigation is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bonni J. Perlin.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Felony Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On June 5, 2026, defendant, PHALANDERS RASHAAD KING (“KING”), age 37, pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to Count One, Count Two, Count Three, Count Four, Count Five, and Count Six of the Superseding Bill of Information pending against him, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Count One charged the defendant with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribute, five (5) grams or more of methamphetamine, forty (40) grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D) and 846. Count Two charged the defendant with distribution of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Three charged the defendant with distribution of forty (40) grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Four charged the defendant with possession with intent to distribute five (5) grams or more of methamphetamine, and quantities of heroin and cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). Count Five charged the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). Count Six charged the defendant with maintaining a drug-involved premises, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1).
As to Count One, Three, and Four, KING faces a term of imprisonment of between 5 and 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000 and at least four years of supervised release. For Count Two, the maximum penalty is up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release. For Count Five, a violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), the maximum penalties are between 5 years and up to life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to any other sentence of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. For Count Six, the penalty is up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, and up to three years of supervised release. KING also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 for each count to which he pled guilty. He is scheduled for sentencing on September 17, 2026.
According to court documents, on August 24, 2023, undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an operation to locate fentanyl distributors in the French Quarter. Through this effort, agents located KING’s co-defendants. Through 2023 and into 2024, undercover agents conducted ten purchases of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine from KING’s co-defendants, and eventually from KING himself. Through surveillance operations and a court-authorized wire interception of KING’s phone, agents established that KING conspired with his co-defendants to distribute these drugs, utilizing an apartment and a storefront that KING maintained in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Agents executed a search warrant on those two locations in May 2024, that allowed the recovery of additional controlled substances, fourteen firearms, and over $10,000 in U.S. currency. In total, over the course of the investigation, agents recovered over 300 grams of fentanyl and over 300 grams of methamphetamine from members of the conspiracy.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Dawkins and Brittany L. Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
New Orleans Man Guilty of Felony Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On June 5, 2026, defendant, GLENN TATE (“TATE”), age 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe to Count Two, Count Four, Count Five, Count Six, Count Seven, Count Eight, Count Nine, Count Ten, Count Eleven, and Count Thirteen of the superseding indictment pending against him, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Counts Two, Four and Five charged the defendant with distribution of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Counts Six and Eight charged the defendant with distribution of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Counts Seven and Thirteen charged the defendant with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). Counts Nine and Ten charged the defendant with distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(B). Count Eleven charged the defendant with distribution of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(C).
As to each of Counts Two, Four, Five, and Eleven, TATE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. For each of Counts Six and Eight, the penalties are a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release. For each of Counts Nine and Ten, the penalties are a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release. For Counts Seven and Thirteen, the maximum penalties are up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Each charge carries a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. TATE is set for sentencing on September 10, 2026.
According to court documents, on August 24, 2023, undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted an operation to locate fentanyl distributors in the French Quarter. Through this effort, agents located TATE’s co-defendant and eventually began controlled purchases directly from TATE. Through 2023 and into 2024, agents conducted eight purchases from TATE of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. In total, agents purchased over 200 grams of fentanyl and over 200 grams of methamphetamine from TATE. TATE also sold a firearm to the undercover agents, though he himself is prohibited from firearm possession because he is a previously convicted felon.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Dawkins and Brittany L. Reed of the Violent Crime Unit.
Nashua man sentenced to 7 years in prison for trafficking meth by trainRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Nashua man who helped traffic methamphetamine in Montana was sentenced today to 88 months, followed by 10 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
J. Daniel Peters, 55, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth.
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Peters and a partner were smuggling meth from Michigan into the Wolf Point area by Amtrak train.
In July 2024, law enforcement learned that Peters was possibly involved with moving drugs by train into Montana. By February 2025, agents had received approval to track calls made from Peters’s phone. They discovered Peters was in contact with a number ultimately determined to belong to Peters’s partner, Deante Mathis.
The same phone number Peters and Mathis were using was also used as a contact number for Amtrak train reservations between Detroit, Michigan, and Glasgow, Montana. On March 20, 2025, law enforcement learned train tickets from Detroit to Glasgow had been purchased for the following day using the number.
Law enforcement staked out the Glasgow Amtrak station and saw Peters arrive by car and pick up Mathis, who had been on the train. Officers searched Peters’s vehicle and found roughly one pound of meth in Mathis’s luggage. Mathis admitted to law enforcement that he moved meth by train three times in the previous six months, providing it to Peters who sold it around the Wolf Point area and using the proceeds to buy more.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
Missouri Man Admits $284,000 Pandemic Rental Assistance FraudRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A Moberly, Missouri man on Wednesday admitted fraudulently obtaining $284,000 that was supposed to provide rental assistance to Missouri residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Steven W. Hendren, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one felony count of wire fraud. He admitted submitting a series of fraudulent applications for rental assistance to the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) from March 2021 through June 2024. The MHDC administered the State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) program, which was designed to provide emergency assistance for rent, utility bills and other expenses during the pandemic.
Hendren submitted numerous fraudulent SAFHR applications, falsely listing himself as a landlord. He included fake lease agreements and financial statements. He submitted other applications in which he fraudulently inflated rent amounts and altered lease agreements and financial statements to back up his lies. The MHDC wired a total of $284,840 to Hendren’s account, much of which Hendren used for personal expenses, including the purchase of a 2020 GMC Yukon.
Hendren is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine. He will also be ordered to repay the money.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Missoula man pleads guilty to gun chargeRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Missoula man who had previously been convicted of felony assault admitted to illegally possessing a firearm today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
The defendant, Jason Duane Spadt, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Spadt faces 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Oct. 8, 2026. Spadt remained released pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that Spadt was found with a loaded handgun in his truck during a traffic stop in Great Falls.
Spadt was convicted in October 2022 in Missoula County of partner/family member assault and as part of his conviction he is registered as a violent offender and explicitly prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On March 5, 2025, Spadt was pulled over in Great Falls and when officers conducted a probation search of Spadt’s truck, they found a 9mm handgun loaded with a round in the chamber. Along with the gun, officers found 9mm hollow point ammunition.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Great Falls Police Department conducted the investigation.
Michigan Man Indicted for Threat to Bomb Fifth Third FieldRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 35-year-old man has been indicted for making a willful threat to damage a minor league baseball stadium by means of explosives.
On June 3, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Nikolas Samir Salemassi, aka Nikolas Ford, of Trenton, Michigan, with making Threatening Communications Involving Explosives.
According to allegations in court documents, Salemassi made a call to Fifth Third Field on Washington Street in Toledo and to 911 emergency on April 28. During the calls, he stated that it was “not a joke” and that there were several bombs placed around the stadium. Law enforcement conducted a sweep of the stadium but did not find any indication of explosives. During the investigation, agents learned that Salemassi was in Toledo to perform at an open mic night as a comedian at the time and that he was out on probation for a separate offense.
If convicted, Salemassi faces up to five years in prison.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency and Toledo Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Tangeman is leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican national living abroad extradited to US to face charges for producing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 39-year-old citizen of Mexico who had been living in Dublin, Ireland, is set to appear in McAllen federal court for production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Abelardo Sanchez is set for an arraignment and detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis at 2 p.m.
Austrian authorities arrested Sanchez in December 2025. He was extradited June 5 and made his initial appearance June 8 in McAllen.
According to the indictment, returned Oct. 28, 2025, Sanchez had an online account that contained child sexual abuse material, some of which appeared to be self-produced and dated back to 2014. The investigation led to the identification of the minor victim who had resided in Texas at the time Sanchez produced the images, according to the charges.
Sanchez had allegedly been living in Dublin, Ireland, since 2024 before traveling to Austria where he was ultimately arrested on the charges.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in The Hague and Vienna conducted the investigation with assistance of HSI in McAllen and Dublin, Ireland, as well as international law enforcement partners. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Sanchez.
If convicted, Sanchez faces a minimum of 25 and up to 50 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, 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.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Series of Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Providence- A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges stemming from a series of bank robberies.
Joseph Hickson, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to his role in the robberies of a TD Bank in Cranston, Rhode Island and a Washington Trust Bank in East Providence, Rhode Island.
Hickson is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Hickson robbed TD Bank on April 28, 2019 and Washington Trust Bank on May 28, 2019. During each robbery, Hickson passed bank tellers a note indicating that he had a gun and specified the currency denominations he wanted.
Collaborative investigative efforts by the Cranston Police Department, the East Providence Police Department, and the Franklin, Massachusetts Police Department developed Hickson as a suspect in the Rhode Island robberies, in addition to a robbery that occurred on May 16, 2019, at the Digital Federal Credit Union in Franklin, Massachusetts.
Hickson was arrested on May 29, 2019, at a casino in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Hickson admitted his involvement in the robberies and subsequent search warrants recovered evidence from Hickson’s car and residence linking him to the crimes. Hickson was thereafter charged with bank robbery by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and pleaded guilty, serving a prison term in Massachusetts before being brought back to Rhode Island to face his federal bank robbery charges in this district.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cranston Police Department, the East Providence Police Department, and the Franklin, MA Police Department.
Mannford Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Producing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mannford man was sentenced today for Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Thomas William Martin, 42, to 360 months' imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Martin will be required to register as a sex offender. Lastly, Martin was ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution.
According to court documents and statements during the sentencing, the Broken Arrow Police Department began investigating Martin in 2024 after receiving reports that he had inappropriate contact with minor children. After detectives executed a search warrant on Martin’s devices, they discovered 1,132 images of children, including infants, being raped and abused. Detectives discovered that Martin had taken sexually explicit images of children under his care.
The child sexual abuse material found on Martin’s devices was sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. They identified 97 children whose images were previously identified and reported to NCMEC for cataloging. Those victims live in the United States and various parts of the world. They were notified and allowed to submit victim impact statements to the court. Restitution paid by Martin will go directly to the victims who requested restitution.
Martin will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert 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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal 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.
Man Surrenders for Role in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Today, United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Said Abdullahi Ereg surrendered peacefully to the FBI. He was indicted on June 24, 2024, for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Ereg exploited the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the COVID-19 pandemic and was involved in obtaining, misappropriating, and laundering millions of dollars in program funds that were meant to feed children in need. He ran a grocery and deli in Minneapolis and was under the sponsorship of the nonprofit, Feeding Our Future. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Ereg after he was charged, but he was not arrested as he was living overseas and his exact whereabouts were unknown.
The Federal Child Nutrition Program operates throughout the United States and administers the programs at the national and regional levels by distributing federal funds to state governments, which provide oversight over the Federal Child Nutrition Program. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) administered the program in the state. According to court documents, Ereg owned and operated Evergreen Grocery and Deli, a for-profit business that participated in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. From approximately April 2020 to April 2021, Ereg is alleged to have defrauded the program by submitting false reimbursement claims, for which he received more than $4.2 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. At times, Evergreen Grocery and Deli claimed to have served more than 3,000 meals, twice a day, seven days a week. Ereg’s wife, Najmo Ahmed, also worked at the business and received payroll payments directly from Feeding Our Future. Ahmed pleaded guilty on February 24, 2025, to one count of money laundering. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2026, by United States District Court Judge Nancy E. Brasel.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is 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.
On June 4, 2026, the FBI announced the launch of its Most Wanted Fraudsters List, publicly identifying Ereg as a fugitive from justice. The next day, Ereg communicated through counsel his desire to return to the United States. He surrendered to FBI agents at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport earlier this afternoon.
“Today’s apprehension of Said Abdullahi Ereg, a fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List, highlights the collective commitment of the DOJ, FBI, IRS, and USPIS, along with our USAO to bring every alleged fraudster to justice. Ereg was one of eight fugitives added to the FBI’s newly announced fraud list just six days ago and is the first to be taken into custody to face charges for his alleged actions,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson.
“We are proud to have assisted the Department of Justice in today’s surrender of a suspect accused of betraying the public’s trust and committing crimes against our community’s most vulnerable,” said HSI Minneapolis/St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “This case sends a clear message: being outside the United States does not place you beyond the reach of HSI and our law enforcement partners. Our commitment is unwavering: those who exploit programs intended to support children and families will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice here in Minnesota.”
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Kline, Matthew Murphy, and Austin Bowyer are prosecuting the case.
Man Charged with Sending Antisemitic Threats to Kill Governor of Hawaii and His FamilyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Eric Lee Boltz, 51, residing in Montana, was charged by criminal complaint on June 3, 2026, with sending interstate communications containing threats and cyberstalking. Boltz was arrested and had his initial appearance in the District of Montana on June 10. Boltz was ordered detained pending transportation to the District of Hawaii.
According to court records, in December 2025, Boltz left a series of threatening and antisemitic voicemails with Hawaii Governor Josh Green’s office. Disguising his voice, Boltz threatened to kill the Governor and his family and sexually assault his daughter. When interviewed by law enforcement, Boltz said he left the voicemails to “shake [Governor Green] up.”
If convicted, Boltz faces up to 5 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 per count, plus a term of supervised release.
The charges in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Eucker is prosecuting the case.
Los Angeles Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Bao Xu, 33 years old, of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Xu was sentenced to 121 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
“For more than a year, Xu distributed harmful drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine across the country. From his Los Angeles apartment, Xu marketed drugs on the Dark Web, sold them in exchange for virtual currency, and arranged their delivery via mail. This high-tech scheme distributed drugs to every state in the United States, including cities and towns throughout Indiana, averaging more than 260 drug deals and $55,000 in sales per month and ultimately leading to the seizure of more than $2,000,000 in virtual currency. Xu’s sentence makes clear that drug traffickers cannot hide on the Dark Web: They will be tracked down and brought to justice for sending poison to the heartland. This prosecution was brought through the combined efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the St. Joseph County Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, Indiana State Police, New York City Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and South Gate Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney and NDIN Appellate Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
“The Drug Enforcement Administration is leading efforts to combat cyber and Dark Web-based criminal networks responsible for the surge of controlled substances throughout the United States. These illicit operations pose a significant threat to public health and safety, exploiting vulnerable individuals and fueling addiction within our communities. For more than a year, Xu managed a highly sophisticated, nationwide drug trafficking organization that operated on a mass scale, thus profiting from the suffering of others. Even Indiana was not immune to his illegal and immoral actions. The sentencing of Xu sends a clear message that this type of criminal activity is not welcomed here in our Hoosier state,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke.
“The FBI is committed to disrupting the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and holding accountable those responsible for distributing them,” said FBI Indianapolis Acting Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Today's sentence is the result of strong partnerships and a shared commitment to protecting the public from the dangers associated with drug trafficking.”
Xu’s co-defendant, Jianhua Zhao, is currently scheduled for sentencing on September 3, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the St. Joseph County Police Department, Mishawaka Police Department, Indiana State Police, New York City Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and South Gate Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Appellate Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey.
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.
Legal Permanent Resident Indicted for Illegally Voting in 2024 ElectionRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Ekam Monfum, 38, a legal permanent resident and non-citizen living in Rock Hill, for illegally voting as an alien.
The indictment alleges that Monfum came to the United States in December 2022 and obtained status as a legal permanent resident because he is married to a United States citizen. Despite not being a citizen, in August 2024, a registration to vote was submitted through the registration portal with the South Carolina Election Commission in Monfum’s name. The process requires the registrant to affirm that they are a United States citizen. Therefore, Monfum voted in the 2024 election.
Monfum faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Monfum will have an arraignment scheduled in the next few weeks.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kansas City Man Found Guilty of Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was found guilty by a federal jury today for illegally possessing a firearm.
Kassim Aquil, 46, of Kansas City, Mo., was found guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a two‑day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury deliberated for approximately one hour and fifteen minutes before returning a guilty verdict.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on July 20, 2023, members of the Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force, led by the United States Marshals Service, with support from Task Force Officers with the Kansas City Missouri, Police Department, executed an arrest warrant against Aquil in the 3300 block of Karnes Avenue in Kansas City. The arrest warrant was issued against Aquil for violations of the federal supervised release he was under from a prior conviction of being a felon in possession of ammunition.
When task force members approached, Aquil exited his car and ran eastbound through residential yards, eventually crossing six lanes of traffic on Southwest Trafficway before being detained in an adjacent field. Task force officers deployed tasers multiple times during the pursuit. While fleeing, Aquil removed a firearm from his waistband and threw it to the ground. Officers later recovered the firearm, a loaded Jimenez Arms 9mm pistol.
Aquil was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a federal conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition and a federal conviction for assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Aquil faces up to 15 years in federal prison without parole for the firearm offense and up to an additional two years’ imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release. The statutory maximum penalties are provided for informational purposes only. The court will determine the final sentence based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Kirkpatrick and David Barnes for the Western District of Missouri. The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
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.
Justice Department, FBI Disable 13 Websites Backed by Suspected Chinese Agents That Sought Sensitive U.S. Information from Security Clearance HoldersRead the Press Release
Thirteen internet domains used to target U.S. persons, including current and former security clearance holders with access to classified and sensitive U.S. government information, were seized today by federal authorities.
“These domain seizures offer a glimpse at how foreign actors can use promises of easy money to lure Americans into revealing sensitive or classified information that they are duty‑bound to protect,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Anyone approached online with offers of easy income for vague ‘consulting’ work should treat those overtures with extreme caution and remain vigilant for warning signs of malicious targeting.”
“Today’s seizures send a clear message that any attempts to exploit Americans trusted with access to our nation’s most sensitive information will be exposed and dismantled,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “These sham consulting sites were crafted to deceive, but thanks to the persistent work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, this scheme, like so many others, has been stopped in its tracks. We will always protect the integrity of our workforce and safeguard the trusted information that underpins our national security.”
“The fake consulting company domains seized by the FBI illustrate the lengths the Chinese government’s intelligence services will go to as they try to use AI-generated content to trick, recruit, or coerce current and former U.S. security clearance holders into sharing sensitive information,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “The FBI and our partners have observed China’s intelligence services resort to using AI, professional networking sites, and online payment platforms to target Americans, and we have taken actions to defend the homeland and our national security. The FBI is grateful for all of the assistance provided by our private sector and domestic and international partners.”
“For too long, the Chinese government has tried to exploit U.S. government employees behind the cover of fake companies and phony job postings,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “Today, we shut them down. These seizures will prevent these fraudulent sites from being used to target Americans with access to sensitive information. The FBI will continue to use every tool available to protect Americans and our national security from this threat.”
“The Chinese government continues to pursue U.S. innovation, research, and sensitive information through a variety of deceptive techniques, including fraudulent job postings and online recruitment efforts,” said Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “By seizing these domains and exposing these tactics, we are working to protect national security, safeguard American ingenuity, and help the public recognize and defend against these threats. We urge anyone approached with suspicious job opportunities or recruitment efforts to remain vigilant, recognize the warning signs, and report suspicious activity to the FBI.”
According to the affidavit filed in support of the seizure warrants, beginning in November 2023, the conspirators created at least 13 fake consulting company websites. The websites and their associated job postings advertised generic “consulting” jobs and included statements indicating their purpose was to recruit current or former U.S. government and U.S. military employees to provide expertise to unspecified clients.The websites were typically linked or referenced within the entities’ job postings on hiring platforms. The methods and means used by the conspirators include (1) the use of aliases, fictitious personas, and the stolen identities of actual persons; (2) the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated photographs; (3) relatively large payments for research reports; (4) the use of Telegram and other encrypted applications; (5) pressure to provide “exclusive” or “insider” information; and (6) the transfer of money from places and accounts located overseas to places and accounts located in the United States.
According to court documents, the conspirators recruited applicants through job postings, on social media and other platforms including Upwork, Expertia AI, Hubstaff Talent, Wellfound, and Post Job Free. The postings related to topics of interest to the government of the People’s Republic of China.
The conspirators targeted current and former security clearance holders and other Americans who have access to classified and sensitive U.S. government information. The fake positions included “Senior Analyst” and “International Affairs Consultant” jobs. The recruiters pressured candidates to share confidential information and reports from “insider” sources in violation of their official duties. The scheme used contracts and confidentiality agreements to give their bogus consulting companies an air of legitimacy.
The conspirators have denied any involvement by any foreign government.
The affidavit alleges that the conspirators offered money to applicants and recruits in exchange for sensitive information, paid for reports using online payment accounts in the names of fictitious individuals, and used cryptocurrency to conceal the conspirators’ identities and the true source of the payments. These payments allowed for the flow of money from places outside the United States to places inside the United States in furtherance of the conspiracy.
According to the affidavit, the conspirators used the following domains in their conspiracy to commit bribery of current and former public officials, identity theft, and international money laundering: Centrik Global Consulting, centrikglobalconsulting.com (CENTRIK); Rightinfo Consulting, rightinfoconsult.com (RIGHTINFO); Finnacle-Vesper Consulting (FV), finnaclevesperconsulting.com; CYDF Consulting, cydfconsulting.com (CYDF); Pulse Wave Global, pulsewaveglobal.com (PWG); Catalyst Global Solutions, catalystglobalsolutions.com (CGS); Horizzen, thehorizzen.com (HORIZZEN); GeoIndopacific, geoindopacific.com (GEOINDOPACIFIC); Global Peace Foundation – Indonesia, gpf-ina.org (GPFI); SafeSec Group, safesec-group.com (SAFESEC); The TruthInfo, thetruthinfo.com (TRUTHINFO); Vandercons.com; and Gulf Peace Foundation, gulfpeace.org (GULF PEACE).
The domains seized today include centrikglobalconsulting.com; rightinfoconsult.com; finnaclevesperconsulting.com; cydfconsulting.com; pulsewaveglobal.com; catalystglobalsolutions.com; thehorizzen.com; geoindopacific.com; gpf-ina.org; safesec-group.com; thetruthinfo.com; Vandercons.com; and gulfpeace.org.
Following the seizures, the FBI placed takeover pages on the seized websites to warn site visitors that the sites were rendered inoperable in order to disrupt the intended illegal activity and money laundering tied to the domains.
Today’s seizure was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie F. Zimmerman for the District of Columbia, along with the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Norfolk Field Office, with substantial assistance from Trial Attorney Maria Fedor of the Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division and Paralegal Kate Abrey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
If you have information concerning the websites, please contact the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI (225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Justice Department Finds University of California Davis Medical School Discriminates Based on Race in AdmissionsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that it determined the University of California, Davis School of Medicine (Davis Med), discriminates based on race in its admissions process, violating the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA). The determination follows a six-month investigation by the Department into Davis Med’s admissions practices.
“Davis Med’s actions reflect both unabashed contempt for the rule of law and plain disregard for the potential public health consequences of putting race over merit, skill, and competence,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will not allow schools to violate federal law without consequence.”
The Department’s investigation found that Davis Med adopted admissions practices with the express purpose of circumventing the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA, which banned affirmative action in higher education admissions. Documents provided by Davis Med show that its leadership openly boasted about “skirting” the Supreme Court’s ruling by using certain class-based “socioeconomic variables” or “disadvantages” as proxies for race (e.g., family income, parental education, or being from an “underserved area”). To admit more so-called “underrepresented minorities,” Davis Med created the “Davis Scale,” which ranks an applicant based upon perceived “disadvantages” while strategically adjusting the impact of his or her GPA and MCAT scores. The result: in 2024, Davis Med became the third most racially diverse medical school in the country, behind only historically black universities.
The Department’s review of Davis Med’s admissions data from 2023 to 2025 revealed that 93% of white and certain Asian admittees had MCAT scores at or above the average black admittee. It also showed that black and Hispanic applicants were admitted at rates up to six times higher than whites and Asians, despite consistently having, on average, lower academic qualifications.
Davis Med is just one of several medical schools that continue to flout SFFA’s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Last month, the Department determined that UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine discriminate based on race in admissions.
The Department will engage in settlement negotiations with any school we’ve determined violated the law to ensure its admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will sue the schools.
Medical schools receive substantial federal financial assistance and are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to monitor and ensure their compliance with federal law.
Note: Read the Department’s findings here.
Justice Department Encourages Communities to Apply for Nearly $700M in Grants to Support Law Enforcement Around the CountryRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has released nearly $700 million in grant Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to support law enforcement.
The released NOFOs include the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) and several other grant programs that:
- Support the hiring and retention of sworn law enforcement officers,
- Keep school students safe,
- Promote the health and safety of our nation’s law enforcement personnel,
- Keep communities safe by providing active shooter training, and
- Provide critical technology resources through congressionally designated projects.
“The funding announced today reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the men and women of law enforcement who keep our communities safe,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “By investing directly in law enforcement, we are empowering agencies across the country to respond more effectively to evolving threats. This is another key step in the Trump Administration’s mission to make America Safe Again — and one that will support our nationwide effort to reduce crime in every zip code.”
“These grants will deliver real, measurable impact in communities across the country,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “This Administration is committed to strengthening public safety and ensuring accountability to the taxpayer. The Department will make certain that every dollar invested goes directly toward reducing crime and upholding the rule of law. Supporting the heroic work of state, local, and tribal law enforcement is not only an honor, but an essential step forward in our shared mission to keep the American people safe.”
The COPS Hiring Program is intended to reduce crime and advance public safety by providing direct funding to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies for the hiring of career law enforcement personnel in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Up to $158 million will be available.
The STOP School Violence Prevention Program provides funding to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the grantees’ jurisdictions through evidence-based school safety programs. Up to $73 million will be available.
The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program provides funding to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement and their families through training and technical assistance, demonstration projects, and implementation of promising practices related to peer mentoring, access to mental health services and wellness programs. Up to $9 million will be available.
The Preparing for Active Shooter Situations Program provides funding for scenario-based training that prepares officers, deputies, and other first responders to safely and effectively handle active-shooter and other violent threats. This year’s program will train at least 20,000 first responders through scenario-based, multi-disciplinary training classes. Up to $10 million will be available.
The COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program advances public safety by providing funds directly to state law enforcement to locate and investigate illicit activities through statewide collaboration related to the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, or carfentanil or the unlawful distribution of prescription opioids. Up to $34 million will be available.
The COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program is designed to investigate illicit activities related to the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine. Funding must be used to locate or investigate illicit activities such as precursor diversion, laboratories, or methamphetamine traffickers. Up to $13 million will be available.
The COPS Technology and Equipment Program provides congressionally designated and directed spending to develop and acquire effective law enforcement equipment, technologies and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime. This is not a competitive NOFO and Congress has allocated $400 million for the COPS Technology and Equipment Program.
State and local governmental entities must comply with 8 U.S.C. § 1373, which provides that state and local government entities may not prohibit, or in any way restrict, any government entity or official from sending to, receiving from, maintaining, or exchanging information regarding citizenship or immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual with components of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other federal, state or local government entity. Priority consideration will be given to jurisdictions that cooperate with federal law enforcement to address illegal immigration and coordinate and participate with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
The COPS Office is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by supporting the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
For more information on COPS Office NOFOs, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/grants.
Jury Convicts Arizona Man for Threatening to Kill President Trump and Former Vice President HarrisRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – An Arizona man was convicted by a federal jury on June 8, 2026, for threatening to kill former Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump.
Rene Ortiz, 56, of Casa Grande, Arizona, was found guilty of two felony violations for Making Threats Against Successors to the Presidency and one felony violation of Threats Against Former Presidents. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Stephen M. McNamee.
On Nov. 5, 2024—Election Day—Ortiz delivered to the federal courthouse in Phoenix a written threat to “execute the newly elected [President of the United States] by firing an M-16A2 service rifle with a magazine of 6 rounds,” directed at both candidates.
After the election, on Nov. 25, 2024, Ortiz delivered a second threat to shoot “the incoming fraudulent elected [President of the United States] … at the inauguration on January 20th, 2025,” to the federal courthouse in Tucson. When interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service about the threats, Ortiz repeated his intent to make the threats; he was subsequently arrested on Jan. 17, 2025, ahead of the Presidential Inauguration.
“The message in this case is clear: The American people will not stand for threats of political violence against President Trump or any other elected official,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “A jury of Mr. Ortiz’s peers unanimously agreed that his threats were egregious violations of the law and rendered a just verdict. Once again, federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and agents from the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Secret Service proved their excellent skills and duty in protecting our elected officials.”
“The Secret Service takes every threat against our protectees with the utmost seriousness,” said Special Agent in Charge William R. Mack of the Phoenix Field Office. “Our agents, working closely with our law enforcement partners, acted swiftly and thoroughly to investigate these threats and ensure the safety of those we are sworn to protect. This conviction demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our protectees and to upholding the law, as well as the dedication and professionalism of our team and law enforcement partners.”
“Our incredible Nation continues to flourish through a living Constitution with the understanding that we must abide by the Rule of Law,” said U.S. Marshal Van Bayless. “This case is an excellent reminder that anyone who threatens or attempts to intimidate our elected or appointed officials will be investigated by law enforcement, will be prosecuted, and will be held accountable for their conduct.”
A conviction for Threats Against the President and Successors to the Presidency or Threats Against Former Presidents carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Chang and Abbie Broughton, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 25-CR-00153
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-095_Ortiz
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Jacksonville Chiropractor Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Healthcare Fraud and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Sean Rondeau, a 56-year-old chiropractor in Jacksonville, Illinois, was sentenced today to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for defrauding health insurance companies of more than a quarter million dollars. His convictions include healthcare fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and five counts of wire fraud.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Rondeau had submitted more than 2,000 separate fraudulent claims. The government noted that each of these fraudulent submissions were the result of an intentional choice by Rondeau and required his direct action. When Rondeau learned he was under investigation, he leveraged his relationships with his clients to convince them to sign false documents in an attempt to hide what he had done.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless noted that Rondeau committed these crimes after he had previously been caught committing fraud more than a decade ago. Judge Lawless found that Rondeau continued submitting false claims even after he knew he was being investigated for the current fraud. The judge ordered Rondeau to pay more than $268,000 in restitution.
A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Rondeau in August 2024, and he pleaded guilty to all nine counts in December 2025.
The statutory penalties for healthcare fraud are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalties for mail fraud and wire fraud are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Illegal alien living in Dallas sentenced to federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Abrahan Solano-Zarate, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on June 10, 2026.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2021, Solano-Zarate, a Mexican national who was illegally living in Dallas, was part of a cocaine distributing conspiracy responsible for trafficking a large amount of cocaine from Mexico into the Eastern District of Texas and beyond. Solano-Zarate admitted to being personally responsible for the distribution of at least five kilograms of cocaine.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
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