title: Porcupine Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison  for the Shooting Death of Pregnant Girlfriend

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on April 25, 2025. McKenzie Big Crow, age 20, was sentenced to a total of 12 years in federal prison for Involuntary Manslaughter, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Big Crow was also ordered to pay $300 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. A federal grand jury indicted Big Crow in June 2024. In January 2025, he was found guilty following a federal jury trial. On August 20, 2023, near Porcupine, Big Crow was illegally in possession of a Savage Arms Model 62, semiautomatic rifle. The barrel had been sawed off, and the defendant had taped components of an Airsoft rifle to the gun to make it appear like an AK-47. Big Crow claimed he put the rifle in a backpack and that the gun discharged when he bumped the bag against a door. The gunshot struck 19-year-old Ashton Provost in the chest, killing her and her unborn child within minutes. The gun was later found hidden under Big Crow’s bed. On the day of the shooting, Big Crow had drugs in his system including marijuana, cocaine, MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy) and methamphetamine. “We commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of South Dakota for its decision to pursue charges under the Unborn Victims of Violence Act — recognizing the value of every life lost as a result of this crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis. “This case highlights our shared commitment to justice for the most vulnerable and to holding violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” 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. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Big Crow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. ###


title: Houston Man Guilty of Federal Controlled Substances Act Violations

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FULGENCIO CARDENAS-RIVERA (“CARDENAS-RIVERA”) , age 35, a resident of Houston, Texas, pled guilty on April 15, 2025, before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to possession, with intent to distribute, five hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, CARDENAS-RIVERA traveled into the Eastern District of Louisiana with approximately three kilograms of cocaine secreted in the trunk of the car he was driving, with the intent to distribute same. CARDENAS-RIVERA faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to a maximum term of 40 years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration – New Orleans Field Division Office and assisted by the United States Border Patrol, the Louisiana State Police, the Kenner Police Department, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Tonawanda man going to prison for 25 years for production of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael E. Swain, 37, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of production of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison and lifetime supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that between October 20 and November 1, 2021, Swain coerced five minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions. Specifically, Swain communicated with a 15-year-old minor female who resided in Colorado using Discord, a social media platform. The communications included sexually graphic conversations, during which Swain requested that the minor female take sexually explicit videos and images and send them to him. In addition, Swain engaged in numerous sexual communications with the minor female from approximately 2019 to 2022, during which other sexually explicit images and videos were sent from to Swain. On February 28, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Swain’s residence and seized a desktop computer tower, a laptop computer, and an external hard drive, all of which were found to contain child pornography. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Buffalo Office Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Amie Feroleto. # # # #


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison For COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for a scheme to steal nearly $240,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. According to court documents, on July 15, 2020, Lavell Deshon Roberts was stopped when law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle he was driving. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a pistol, $50,000 in money orders, and 10 debit cards issued by the Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR). Between June and July 2020, Roberts used the debit cards to fraudulently withdraw unemployment insurance benefits from ATMs in Texas, resulting in a total loss of $238,940. Roberts and co-defendant Corey Marcus Valrey were indicted by a grand jury in October 2022. Roberts pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Valrey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and will be sentenced on July 11, 2025. In addition to imprisonment, Roberts was ordered to pay restitution. United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom for the United States Secret Service made the announcement. The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mina Chang and Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case. ###


title: Ukrainian Citizens Charged in South Florida with Illegally Voting in 2024 United States Presidential Election

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Two Ukrainian women with no United States citizenship have been charged with unlawfully voting in the General Election for United States President during early voting in Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 31, 2024. Svitlana Demydenko (Svitlana), 53, and her daughter, Yelyzaveta Demydenko (Yelyzaveta), 22, made their initial appearances in West Palm Beach federal court today. According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta entered the United States in April 2021 on nonimmigrant visas. In August 2024, while living in Florida, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta registered to vote in federal elections using a system that requires certification of United States citizenship, which neither of them had. On Oct. 31, 2024, and still without United States citizenship, Svitlana and Yelyzaveta voted from Palm Beach in the federal 2024 General Election, which included election of a United States President. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division; and Commissioner Mark Glass of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) made the announcement. HSI Miami Field Division and FDLE Office of Executive Investigations, Election Crime Unit investigated this case, with assistance from the Florida Department of State, Office of Election Crimes and Security; the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections; the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-mj-8216. ###


title: Houston furniture flipper sentenced for smuggling three dozen illegal aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 29-year-old Houston man has been ordered to prison after unlawfully transporting illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Louis Dante Anthony pleaded guilty Jan. 30. U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered Anthony to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described the dangerous way the 36 aliens were locked into a false compartment with no air and no means of escape. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the way the aliens were transported. On Dec. 8, 2024, Anthony drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint where he claimed he was hauling furniture from Edington and was heading to Victoria. He denied having any passengers in his vehicle and said he was simply a furniture flipper. An x-ray scan revealed 36 individuals trapped in an 8 by 4.25-foot false compartment at the front of the box truck. The illegal aliens had no access to air, could not be heard from the outside and were unable to get themselves out of the compartment. The illegal aliens were from Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. Anthony will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley A. Pruitt prosecuted the case.


title: Denver Man Sentenced to 194 months in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Tyrell Braxton, 25, of Denver, was sentenced to 194 months in federal prison after being found guilty by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to the facts established at trial, Braxton was charged in connection with a shooting that took place in the early morning hours on August 19, 2023, when a large group of people were gathered on the southwest corner of 28th and Welton Street in Denver. Shortly before 4am, multiple gunshots were heard, and Denver Police officers were dispatched to a shooting. Crime scene evidence collected on scene showed that eight different firearms were fired, resulting in 71 spent shell casings. Video evidence captured Braxton shooting six times into a group of people, killing one man and injuring two women. Braxton ran across Welton Street, but continued to fire his firearm eight more times. Braxton fled the scene and was a fugitive before being captured. Braxton was on federal supervised release at the time for a prior unlawful possession of a firearm and had been released from prison in April 2023. “Tyrell Braxton’s wanton violence took another’s life,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell. “Our community is safer with him in prison.” “Fighting violent crime is our top priority, and we are unwavering in our commitment to eradicating violent criminals from our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “The ATF Denver Field Division will continue to deploy all resources at our disposal and leverage every law enforcement partnership in pursuit of those who terrorize our communities with violence.” “The Denver Police Department appreciates our great partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “Through the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, DPD and our partners worked to prove the dangers Mr. Braxton possessed to our community and this sentence demonstrates our collective commitment to safety.” United States District Judge R. Brooke Jackson presided over the sentencing. The Denver Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Celeste Rangel and Special Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczak handled the prosecution. Case Number: 24-cr-00029-RBJ


title: Olean woman arrested, charged with multiple drug and gun charges for her role in Olean drug ring

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Janine McKenney, 42, of Olean, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of life, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that on February 17, 2025, Erie County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a female slumped over in a vehicle at a gas station in Springville, NY. When deputies arrived, the female had departed the gas station. A short time later, they located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the driver, later identified as McKenney, provided a false name to deputies. She was detained after a deputy observed a glass pipe designed for smoking crack cocaine in the. While exiting the vehicle, McKenney appeared to be attempting to conceal a suspected crack cocaine rock, which came to rest on the driver’s seat of the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies discovered a quantity of narcotics, including methamphetamine. The following day, on February 18, 2025, deputies conducted an intake search of McKenney at the Erie County Sheriff’s Office Holding Center and discovered three bags of suspected narcotics on McKenney’s person. A subsequent search of McKenney’s cell phone various photographs of ledgers, firearms, and suspected narcotics that appear to be packaged for sale. Later in the evening on February 18, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at McKenney’s Olean residence. McKenney utilized her residence while engaging in drug trafficking activities. During the search, quantities of suspected cocaine, morphine pills, and drug paraphernalia were recovered. In addition, three loaded pistols, ammunition and $2519.00 in cash was also recovered. Two of the three pistols were previously reported stolen. In November 2014, McKenney was convicted of a drug felony in New York State Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler, the Olean Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ron Richardson, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Amie Feroleto. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Statement Of U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton On The Verdict In U.S. V. Omnicare And CVS Health Corporation

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: False claims in the healthcare industry cost every American. Today, a unanimous jury found Omnicare, the country’s largest long-term care pharmacy, liable for fraudulently dispensing drugs without valid prescriptions to elderly and disabled people in assisted living facilities and other residential long-term care facilities. After a four-week trial, the jury found that Omnicare billed Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for over three million false claims resulting in $135,592,814 in damages. Under the federal False Claims Act, the Government is entitled to three times the amount of these assessed damages, or $406,778,442, plus statutory penalties to be determined by the Court. This is one of the largest damages verdicts rendered by a jury in a False Claims Act case. The jury also found CVS Health Corporation, Omnicare’s parent, liable for causing Omnicare to submit false claims. I thank the women and men of our Civil Division for continuing to pursue those who seek to exploit the healthcare system. I also thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense for their support and assistance throughout this case.


title: Buffalo man going to prison for 20 years for sex trafficking minors

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Steven Gonzalez a/k/a Steven Hernandez, a/k/a Steve, a/k/a Stevie, a/k/a Unc, 48, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of sex trafficking by coercion, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti, Caitlin M. Higgins, Joseph Tripi and Joshua Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between 2012 and March 2015, Gonzalez coerced a minor, identified as A.N., to engage in commercial sex acts. Gonzalez provided A.N. with cocaine in exchange for sex knowing that A.N. was physically addicted to cocaine. Gonzalez used A.N.’s addiction to cocaine and other drugs to keep A.N. dependent on himself and to coerce A.N. to engage in commercial sex acts with him directly. In addition, between 2012 and 2013, Gonzalez coerced another individual, identified as B.E., to engage in commercial sex acts. Gonzalez provided B.E. with heroin in exchange for sex, knowing that B.E. was physically addicted to heroin. Gonzalez used B.E.’s addiction to keep B.E. dependent on himself and to coerce B.E. to engage in commercial sex acts with him directly. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.


title: Miami Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Leading Payment Protection Program Fraud Scheme

body_text: MIAMI – Lazaro Verdecia Hernandez, 37, of Miami, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for leading a scheme that involved obtaining fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and laundering the proceeds. Verdecia and co-conspirator Heidi Cid submitted over 63 fraudulent PPP loan applications. In the loan paperwork, they made the applicants appear eligible for pandemic relief by falsifying the number of company employees and forging documents. As a result of the fake submissions, lenders disbursed over $14.5 million to bank accounts controlled by individuals who then withdraw the money and gave Verdecia, Cid, and another co-coconspirator, Yadier Rodriguez Arteaga, their cut. During earlier proceedings, Arteaga and Cid were adjudicated guilty and sentenced to federal prison terms: Arteaga to almost six years and Cid to 26 months. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros for the U. S. Secret Service (USSS); Special Agent in Charge Edwin S. Bonano for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General (FHFA OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region, made the announcement. USSS Miami and FHFA OIG investigated the case with the assistance of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), Eastern Region. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Eli Rubin prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Klco is handling asset forfeiture. The following cases were previously charged in relation to the fraud scheme: U.S. v. Roberto Lopez, Kenia Carrillo, Lester Hedman Safont, Oreste Ruiz Linares, Honolio Navarro Caballero, Barbara Alvarez, Javier Pico, Alfredo Contrera, and Erisbel Gonzalez Gomez , Case No. 22-cr-20368; U.S. v. Nancy Bahos Serna , Case No. 23-cr-20310; U.S. v. Jorge Trueba Lopez , Case No. 21-cr-20382; U.S. v. Nancy Saavedra Torres , Case No. 21-cr-20225; U.S. v. Giraldo Caraballo , Case No. 21-cr-20264; U.S. v. Felix Martinez and Yailin Perez , Case No. 21-cr-20276; U.S. v. Yoliesse Sarmiento Carrion , Case No. 22-cr-20530; U.S. v. Osiel Rodriguez Furgel , Case No. 21-cr-20251; and U.S. v. Leonardo Gonzalez Lopez , Case No. 23-cr-20113. Each of these defendants pled guilty, except for Javier Pico and Erisbel Gonzalez Gomez who are fugitives. Approximately 22 people were charged and convicted in the conspiracy. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . On Sep. 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20421. ###


title: Former Vice President and Controller of Publicly Traded Consumer Goods Company Sentenced to 13 Months for $1.6M Insider Trading Scheme

body_text: MIAMI – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in the Southern District of Florida to 13 months’ imprisonment and a $10,000 fine for his role in an insider trading scheme that netted over $1.6 million in profits. He was also ordered to pay over $200,000 in restitution and over $1.6 million in forfeiture. According to court documents, from November 2018 to April 2023, Stephen George, 54, of Parkland, was a member of the Finance Department and held roles including controller and vice president at a consumer-packaged goods company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida (Company A). The company was the maker of a fitness drink whose securities were publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market. At Company A, George received material non-public information (MNPI) regarding the company’s financial performance. On his final day at Company A on April 7, 2023, George created a consolidated income statement showing its financial performance for the first quarter of 2023, which George knew contained MNPI. The income statement showed that the company’s first quarter results had greatly exceeded expectations. George then emailed the document to himself using two personal email accounts. On April 10, 2023, the first trading day after his last day of employment, and continuing through May 8, 2023, George purchased Company A securities based on MNPI – specifically, 20,000 shares of common stock and 300 call option contracts. On May 9, 2023, after the market close, Company A publicly reported better-than-expected earnings and sales for the first quarter of 2023, including an all-time quarterly record in revenue. After the public announcement, its stock price increased significantly. During the next trading day, George sold all 20,000 shares of common stock and 300 call option contracts, resulting in over $1.6 million in personal profits. In February 2025, George pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli S. Rubin and Elizabeth Young for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Matthew F. Sullivan and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida handled asset forfeiture. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-60011. ###


title: Canastota Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for Drug Conspiracy and Firearm Offense

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jessica Snyder, age 46, of Canastota, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and a heroin/fentanyl mixture, and for possessing firearms as an unlawful user of controlled substances. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood made the announcement. As part of her prior guilty plea, Snyder admitted that from approximately October 2020 through May 17, 2022, she conspired with her husband, Andrew Snyder, to distribute both methamphetamine and a heroin/fentanyl mixture to others out of the garage of their home in Madison County. Snyder further admitted that on May 17, 2022, while she was an unlawful user of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, she possessed two 9mm handguns and ammunition. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Snyder to serve a 4-year term of supervised release following her release from prison and to forfeit the two 9mm handguns and ammunition she possessed. Andrew Snyder was sentenced earlier this month to 60 months’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by ATF and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas R. Sutcliffe and Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case.


title: New Paltz Man Charged with Online Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Max Fishkind, age 24, of New Paltz, New York, was charged today with sexual exploitation of a child. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. According to a complaint filed today, on September 23, 2024, Fishkind used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced a child into creating and sending him self-produced child sexual abuse material over Snapchat. The child, who was 15 years old at the time of the crime, reported that Fishkind initially told the child he was 17 years old, but the child later learned that Fishkind was not a minor and stopped communicating with him. The investigation into Fishkind began after the parents of a minor child residing in the state of Maryland reported to the FBI that their child had engaged in inappropriate sexual messaging with Fishkind, which included self-produced nude images of the minor that had been sent to Fishkind over Snapchat. When the FBI learned that Fishkind had since moved from Houston, Texas, to New Paltz, FBI Albany took over the investigation, which resulted in the charge filed today. The charges against Fishkind are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Fishkind made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart today. He was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 5. If convicted of the offense, Fishkind faces at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life. Fishkind may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his offense and forfeit any devices used in the offense. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Fishkind would also have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The FBI is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Lead with the action and the most basic information – who, what, when and where.


title: Washington County Man Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Washington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 24 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his convictions of false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Keyshawn Savory, 25. According to information presented to the Court, on four different occasions between April and August 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Savory acted as a straw purchaser when buying firearms from several federally licensed firearms dealers by stating that the firearms were being purchased for himself, when he actually was purchasing the firearms on behalf of another person. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Savory. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.


title: Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Mail and Wire Fraud Charges

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Hudson, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal fraud laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Paul Andrew Gulbronson, 59, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around May 2017 to in and around June 2019, Gulbronson conspired to commit mail and wire fraud. Gulbronson operated Citrona Homes LLC, which had offices located in Holliday, Florida, and in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and solicited investments. The purported business plan of Citrona Homes LLC, as represented to some of the investors, was to purchase low value, distressed, or vacant properties; renovate the properties, ensuring that they complied with applicable building code; rent the properties, and sell the properties to investors at or under market value. Investors were told that Citrona Homes LLC would manage the properties, provide no-cost maintenance and repairs for the first two years, and pay the utilities for a small monthly fee, thus generating a stream of guaranteed passive income for the investors. In reality, Gulbronson used Citrona Homes LLC as a mechanism for enriching himself by defrauding investors into purchasing unrenovated properties at prices far above the fair market value of the properties through a series of false pretenses, representations, and promises. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for September 9, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Brendan T. Conway are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gulbronson.


title: Canonsburg Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Minors

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Justin Darby, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on or about October 28, 2021, Darby knowingly altered and destroyed records associated with an application on his cellular telephone with the intent to impede and obstruct an investigation of him for offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. The Court also was advised that, on February 6, 2024, as well as on three additional occasions with three additional minor victims, Darby attempted to and did induce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for August 25, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Darby remained detained. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Darby. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: California Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Trafficking  Methamphetamine from California to Virginia

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va.. – A California man, who admitted to trafficking more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine more than 2,500 miles from California to Virginia, was sentenced recently to 10 years in federal prison. Raul Valencia Gonzalez, 40, previously pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents, in 2024 Gonzalez drove more than 2,500 miles in a vehicle filled with approximately 105 pounds of methamphetamine from California to Virginia for the purpose of transporting drugs for sale in connection with a larger drug trafficking organization. Court documents state that the methamphetamine was hidden in the trunk and under the driver’s seat. The Government also stated in a sentencing memorandum that Gonzalez had photographs of what appeared to be methamphetamine and cocaine on his cell phone. Gonzalez has admitted to being paid $4,000 to act as a courier for these drugs. Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Washington Division made the announcement. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case for the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Welsh and Vito A. Iaia prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: Pittsburgh Man Sentenced for Escape from Residential Reentry Center

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in federal court to three months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction for escape from custody, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Ryan Gainer, 44. According to information presented to the Court, on October 17, 2024, following a 48-hour home pass, Gainer knowingly and without authorization failed to return to the residential reentry center where he was serving a federal sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Marshals Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gainer.


title: Man Who Participated In Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation In Los Padres National Forest Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Jacinto Correa Cruz, 56, a Mexican national, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for his role in a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation operation in the Los Padres National Forest. U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee handed down the sentence. Correa Cruz pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to one count of depredation of federal lands and one count of manufacture of, and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute, marijuana. Correa Cruz admitted to injuring and damaging federal property by willfully participating in an illegal marijuana grow operation on federal public lands and knowingly manufacturing marijuana plants. According to court documents, Correa Cruz was arrested in July 2022 during a multi-agency search of one of the largest illegal marijuana cultivation operations found on federal land, known as the “Ventana Complex.” The complex is located in the Ventana Wilderness region of the national forest, a federally protected area that is known as a top “biodiversity hotspot” and home to more threatened and endangered species than any other national forest in California. The investigation into the Ventana Complex emerged after evidence revealed that the 2020 Dolan Fire, which killed one firefighter and 12 condors, was started by a marijuana grower who ignited the fire at an illegal marijuana cultivation site located in the same region of the Los Padres National Forest. The investigation revealed that, between 2021 and 2022, the Ventana Complex comprised of at least seven interconnected illegal marijuana sites. The cultivation site where Correa Cruz was arrested included two plots that had been cleared of most native vegetation to make way for approximately 10,000 marijuana plants. Law enforcement also discovered a camp area with a tent and 15 sleeping bags, a kitchen area with thousands of pounds of trash and dead animal parts, and significant quantities of hazardous materials and chemicals on site. An environmental damage assessment found that the illegal operation diverted and used approximately 33,780 gallons of water a day in an area that was experiencing severe drought conditions. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, Brandon Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations, Pacific Southwest Region, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. In addition to the prison term, Judge Lee ordered the defendant to pay $35,074 in restitution and sentenced him to three years of supervised release. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody at sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by USFS and the FBI, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.


title: Multiple Defendants Sentenced as Part of Crackdown on Cyber-Enabled Check Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Six defendants who were part of a conspiracy to sell stolen checks and bank login information have been sentenced, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. The defendants were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala and included the administrators of multiple scam Telegram channels, a former U.S. Postal employee who received bribes to steal checks from the mail, and a credit union employee who misappropriated customer account information. Among those sentenced this week were: Joshua Kendarius Rogers , also known as “Lucky Luciano,” 24, of Irondale, who was an administrator of a Telegram channel called “The Lucky Shop,” which sold stolen checks and bank login information. Rogers was sentenced to 90 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to pay bribes, one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Rogers pleaded guilty to the charges yesterday. Michael Christopher Rowser , also known as “Muney Mike,” 24, of McCalla, who abused his position as a U.S. Postal employee by taking bribes to steal checks that were sold on “The Lucky Shop” channel. Rowser was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to receive bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. In January 2025, a federal jury convicted Rowser of these charges. Duane Wiley Smith , also known as “Dubskii,” 24, of Springville, who was an administrator of “The Lucky Shop” and similar channels called “Glass House Records” and “Glass House Records V2.” Smith was sentenced to 48 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In October 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to those charges. Levar McGhee-Parrish , also known as “Ja Moracks,” 25, of Fultondale, who was an administrator of “The Lucky Shop” and a similar channel called “GRUBHUB.” McGhee-Parrish was sentenced to 40 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. In March 2025, McGhee-Parrish pleaded guilty to the charge. According to court documents, “The Lucky Shop” operated as a criminal marketplace. Its primary administrator, Rogers, obtained stolen checks from Rowser and then post redacted copies of those checks on the channel to market them for sale. When customers of “The Lucky Shop” paid Rogers to purchase stolen checks, a portion of their profits would be kicked back to Rowser. In addition to stolen checks, Rogers also sold bank login information, which he obtained from a corrupt credit union employee . Smith and McGhee-Parrish assisted Rogers with the administration of “The Lucky Shop,” but also had their own Telegram channels—for Smith, “Glass House Records” and “Glass House Records V2,” and for McGhee-Parrish, “GRUBHUB”—where they sold stolen checks to scammers looking to commit bank fraud. Beyond that, Smith and McGhee-Parrish worked with Rogers and others to commit bank fraud—depositing fraudulent checks, submitting fraudulent loan applications, initiating fraudulent Automated Clearing House transfers, and using stolen passcodes to withdraw funds from Automated Teller Machines. This case was brought as part of a crackdown on scam Telegram channels operating out of the Northern District of Alabama. Other defendants who have been prosecuted in related cases include Mekhi Diwone Harris , who ran a Telegram channel called “Work Related,” and Gabriel Samuel Odiot , who ran a Telegram channel called “RICH OFF PLAYS.” Together, these channels are responsible for the sale of tens of millions of dollars in stolen checks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the cases. Assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Heflin Police Department, and the Hueytown Police Department. Alabama Credit Union also provided significant assistance during the course of the investigation. For more resources on cybercrime, visit www.ic3.gov .


title: Adair County Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Darrell Porter Jr., age 40, of Westville, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.00. The Indictment alleged that on August 4, 2024, Porter knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Westville Police Department. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Porter will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Okmulgee Resident Sentenced To Over 20 Years For Voluntary Manslaughter

component: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brett Wayne Pigeon, age 45, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 126 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 120 months in prison for one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The terms will be served consecutively. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department. On January 6, 2025, Pigeon pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on November 27, 2023, law enforcement responding to reports of shots fired discovered the victim deceased from apparent gunshots to the back, head, and hip. Pigeon was identified as a suspect, and later admitted shooting the victim with a 12-gauge shotgun. The crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. 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 Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pigeon will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Rachel Geizura represented the United States.


title: Bethlehem Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Drug Distribution, Firearms Offenses

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew Romig, 38, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. last week to 57 months’ imprisonment, six years of supervised release, and a $900 special assessment for drug and gun offenses. Romig was charged by indictment in October 2024 with five counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school or playground, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of possession of an unregistered machine gun. He pleaded guilty to all the charges against him in January. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Romig repeatedly sold cocaine in Bethlehem and often did so within a few hundred feet of a community playground near his residence. On July 26, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at that residence, located on the 600 block of Hayes Street. In Romig’s vehicle, law enforcement recovered approximately $760 and more than three grams of cocaine. Inside Romig’s residence, authorities recovered approximately eight grams of cocaine, as well as a .45 caliber Military Armament Corp select-fire machine pistol model MAC-10, an extended magazine, and a suppressor. The MAC-10, which was unregistered, had an obliterated serial number and was switched to full-automatic mode. In 2005, Romig was convicted of robbery in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas and sentenced to 14 to 36 months’ imprisonment for the offense, a second-grade felony. As a result, he was not permitted to legally possess a firearm. “Matthew Romig endangered his community, selling cocaine and arming himself with a deadly weapon,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “He wasn’t allowed to have any firearm, let alone a submachine gun set to full automatic, with extended magazine and suppressor. It’s critical to get dangerous drugs off the street and illegal guns out of criminals’ hands, to crack down on violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.” “Matthew Romig was selling drugs near a playground and armed with a fully automatic MAC-10 .45 submachine gun,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “This criminal is going to federal prison, where he will no longer endanger this community. Together with our state and local partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office, we continue to make Pennsylvania’s communities safer from such dangerous criminals.” The case was investigated by the ATF, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the Bethlehem Police Department as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca Kulik and Robert Schopf.


title: Wake Forest Woman Sentenced to Prison for $85K COVID Fraud

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wake Forest woman was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by one year of home confinement, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for conspiring to defraud the United States government with respect to Covid-19 Paycheck Protection Program loans. Sonya Lenise Davis, 57, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 7, 2024. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Davis and others lied on applications to the Small Business Association for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. These loans were a form of Covid-19 relief funding to help keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic. Davis did not qualify for these loans, but nevertheless lied, and helped others to lie, to steal money from the program. On her own loan application, Davis falsified information about her company, Sonya’s Braiding, by inflating the number of employees and income. Davis also assisted others to acquire and submit fake documents to bolster wage claims on their own PPP loans using fake IRS forms. In some instances, Davis also assisted conspirators to obtain fake bank statements. As a result, Davis and others illegally obtained more than $85,000 in Covid relief loan money. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gilmore and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Labresh prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00299. ###


title: Armed Drug Store Robber Sentenced to 25 years in Prison

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A felon involved in several Raleigh drug store robberies was sentenced on April 16, 2025, to 25 years in prison for Hobbs Act Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. Marvin Rashaad Cummings, 34, pled guilty to the charges on December 4, 2024. According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) responded to a robbery at a CVS store on New Bern Avenue on December 29, 2022. Witnesses reported that a black male wearing a gray hoodie and a black mask approached the register to buy a pack of gum. The man showed the store clerk a black handgun and demanded all of the money in the register. The suspect then led the clerk upstairs to the store’s safe and stole a large sum of money from the safe that had a tracker attached to it. RPD tracked the money to a red sedan parked near the CVS. Cummings was in the driver’s seat wearing clothing that matched the description of the robbery suspect and was in possession of a mask and handgun that matched the description given by witnesses. Cummings admitted to participating in six robberies in the Raleigh and Knightdale areas over the prior month and using a real handgun during the commission of the crimes. Cummings has prior convictions for Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, bank robbery, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Raleigh Police Department, and the Knightdale Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Newby and Sarah E. Nokes prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-00319. ###


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To More Than 11 Years For Drug Trafficking Charge

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Zevion La’Quawn Collins (31, Jacksonville) to 11 years and 3 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of pure or actual methamphetamine. The court also ordered Collins to forfeit $4,970 in cash, which are traceable proceeds of the offense, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol and all ammunition seized with the firearm, which were used to facilitate the conspiracy. Collins pleaded guilty on January 7, 2025. According to court documents, between April 2023 and the time of his arrest on June 17, 2024, Collins distributed methamphetamine in Jacksonville. During this time, federal agents observed Collins conduct multiple drug transactions, including on 6 separate occasions, where Collins sold one to two ounces of pure methamphetamine per transaction. On June 17, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Collins’s stash house in Jacksonville and arrested him on federal drug charges. From this residence, agents seized approximately $4,970 in cash and a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by former Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh and Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Michigan Small Business, Slifco Electric, LLC, Pays Over $1.4 Million To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Paycheck Protection Program

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today that a Sterling Heights, Michigan small business, Slifco Electric, LLC, which is wholly owned by John P. Slifco, has paid $1,460,062 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that it was eligible for full loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to American businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA. When applying for PPP loan forgiveness, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of information provided to the SBA, including disclosing whether the borrower had paid any dividends or other capital distributions to its owner(s) during the loan forgiveness covered period. In April 2020, Slifco Electric obtained a first draw PPP loan for $2,633,170. The United States alleged that Slifco Electric falsely certified its eligibility for full forgiveness of that loan, given its failure to disclose that, from March 13, 2020, through the end of the loan forgiveness covered period, Slifco Electric paid $730,031 in capital distributions to its only owner, John P. Slifco, for Mr. Slifco’s personal expenses. “When businesses and individuals obtained COVID-19 relief funds that they didn’t deserve, taxpayers were cheated,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie A. Beck for the Eastern District of Michigan. “This office is committed to addressing fraud perpetrated against government programs, and we will continue to hold accountable those who violate the law.” “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SBA’s Office of Inspector General and other Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who uncover fraudulent conduct to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Gentner from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: Tennessee Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years for Selling Methamphetamine and Firearms

body_text: A Tennessee man was sentenced Thursday to eight years and five months in prison for selling methamphetamine, unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. According to court documents, Jamaal Derrell Maxwell, 30, of Memphis, sold methamphetamine pills and firearms to a confidential informant and an ATF undercover agent. Beginning Feb. 2, 2024, and continuing until April 3, 2024, the defendant sold more than 500 pills containing methamphetamine and four firearms. The firearms included two semi-automatic rifles, one assault-style rifle, and one shotgun. Maxwell, a felon at the time he sold the firearms, was prohibited from possessing any firearm. In 2022, Maxwell was convicted in the State of Oklahoma for inducing an adult teenager to become a prostitute. Because Maxwell sold firearms while simultaneously trafficking drugs, he was also guilty of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement. The ATF investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Marcus Johnson and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neal Oldham and Wendy Cornejo for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.


title: Leader of Federal Pandemic Fraud Unemployment Scheme Sentenced

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – Josef Ludwig Brown, one of the leaders of a 17 defendant conspiracy to defraud the United States, commit program fraud, and commit mail fraud in connection with a scheme to file fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits was sentenced last week to 35 months in federal prison. Brown previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with emergency benefits. Additionally, Brown was ordered to pay $119,660 in restitution. Previously sentenced as part of the conspiracy were: Christopher Webb, 20 months; Russell Stiltner, 24 months; Jessica Lester, 19 months; Cara Camille Bailey, 19 months; Justin Meadows, 18 months; Terrence Vilacha, 18 months; Joseph Hass, 27 months; Brian Addair, 24 months; and Stephanie Amber Barton, Clinton Michael Altizer, Jeramy Blake Farmer, and Hayleigh McKenzie Wolfe were each sentenced to 12 months and 1 day. Jonathan Webb, the individual charged with recruiting others to file fraudulent claims, mostly inmates at local jails, was sentenced to 48 months was ordered to pay $150,218 in restitution. All defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for the amount of their individual fraudulent claims. According to court documents, between March 2020 and September 2021, Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw developed a scheme to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment befits via the Virginia Employment Commission website. The scheme involved the collection of personal identification information (PII) of inmates housed at SWVRJA-Haysi and Abingdon, as well as personal friends and acquaintances of Brown, Webb, and Shaw. The conspirators used that information to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment benefits for incarcerated individuals and others who were ineligible for the benefits. In all, the defendants stole $341,205 in pandemic relief to which they were not entitled. As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General were charged with identifying major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. According to the United States Department of Labor, Virginia paid approximately $1.1 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the sentences. Agencies that assisted with this investigation included the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Virginia Employment Commission. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States.


title: Essex County Man Sentenced to Multiple Life Sentences in Prison for Murder and Other Crimes Committed in His Role as Leader of Sprawling Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man was sentenced to four life sentences on April 23, 2025 for ordering and committing three murders and for his role in a large-scale narcotics enterprise, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Michael Healy, 44, of Montclair, New Jersey, was convicted by a federal jury in April 2024 of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiring to murder a federal witness, three counts of murder in aid of racketeering, and related firearms offenses following a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court. “Michael Healy orchestrated three murders in order to silence the victims in this case. When Healy believed that someone in his drug trafficking enterprise was cooperating with law enforcement, he demonstrated that he was willing to go to the greatest lengths possible – to commit multiple acts of murder – to protect his profitable enterprise. This sentence will prevent Healy from harming any other members of our community and will send a message that attacks on the justice system will not be tolerated.” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba “Healy spent much of his life building an illegal drug trafficking enterprise, fueled by greed and violence,” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly said. “He used his power to destroy communities through the distribution of poisonous narcotics and murdered those who he perceived as a threat to his empire. Now, he will spend the rest of his life in federal prison, where his power and money won’t matter.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial: In February 2018, Healy found out that one of his conspirators in the drug trafficking enterprise (DTE) was cooperating with law enforcement by providing information about the drug enterprise. Healy ordered members of the Bloods in East Orange to kill the informant, referenced in the Indictment as ‘A.S.” On Feb. 3, 2018, outside the informant’s residence in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Healy’s conspirators shot and killed a bystander, referenced in the Indictment as “Victim-1,” believing the bystander was the informant. Realizing they killed the wrong person, Healy ordered the Bloods to finish the job, and on March 12, 2018, in Bloomfield, the conspirators killed the informant while he was walking his dog in the area of his residence. On April 6, 2018, believing that another member of the enterprise – identified in the indictment as “J.C.” – might also pose a risk to the Enterprise, Healy himself shot and killed “J.C.” in Newark. Healy’s DTE operated in and around Newark beginning in approximately 2012. Between 2003 and 2012, Healy became a member of the Tree Top PIRU set of the Bloods street gang in Maryland. In and around 2012, Healy formed and led the Healy DTE, a large and sophisticated drug distribution organization that obtained, transported and distributed large amounts of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana. Healy used his leadership status in the Tree Top PIRU Bloods to assist him with obtaining suppliers, recruiting and controlling enterprise members, and otherwise conducting the Healy DTE’s operations. The Healy DTE transported multi-kilogram quantities of controlled substances from California to New Jersey by various means, including private aircraft, vehicles with hidden secret compartments, and the U.S. Postal Service. The Healy DTE then processed and repackaged the controlled substances at various “stash houses” in New Jersey. The Healy DTE distributed some of the controlled substances in New Jersey, including through Bloods gang members in East Orange. The Court sentenced Healy to four life sentences plus 360 months’ imprisonment. On Counts One (Racketeering Conspiracy), Six (Murder of a Federal Witness), and Twelve (Drug Trafficking Conspiracy), Healy was sentenced to life in prison, each term ordered to run concurrent to each other and consecutive to the prison sentences imposed on the remaining counts. On Counts Two (Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the murder of Victim-1), Five (Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the murder of A.S.), and Nine (Murder in Aid of Racketeering for the murder of J.C.), the Court imposed life sentences on each count to run consecutively. On Counts Three, Seven, and Ten (each charging Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence), the Court imposed consecutive 10-year sentences for a total of 360 months, ordered to run consecutively to the sentences imposed on all other counts. Thomas Zimmerman, Tyquan Daniels, and Ali Hill – all members of the Brick City Brims subset of the Bloods street gang in East Orange – previously pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for their respective roles in the murders of Victim-1 and A.S. Zimmerman was sentenced to a 37-year term of imprisonment; Daniels was sentenced to a 35-year term of imprisonment; and Hill was sentenced to a 25-year term of imprisonment. In addition, on February 22, 2024, Leevander Wade pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy for his roles in all three murders, and was sentenced to a term of 36 years and 8 months’ imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Newark FBI Joint Organized Crime Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Essex County Prosecutors Office, under the direction of Theodore N. Stephens, II; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of William A. Daniel, the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Phyllis L. Bindi; the Montclair Police Department, under the direction of Todd M. Conforti, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Intelligence and Investigative Division, under the direction of Secretary Robert Green; the Ohio State Highway Patrol, under the direction of Colonel Charles A. Jones. The government is represented by Senior Trial Counsel Robert L. Frazer and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha C. Fasanello. ### Defense counsel: Stephen Turano and Thomas Ambrosio


title: Nine Charged in Staged Automobile Collision Scheme, Including Two Men Charged with the Murder of a Federal Witness

component: Criminal Division

body_text: NEW ORLEANS –The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announce that a thirteen-count second superseding indictment has been returned, April 25, 2025, by the grand jury in relation to the scheme to stage automobile collisions in the New Orleans area. The indictment includes new allegations against two defendants for their participation in the homicide of a federal witness. According to the second superseding indictment, SEAN D. ALFORTISH (“ALFORTISH”) , age 57, of New Orleans, and LEON M. PARKER, a/k/a “Chunky,” (“PARKER”) , age 51, of New Orleans, conspired to murder federal witness, Cornelius Garrison. Garrison had been a “slammer” in the scheme to stage automobile collisions, including by sideswiping 18-wheeler tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles. Garrison was cooperating with the FBI when he was murdered on September 22, 2020, at his mother’s home in New Orleans. Ryan J. Harris, a former codefendant in this case, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to causing death through the use of firearm, for his role in Garrison’s homicide, along with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. In addition, the second superseding indictment charges ALFORTISH ; PARKER ; VANESSA MOTTA (“MOTTA”) , age 43, of New Orleans; MOTTA LAW, LLC (“MOTTA LAW”) , a law firm in New Orleans; JASON F. GILES (“GILES”) , age 46, of New Orleans; THE KING FIRM, LLC (“THE KING FIRM”) , a law firm in New Orleans; DIAMINIKE F. STALBERT (“STALBERT”) , age 34, of Metairie; CARL MORGAN (“MORGAN”) , age 66, of New Orleans; and TIMARA N. LAWRENCE (“LAWRENCE”) , age 34, of New Orleans, with participating in the scheme to defraud insurance companies and commercial trucking companies through fraudulently staged automobile collisions. The superseding indictment alleges that ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, THE KING FIRM, MORGAN, PARKER, STALBERT, LAWRENCE , Cornelius Garrison (“Garrison”), then attorney Danny Patrick Keating (“Keating”), Damian Labeaud (“Labeaud”), Roderick Hickman (“Hickman”), and others participated in a scheme in which they intentionally staged automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The scheme included individuals who rode in automobiles as passengers knowing they would be part of staged collisions. Those individuals later lied as part of fraudulent insurance claims and fraudulent lawsuits based on the staged collisions. Additionally, the scheme included individuals who drove automobiles and intentionally collided with 18-wheeler tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles, to stage collisions (“slammers”). After the staged collisions, the slammers would flee the scene, and a passenger would falsely claim to have been driving at the time of the collision. Harris, Garrison, Labeaud, and Hickman were slammers, and they recruited and conspired with others to participate in staged collisions. The scheme included individuals (“spotters”) who drove getaway cars that allowed the slammers to flee the scene after causing a collision and evade detection by law enforcement. The spotters would sometimes also pretend to be eyewitnesses and would flag down the commercial vehicles after the staged collisions, alleging that the commercial vehicles were at fault. The scheme included individuals, including ALFORTISH, MOTTA, GILES , Keating, other attorneys, and others associated with the attorneys, who pursued fraudulent claims and fraudulent lawsuits knowing they were based on staged collisions. Count One charges ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, GILES, THE KING FIRM , MORGAN, PARKER, STALBERT , and LAWRENCE with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343, and 1349. The maximum penalty for this count is up to twenty years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. Count Two charges GILES and THE KING FIRM with mail fraud, and Count Three charges ALFORTISH, MOTTA, MOTTA LAW, and PARKER with mail fraud, both in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341. The maximum penalty for each of these counts is twenty years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. Count Four charges ALFORTISH, MOTTA, and MOTTA LAW with obstruction of justice, and Count Six charges GILES and THE KING FIRM with obstruction of justice, both in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1503(a). The maximum penalty for each of these counts is ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. Count Five charges ALFORTISH, MOTTA, and MOTTA LAW with witness tampering, and Count Seven charges GILES and THE KING FIRM with witness tampering, both in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(b)(1)(B). The maximum penalty for each of these counts is twenty years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim. Count Eight charges STALBERT with making false statements to a federal agent. If convicted, she would face up to five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Counts Nine through Thirteen concern the homicide of federal witness Cornelius Garrison. Count Nine charges ALFORTISH and PARKER with conspiracy to commit witness tampering through murder of Garrison, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(a)(1)(C), 1512(a)(3)(A), and 1512(k). Count Ten charges ALFORTISH and PARKER with witness tampering through murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 11512(a)(1)(C), 1512(a)(3)(A), and 2. Count Eleven charges ALFORTISH and PARKER with conspiracy to retaliate against a witness through murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1513(a)(1)(B), 1513(a)(2)(A), and 1513(f). Count Twelve charges ALFORTISH and PARKER with retaliation against a witness through murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1513(a)(1)(B), 1513(a)(2)(A), and 2. As to each of these counts, ALFORTISH and PARKER face a maximum of life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Count Thirteen charges ALFORTISH and PARKER with causing Garrison’s death through the use of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(j)(1) and 2. The maximum penalty is any term of years including life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Including this superseding indictment, sixty-three (63) defendants have been charged in the federal probe into the staging of automobile collisions with other vehicles in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne; Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman; and Trial Attorney J. Ryan McLaren of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.


title: Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael David Enoch, 33, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 15, 2024, Enoch possessed a Taurus model PT111 G2 9mm semiautomatic pistol in Parkersburg. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Enoch knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for wanton endangerment involving a firearm, escape, and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle in Wood County Circuit Court on February 25, 2019. Enoch has a long criminal history that also includes multiple convictions for battery, domestic battery, fleeing from an officer, battery on a government representative, and violation of a protective order. Enoch is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-26. ###


title: U.S. Attorney announces launch of a task force to combat illegal debanking in the Eastern District of Virginia

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division today announced the formation of the Eastern District of Virginia Equal Access to Banking Task Force. The Task Force will investigate allegations of “debanking,” when banks refuse customers access to credit and other financial services based on impermissible factors under current federal and state law. This initiative will address allegations of debanking in the Commonwealth of Virginia by investigating allegations of debanking actions taken against Virginians, and if appropriate, seeking civil relief against banking institutions in federal or state court. The Task Force is currently staffed with officials from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia. “Access to banking services is essential in today’s modern economy, and unlawful debanking practices prevent citizens from achieving financial security,” said U.S. Attorney Siebert. “My office, along with our partners in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, is dedicated to eliminating these unlawful actions and ensuring that all Virginians can realize their own personal American dream.” “All Americans have the right to fair access to banking,” said Assistant Attorney General Dhillon. “No customer should be refused credit or other financial services for discriminatory or unlawful reasons. The Justice Department will work together with our federal and state partners to vigorously enforce these rights and protections to the fullest extent of the law.” "The practice of unlawful debanking undermines public trust and erodes the foundational principle of equal treatment under the law," said Attorney General Jason Miyares. "When banks act without accountability, they threaten not only individual livelihoods but also the broader promise of fairness and freedom that makes Virginia, and America, strong. No American should ever be denied access to basic financial services because of their political views, religious beliefs, or lawful activities." The Task Force will work in partnership with federal financial regulatory agencies to systematically address and combat unlawful debanking. As part of this effort, U.S. Attorney Siebert and Assistant Attorney General Dhillon will convene regulatory partners to bring the full power of the federal government to bear on this important issue. Individuals or entities who believe that they have been the victim of inappropriate debanking practices in Virginia are also encouraged to submit a complaint directly to the Task Force at USAVAE.debanking@usdoj.gov . Complaints in other jurisdictions can be submitted to the Civil Rights Division’s complaint portal . The Task Force will investigate whether the allegations demonstrate violations of federal or state law that warrant government enforcement action and will refer matters for civil and criminal prosecution as appropriate. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.


title: Orleans Parish Man Guilty of Bank Robbery

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on April 8, 2025, JUAN K. SIMPSON (“SIMPSON”) , age 30, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty to bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a). Sentencing is set for July 8, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Darrel James Papillion. SIMPSON faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, on November 25, 2024, SIMPSON robbed a Capital One Bank location, in New Orleans. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Former labor union president admits to embezzling over $280,000 in union funds

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old Corpus Christi resident has pleaded guilty to embezzling from a local labor union, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Robert Cirilo, a former president of the United Steelworkers Local 13-1647 in Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement from a labor organization. Cirilo admitted he made approximately 430 unauthorized transactions from union accounts for personal purchases. He also concealed those transactions by lying to union members. As part of his plea, he acknowledged the embezzlement totaled over more than $280,000. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Aug. 12. At that time, Cirilo faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for wire fraud and up to five years and a possible $10,000 fine on the embezzlement count. The FBI and Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and John Marck are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Teacher In New York City Charged With Distribution And Possession Of Child Pornography

body_text: Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) announced today the arrest of SAMUEL GONZALEZ, a former teacher at an acting school in New York City. GONZALEZ is charged with distributing and possessing child pornography, including videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers. GONZALEZ will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, Samuel Gonzalez distributed a large volume of child pornography, including images of sexual abuse of children as young as a few months old. The lasting scars from the horrific abuse of children are deeply troubling to all New Yorkers. Together with our partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who victimize children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Samuel Gonzalez allegedly distributed thousands of pornographic images of infants and minors to an undercover federal agent over a brief period. Gonzalez’s alleged actions grossly disregarded the victims’ welfare and repeatedly violated their privacy by sharing this twisted material. The FBI is deeply committed to preventing crimes against children and will continue to apprehend any individual who supplies these explicit images.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint: [1] GONZALEZ is an actor, dancer, theater producer, and former teacher at an acting school in New York City. In or about January 2023 and April 2023, GONZALEZ used an online messaging application to send links containing over 1,500 files of child pornography to a federal law enforcement agent acting in an undercover capacity. In addition, in or about June 2023, federal agents executed a judicially-authorized search warrant of GONZALEZ’s apartment. Pursuant to that warrant, federal agents seized and searched GONZALEZ’s phone and laptop, which were found to contain over 80 unique files of child pornography, including videos and images of infants and prepubescent adolescents who had not attained 12 years of age. * * * GONZALEZ, 31, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with one count of distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. GONZALEZ is further charged with one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum potential sentence in this case is 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 outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the FBI/New York City Police Department Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Cheng and Diarra M. Guthrie are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._gonzalez_complaint.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Salvadoran National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JOSE ALFREDO JIMENEZ-CENTENO (“JIMENEZ-CENTENO”) ,age 72, a citizen of El Salvador, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025 to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to the indictment, JIMENEZ-CENTENO reentered the United States after he was previously deported on August 20, 1996. JIMENEZ-CENTENO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. He also faces a sentencing enhancement of 20 years because of a prior felony conviction. The case was investigated by the United States Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Washington Man Indicted for Abusive Sexual Contact and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 2, 2025, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Michael R. Trout, 45, with Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography, and Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as a Sex Offender. Trout was arrested by federal and state law enforcement officers and made his initial appearance in federal court on April 4, 2025. In late January 2025, the Investigative Services Branch of the National Park Service received a report of an assault that had occurred between July 18 and July 23, 2024, in Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Trout has prior Washington State convictions for Rape and Burglary with Sexual Motivation. Because of these convictions, Trout was required under state and federal law to register as a sex offender. If members of the public have any information regarding related crimes that Trout may have committed, they are encouraged to call the NPS crime tip line at 888-653-0009, email nps_isb@nps.gov, or submit a tip online. This case is being investigated jointly by Nation Park Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Washington State Patrol, and Spokane Police Department, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2:25-cr-00050-TOR