title: Three Men Charged with Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three men were indicted in separate, unrelated cases by a federal grand jury today for illegally re-entering the United States after being previously removed. Elmer Abel Flores-Alvarez, 27, was charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. The indictment charges that Flores-Alvarez had previously been removed from the United States twice – on April 6, 2018, and on October 9, 2019. Juan Jose Esparza-Gallardo, 33, was charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. The indictment charges that Esparza-Gallardo had previously been removed from the United States twice – on April 19, 2017, and on July 14, 2017. Gilberto Javana-Zuniga, 41, was charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry by a previously removed alien. The indictment charges that Javana-Zuniga had previously been removed from the United States three times – on November 3, 2011, February 25, 2013, and March 8, 2013. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. All three cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations. Operation Take Back America These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Convicted felon caught twice with loaded firearms sentenced to over eight years in prison

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to eight years and four months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on June 13, 2024, Richmond Police officers observed Emanuel Leon Crawford, Jr., 33, in a parking lot area of a convenience store on Mosby Street in Richmond acting suspiciously. When they got out of their patrol vehicle, Crawford fled on foot. As Crawford was running, he removed a crossbody bag and threw it. Officers took Crawford into custody and recovered the bag, which contained a loaded .40 caliber handgun. Officers also recovered 18 multi-colored pressed pills containing methamphetamine. On July 26, 2024, as officers served Crawford with a misdemeanor warrant, they found him in possession of a loaded 9mm handgun. Crawford was convicted in 2013 of attempted unlawful wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and burglary of a residence. Crawford also was convicted in 2020 of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I/II controlled substance. As a previously convicted felon, Crawford is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman and Third-Year Law Student Kevin C. Teel prosecuted the case. 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-169.


title: Justice Department Files Complaint Against Former Members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

component: Civil Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C. against three former members of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for refusing to vacate their offices after being removed by President Donald J. Trump. The subjects of this complaint have continued to operate in office despite their removal and subsequent failure to obtain legal relief protecting their old positions. This litigation reflects the Department’s ongoing commitment to protecting the President’s core Article II powers, which include the authority to make personnel decisions regarding those occupying federal offices. The complaint asks the court to declare that the former members have not lawfully served on the board since their removals, to enjoin the former members from serving on the board, and to order the former members to refund any compensation during their unlawful terms of service. Read the full complaint here.


title: Sun Prairie Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cashius Carter, 21, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 2 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The prison term will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On September 25, 2024, a Fitchburg police officer stopped a vehicle that Carter was driving. The vehicle smelled of marijuana and the officer asked Carter to exit the vehicle so it could be searched. Carter fled from the scene but was ultimately caught. In the vehicle, the officer found a loaded Glock 19 9mm with an extended magazine between the driver’s seat and center console. In the back seat, officers recovered almost 700 grams of marijuana. The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory later recovered Carter’s DNA on the firearm. Carter is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm or ammunitions because of a prior felony conviction for eluding an officer. At sentencing, Judge Peterson found that Carter’s possession of a loaded firearm with a large quantity of marijuana was dangerous. Judge Peterson also noted that Carter had an aggravated criminal history, which included a violent battery and a high-speed police chase. Judge Peterson explained that he was imposing the sentence to protect the public and deter Carter from further criminal conduct. The charge against Carter was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: Weymouth Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Unemployment Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Weymouth man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to submitting fraudulent information in an effort to obtain unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Dominik Manigo, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of wire fraud. In January 2025, Manigo was indicted along with co-conspirator Nelson Roche Diaz. In May 2020, Manigo, and allegedly Roche, submitted fraudulent claims for PUA on the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance portal. Further, Manigo, and allegedly Roche, submitted fraudulent letters claiming the pandemic had impacted their employment at a restaurant in Boston. Neither Manigo nor Roche ever worked at the restaurant. Manigo and allegedly Roche, each received over $43,000 in PUA and related funds. The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Weymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . 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 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 and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud . 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 via the https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Tucson Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Alien Smuggling and Drug Charges

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Jon Christian Schacht, 37, of Tucson, was sentenced on July 14, by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 72 months in prison. Schacht previously pleaded guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and one count of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit. He was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 72 months and 24 months, respectively, on the two counts. Schacht managed an alien smuggling organization in southern Arizona, personally transporting illegal aliens, and conspiring and coordinating with others for their transportation further into the United States. During the course of the alien smuggling conspiracy, Schacht was also involved in a drug conspiracy and transported 42 kilograms of fentanyl to Phoenix from Tucson. United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-0899-JCH CR-23-0900-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-117_Schacht # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Assaulting Border Patrol Agent

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Elias Lunes-Gomez, 19, of Mexico, was sentenced on July 8, by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 12 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Lunes-Gomez pleaded guilty on March 3, 2025 to Assault on a Federal Officer. On October 26, 2024, a Border Patrol Agent encountered Lunes-Gomez wearing camouflage clothing and hiding in a tree near Menagers Dam. When the agent confronted Lunes-Gomez, a struggle ensued as Lunes-Gomez attempted to flee. During the struggle, Lunes-Gomez elbowed the agent in the ribs, causing both men to fall off a three-foot drop. Lunes-Gomez then placed his knee on the agent’s back and struck the agent several times in the back of the head. Eventually the agent was able to handcuff Lunes-Gomez, but because of the assault, the agent suffered a sprained ankle, knee pain, an elbow contusion, and lacerations to his face and hands. United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Sottosanti, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 24-08208-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-118_Lunes-Gomez # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former Bishop Of AME Zion Church Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Congregations In California

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Staccato Powell, a former bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (“AME Zion”), pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with a far-reaching scheme to obtain control of church properties in California using false statements, forged documents, concealment, and deception. Powell, 65, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, was indicted along with co-defendant Sheila Quintana by a federal grand jury in January 2022. Quintana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in April 2025. According to court documents and the plea agreement, in 2016, shortly after Powell was selected as bishop and assigned to AME Zion Church’s Western Episcopal District, a geographic division of the church covering several states in the western United States, including California, he formed an entity called Western Episcopal District, Inc. (WED, Inc.). Powell was the chief executive officer of WED, Inc. and Quintana was the chief financial officer from 2017 to 2019. In 2016, Powell instructed pastors of AME Zion Churches throughout the Western Episcopal District to sign deeds granting WED, Inc. title to their congregation’s property – typically the church building, but also any outbuildings, lots, parking lots, and residences used by the pastors. At Powell’s direction, Quintana and other WED, Inc. officers worked on completing the necessary steps to accomplish the transfer of titles through grant deeds. Starting in early 2017, Powell instructed Quintana and other WED, Inc. officers to obtain loans using the property of local AME Zion Churches acquired through the grant deeds as collateral for the loans. In response to the lenders’ request for confirmation of the local AME Zion Church’s authorization of the loan, Powell caused to be created documents purporting to be resolutions by churches to support WED, Inc.’s loan applications. In several instances, Powell directed WED, Inc. to use church resolutions with false statements, and directed Quintana to create the false documents and sign the resolutions in the name of an officer with the local church. In pleading guilty, Powell admitted to fraudulently obtaining mortgages on the following church properties: Kyles Temple in Vallejo : Powell formed a group that included co-defendant Quintana to assist with the purchase of a $1.5 million episcopal residence in Granite Bay, with approximately $1 million covered by a bank loan. At Powell’s direction, to obtain the additional $500,000 in funding, the group identified two church properties, including Kyles Temple in Vallejo, that would be used as collateral to secure the financing to purchase the episcopal residence. Quintana executed the loan documents using a false resolution, which she drafted at Powell’s direction, that purported to confirm approval of the transaction by the Kyles Temple congregation. Powell also directed Quintana to draft the resolution to indicate that there had been a church meeting at which the board of trustees approved it and purportedly gave Quintana authority to execute loan documents as chair of the Kyles Temple Board of Trustees. No such meeting to discuss or approve the resolution had occurred. First AME Zion Church in San Jose : In 2017, Powell determined that the First AME Zion of San Jose would be used as collateral for a new loan to purchase a parsonage, and instructed Quintana to execute the purchase agreement on the new residential property. At Powell’s direction, Quintana prepared a resolution of the First AME Zion Church of San Jose’s trustee board approving the transaction including the use of the church’s property as collateral for the loan. Quintana then prepared, again at Powell’s direction, a second resolution on the San Jose church’s letterhead falsely stating that a membership meeting was held at the church to vote on “deeding all properties to the AME Zion Western Episcopal District, Inc., of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church” and that the church’s membership unanimously approved the transaction and authorized its pastor to sign all transaction documents. In fact, the church’s trustee board met twice to consider whether to execute a deed transfer to WED, Inc. and Powell knew that at these meetings the trustee board voted against the deed transfer. Nevertheless, Powell directed Quintana to proceed with the loan transaction in the amount of $750,000, using the church as collateral based on the false resolution. Powell later learned that the AME Zion Church of Los Angeles held a title interest in the San Jose church and directed Quintana to prepare another resolution. This resolution falsely stated that the AME Zion Church in Los Angeles held a membership meeting on October 12 and voted to deed the church in San Jose to WED, Inc. Subsequently, in December 2019, Powell directed WED, Inc. officers to encumber the San Jose church with an additional debt of $3 million. Powell admitted that he knew that the San Jose church did not authorize either the $750,000 loan or the $3 million loan. Greater Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland : Powell decided in 2018 to use the Greater Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland as collateral for a loan in the amount of $1.1 million. At Powell’s direction, Quintana obtained a resolution from Greater Cooper signed by the reverend transferring title to WED, Inc., and signed grant deeds in May 2019 transferring the church property to WED, Inc. Then, in November 2019, the reverend signed a grant deed transferring all interest in title from Greater Cooper AME Zion Church to WED, Inc., which then executed a second loan of $500,000, with the Greater Cooper property used as collateral. Powell admitted that the Greater Cooper congregation did not authorize the loans. University AME Zion Church of Palo Alto : In 2017, Powell informed the pastor of University AME Church that he planned to use the church as collateral for a $200,000 loan to assist another AME Zion Church in Sacramento. Powell directed Quintana to prepare a transfer of deed of the University AME Church to WED, Inc. After the reverend signed the grant deed, Powell directed Quintana to execute the necessary paperwork for a $2 million dollar loan using University AME Zion Church as collateral. Although Powell told Quintana he would inform the reverend of the $2 million loan, Powell never did so. Powell encumbered the University AME Church with unauthorized loans totaling approximately $3.9 million. First AME Zion Church in Los Angeles : Powell decided in December 2017 that the First AME Zion Church in Los Angeles would be used as collateral for a new loan. Powell informed Quintana that he had spoken to the pastor of the Los Angeles church and that the pastor told him that the membership had approved the transfer of title from the Los Angeles church to WED, Inc. Based on Powell’s representation, Quintana prepared a resolution purportedly from the Los Angeles church confirming its approval of the loan and placed a signature on the resolution purporting to be that of the church’s secretary. Later, in furtherance of Powell’s instructions to use the Los Angeles church as collateral, Quintana prepared an updated resolution which also purported to document a meeting at which the membership approved the transfer of title to WED, Inc. and which authorized Powell to sign all documents pertaining to the transaction, again with the church secretary’s forged signature. Based on the false resolution with the forged signature, Quintana executed the deed of trust and other loan paperwork for this $1.2 million loan. As a result, WED, Inc. obtained the $1.2 million loan using the Los Angeles church property without the authorization of the congregation. Further, Powell admitted that at his direction, WED, Inc. borrowed $2.15 million in September 2019 to pay off other outstanding loans and $3 million in December 2019 to pay off the September 2019 loan, using several AME church properties in Arizona and California as collateral. In addition, while serving as bishop, Powell diverted some of the funds borrowed by WED, Inc., using properties of local AME Zion Churches as collateral, for his personal benefit, including purchase of real property in North Carolina for two of his children and payment of mortgage debt that he owed on a residence in North Carolina. Powell caused WED, Inc. to file for bankruptcy in a July 2020 petition, in which it claimed its assets included 11 churches, a parsonage, and Powell’s official residence. The petition stated that WED, Inc.’s real property was worth over $26 million with debts totaling over $12 million. In connection with pleading guilty, Powell agreed to pay restitution in an amount no less than $3,000,000 and no greater than $12,475,453. He also agreed to forfeit any interest, claim, or right in the properties of the AME Zion Church denomination. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Powell is currently released on bond. Powell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each count. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan U. Lee is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat, Helen Yee, and Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.


title: Wentzville, Missouri, Man Sentenced to 210 Months for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Department of Justice

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Wentzville, Missouri, man, Mark Randle, 44, was sentenced on July 15, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless to 210 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine. Randle was indicted in October 2020 and pleaded guilty in March 2025. The statutory penalties for distributing methamphetamine in this case were no less than 15 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $20,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Illinois State Police; the Quincy Police Department; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Randle 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.


title: Thomas E. Wheeler II Sworn-In as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- This week, Thomas (Tom) E. Wheeler II was sworn-in as Interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana by United States District Court Judge James R. Sweeney. U.S. Attorney Wheeler was appointed by United States Attorney General Pam Bondi as Interim U.S. Attorney, effective July 14 th . President Donald J. Trump has nominated the former Department of Education Acting General Counsel to serve as the Interim U.S. Attorney pending confirmation by the United States Senate. A Pike High School graduate, U.S. Attorney (USA) Wheeler earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University Bloomington and his Juris Doctor from IU’s Maurer School of Law. Throughout his 36-year career as a practicing attorney, Mr. Wheeler has been a partner at several Indianapolis-based law firms including Bose McKinney & Evans LLP and Frost Brown Todd (formerly Locke Reynolds). Most recently, USA Wheeler served as the Acting General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Education. This appointment marks a return to the Department of Justice, where he previously held the role of Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, overseeing a broad portfolio of divisions, including Appellate, Criminal, Disability Rights, Education, Immigrant and Employee Rights, Housing, Voting, and others. His federal service also includes Senior Adviser to the White House Federal Commission on School Safety, formed in response to high-profile school shootings, and serving as Senior Counsel to the Secretary of Education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that role, he worked with the Center for Disease Control and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In 2019, USA Wheeler served as General Counsel for the National Sheriffs’ Association, providing legal counsel to over 3,300 elected sheriffs nationwide. He has served on numerous boards and commissions, including as Chair of the Hate Crimes Subcommittee for the Federal Violent Crime Reduction Task Force, a member of the DOJ’s Regulatory Reform Task Force, and as a consultant to the CDC on the Federal COVID-19 response for jails and prisons. U.S. Attorney Wheeler is a former Chair of both the Indiana Recount and Election Commissions and played a key role in the creation of Indiana’s voter ID law, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (2008). He is a two-time recipient of the Indiana State Bar Association’s Benjamin Harrison Writing Award and a Burton Award for Legal Achievement winner for his work on cyberbullying and hate crimes. He has been recognized for many years in The Best Lawyers in America® and Indiana Super Lawyers® and was named Municipal Lawyer of the Year in 2016. ###


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: HAMMOND- Damone J. Scott, 24 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Scott was sentenced to 46 months in prison, 24 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $13,325 in restitution to victims of the offense. According to documents in the case, between June 2023 and July 2023, Scott was the ringleader of a conspiracy that deposited approximately $192,000 and successfully withdrew $13,325 in fraudulent and stolen checks at financial institutions in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere. Scott recruited others into the conspiracy and provided them with checks and false identifications allowing them to open accounts and deposit checks under false pretenses. This case was investigated by the United States Treasury Department – Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Griffith Police Department, with additional support from the United State Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis Sohn. This case was 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: Galva Woman to Prison After Distributing Over 100,000 Fentanyl Pills

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who conspired to distribute fentanyl was sentenced on July 10, 2025, to more than 11 years in federal prison. Braleigh Schossow, age 25, from Galva, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 11, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. At the sentencing hearing, Schossow admitted that between December 2020 and February 2024, she distributed at least 100,000 pills containing fentanyl. Evidence further showed that Schossow would acquire counterfeit pills stamped with “M30” which contained fentanyl from her sources in Minnesota. Schossow then distributed tens of thousands of these pills across Iowa and Nebraska. As part of that distribution, in 2022, after she acquired fentanyl pills from her source in Minnesota, some of those pills were knowingly distributed to another who died from an overdose. In 2023, during a search warrant execution at her residence in Fort Dodge, law enforcement found over 7,000 fentanyl pills, cocaine, $72,000 in cash, and a loaded handgun belonging to Schossow. Schossow was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 141 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Schossow is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03026. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Eufaula Resident Pleads Guilty To Second Degree Murder In Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that William Clayton Brown, age 42, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a one-count Felony Information of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The Information alleged that on September 15, 2017, Brown killed the victim with malice aforethought. The crime occurred in McIntosh County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from investigations by the Eufaula Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by assignment, 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. Brown will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Possession Of Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathon Roy Philpott, age 44, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count on a Superseding Indictment of Unlawful User of Controlled Substance in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine. The Superseding Indictment alleged that on February 4, 2025, Philpott knew that he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and knowingly possessed a semi-automatic rifle, a semi-automatic pistol, and 39 rounds of ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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. Philpott will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Defense Contractor Berg Co. Agrees to Pay $3.3 Million to Resolve Allegations of Causing Fraudulent Bids

body_text: BOSTON – Berg Companies, Inc. (Berg) has agreed to pay $3.3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting, or causing the submission of, false claims under prime vendor contracts with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which the Department of Defense (DoD) uses to purchase goods and services. Berg, based in Spokane, Wash., manufactures rigid wall shelters and sells them to the federal government, including through various prime vendor programs. In September 2019, Berg was acquired by Hunter Defense Technologies, Inc., which is a defense contractor that is based in Solon, Ohio. Berg was a vendor to Noble Sales Co., Inc. d/b/a Noble Supply & Logistics (Noble), which is a Boston-based prime contractor to DLA for Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) contracts for the European Command. Under the MRO contracts, the DoD can place orders for goods and services through Noble. Noble is then required to solicit bids from two independently competing vendors for transactions below $25,000 and from three independently competing vendors for transactions at or above $25,000. According to DLA, MRO contracts are “a partnership aimed at achieving infrastructure savings, inventory cost reductions and favorable product pricing through leveraged buying.” Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Berg admitted that, from 2019 to 2021, Berg coordinated with Noble and two other Noble vendors to submit inflated quotes for Berg-made rigid wall shelters so that the other vendors would win the awards at inflated prices. In the first scheme, Berg admitted that it coordinated and submitted inflated quotes on two solicitations for the sale of 10 Berg-made rigid wall shelters that Noble awarded to a New Mexico-based vendor. In the second scheme, Berg admitted that it coordinated and submitted inflated quotes on 26 solicitations for the purchase of 29 Berg-made rigid wall shelters that Noble awarded to a Florida-based vendor. As a result of these schemes, the United States contends that the requirements were not competed as required by the prime vendor contract and the military customers were overcharged for the Berg-made rigid wall shelters. Berg cooperated with the government in this matter. As part of the settlement, Berg acknowledged and accepted responsibility for the facts which form the basis of this settlement. “As evidenced in this settlement agreement, these contractors manipulated and undermined the fair and open bidding process designed to save our military and taxpayers money,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We commend Berg for cooperating with the government to resolve this matter and taking responsibility for this conduct. As this settlement demonstrates, not only will my Office continue to use the False Claims Act to help root out fraud, waste and abuse involving taxpayer funds, but it will reward those that accept responsibility and cooperate with the government.” “Bid rigging of this type inhibits competition on the products and on prices, thereby creating the risk that the government is purchasing inferior products at exorbitant prices,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reinforces the Department’s commitment in using the FCA to pursue anti-competitive fraud.” “Collusion in government contracting erodes public trust, distorts fair competition, and drives up costs for taxpayers and service members,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “Such conduct undermines the integrity of the procurement process and betrays the public’s expectation that government funds will be used responsibly. This resolution demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars, ensuring a level playing field for all businesses, and holding accountable those who seek to profit by manipulating federal contracting. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to defend the integrity of government procurement and safeguard the interests of the American people.” “Today’s settlement announcement demonstrates the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), along with our law enforcement partners, to aggressively pursue those who undermine the integrity of the DoD contracting process,” said Chad Gosch, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, DCIS Southwest Field Office. “DCIS will use all available resources to hold accountable those who betray the trust of the American taxpayer by corrupting the DoD procurement system for personal gain.” “GSA OIG will continue to work with its investigative partners to hold government contractors accountable for concealing relevant information that may affect the award or performance of government contracts,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dattoria of the U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Division. U.S. Attorney Foley; AAG Shumate; D-NM USA Ellison; DCIS Southwest Acting SAC Gosch; GSA-OIG SAC Dattoria; and the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian LaMacchia and Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter, along with Trial Attorney Samson Asiyanbi of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Cunniff of the District of New Mexico.


title: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST WILLISTON MAN FOR ARMED DRUG-TRAFFICKING

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Kendrick Jermaine Hills Jr., 22, of Williston, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for charges related to armed drug-trafficking. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Hills was arrested on July 10, 2025, and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville, Florida on the same day. Hills was indicted for one count of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. Jury trial is scheduled for August 13, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. If convicted, Hills faces up to life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Adam Hapner. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Wake County Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 10 Years for Drug and Gun Convictions

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Daniel Oswaldo Santos-Soto, age 25, was sentenced to 130 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Santos-Soto pleaded guilty to the charges on April 14, 2025. According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, on August 27, 2023, the Nash County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) utilized a confidential source of information to arrange a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Santos-Soto. The next day, August 28, Santos-Soto contacted the source of information and agreed to meet the source at a gas station in Spring Hope with approximately 10 ounces of methamphetamine. When Santos-Soto arrived at the meeting location, NCSO approached him, and he was detained. A K-9 was deployed on Santos-Soto’s vehicle and alerted to the presence of narcotics. NCSO searched the vehicle and found 83.61 grams of pure methamphetamine packaged in four plastic bags. They also found an SKS rifle in the backseat of the vehicle. Santos-Soto is an illegal alien who crossed the border from Mexico to the United States in 2017. He has been living in Wake County and had no prior criminal history until the current conduct in August 2023. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Agencies involved in the investigation include the NCSO and the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon 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. 4:24-CR-00074-D-RJ.


title: Raleigh Drug Trafficker Sentenced to Nine Years

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Enrico Ferrante Cotton, a 55-year-old resident of Raleigh, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Cotton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025. According to court documents and other information presented in court, law enforcement received a tip from a confidential source in February 2024, indicating that Cotton was selling fentanyl and cocaine in the Raleigh area. On March 1, 2024, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of 32.82 grams of fentanyl from Cotton for $1,500. During this transaction, Cotton and the buyer discussed the sale of cocaine. In the following days, authorities learned that Cotton frequently visited a storage unit. On March 6, 2024, the K-9 unit detected substances at the storage unit, leading law enforcement to execute a search warrant. During this search, law enforcement located and seized heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), and various drug paraphernalia. On the same day, law enforcement conducted a follow-up search at Cotton’s residence, where they discovered 47.35 grams of fentanyl and ANPP hidden in the toilet. Additionally, they seized $9,231 in cash, four cellular phones, a loaded magazine, a money counter, and 55 rounds of ammunition from various locations within the house. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted it. Related court documents and information can be found on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina's website or on PACER by searching for case number 5:24-CR-00328-BO.


title: Puerto Rican Man Sentenced for Role in Trafficking 25 Kilograms of Cocaine on Jet Skis

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI – Acting U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Emanuel Rodriguez Rodriguez, 34, of Puerto Rico, was sentenced on Tuesday, July 7, 2025, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 121 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 25 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, on December 11, 2021, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) air patrol detected four jet skis traveling from Culebra, PR towards St. Thomas, USVI. AMO air patrol watched the jet skis, each operated by a sole occupant, as they approached the west side of St. Thomas. Air patrol watched as the jet skis made way to the beach at Mermaid’s Chair where they were met by four individuals waiting on the beach. AMO agents saw duffle bags being loaded on to the skis, and the skis quickly leaving towards Culebra, PR. AMO agents also noticed that a red Jeep Wrangler was the only vehicle parked in the parking area above the beach while the skis were being loaded with the duffle bags. AMO law enforcement vessels pursued the four jet skis towards Culebra, PR. One driver drove his ski on to a Culebra, PR beach and fled on foot. A duffle bag was recovered near the abandoned ski. Inside the duffle bag, officers recovered 26 packages containing cocaine. Three other operators were apprehended. Meanwhile, DEA, CBP, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents responded to the Botany Bay Preserve community to investigate the red Jeep Wrangler seen by AMO air agents. As the Jeep was approaching the gated exit of the community, agents stopped it. Rodriguez-Rodriguez and five other individuals. were detained. A Glock pistol was seen in plain view inside the rear pocket of the driver’s seat where Vazquez Lopez was seated. Another Glock pistol without a serial number was in the center console. The investigation was conducted by CBP-AMO, Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Payne prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands. This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Two Louisville Men Sentenced for Distribution of Over 21,000 Fentanyl Pills and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Two local men were sentenced last week for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, Chief Barry Wilkerson of the St. Matthews Police Department, and Sheriff Joe Milam of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents, Jamie Shelby, Jr. , 26, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Kevon Smith , 25, was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Between April 12, 2024, and July 9, 2024, Shelby, Jr. and Smith conspired with each other to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute it and distributed fentanyl. The investigation involved four controlled purchases for a total of 4,200 fentanyl pills from Shelby, Jr. and Smith . During the execution of a search warrant at Shelby Jr.’s residence on July 12, 2024, over 17,000 fentanyl pills and four firearms were seized. The firearms seized included a Glock, Model 43X, 9-millimeter pistol; a Springfield, Model 911, .380 caliber pistol; a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber pistol; and a Sig Sauer, Model P320, 9-millimeter pistol. The estimated street value of the over 21,000 fentanyl pills seized in the case is $106,000. Shelby, Jr. had been convicted of the following felony offenses. On September 26, 2019, in Harrison Superior Court, Harrison County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of conspiracy to commit robbery. On March 12, 2020, in Clark Circuit Court 3, Clark County, Indiana, Shelby, Jr. was convicted of the offense of domestic battery committed in the presence of a child less than sixteen years old. “These defendants earned every second of the sentences imposed for their callous disregard of the people of the Western District of Kentucky,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “The pattern of fentanyl pouring across the border and into our community must stop; with these sentences, two more distributors of illicit substances are off our streets.” “Counterfeit pharmaceuticals laced with deadly doses of fentanyl continue to devastate our communities. But thanks to the strong partnerships with our federal, state, and local partners, the dangerous criminals responsible for trafficking this poison for profit have been taken off our streets. The DEA remains committed to protecting lives and holding those who profit from this crisis accountable,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the ATF Louisville Field Division, the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, the St. Matthews Police Department, and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case. This conviction is a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. Announces Selection of Michael G. Considine as First Assistant United States Attorney

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Today, United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. announced his selection of Michael G. Considine to serve as First Assistant United States Attorney (FAUSA) for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Considine was sworn in today and will oversee the Criminal, Civil, Appeals, and Administrative Divisions of the United States Attorney’s Office. “I am pleased to welcome Mike back to the Eastern District of New York as First Assistant U.S. Attorney. We have known each other for over 30 years since working together as federal prosecutors in this Office. Mike is not only an outstanding lawyer who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Office, but he also possesses impeccable judgment and the utmost integrity,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. Mr. Considine served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 1988 to 1994 when he was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief of the Long Island Offices in Garden City and Hauppauge, serving under then Long Island Chief Loretta Lynch. During his tenure, Mr. Considine supervised numerous complex and difficult criminal investigations and trials and specialized in organized crime prosecutions as well, serving as lead counsel in various trials and appeals, including those involving the Colombo and Gambino crime families. Prior to his return, Mr. Considine was a litigation partner at the law firm Seward and Kissel LLP where he represented corporations, municipalities, and individuals in regulatory probes and parallel civil litigations and co-managed the firm’s Litigation Department and Government Investigations Practice Group. He was also appointed as independent monitor by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a leading global alternative investment firm, and by the DOJ and EPA as federal monitor for a midwestern utility pursuant to an administrative agreement. After leaving the United States Attorney’s Office in 1995, Mr. Considine was a litigation partner at Day Pitney LLP, where he chaired the firm’s Government Investigations Practice Group. He was selected by DOJ’s Enron Task Force as federal monitor to oversee an international bank’s compliance with the terms of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Mr. Considine was subsequently appointed as a member of the federal monitoring team to oversee a national health care services provider’s compliance with federal and state health care laws, regulations and programs, also as part of a DPA. Mr. Considine is currently Vice-Chair of the Federal Bar Council and serves on its Executive Committee and Audit Committee. He has written and co-authored numerous articles on government investigations, corporate compliance, and representation of individuals and companies in parallel criminal and civil proceedings. Mr. Considine is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Boston College, and Fordham Preparatory School. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Shirley W. Kram, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York prior to his appointment as an Assistant U.S. Attorney.


title: Multiple Defendants Charged in Cockfighting and Illegal Gambling Operation

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury charged multiple defendants for conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and operate an illegal gambling business, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges James Shawn Murphree, 48, of Blountsville, Alabama, Denny Gonzalez-Guzman, 30, of Albertville, Alabama, Kasten Finis Murphree, 22, of Blountsville, Alabama, Kelby Shawn Murphree, 27, of Blountsville, Alabama, and Kimberly Ann Evans, 48, of Hayden, Alabama, with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act and the Prohibition on Illegal Gambling Businesses. According to the indictment, a cockfight is a contest where roosters fight each other. The fights are supervised by a referee, and the fight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue fighting. Typical cockfights employ weapons that are attached to the backs of the roosters’ legs. Owners and operators of cockfighting arenas, called “pits,” hold organized fights where people can fight their trained roosters against other roosters in cockfighting tournaments called “derbies.” In a derby, large numbers of cockfighters pit their roosters against one another for entertainment. Spectators gamble on the outcomes of the cockfights, and the owners of the roosters stand to gain financially through their own wager, an arrangement where the derby winners receive a pre-determined portion of the derby entry fees, or through the enhanced value of their winning roosters. The indictment alleges that between March 2025 and June 2025, Kimberly Evans, James Murphree, Kasten Murphree, and Kelby Murphree conspired to organize multiple cockfighting derbies in Blountsville, Alabama. Attendees paid $40 to watch the fight. Competitors who entered roosters in the derbies paid an entry fee between $700 and $1,000. The winner of the derby would receive a share of the prize pool money. The Gulf of America (“GoA”) Homeland Security Task Force, in partnership with United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, conducted this long-term investigation. The GoA Homeland Security Task Force is comprised of authorities from Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. This investigation and operation received significant support from the United States Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Jonathan S. Cross are 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Six Defendants Charged with Federal Immigration Crimes

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury in Huntsville has charged six individuals with immigration crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. The following defendants were indicted for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported: Adalberto Guerrero-Alba, 63, a citizen of Mexico; Gustavo Bueno-Zamora, 59, a citizen of Mexico; Israel Islas-Martinez, 34, a citizen of Mexico; Benjamin Ulloa-Cabrera, 38, a citizen of Mexico; Roxana Silva-Tejada, 38, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Mena-Villeda, 57, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported, for making a false statement to a federal agency, and for making false statements when submitting immigration paperwork. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Operation Take Back America partner Homeland Security Investigations investigated these cases. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.


title: Tampa Shooter Sentenced To More Than 10 Years

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Milton Anthony Bradshaw (45, Tampa) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. A federal jury found him guilty in March 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of September 20, 2022, Bradshaw got into an argument with three unknown individuals at the Manchester Apartments in Tampa. As the three individuals walked to their car, Bradshaw grabbed a firearm and proceeded to hide behind a dumpster in the parking lot. As the three individuals drove away, Bradshaw started firing at them. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene where they recovered a firearm that Bradshaw had left outside of an apartment after the shooting. Bradshaw was identified in surveillance video that captured the argument and the shooting, and DNA recovered from the firearm matched Bradshaw’s. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Kenneth and Chelsey Hanson. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky. 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.


title: St. Elmo man sentenced to 32 years’ imprisonment after he shot a rifle at federal agents

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

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a St. Elmo man to 32 years in federal prison after he shot at law enforcement agents serving an arrest warrant at his residence in Fayette County. Dax Baldrige, 47, pleaded guilty in January to seven counts of assault of a federal officer, two counts of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Following imprisonment, he will serve five years of supervised release. “Law enforcement officers are brave, underappreciated, and underpaid heroes who risk their lives every day to protect others,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Those, like Dax Baldrige, who target our officers for violence represent a form of evil against the very foundation of society. Few things are as serious, and our office will bring the full weight of federal law to bear, relentlessly pursuing the harshest prison terms to hold such people accountable.” On Oct. 17, 2022, task force members with the U.S. Marshals Service attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Baldrige at his residence in Fayette County. When they arrived, the officers knocked and gave Baldrige an opportunity to present himself for arrest. As they began to make entry to the residence, Baldrige used a stolen short barrel rifle equipped with 60 rounds of ammunition to shoot through the wall of his residence, nearly striking multiple officers. All agents were able to retreat from the residence safely and without injury. “We are pleased that this case has been adjudicated. We want to thank the Illinois State Police, the ATF, and all our partner agencies for their steadfast commitment to our mission. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Illinois, who successfully prosecuted this case and brought it to a successful conclusion,” said U.S. Marshal David C. Davis. “This case continues to illustrate the inherent dangers of this profession, and we continue to be grateful that none of our task force members were injured during the arrest of Baldrige.” After firing at officers, Baldrige barricaded himself in his residence and engaged in a standoff with law enforcement that lasted over 10 hours. “The defendant’s decision to open fire on law enforcement showed a blatant disregard for human life and the safety of the surrounding community. This sentence sends a clear message—violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. ATF is grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners who assisted in bringing this individual to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon, ATF Chicago Field Division. Following his arrest, investigating agents conducted a search of Baldrige’s residence and recovered nine firearms including six rifles, a revolver, two pistols and ammunition. "When law enforcement officers, who have selflessly taken an oath to safeguard the public, are literally fired upon while trying to protect communities from known offenders, those individuals must be held accountable," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. "We appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office's diligence in pursuing justice and supporting officers who put their lives on the line every day." “When someone opens fire on law enforcement, they're not just attacking an individual; they're attacking the very foundation of our community's safety and security,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J.S. Johnson. “The sentence imposed sends an unequivocal message: such aggression against those who protect us will be met with the full force of justice.” The U.S. Marshal Service Great Lakes Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the Illinois State Police, the FBI Springfield TOC West Task Force and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Arshi prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Employee Pleads Guilty To Possession Of A Firearm By An Unlawful Drug User

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Bryan Roger Byers (57, Jacksonville), a United States Postal Service employee, has pleaded guilty to being in possession of a firearm as an unlawful drug user. Byers faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to court documents and proceedings, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Byers after a firearm he had purchased was recovered during a drug trafficking investigation. During that earlier investigation, a felon was found to be in possession of a firearm and admitted purchasing the firearm from Byers in exchange for crack cocaine. Investigators located text messages, which reflected that Byers used sex workers to find buyers for his firearms. The buyers then exchanged drugs for the firearms. Records reflect Byers purchased at least 10 firearms over the last four years. On April 2, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Byers’s home. Law enforcement officers seized seven firearms, multiple rounds of ammunition, and two suspected crack pipes from the home. The next day, Byers attempted to purchase another firearm. ATF agents arrested him for being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Suspect in Shooting Death of Toddler Arrested and Charged

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Charles Rucker, 24, of the District of Columbia, was arrested and charged Saturday with first-degree murder while armed for the July 5 shooting death of a three-year-old girl in Southeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Rucker made his initial appearance July 12 before Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. Judge Brandt found probable cause that Rucker committed the offense and ordered him to be held without bond pending trial. This case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined in the announcement. According to court documents, Rucker fired several shots in the direction of a parked car that H.C. and several other individuals occupied. After the shooting, Rucker attempted to collect and remove evidence from the scene. H.C. was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to her injuries on July 7, 2025. This case is being investigated by the Homicide Major Case Section of the Metropolitan Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma McArthur. Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Tampa Man Indicted For Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Michael Devante Curry (30, Tampa) with possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Curry faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Curry that the United States intends to forfeit two Glock firearms and assorted ammunition used in the commission of the offense. According to the indictment, on June 1, 2025, Curry possessed two Glock firearms and assorted rounds of ammunition. At the time, Curry had multiple prior felony convictions including two prior convictions for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. As a convicted felon, Curry is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Honduran National With Active Interpol Red Notice For Murder Is Arrested And Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Pedro Danilo Espinoza-Guiffaro (34, Honduras) on a criminal complaint charging him with being unlawfully present in the United States after being previously removed from the United States. If convicted, Espinoza-Guiffaro faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. According to the complaint, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a targeted enforcement operation to arrest Espinoza-Guiffaro as he had an active Interpol Red Notice for Murder in Honduras. A surveillance team located Espinoza-Guiffaro in Duval County. During immigration processing, HSI agents learned that Espinoza-Guiffaro was previously ordered removed from the United States and actually removed from the United States in 2022 and 2024. There is no record Espinoza-Guiffaro ever applied for or received permission to return to the United States. A complaint is merely a charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by HSI and FBI. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Ashland Man Indicted for Transportation, Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – An Ashland man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on charges involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Brent Vreeland, 36, was indicted on one count of transportation of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on July 17, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. Vreeland has remained in federal custody since being arrested and charged by complaint on April 23, 2025 . According to the charging documents, Vreeland was flagged for secondary screening at Boston’s Logan Airport upon arrival from Reykjavik, Iceland in October 2024. It is alleged that during a review of Vreeland’s cell phone, images and videos depicting CSAM were found in his Telegram Messenger app. A subsequent forensic examination of the device allegedly revealed approximately 30 media files depicting CSAM in direct messages with other unknown Telegram users. It is further alleged that Vreeland received and distributed three such videos in October 2021, depicting the abuse of minor victims between the ages of four and 10 years old. In one exchange, Vreeland allegedly asked another user to trade CSAM files for “the youngest [they] hve [sic].” The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Patrol, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Colorado Woman Sentenced After Using Deceased Person’s Identity to Cash Counterfeit Checks

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – In March 2025, a federal jury convicted Sarai Jamila Nyasha Freeman, 41, of Aurora, Colorado, for two counts of Passing and Uttering Counterfeit Obligations and Securities, two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, and one count for Failure to Appear for her trial initially scheduled for December 2024. Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Freeman to 48 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Freeman to pay $2,826 in restitution. In July 2024, Freeman was indicted after fraudulently using a deceased person's identity to cash two counterfeit U.S. Treasury Checks in 2020 in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, totaling a loss of $2,826. Freeman’s transactions in Sand Springs were part of a larger operation spanning across several states from Louisiana to Colorado, with Freeman also fraudulently cashing checks in at least Missouri and Arkansas. While on Pretrial bond, Freeman requested and was provided a plane ticket to accommodate her out-of-state travel for trial but failed to appear for trial. Freeman was arrested in Colorado by the U.S. Marshal Service for failing to appear at trial. Three months before Freeman fraudulently cashed U.S. Treasury checks in this case, Freeman was arrested and charged in State Court after cashing four other fraudulent checks. Like her federal case, when released on State bond, she failed to appear, resulting in bench warrants for failing to appear. Freeman will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Wal-Mart Global Investigations investigated the case, and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Whipple and Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.


title: Kissimmee Businessman Sentenced To Four Years In Federal Prison For Multi-Million Dollar Theft Scheme

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Edwin Rivera to four years in federal prison for theft of government property. The court also ordered Rivera to forfeit $1,987,457 which is traceable to proceeds of the offense. Rivera pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025. According to court documents, between October 2023 and July 2024, Rivera and his co-conspirators operated a scheme to steal government funds. As part of the scheme, Rivera stole the identity of large corporations and filed fraudulent tax returns with the IRS on behalf of those companies, causing the IRS to generate tax refunds and mail them to Rivera. Rivera then deposited the checks into bank accounts he and his co-conspirators controlled. As part of the scheme, Rivera and his co-conspirators attempted to steal nearly $10 million in government funds, and successfully obtained at least four fraudulent tax refunds for a total of $2,741,581.74. “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit U.S Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain," said TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Joel Weaver. “TIGTA's mission is to protect the integrity of our nation's tax administration system. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.” “If you think committing millions of dollars’ worth of fraud and stealing from the government would go unnoticed, you couldn't be more wrong,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents are the world's top financial crimes investigators, and they will find you, just like they found Edwin Rivera.” This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman.


title: Seattle real estate owner convicted at trial for tax fraud scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 69-year-old Seattle real estate owner was convicted late last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle of six counts of tax evasion and six counts of making false tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven T. Loo will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lauren King on October 9, 2025. According to records in the case and testimony at trial, Loo had an ownership interest in, and operated multiple commercial real estate properties, in western Washington and California. Loo hired property management companies to manage the properties. Loo had the property management companies send profits from the properties to two bank accounts he controlled. Loo spent this money for his benefit and that of his family and friends, and also re-invested funds in various businesses he controlled. However, Loo did not declare that income -- over $4.7 million -- on his tax returns. Loo used shell companies and repeated transfers of funds to conceal the income from the IRS. At trial, the government presented evidence detailing the eight properties operated by Loo via various limited liability companies (LLCs). The income from the LLCs was funneled into bank accounts associated with two specific inactive entities that were established in Washington in 1999. Loo did not report this income to the IRS. Loo failed to inform his tax return preparer of these funds that were income from his properties. In closing arguments Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite told the jury, “Mr. Loo was strategic - he was deceptive – and he was incredibly profitable…. This isn’t a mistake. This isn’t forgetfulness. This isn’t sloppiness. This is strategic. It is deceptive. And its willful…. It’s criminal. Mr. Loo made 4.7 million dollars. He reported negative income. That feels wrong because it is wrong. No one wants to pay taxes, but nurses, firefighters, and teachers all pay them. Mr. Loo needs to pay his share well.” The jury deliberated about 7 hours before finding Loo guilty of the six counts of tax evasion and six counts of making and subscribing to a false tax return. Each count of tax evasion is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment. Making and subscribing to a false tax retuning is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge King after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Department of Justice Tax Division.


title: Two New Bedford Men with Significant Criminal Histories Charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two New Bedford men have been arrested for their alleged participation in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and other drugs. Jose Santiago, 43, and Samuel Rodriguez, 39, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The defendants were arrested on July 13, 2025 and, following initial appearances in federal court in Boston, were detained pending further proceedings on July 16, 2025. According to the charging documents, Santiago has previously been convicted of multiple felonies including: two state convictions in 1999 for distribution of a class A substance and for possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison and 2.5 years in prison, respectively; a 2001 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced 46 months in federal prison; and a 2006 state conviction for trafficking controlled substances for which he was sentenced to 15-20 years in prison. According to the charging documents, Rodriguez’s criminal history includes: 2003 convictions for assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest; 2004 convictions for disturbing the peace and motor vehicle offenses; 2005 convictions for possession of a class B controlled substance and motor vehicle offenses; 2006 convictions for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and a firearm offense for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; a 2007 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a class D substance; 2010 convictions for motor vehicle offenses; 2011 convictions for disturbing the peace and threats; 2013 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon, property damage, and motor vehicle offenses; a 2015 conviction for assault and battery on a police officer; and 2017 convictions for carrying a dangerous weapon and trafficking heroin for which he was sentenced to six to eight years in prison. Additionally, Rodriguez has pending 2024 state charges of assault and battery using a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury for allegedly stabbing another person multiple times. In early 2025, an investigation began into Santiago and Rodriguez’s alleged distribution of narcotics in New Bedford and other communities. The investigation revealed that, from at least March 2025 through the present, the defendants allegedly utilized at least 10 storage units in New Bedford, and other locations, to further their drug trafficking activities – including to store narcotics and drug trafficking materials as well as to conduct drug deals. The defendants allegedly rented several of these storage units under the names of others, including under the name of a living 101-year-old woman. It is further alleged that, over the course of the investigation, the defendants routinely closed a number of storage units and moved their operations to new units in different facilities – in an effort to avoid detection by law enforcement. Search warrants executed at the storage units and other locations resulted in the seizure of various drugs and drug trafficking materials. Among other items, significant amounts of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and unidentified pills; cutting agents; multiple small “presses” used to compress powdered fentanyl into finger-sized packages for drug distribution; and two large hydraulic presses were seized. The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Jason Thody, Chief of the New Bedford Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Attleboro, Brockton, Fairhaven, Fall River, Norton, Scituate, Taunton and Westport Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Seattle Businessman Convicted of Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax Returns

component: Tax Division

body_text: Note, the release has been corrected to reflect that Loo had around $4.7 million in unreported income, not $4.8 million. A federal jury convicted a Washington man on Friday for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to a scheme to conceal income received from his commercial property business. The following is according to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Steven Loo, of Seattle, controlled and operated eight companies that owned commercial real estate. Each was managed by independent property management companies, which were responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the real estate. Loo diverted the income he earned from his real estate by instructing the property management companies to issue checks, categorized as asset management fees, to two other entities that Loo controlled. Loo knew that the funds deposited into these bank accounts, around $4.7 million, were income to him and that he was required to report and pay tax on the funds. Nevertheless, Loo filed tax returns for 2015 through 2020 that did not report or pay tax on these funds. Evidence presented at trial showed that Loo owes $1.6 million in taxes on his unreported income. Loo is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each of the false tax return charges and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of the tax evasion charges for which he was convicted. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Regina Jeon of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington prosecuted the case.


title: Maryland IT Company Agrees to Pay $14.75M to Resolve Alleged False Claims

component: Civil Division

body_text: Hill ASC Inc., doing business as Hill Associates, of Rockville, Maryland, agreed to pay at least $14.75 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act in connection with a General Services Administration (GSA) contract for information technology services. This settlement relates to a contract under which Hill provided information technology services to federal agencies from 2018 to 2023 through GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) program. The MAS program provides the government with a streamlined process to buy commonly used commercial goods and services. GSA negotiates contract terms and other agencies can then buy goods and services from the contractor under that GSA MAS contract. The settlement resolves allegations that Hill billed federal agencies for labor of information technology personnel who did not have the experience or education required under the contract. In addition, it resolves allegations that, although GSA required technical evaluations for contractors who sought to offer highly adaptive cybersecurity services to government customers, and Hill had not passed such an evaluation, Hill submitted claims for such cybersecurity services and other services that were not within the scope of the MAS contract. Finally, it resolves allegations that Hill charged the government for unapproved fees, failed to provide government customers with required information about discounts for prompt payment, and included unallowable incentive compensation in a cost submission in connection with a new contract proposal. Under the settlement with the United States, Hill has agreed to pay $14.75 million, plus additional amounts if certain financial contingencies occur. The settlement amount was based on the company’s ability to pay. “Information technology contractors are expected to charge the government appropriately for their services,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue cyber fraud and hold accountable those companies that knowingly fail to meet contractual obligations to the American taxpayers.” “Federal agencies should get what they have paid for from GSA contractors, nothing less,” said GSA Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson. “I appreciate the hard work of all the attorneys, auditors, and special agents involved in this investigation.” “False claims and similar unfair advantage by contractors undermine the integrity of the contracting process and can result in significant adverse effects to vital security concerns,” said Treasury Deputy Inspector General Loren Sciurba. “Treasury OIG is committed to conducting and assisting other agencies to the utmost in investigations, audits, and other work to detect and prevent these violations of the public trust.” “As the nation’s tax watchdog, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s contracting and procurement processes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Cipolla of TIGTA’s Gulf States Field Division. “We remain steadfast in our mission to expose and hold accountable those who attempt to defraud the IRS. Anyone doing business with the IRS or the Department of the Treasury is expected to operate with the highest levels of honesty and integrity. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their continued collaboration and critical support in this investigation.” The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the GSA’s Office of the Inspector General, the Treasury Department’s Office of Inspector General, and TIGTA. The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Fraud Section. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.