title: Lynn Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Armed Robbery

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a years-long drug conspiracy and a January 2023 armed robbery of a drug distributor, during which the defendant and another individual stole approximately $24,000 in drug trafficking proceeds intended for the purchase of cocaine. Harvey Rodriguez, a/k/a “Big Opp,” 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2026 , Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). In August 2025 , Rodriguez was arrested and charged. Rodriguez was a participant in a multi-year drug conspiracy that took place in the Lynn area and on the North Shore of Massachusetts. As described in the court papers, Rodriguez conspired with numerous other distributors including those he supplied, and others who have been previously charged with federal drug offenses, including Vincent Caruso, a/k/a “Fatz” , Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr. and Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK” . The drug conspiracy involved the manufacturing of counterfeit prescription pills and the sale of kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl in Lynn and throughout Massachusetts. Over the course of the investigation, Rodriguez distributed cocaine and methamphetamine to a cooperating witness and confidential informant on four occasions. Rodriguez also participated in an armed robbery of a drug customer. On Jan. 30, 2023, a drug transaction was scheduled to take place at an apartment in Woburn, during which an associate of Rodriguez was to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for approximately $24,000. During the transaction, Rodriguez and Claudio Melo entered the apartment and pointed semiautomatic pistols at the drug customer before taking the $24,000 in cash, which was proceeds of drug trafficking activities the drug customer was engaged in. Rodriguez and Melo then forced the drug customer to open a safe in his bedroom, which was empty. Shortly thereafter, both robbers departed with the $24,000 cash. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Burlington Woman Sentenced to 9 Months for Sale of Cocaine Base

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 27, 2026, Lori Hunt, 54, of Burlington, Vermont was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of time served (approximately 9 months’ imprisonment) to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Hunt previously pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base (crack cocaine) on December 29, 2025. According to court records, on November 15, 2024, Lori Hunt sold 2.66 grams of cocaine base during a controlled purchase by Homeland Security Investigations. Hunt arranged the sale via telephone and then had her co-defendant, Silas Hunt, 30, of Burlington, conduct the transaction at their shared residence on North Winooski Avenue in Burlington. Both Hunts were arrested on March 4, 2025. Silas Hunt also pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base and was sentenced to imprisonment for a year and a day and a 3-year term of supervised release on November 25, 2025. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig S. Nolan. Lori Hunt was represented by Karen Shingler, Esq. Silas Hunt was represented by Robert Behrens, Esq.


title: Former National Basketball Association Player and Coach Damon Jones Pleads Guilty for His Participation in Fraudulent Sports Betting and Rigged Poker Conspiracies

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Damon Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud conspiracy in two separate cases: one count for his role in a scheme to use inside information derived from multiple National Basketball Association (NBA) teams, players and coaches, to profit from illegal betting activity; and one count for participating in a scheme to rig illegal poker games across the country. The loss amount for both cases totals more than $10 million. Jones was a professional basketball player with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005 to 2008. After his playing career, Jones served on the coaching staffs of the Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The proceedings were held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo. Joseph Nocella Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Phoebe S. Sorial, Executive Director, New York Waterfront Commission, announced the guilty pleas. “As shown by his guilty pleas today, Damon Jones converted his fame and ties to professional basketball into a multi-faceted criminal betting operation. He used private locker room and medical information from multiple NBA teams to cheat legitimate sportsbooks. He also, separately, lured unsuspecting victims to high-stakes rigged poker games,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Jones will now face the consequences for his corrupt conduct. Insider betting and rigged poker schemes erode the integrity of American sports and fair contest. This Office will continue in its strong tradition of holding accountable anyone who seeks to profit through fraud and corruption.” “Former NBA player Damon Jones admitted to exploiting his profession and fame to help others cheat in two separate rigged betting schemes. With our federal and local law enforcement partners, the FBI continues to hold accountable those who threaten the integrity of American sports,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “As today's plea makes clear, Damon Jones used his presence at underground card tables to fuel fraudulent betting and fixed poker schemes that stole millions from victims. Status, access, and a high-profile career do not exempt any individual from answering for criminal conduct. This outcome is the product of a sustained, coordinated effort by HSI New York and our law enforcement partners, who together traced the money, unraveled the cheating technology, and exposed the full scope of these schemes,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “The defendant in this case traded his reputation for greed and fraud,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “By exploiting his access to the NBA, and rigging illegal poker games across the country, Damon Jones attempted to orchestrate a scheme that defrauded victims of millions of dollars. Thanks to our investigators, law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, we are upholding the integrity of the game and ensuring accountability for those who break the law and betray the public’s trust.” “While his unsuspecting victims believed Damon Jones was playing by the rules, he was playing an entirely different game. He used his celebrity as the opening bet and when it was time to cash in, he enriched not only himself but also some of the most notorious La Cosa Nostra crime families. His guilty plea today sends a clear message: exploiting trust for personal gain is not a game you can win,” stated New York Waterfront Commission Executive Director Sorial. “The Waterfront Commission will continue to work side by side with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat organized crime and corruption, and to dismantle criminal enterprises in the New York metropolitan area by severing the illicit revenue streams that fuel them. United States v. Earnest, et al. As detailed in court filings, transcripts of court proceedings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, between December 2022 and March 2024, Jones and his associates obtained and misused non-public information about upcoming NBA games to place fraudulent sports wagers for profit. Specifically, Jones used his NBA insider status to obtain confidential information from multiple NBA teams, players and coaches, and distributed that information through a network of bettors. These bettors placed wagers through online sportsbooks and retail betting outlets, falsely representing that their wagers complied with the betting companies’ rules—which included, as relevant here, not betting on non-public information or using straw bettors—while concealing that their wagers were based on confidential team information. United States v. Aiello, et al. Beginning as early as 2019, the charged defendants engaged in a series of schemes to use wireless cheating technology to rig illegal poker games in the Eastern District of New York and across the United States. Co-conspirators in the scheme included game organizers, who arranged for unwitting victims to play in underground illegal poker games that were secretly rigged; suppliers of the rigged cheating technology; former professional athletes, who were enlisted as “Face Cards” in the scheme to entice the victims’ participation in the games; cheating teams who worked together using the cheating technology to defraud the victims; money launderers; and members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino and Genovese organized crime families who backed games in the New York area and took a percentage of the crime proceeds from those games. Jones admitted at his guilty plea hearing that he acted as a “Face Card” to entice victims to play in high-stake rigged games and also was a member of cheating teams who defrauded victims at poker tables. * * * * * The government’s Earnest, et al. case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Kaitlin Farrell, Benjamin Weintraub and David Berman are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Liam McNett and Erika Ellis. The government’s Aiello, et al. case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael W. Gibaldi, Irisa Chen, Sean M. Sherman and Kamil R. Ammari are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist John Schneider. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : DAMON JONES (also known as “Dee Jones”) Age: 49 Houston, Texas E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 25-CR-314 (RER) and 25-CR-323 (LDH)


title: New Jersey Company Sentenced for Failing to Report Dangerously Defective Air Conditioners to the Consumer Product Safety Commission

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Royal Sovereign International Inc., a New Jersey corporation that sold office and home appliances, was sentenced today to pay $395,786 in restitution to victims and a criminal fine of $8 million for failing to report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) dangerously defective air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death. According to court documents, Royal Sovereign, which also did business as Royal Centurian Inc., imported and sold more than 33,000 defective air conditioners manufactured in China between 2008 and 2014. The air conditioners used a faulty drain motor that could short circuit, causing them to catch fire and burn uncontrollably. Royal Sovereign recalled the defective air conditioner models in 2021. Royal Sovereign pleaded guilty in August 2025 to a criminal information charging the company under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). In pleading guilty, the company admitted that it willfully failed to report information about the air conditioners immediately to the CPSC. According to the information, the company misled the CPSC in November 2010 by telling the agency that it was aware of only two fire incidents related to the air conditioners, and that it was no longer selling them. In reality, as alleged, the company knew of at least 16 fires and continued to sell the air conditioners. According to the CPSC recall notice , a woman died in August 2016 from smoke inhalation and her two children were injured after their Royal Sovereign air conditioner caught fire. In addition to pleading guilty in the criminal case, Royal Sovereign previously agreed to a civil settlement with the United States that included a $16,025,000 civil penalty, the maximum authorized by the CPSA. The company has permanently ceased all operations involving the marketing, sale or distribution of consumer products. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey, and Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission made the announcement. Trial Attorney Ethan Carroll of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Renee McCune of CPSC’s Office of the General Counsel and Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano for the District of New Jersey provided valuable assistance. Actions involving violative products imported into the United States are coordinated through the Department of Justice Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort involving the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the Civil Division, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Criminal Division, in coordination with the Task Force, leverages all the department’s tools and authorities to fight fraud on the federal government and recover funds for the public fisc.


title: United States Seizes More Than $2 Million from Pasadena-Based Advanced Wound Care Clinic Accused of Medicare Fraud

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal court has granted a request from the United States to seize more than $2 million from a Pasadena-based advanced wound care clinic accused of defrauding Medicare for reimbursements for skin graft substitutes and skin grafts that never were performed on patients, the Justice Department announced today. United States Magistrate Judge Alicia G. Rosenberg late Monday authorized the government’s request to seize up to approximately $2,039,792 from a bank account linked to Expert Wound Care PC. According to an affidavit filed with a federal seizure warrant, from September 2025 to April 2026, Expert Wound Care submitted more than $46.6 million in claims to Medicare for skin substitute products and wound care services purportedly provided to 78 beneficiaries. Medicare approved payments of approximately $34,031,382 on these claims, which included skin substitutes and skin grafts as well as skin application procedures. From January 2025 to June 2025, the national average for a billing provider’s allowed amount per claim for skin substitute grafts was $16,837. From July 2025 to March 2026, Expert Wound Care averaged approximately $37,449 in allowed amount per claim for substitute skin grafts, more than double the national average. The clinic increased its Medicare billing from $4,975 in July 2025 to approximately $33 million in December 2025, according to the affidavit. One beneficiary had a total payment amount to Medicare of approximately $6,232,645, and the average paid amount per beneficiary was approximately $299,639. From October 2025 to February 2026, Expert Wound Care billed Medicare for approximately $2,611,105 and was paid approximately $2,039,792 for skin substitute grafts and 52 skin graft application services purportedly provided to one beneficiary. Law enforcement determined that the beneficiary did not receive any skin grafts as part of his treatment and did not receive any type of home service in December 2025 despite the fact Expert Wound Care filed 27 claims for services on this beneficiary’s behalf for that month. Expert Wound Care’s percentage of total beneficiaries receiving substitute skin grafts of 38.5%, more than six times the national average of 6%. Its percentage of total claims for substitute skin grafts was 63%, approximately nine times the national average. Finally, Expert Wound Care’s percentage of total allowed amount for substitute skin grafts was 99.9%, more than double the national average. Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling this case. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chair by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.


title: Two Individuals Plead Guilty to Prolific Counterfeit Art Scheme

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Erwin Bankowski and Karolina Bankowska pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and misrepresentation of Native American produced goods and products. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. When sentenced, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as restitution of at least $1.9 million. Joseph Nocella Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Doug Ault, Assistant Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); and Meredith Stanton, Director, U.S. Department of Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, announced the guilty pleas. “For years, these defendants painted themselves as purveyors of fine art while selling lies on canvas to unsuspecting collectors,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s convictions strip away the varnish and reveal the fraud underneath.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the, Office of Law Enforcement–Indian Arts and Crafts Investigations for their work on the case. “These two individuals didn’t just sell counterfeit art – they undermined trust, exploited buyers, and attempted to profit from fraud. In this instance, the FBI with its partners has made it clear that those who manipulate the market for personal gain will be caught and held accountable,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “This artwork scheme doesn't just cheat buyers. It steals from Native American artists and undermines the integrity of an entire cultural marketplace. These offenders also produced fake works attributed to well-known artists like Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Banksy, and Native American Luiseño artist Fritz Scholder,” stated USFWS Assistant Director Ault. “Selling fake native America art is a serious crime, and our Special Agents investigate these cases to hold offenders accountable and protect authentic Indian artists, their work, and their livelihoods.” “Due to the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of New York, FBI - New York Field Office, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Indian Arts and Crafts Act Investigative Unit, the defendants are being held accountable and the message is clear. For those selling counterfeit Indian art it is important to know that wherever you are we will diligently work to find you and hold you accountable,” stated Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Stanton. From 2020 through 2025, the defendants, who are father and daughter, conspired to consign for auction over 200 counterfeit artworks (the “Counterfeit Works”). The Counterfeit Works were allegedly painted by famed artists, including Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Raimond Staprans, Richard Mayhew, and Native American artist Fritz Scholder. To make some of the Counterfeit Works appear to be legitimate, the defendants generated false histories of prior custody and ownership, also known as provenance. To do so, they conducted research to represent falsely that some of the Counterfeit Works had been in private collections of individuals associated with the artists, had been owned by since-closed art galleries, or had been in the private collections of corporations that were no longer in operation. The defendants chose galleries and corporations that were no longer operating to make it difficult for galleries and potential buyers to verify the purported provenance of the Counterfeit Works. In some instances, to further bolster the purported provenance of the Counterfeit Works, the defendants created and affixed forged stamps from art galleries to some of the Counterfeit Works, which they created by purchasing antique books to imprint custom-made stamps of forged certificates of authenticity onto aged paper, and then affixed to the Counterfeit Works. The defendants consigned the Counterfeit Works to art galleries and auction houses throughout the United States, which then attempted to auction the Counterfeit Works for sale to buyers for prices of up to $160,000. Over the course of their scheme, the defendants defrauded victims at least $2 million, including through selling the following examples of Counterfeit Works: Counterfeit Work Purportedly by Raimond Staprans Sold for $60,000 Counterfeit Work Purportedly by Banksy Sold for $2,000 Counterfeit Work Purportedly by Andy Warhol Sold for $5,500 Counterfeit Work Purportedly by Richard Mayhew Sold for $160,000 The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Sherman is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow. The Defendants : ERWIN BANKOWSKI Age: 50 Lawrence, New Jersey KAROLINA BANKOWSKA Age: 26 Lawrence, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-90 (NGG)


title: Former St. Louis Alderman Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Fraud, Lying to the FBI

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced former St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley to 16 months in prison for insurance fraud and lying to the FBI. Bosley will be on supervised release for three years after his release from prison. Judge Autrey also ordered Bosley to pay restitution of $6,253.90 to the insurance company that he defrauded. Bosley, 38, was found guilty by a jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in January of three felony wire fraud charges and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. Evidence and testimony at trial showed that after an auto accident, Bosley hatched a scheme to defraud an insurance company by falsely inflating the cost of needed repairs and then lied when FBI agents asked him about it. In September of 2021, Bosley’s 2010 Toyota Prius, which was parked, was hit by another vehicle. The drivers’ insurance company contacted Bosley in February of 2022 and told him that they would pay for the damage. Bosley then asked the auto repair shop owner who had sold him the used Prius for the deeply discounted price of $500 to prepare and submit an inflated repair estimate in exchange for a bribe, evidence and testimony showed. “Mark that (expletive) all the way up,” Bosley told the business owner during the conversation, which was captured on audio and video. Bosley also had discussions with the business owner about buying the car back if it was totaled and then paying the estimated repair costs of $2,000 to $2,200, thus retaining the car while fraudulently netting thousands of dollars, evidence and testimony showed. After the insurance company balked at a $6,800 repair estimate, Bosley caused a second estimate of $4,333 to be submitted, the trial showed. The insurance company ultimately totaled the car and paid Bosley $7,978.90. At the time, he had $14.93 in his bank account. He lived off the insurance proceeds for about six weeks. When FBI agents interviewed Bosley in the presence of his lawyer in March of 2023, Bosley repeatedly lied, jurors found during the trial. He falsely stated to agents that he never saw the two fraudulent repair bills that were prepared. He falsely claimed the repair estimates were not inflated and denied asking the business owner to inflate the repair estimates. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith wrote in a sentencing memo that “this criminal scheme was instigated, planned, designed, and carried out by Defendant once he was advised by the insurance carrier that there was money to be had for repairs to the damaged Prius automobile. From his very first conversation with the auto repair shop owner, without any idea of the extent of the necessary repairs, Defendant indicated that he wanted the Prius considered a total loss.” Bosley “used his position as an elected official in discussions with representatives of the insurance company, presumably to influence their decision on his claim,” the memo says. During the sentencing hearing, in requesting a sentence of imprisonment, Goldsmith advised the Court that, “the public is frustrated and fed up with these ticky-tacky fraud and bribery schemes committed by their elected officials,” “the public deserves some sense of justice here, and only a fair and just punishment will achieve that.” The government’s sentencing memo also cites Missouri Ethics Commission findings from December that concluded that Bosley failed to report hundreds of improper expenditures for personal expenses, including gas, groceries and meals, made from two separate campaign accounts, at the time he was engaged in this insurance fraud. In recordings made by the business owner, Bosley also showed himself to be a racist and an antisemite, the memo adds. “A federal jury unanimously agreed the evidence proved Brandon Bosley committed fraud. He initiated the scheme to bilk his auto insurance company. He directed the auto shop owner to inflate the cost to repair his car,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “In addition, Bosley used his position and made it clear to the insurance company that he is an elected official.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Goldsmith and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case.


title: Chippewa County Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joshua Dale Cline, 29, Jim Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 6 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography. The prison term will be followed by 15 years of supervised release. Cline was also ordered to pay $38,500 in restitution to the victims. Cline pleaded guilty to this crime on February 9, 2026. On three occasions between November 2024 and January 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received tips that Kik accounts associated with Cline were being used to send and receive child pornography. Additionally, on January 27, 2025, Cline sent images of child pornography to an undercover agent via Kik. Upon arrest, Cline admitted he had been using Kik to trade images of child pornography for over a year. Judge Peterson noted the sentence accounted for aggravating factors including the extended time Cline was involved with trading child pornography, and the very young age of the victims. Judge Peterson emphasized that trading in such materials encourages the sexual abuse of children by creating a market for such images. The charge against Cline was the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations in Milwaukee and Detroit and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison  for Multiple Armed Robberies

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for 13 years for his role in an armed robbery spree. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Derek Lynn Davis, 36, of Greenbelt, Maryland, to 13 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for interfering with interstate commerce by robbery and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Davis and his co-conspirators stole more than $3,000, from multiple businesses they robbed, and terrorized nine victims. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to court documents, beginning in July 2023, and continuing through August 2023, Davis, with the assistance of different co-conspirators, robbed six businesses at gunpoint. Sometimes the co-conspirators robbed multiple businesses within one day. Davis and his co-conspirators typically entered these establishments, armed with firearms, and then demanded victims to open the cash register. In fear of their lives, victims complied with Davis’s demands, giving him access to the cash registers. Additionally, during one robbery, Individual-1 discharged his firearm as a victim opened the cash register. The round struck the ground near where two victims were standing. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Dawn Williams who prosecuted this case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Wire Fraud and ID Theft

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Kyle Matthew Lisman, 30, of Bakersfield, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to five years in prison for wire fraud, possessing stolen mail and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between January and July of 2023, Lisman devised a scheme to steal victim identities to defraud them. He used the name, social security number, and other personal information of another person to fraudulently obtain a car at a Bakersfield car dealership. Under the victim’s identity, Lisman paid $40,000 to purchase the car on the dealership’s website before traveling to the dealership and picking it up. To do this, he presented the dealership with a fake driver’s license created from the victim’s actual driver’s license information but with Lisman’s picture. Lisman also fraudulently caused other people’s mail to be forwarded to his home by filing and submitting fraudulent change of address forms for the mail recipients. In September 2023, Lisman possessed several credit cards, checks, and debit cards in other people’s names. Between May and July 2023, he opened credit and debit cards in other peoples’ names and used those cards to withdraw thousands of dollars’ worth of cash and purchases. Lisman pleaded guilty on Jan. 26, 2026. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base in Burlington, Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on April 28, 2026, Deandre Watson, 35, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release. Watson previously pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base. According to court records, on October 9, 2025, the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at a residence on Sherman Street in Burlington, Vermont. During the execution of the warrant, officers located Watson standing alone in the bathtub, behind the shower curtain, fully clothed and holding multiple large chunks of cocaine base (also known as crack) in his hands. Additional chunks of cocaine base were found in the bottom of the bathtub, along with a red dinner plate and razor blade. In the dining room of the Sherman Street residence, law enforcement located an additional 38 grams of cocaine base, a quantity of which was individually packaged for sale. In close proximity to this cocaine base were a digital scale, plastic baggies, scissors, and a cellular phone, the contents of which revealed the phone belonged to Watson. In total, approximately 138 grams of cocaine base were found in the residence. A cellphone found on Watson’s person revealed evidence of drug sales dating back to September 1, 2025. Watson’s criminal history in Michigan includes multiple prior felony drug trafficking convictions and a felony firearm conviction. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Burlington Police Department. “For-profit drug trafficking brings people from great distances to Vermont, with the sole purpose of distributing poison in our communities. Drug trafficking causes substantial harm to our communities, destroying families by feeding addiction and causing collateral crime that impacts their neighbors, friends, and families. Those willing to engage in serious crime for quick profits should face stiff, incarcerative sentences. I am extremely grateful for the excellent investigation done by our law enforcement partners.” The case was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra. Watson was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles N. Curlett, Jr. 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.


title: Weakley County Man Indicted for Federal Child Sexual Solicitation and Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned a multi-count indictment charging Zachary Sean Fortner, 36 , of Martin, Tennessee, with several child sexual solicitation and exploitation offenses. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today. Fortner’s alleged criminal conduct dates back to 2013. During that year, he is alleged to have persuaded and coerced a minor to take nude photographs of herself and send them to him on his cell phone. Later, in 2024, he is alleged to have distributed, received, and possessed child pornographic images and videos via Kik, a social media application. Fortner is charged with one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The production offense carries a 15-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence, and the receipt and distribution offenses each carry 5-year mandatory-minimum prison terms. This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson. If Fortner is convicted of the charged offenses, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "The U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners remain proactive and vigilant in our investigations and prosecutions of cyber-crimes against vulnerable victims, including the sexual solicitation of minors, and possession and distribution of child pornography. No matter how long it takes, those who exploit minor children will be exposed and held accountable.” This case is being investigated by members of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Martin Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 27th Judicial District of Tennessee. Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact TBI Special Agent Sarah Turner at 615-744-4000 or 1-800-TBI-FIND. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Sacramento County Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: SACRAMENTO Calif. — Monique Marie Gonzales Grado, 32, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to four years in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. As a part of her sentence, Gonzales Grado was also ordered to pay $82,142 in restitution to her victims. Gonzales Grado pleaded guilty to these charges on Sept. 9, 2025. According to court documents, between Aug. 7, 2022, and Oct. 3, 2022, Gonzales Grado executed a scheme to defraud credit unions. She unlawfully used the identity of a victim to obtain a car loan to buy a Mercedes-Benz, a second car loan to buy a Jaguar, and a personal loan for purported “medical expenses.” In a credit union account associated with these loans, Gonzales Grado also deposited two checks that had been stolen and altered to reflect the name of the victim as payee, thus allowing Gonzales Grado access to the funds. She also used the victim’s identity to open an account with a mobile phone provider and to lease an apartment. And she provided law enforcement authorities with the victim’s driver’s license in order to avoid a traffic citation. Gonzales Grado was caught when she drove to a meeting with law enforcement regarding probation terms and drove the fraudulently obtained Jaguar to the meeting. On searching the Jaguar, law enforcement found a driver’s license, Social Security card, and several other debit and credit cards in the victim’s name, among other items. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma prosecuted the case.


title: Five Time-Removed Honduras Man Who Attempted to Lure Children into Wilkinsburg Residence Charged with Another Illegal Reentry into U.S.

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A Honduras citizen illegally residing in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Ever Antonio Cerrato-Orellano, 41, as the sole defendant. “Ever Cerrato-Orellano has remained undeterred from criminal conduct despite his numerous removals from the United States and multiple convictions here,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to prosecute recidivist offenders like Cerrato-Orellano who blatantly disregard the laws of the United States and pose an unacceptable danger to innocent members of our communities.” “Protecting children and safeguarding our communities is the core of the ICE mission,” said Acting Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia Field Office Director John Rife. “ERO Philadelphia is proud to work alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local partners at the Wilkinsburg Police Department to identify, arrest, and remove illegal aliens who pose a threat to public safety, and we will continue to use every tool available to help protect Pennsylvania’s families and children.” According to the Indictment, on or about June 29, 2025, Cerrato-Orellano was found in the United States after having been previously deported and removed on five separate occasions between 2010 and 2016. Immigration officials encountered Cerrato-Orellano following the defendant’s arrest by the Wilkinsburg Police Department, who charged Cerrato-Orellano with five counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle or structure and one count of impersonating a public servant after Cerrato-Orellano attempted to lure a group of children into a Wilkinsburg residence. When the children tried to ride away on their bicycles, Cerrato-Orellano chased them and ordered them to stop, claiming that he was a police officer. Cerrato-Orellano was previously convicted in both Texas and New Mexico of illegal reentry into the United States, in addition to convictions for possession of marijuana (Florida), theft of property (Texas), and tampering with government records and driving under the influence (Texas). Immigration officials removed Cerrato-Orellano from the United States after his convictions for these offenses. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Hillary M. Weaver and Lee A. Fry are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Wilkinsburg Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Former FBI Director James Comey for Threats to Harm President Trump

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina today returned an indictment charging former FBI director James Comey with making threats to harm President Donald J. Trump. The Indictment includes two counts, first in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871, alleging that James Comey, 65, knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States. This charge alleges that on May 15, 2025, by publicly posting an image over the internet via Instagram depicting “86 47”, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the President of the United States. The Indictment also charges Comey in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), that James Comey consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communication would be viewed as threatening violence, and that he knowingly transmitted a communication in interstate commerce that contained a threat to injure the person of another, which a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret as a serious expression of an intent to do harm to a person. “Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable.” “James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump’s life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “As the former Director of the FBI, he knew full well the attention and consequences of making such a post. This FBI and our DOJ partners pursued a rigorous investigation that followed the facts - and now Mr. Comey will be held fully accountable for his actions. Thank you to our investigators, Acting AG Todd Blanche, and the Eastern District of NC for their diligent and professional work.” “No one is above the law in the Eastern District of North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “Our office regularly pursues threat cases including those against public officials. The Grand Jury examined the evidence in this case and found probable cause to indict Mr. Comey. We will continue to pursue the case as we regularly do every day to protect the people of this District and the United States.” James Comey is charged with Threatening the President in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) and Transmitting a Threat in Interstate Commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Petracca is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Incarcerated Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison In Separate Fentanyl Trafficking Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that KEROME LENDON PAISLEY was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring, while already imprisoned, to traffic more than a kilogram of fentanyl. PAISLEY’s sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who also presided over his guilty plea. “After serving nearly 22 years in federal prison for a prior narcotics conspiracy, Kerome Paisley was given a chance to reenter society,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Instead, he brazenly chose to traffic more than 10,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills from behind bars, potentially endangering countless New Yorkers. Those who are committed to dealing deadly drugs as a way of life—even from prison—will earn themselves substantial federal prison time.” According to the Complaint, the Indictment, and other documents in the public record: During February 2025, as part of a narcotics trafficking conspiracy, PAISLEY used a contraband cellphone to organize the sale of over 10,000 counterfeit fentanyl pills that resembled legitimate 30 mg oxycodone pills. After a co-conspirator of PAISLEY’s brought the pills to Peekskill, New York, to sell them, law enforcement officers found and seized them. At the time, PAISLEY was approaching the end of a nearly 22-year federal prison sentence due to his role in a prior narcotics trafficking conspiracy. After determining PAISLEY’s identity, law enforcement officers arrested PAISLEY on the day he was due to be released from his prior sentence. * * * In addition to the prison term, PAISLEY, 49, of Jamaica, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmi Schickler is in charge of the prosecution.


title: New charges added against Dayton man who allegedly had multiple kilograms of narcotics in safe

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Three new charges have been added via a superseding indictment against a Dayton man who had multiple kilograms of suspected fentanyl in a safe. Ke-Shawn Rivers, 46, now faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. According to the charging documents, between September 2025 and January 2026, Rivers, who also goes by “JayZ,” distributed fentanyl on multiple occasions. On March 11, law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized narcotics, a firearm and a safe. The safe contained multiple kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, and cutting agent, bulk amounts of cash, and an additional firearm. Rivers’s original indictment in March charged him with 13 counts of distributing fentanyl, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those 13 counts remain in addition to the new charges of possessing with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck and members of the Regional Area Narcotics and Gun Enforcement Task Force (RANGE) announced the charges. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Houston business owner sent to prison for failing to pay over $1.6 million in taxes

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: HOUSTON - A former certified public accountant has been ordered to prison for failing to pay taxes withheld from employee wages, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Harry Lamar Curtis III pleaded guilty Nov. 6, 2025. U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Curtis to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Curtis was the owner of Information Advisory Group LLC, a cybersecurity and IT company based in Houston. As such, he was required to withhold and pay over all employment taxes withheld from employee paychecks. These included federal income taxes, FICA taxes and employer matching amounts. As part of his plea, Curtis admitted that despite being trained as a CPA, he failed to file any business tax returns for IAG since 2016. He improperly withheld $1,647,142 over this time period that was due to the IRS. Curtis also admitted he had not filed any individual tax returns for himself since 2008. He was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray prosecuted the case. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.


title: Dominican National Living in Waterbury under False Identity Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud, Identity Theft Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 47, a citizen of the Dominican Republic unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to passport fraud and identity theft offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez, who lived in Waterbury, was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity. Investigators discovered that the victim’s identity had two different FBI fingerprint profiles, and that the Waterbury Police Department had arrest records and booking photographs of Rodriguez posing at the victim. On March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes. Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as the victim and as a U.S. citizen. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of using a passport secured by a false statement, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for July 27. Rodriguez has been detained since his arrest. This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Northampton Company

body_text: BOSTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass. to a scheme to defraud a Northampton construction company. Jonathan McCormack, 41, of Lapeer, Mich., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Aug. 17, 2026. In May 2024 , McCormack was indicted by a federal grand jury. McCormack was employed as a project supervisor for BluRoc, LLC., a construction company based in Northampton, Mass. McCormack also owned and operated JDM Site Services, LLC (JDM), a Michigan-based company that rented heavy equipment to BluRoc. McCormack used his positions at BluRoc and JDM to conduct a scheme to divert labor, equipment and material to conduct work and renovate a hunting lodge in Lake City, Mich. Between April 2020 and August 2020, McCormack directed four of his BluRoc crew members, including his brother, to work at the hunting lodge while approving their time (as well as his own) into BluRoc’s computer tracking system as work on BluRoc projects, thereby ensuring that they were paid by BluRoc. This work included laying approximately 300 timber mats, hay and seed that McCormack took from a BluRoc worksite without payment. Specifically, on April 4, 2020, McCormack falsely approved the time for himself, his brother and three crew members for BluRoc projects in Indiana when they were actually working for McCormack at the hunting lodge. McCormack agreed to forfeit six snowmobiles and repay BluRoc $98,087. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil Desroches and Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case.


title: Opioid Manufacturer Purdue Pharma Sentenced for Fraud and Kickback Conspiracies

body_text: Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) was sentenced today in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, and ordered to pay criminal penalties of over $5 billion for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. “Purdue Pharma put profits over patient health and safety,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The company willfully rejected the law and ignored the diversion of their highly addictive prescription drugs. Their actions contributed to the opioid crisis that claimed countless lives and destroyed entire families and communities. Today's sentence is a prime example of the Department’s effort to redress past wrongs by rooting out and punishing unlawful conduct by companies that have contributed to the national crisis.” “The opioid epidemic in the United States is a plague that has ruined lives and destroyed families,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Purdue Pharma complicitly contributed to this national epidemic in the name of their own greed by blatantly ignoring the health and safety of patients putting countless lives at risk. The FBI and our DOJ partners will always work tirelessly to ensure that companies, like Pharma, pay for the harm they have inflicted and warn others that they will not get away with violating the law for personal gain.” “This generational case against Purdue Pharmaceuticals is one of the most important corporate enforcement cases ever brought by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The opioid epidemic was and continues to be a national tragedy that has destroyed far too many lives, families, and communities. Purdue callously focused on profits when it knew that providers were prescribing these addictive opioids to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. While good progress has been made in combating the national opioid crisis, today’s sentencing is a reminder that there is much additional work to be done. Companies like Purdue that place illicit profits over the obligation to be a good and honest corporate citizen will be investigated and prosecuted. Today’s sentencing reflects Purdue’s role in fueling the opioid crisis and concludes the Department’s efforts to hold Purdue accountable for diversion of its products. The Criminal Division remains steadfast in our mission to seek justice on behalf of the American people.” “Purdue Pharma undermined the government’s efforts to ensure compliance and prevent prescription drug diversion,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Their actions fueled a surge in addiction and cost many Americans lives. The prescription opioid epidemic directly paved the way for today’s fentanyl crisis. DEA remains committed to working with registrants, communities, faith-based organizations, and schools to address the damage and end the opioid epidemic that has gripped our nation for far too long.” “Purdue Pharma put profit ahead of American lives and, in doing so, helped engineer a public health catastrophe that has left a trail of suffering for families and communities across this nation,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “No penalty can undo the widespread devastation Purdue has inflicted, but today’s sentence serves long‑overdue accountability for its reckless and unlawful conduct. HHS‑OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate large corporations and conglomerates when they violate the Anti‑Kickback Statute and other federal laws designed to protect patients and the integrity of federally funded health care programs.” “Purdue made billions by unlawfully marketing dangerous opioid products, and deceiving the DEA and the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “Purdue profited by paying illegal kickbacks to induce providers, including those who diverted opioids to drug abusers, to prescribe even more opioids. Today’s multi-billion-dollar sentence holds Purdue accountable for its criminal conduct.” “By prioritizing profits over people, Purdue prolonged the suffering of patients, leaving them trapped in opioid addiction long after their initial pain subsided,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt for the District of Vermont. “While no resolution adequately could reflect the struggles of people across New England who lost their lives and their loved ones to addiction, today’s sentence takes a substantial step toward recognizing and redressing the harm Purdue caused.” According to court documents, from 2007 and 2017, Purdue illegally marketed its opioid products to hundreds of prescribers the company had good reason to believe were prescribing these addictive drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. Purdue defrauded the DEA by misrepresenting the effectiveness of its programs designed to prevent illegal diversion, and used prescriptions written by problematic prescribers to justify its fraudulent requests to the DEA to increase the amount of its products it was permitted to manufacture. In order to induce doctors to prescribe more of its addictive opioid products, Purdue also paid kickbacks to prescribers through its doctor speaker program and to an electronic health record platform. The court ordered Purdue to pay a criminal fine of $3.544 billion, which will be assessed in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings, and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. The Department will credit up to $1.775 billion against the $2 billion forfeiture amount based on the value conferred to state, local, and tribal governments through Purdue’s bankruptcy if Purdue ceases to operate in its current form and emerges from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the American public. The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs. In addition, Purdue is required to host a public document repository containing documents relating to the criminal charges. On Nov. 24, 2020, Purdue pleaded guilty to a three-count felony information charging it with one count of a dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The FBI Washington D.C. Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from investigators from HHS-OIG and the DEA. Trial Attorney Maryann McGuire of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Walk, Jordan Anger, and Robert Toll for the District of New Jersey and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles for the District of Vermont prosecuted the case.


title: Two Houston-area men get life for roles in murder-for-hire plot against wrong man

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Two men have been sentenced to life for their roles related to a conspiracy that resulted in the shooting of a Katy man on his way to work, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The federal jury deliberated for approximately two days before convicting Michael Seery, 43, Katy, and Ricardo Obando Jr., 52, Houston, following an eight-day trial Feb. 5. U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now imposed life sentences for both men. At trial, the jury heard the men plotted the murder over the course of months and executed their plan in the early morning of Feb. 4, 2025. Obando shot the victim several times as the man was traveling on his way to work. The victim sustained gunshots wounds to his neck, torso and hand, but ultimately survived. Seery hired Obando to kill a man he believed had an affair with Seery’s wife while Seery was in prison. Cell phone evidence demonstrated how Obando conducted extensive surveillance and a failed attempt on the victim before finally executing the plot. Obando shot the victim using a firearm equipped with a silencer while the man was driving to work on Highway 99. Jurors heard testimony from the victim and watched the actual footage of the shooting captured on his in-car camera system, which showed the moment of the shooting and the subsequent 911 call. In reality, Seery targeted the wrong person. The actual intended target had moved out of the residence where Seery believed he lived. The intended target testified as did Seery’s wife. The jury heard about the affair that had occurred 12 years prior and that Seery could not get over it. Testimony revealed that even in January 2025, a few weeks before the murder attempt, Seery was angry about the affair. Evidence included multiple photos of various firearms and firearm parts found at Seery’s home and storage unit. The jury also saw the 3D printer Seery used to manufacture the weapon and silencer that Obando is believed to have used. Seery had paid Obando through his business to carry out the crime. The defense attempted to convince the jury there was no evidence about the real intended target or that there was any relationship between the two men and the actual victim, or the intended target. Obando’s defense disputed cellular phone evidence, while Seery claimed he was not involved at in the conspiracy. The jury did not believe any of those claims and found the two men guilty as charged. Both have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation along with Texas Department of Public Safety and Katy Police Department with assistance of Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter Brown and Jill Stotts prosecuted the case.


title: Former Missouri State Trooper Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Searching Women’s Phones for Nude Images

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Tuesday sentenced a former Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper to 21 months in prison for searching women’s cell phones for nude images during traffic stops. David McKnight, 40, unlawfully searched the cell phones of nine women without a warrant or probable cause from Sept. 12, 2023, to July 30, 2024, to find nude images of the victims or their loved ones. He was on duty, in uniform and in a marked Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) vehicle at the time. He used his own cell phone to take photographs of images he found in the phones of seven victims. In all but one of the cases, McKnight took the victims’ phones back to his vehicle, falsely claiming that he needed to confirm their identification, insurance coverage or other information. In the remaining case, McKnight searched the phone of a woman that he arrested and took a photo of one of her images. After two victims became suspicious of his actions, they reported him to the MSHP. Forensic analysis revealed that McKnight had searched through their phones, including folders that contained nude photographs of them. Subsequent investigation revealed the other victims. McKnight had deleted the photos, but they were recovered from his phone. McKnight’s “conduct in this case was inexcusable and demands a sentence of incarceration,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug wrote in a sentencing memo. McKnight pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in December to nine counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.


title: Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A tribal member pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026, to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office. According to court documents, Jehovah Horace Dixon, 25, of the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation, was found in possession of a firearm on June 4, 2025. Dixon had previously been convicted of felony fleeing in the Circuit Court of Neshoba County in October of 2023. Dixon’s arrest was a result of the collaborative work of the FBI’s Safe Trails Task Force. In June of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Dixon on the firearms charge. Dixon is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2026, and he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of incarceration. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Safe Trails Task Force (STTF) is a collaborative effort between the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in Indian Country and surrounding communities. The STTF works with a variety of partners, including tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The STTF has been a key part of the FBI’s partnerships in Indian Country for almost 30 years and has been a presence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation since 2022. U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Safe Trails Task Force, which included the FBI, the Choctaw Police Department, and the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, who all investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.


title: Career Offender from Morrilton Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Aaron Lynn Parks, who previously served a 71-month federal prison sentence for distribution of methamphetamine, committed a new methamphetamine offense while on supervised release and this time received a 156-month sentence. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller. A federal grand jury indicted Parks, 43, of Morrilton, in a one-count Indictment with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On December 17, 2025, Parks pleaded guilty to a one-count Superseding Information charging him with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more, but less than 500 grams, of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Judge Miller also sentenced Parks to five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that on July 11, 2024, law enforcement officers on patrol came upon a vehicle that did not have insurance. Officers activated their blue lights to conduct a traffic stop of the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Parks, pulled into a service station in Conway and fled from the scene through the woods. While fleeing from officers, Parks was observed tossing a bag. Officers secured the bag that contained 443.7 grams of methamphetamine. Officers were unable to locate the suspect after he fled but confirmed that the registered owner of the vehicle was Parks. Officers compared the suspect to Parks’ driver’s license photo and known physical features and found them to match. The vehicle was parked at an impound lot and remained unclaimed. Inside of the vehicle, officers located two cell phones, one of which utilized the same phone number Parks had provided to his federal probation officer. That cellphone contained communications regarding the distribution of methamphetamine. Parks has at least two prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense and is therefore classified as a career offender. His criminal history includes a December 21, 2020, federal drug conviction where he received a sentence of 71 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. At the time of his arrest in this case, Parks was on supervised release for the 2020 federal conviction. Parks’ criminal history also includes a conviction for possession of cocaine, conviction for driving while intoxicated, a conviction for possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, a conviction for delivery of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver, and a conviction for delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine and possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Conway Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Clermont Woman Charged in $3.9 Million Embezzlement Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Colleen Kieran (57, Clermont) has been charged by federal indictment with six counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Kieran faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Kieran that the United States is seeking the forfeiture of $3.9 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, Kieran oversaw the accounting department of a business based in Seminole County. Over the course of nearly 13 years, Kieran used her position to siphon more than $3.9 million from the company’s accounts into her own personal PayPal account. After taking the money, Kieran spent it on clothing, travel, entertainment, dining, consumer electronics, and entertainment media. Throughout the scheme, Kieran obtained loans in the company’s name to conceal the stolen money. She also provided false information about the company’s finances to her employers and the company’s tax preparer. 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 is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Longwood Police Department, and the Seminole Financial Crimes Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.


title: Waterbury Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug and Gun Offenses

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMEEK HEATH, 42, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for drug and firearm trafficking offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, in August and September 2024, investigators made two controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Heath. Lab analysis of the fentanyl revealed that it contained dangerous additives including xylazine and tramadol. On September 5, 2024, Heath sold a loaded Glock, Model 23, .40 caliber pistol to the same purchaser of the drugs, an individual he knew was a convicted felon. A trace of the firearm revealed that it was stolen from a car at a gas station in Waterbury in 2024. On November 10, 2025, Heath pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, and one count of firearms trafficking. Heath is currently detained. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile. 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.


title: Three-Time Convicted Drug Dealer, 70, Sentenced in Major Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON - Ronnie Rogers, 70, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 236 months in prison for his role as a key figure in a large-scale conspiracy that imported and distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other controlled substances in the Washington, D.C., area, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Rogers pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to a three-count superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue, and 100 grams or more of heroin; conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 236-month prison term, Judge McFadden ordered Rogers to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of 248 months in prison. According to court papers, the Drug Enforcement Administration opened an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was importing and distributing fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base, and other controlled substances into the District and elsewhere. The investigation identified Rogers, Wayne Glymph, 49, of Port Tobacco, Maryland, and Samuel Braxton, 57, aka “Fats,” of Temple Hills, Maryland, as key leaders of the organization. Braxton orchestrated the conspiracy from inside FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he was serving a federal sentence, using a contraband cell phone to connect Glymph and Rogers with foreign nationals who supplied kilogram quantities of fentanyl and other drugs. Rogers and Glymph received shipments of drugs, then cut, packaged, and redistributed them throughout the D.C. area. Rogers also had redistributors stationed near drug treatment facilities to exploit people struggling with opioid addiction. From at least July 2021 through November 2023, when Rogers was arrested, the conspiracy trafficked more than 12 kilograms of fentanyl, nearly 2 kilograms of fentanyl analogue, more than 236 grams of heroin, more than 500 grams of cocaine, and large quantities of cocaine base. Law enforcement intercepted communications and seized multiple parcels of fentanyl destined for Rogers’s residences, including shipments in August, October, and November 2022, and additional seizures in 2023. On Nov. 29, 2023, law enforcement executed search warrants at two residences used by Rogers in Washington, D.C., and District Heights, Maryland, and at a third location used by Rogers and Glymph in Waldorf, Maryland. Officers recovered kilogram quantities of fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, and cocaine base, along with five firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, drug packaging materials, cutting agents, scales, and about $24,500 in cash. Glymph was sentenced to 162 months in prison on Jan. 14, 2026. Braxton, who led the organization while incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, was sentenced to 162 months on March 24, 2026. Rogers has prior federal drug trafficking convictions from the District of Columbia, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland, and served three prior prison terms of more than 10 years each for drug trafficking. He was on supervised release at the time of this offense. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, Chief Tarrick McGuire of the Alexandria Police Department, and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI Washington Field Office, the Alexandria Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department. This operation was supported in part by the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) supplies grant funding and strategic assistance to MCIN member sites. These resources enable the identification, disruption, and dismantling of criminal organizations through enhanced interagency collaboration and data sharing. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Washington Field Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Montgomery County Police Department, Prince George's County Police Interdiction Unit, Charles County Sheriff's Office, Arlington County Police, Virginia State Police, Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland (Greenbelt), the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Eliopoulos and Matthew Kinskey. 23cr394


title: Jefferson County woman charged in federal tax return fraud scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont woman has been charged in connection with federal tax return fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Chrysantha Wilson was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with 40 counts of assisting in the preparation of fraudulent federal tax returns. Wilson appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on April 28, 2026, for an Initial Appearance and Arraignment. Wilson faces up to three years in federal prison for each count if convicted. This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynaldo P. Morin. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Multiple Threats to Kill the President, Member of Congress, and Federal Reserve Chairman

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Diego M. Villavicencio, 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty to two counts of sending interstate threats, one count of impeding or retaliating against a federal official, and one count of threats against the President. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “As the terrifying events at the White House Correspondents Dinner this past weekend showed, threats of violence can quickly escalate to acts of violence by deranged individuals. My office is committed to aggressively prosecuting criminal threats of violence against public officials to stop dangerous individuals, like this defendant, before they become would-be assassins. Criminal threats directed at public officials are becoming alarmingly more common, and this must stop now. We have zero-tolerance for such criminality in the Northern District of Florida and will seek maximum punishments to keep our public officials safe.” Court documents show that the Defendant made multiple online threats of violence directed at President Donald J. Trump, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell over the course of several months. On September 15, 2025, the Defendant posted on his X account threats directed at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with one post depicting an image of a red sight and crosshairs pointed at Powell’s head and the text “Jerome. Powell will be shot and killed September 23” (sic), and a second post depicting the same image and the text “Jerome is next.” On September 16, 2025, the Defendant again sent threats via his X account, this time directed toward a Member of Congress. Responding to a post by the Member, the Defendant wrote “I’ll kill you and your family and you won’t do anything about it. Corruption listens to bullets.” The Defendant then sent a direct message to the Member, stating “You are going to be shot and killed on September 24.” On January 25, 2026, the Defendant responded to a post on the online platform 4chan, stating that he would be driving to Mar-a-Lago “to take a couple of shots at trump and some of the other corrupt plutocrats[.]” Villavicencio faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, the Federal Reserve Board Protective Service, and the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Branson West Man Indicted for Illegal Transactions

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Branson West, Mo., man was charged with twelve counts of money laundering in a now-unsealed federal indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Missouri. David Vernon Lott, 69, was indicted by a federal grand jury with engaging in money laundering for offenses occurring between July 18, 2025, and Aug. 4, 2025. The indictment was unsealed following Lott’s arrest and initial court appearance today. The indictment alleges that Lott owned and operated Missouri Holding Group (MHG), LLC which was purported to be an investment business that promised potential investors returns of 10:1, to be repaid within a short period of time. Instead of using monies for investments as advertised, the indictment alleges the defendant used those funds for personal use, beginning as early as January 2018, and continuing through December of that year. The indictment further alleges that the defendant used those funds to pay off a personal residence, which he sold in 2025, and used the proceeds of that sale in 12 separate transactions, each over $10,000. 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. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Brown. It was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Missouri Secretary of State’s Securities Enforcement Division.


title: Harvey Man and New Orleans Woman Indicted for Obtaining Fraudulent Loans by Impersonating Professional Athletes and Threatening Victims

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ALBERT PAUL WEBER (“WEBER”) , age 42, of Harvey, Louisiana, and CYNTRELLE LASH (“LASH”) , age 39, of New Orleans, were indicted on April 24, 2026, for their roles in a scheme to impersonate professional athletes and take out loans in their names, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. As alleged in court documents, WEBER , LASH , and their coconspirators impersonated athletes who were on the cusp of being drafted by NBA and NFL teams and paid multimillion dollar contracts. At least as early as 2016, WEBER and LASH stole the identities of the athletes, their family members, and others to defraud businesspeople and lenders who believed they were dealing with the athletes themselves. In total, over the course of several years, WEBER and LASH defrauded these victims into transferring over $3.5 million to WEBER , LASH , and their coconspirators, which they then laundered through multiple bank accounts. In May of 2025, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested WEBER and LASH for one instance of this scheme in which WEBER and LASH were caught using fake identification to sign notarized documents for loans for an athlete. After they were released on bond, WEBER began a new part of the scheme to defraud athletes involving trips overseas for basketball players. When WEBER ’s victims confronted him about defrauding them by keeping money he took for trips that never happened, WEBER threatened the victims, demanded more money, and warned them against talking to others about his scheme. WEBER and LASH were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. WEBER is charged with six counts of aggravated identity theft, and LASH is charged with WEBER in one of those counts. WEBER was also charged with interstate transmission of a threat. For both the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and the conspiracy to commit money laundering, WEBER and LASH face up to 20 years of imprisonment. Each aggravated identity theft is punishable by two years in prison, consecutive to any sentence for other charges, followed by up to one year of supervised release. For the interstate transmission of a threat, WEBER faces up to five years in prison per count, followed by up to three years of supervised release. For each charge, WEBER and LASH also face a fine of up to $250,000, or $500,000 in the case of the money laundering charge, or twice the gross gain to the defendants or loss to any party, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely an allegation and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Attorney Courcelle thanked the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for its assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Moses of the Public Integrity Unit and Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution. ***