title: Iranian citizen extradited from Panama to U.S. on indictment in Seattle

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 44-year-old citizen of Iran was extradited to the United States last week and will appear today at 2:00 PM in U.S. District Court in Seattle on a nine-count indictment related to his scheme to violate trade sanctions against Iran, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Reza Dindar, aka Renda Dindar was indicted by the grand jury in August 2014. Dindar was arrested in Panama in July 2025 at the request of the United States. The indictment was unsealed with his arrival in the Western District for his initial appearance. “The members of this conspiracy thought they could evade export restrictions by shipping goods through a third country – in this case China,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “But law enforcement uncovered the scheme, and the grand jury returned the indictment leading to the appearance today.” According to the indictment, the conduct in this case violates sanctions against Iran imposed by the President’s Executive Order in March 1995 and reimposed in 2001. The orders prohibit the unauthorized exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran; as well as the exportation or supply of goods, technology, or services to persons in third countries knowing or with reason to know that the goods, technology or services are intended for supply, trans-shipment, or re-exportation to Iran. According to the indictment, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar managed a business called New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China. The company hid the fact that it was procuring items in the U.S. for companies in Iran. It fraudulently claimed the goods were destined for China. The indictment details that in 2011 and 2012, Dindar and his coconspirators used deception to purchase parts for three military sonar systems from a business in the Western District of Washington. Dindar and his coconspirators claimed the systems would be used by a company in China. In fact, the indictment alleges that at all times, the plan was to ship the parts through China to Iran in violation of export controls. “The Bureau of Industry and Security is committed to enforcing the nation’s export control laws. This indictment and extradition are evidence of that commitment,” said BIS Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, David Peters. “This successful extradition marks a significant step towards accountability for members of this conspiracy whose actions posed a threat to our national security,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “HSI special agents, in close partnership with our U.S. and international law enforcement partners, demonstrate that actors who attempt to exploit the U.S. trade system and to provide sensitive technology to foreign threats will face consequences despite their efforts to evade justice abroad.” Dindar is charged with conspiracy, two counts of export to an embargoed country, two counts of smuggling goods from the United States, two counts of money laundering for the $97,600 the company sent to the U.S. for the purchase, and two counts of filing false export records. If convicted, Dindar faces up to 20 years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Dindar. Significant assistance was provided by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). dindar_indictment.pdf


component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: Hudson Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Attempting to Sex Traffic a Minor at a Manchester Hotel CONCORD – A Hudson man was sentenced to 162 months in prison for attempting to sex traffic a 12-year-old, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces. After a three-day trial in May of 2025, Stacey Lancaster, age 47, was convicted of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. United States District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro presided over the trial and announced the sentence, which also included a 5-year term of supervised release. On November 14 and November 15, 2024, in a proactive law enforcement operation, agents posted and monitored an advertisement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. The advertisement contained images of what appeared to be two minor females, and a contact phone number. Law enforcement agents monitored this line and used it to communicate with potential sex buyers, including Lancaster. During a text conversation between an undercover agent and Lancaster, the agent stated that he/she had a 12-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. The agent then provided Lancaster with the address of a hotel in Manchester. Once at the hotel, the defendant met with an undercover agent and confirmed that he was in possession of the agreed upon $100 to pay for the commercial sex act, and that he would use a condom. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Role in $3.7M Embezzlement Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 68-year-old man has pleaded guilty to his role in leading a conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars from his employer. Barry Anderson, of Findlay, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the following charges: Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud Mail Fraud According to documents and evidence presented in court, Anderson was a 20-plus year employee with a multinational company specializing in industrial explosives and technical and blasting services, who served in various roles throughout the years. In his role as regional president, Anderson embezzled approximately $400,000 through a fraudulent invoice scheme. Anderson coordinated with Gregory Shuey, the owner of a backhoe and dump truck business, to falsify 373 invoices from 2016 to 2023. Anderson directed the business owner either to greatly inflate the invoices or create fake invoices for services that were never performed. Anderson then paid these invoices on behalf of his employer to Shuey’s business. Shuey then deposited the checks into a bank account that he controlled. From there, he gave Anderson a 50 percent cut of the fraudulently obtained funds as part of their arrangement. Anderson’s employer paid approximately $2,432,844 in fraudulent invoices to Shuey’s business. In addition to Anderson’s fraudulent invoice scheme, he also caused his employer to make lease payments to himself and others under false and fraudulent pretenses. Anderson and his confederates created limited liability companies (LLC)s which they owned and controlled. Through the LLCs, they purchased properties which they then leased to Anderson’s employer. Anderson caused his employer to enter into lease agreements under false pretenses by concealing the fact that he and his confederates were benefitting financially from the deals. From 2014 to 2023, Anderson was linked to 34 invoices seeking rental payments from his employer, totaling approximately $954,330. Anderson’s sentencing date is yet to be scheduled. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney Bart Davis and Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Allen announce North Idaho SAUSA

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: COEUR D’ALENE – Bart M. Davis, United States Attorney for the District of Idaho, and Benjamin Allen, Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney, are pleased to announce that Julia Zimny has been selected as the first North Idaho Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA). In a recent meeting, U.S. Attorney Davis administered the oath of office at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Coeur d’Alene, while Allen welcomed Zimny on board as the first employee to hold this coveted position. A coalition of governmental agencies partnered together to create and fund the North Idaho SAUSA to address drug trafficking crimes along the I-90 and US-95 corridors in North Idaho. The local government partnership includes Shoshone and Latah Counties, along with the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Kellogg, Lewiston, Mullan, Osburn, Pinehurst, Post Falls, Smelterville, Wallace, and Wardner. Additionally, the State of Idaho provided funding for the position through Governor Brad Little’s “Esto Perpetua” initiative. Finally, the position is additionally funded by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) federal grant program, administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. “I am pleased to welcome Ms. Zimny into this newly created position” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “I am very thankful for the work of the partnership that created and funded this position, which will provide a valuable resource to help address drug trafficking in North Idaho. I want to also recognize the important efforts of Benjamin Allen, Luke Malek, and former U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit in bringing this position to fruition.” “The implementation of this position within our region is a landmark step in prioritizing the fight against drug trafficking in North Idaho. It sends a clear message to those involved in the drug trade that they are not welcome in our communities.” said Allen “By dedicating the resources necessary to detect, investigate, and now prosecute those responsible for moving drugs through our communities, we create an environment of deterrence in our region, all while shifting the burden for incarceration off of our local taxpayers by transferring these cases into the federal court system, creating significant cost savings for our constituents” Allen commented. Under the SAUSA structure, Ms. Zimny will be an employee of the Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office but will be detailed full time to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal drug crimes that occur in the partner jurisdictions. The North Idaho SAUSA program joins the Treasure Valley Partnership Gang SAUSA program in Boise, which began in 2007, and the Eastern Idaho Partnership SAUSA program in Pocatello, which began in 2015. Each SAUSA program utilizes state and local resources to support a dedicated prosecutor to prosecute, convict, and sentence armed criminal and drug traffickers in their communities. By utilizing the federal criminal justice system and the United States Bureau of Prisons, the programs each create a cost avoidance benefit to the State of Idaho of approximately $2.5 million a year. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position. ###


title: United States Attorney’s Office Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT, MI – In observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 19-24, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, along with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and the Detroit Crime Victims’ Action Team, will be recognizing crime victims and those who have dedicated their lives to serve and assist victims of crime. “During National Crime Victims’ Right Week, we reaffirm the principle that victims will be heard, respected, and protected. We will prosecute the criminals and defend the vulnerable,” said United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. “Thank you - all of you - for your collective work restoring dignity, respect, and humanity to people within our state who have been abused, murdered, and victimized. Thank you for keeping the focus on them,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “Survivors matter. And we must be accountable to them. We cannot just give lip service to victims and public safety. We must mean it. We must be out and bold about it. We must live it.” Since 1981, NCVRW has challenged us to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime. During NCVRW, we recognize the accomplishments of the victims’ rights movement and reflect on how far we have come. This year the theme is LISTEN. ACT. ADVOCATE. Protect Victims, Serve Communities. Each year in April, the federal Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week by raising awareness of victims' rights and honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s Crime Victims’ Rights Week events will kick off with a Survivor Walk on Sunday, April 19, 2026 @ 10:00 am on Belle Isle. The meeting point is adjacent to the Scott Fountain. The main event will be a community and resource fair on Friday, April 24, 2026 @ 12pm at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, 5301 Russel Street, Detroit, MI 48211. Shauntaye Phillips, the wife of Harold Phillips, a victim of a fatal animal attack, will be the guest speaker and will share her emotional story of how she is using her voice to help others. Following the event, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office will be hosting a Wellness Event featuring vendors, food trucks, resources, and more. For additional information about 2026 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week activities or about victims’ rights and services in Wayne County, please contact Mechelle Donahoo, Director of Victim Services, 313-224-5626 or visit https://www.waynecountymi.gov/Government/Elected-Officials/Prosecutor All are welcome to attend this event. This year marks the 42nd anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act, commonly shortened to VOCA. This act was passed by Congress and signed into law on October 12, 1984. VOCA established the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), a Federal Victim Notification System, discretionary grants for victim service organizations, victim assistance positions in the Department of Justice, financial support for the Children’s Justice Act Program, and assistance and compensation for victims and survivors of terrorism. For more information about how to support all victims of crime, visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.ojp.gov . The Detroit Crime Victims’ Action Team consists of representatives from the following agencies: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Crime Stoppers of Michigan; Drug Enforcement Administration; Department of Homeland Security; Office of Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Michigan Attorney General’s Office; U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.


title: Boston Man Charged with Unlawful  Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man has been arrested and charged after allegedly being found with a loaded firearm in his waistband. Hakeem Cooper, 21, was charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and appeared in U.S. District Court in Boston for an initial appearance. According to the charging documents, on March 17, 2026, Cooper was arrested in Brookline, Mass., on a state warrant. During the arrest, a loaded firearm in the waistband of Cooper’s pants was allegedly found. The firearm was determined to be a Taurus PT111 Millenium G2 9mm pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber. Cooper is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to his prior state court convictions, including prior convictions in Suffolk Superior Court for trafficking controlled substances and possession to distribute a class B controlled substance. The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and Brookline Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Long Island Man Sentenced to Prison for $1 Million Covid-19 Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Carmine G. Agnello was sentenced by United States District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury to 15 months in prison for defrauding the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) of approximately $1.1 million in loans awarded under the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Agnello was also ordered to pay restitution to the SBA in the amount of $1,268,302, serve two years of supervised release, and perform 100 hours of community service. Agnello pleaded guilty in September 2024 to wire fraud in connection with the scheme. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS) announced the sentence. “During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the defendant shamefully lined his own pockets with government and taxpayers’ dollars which he must repay as part of today’s sentence,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will continue to investigate and bring to justice those criminals who stole funds that were intended to assist legitimate businesses and their employees during a time of crisis.” “Mr. Agnello defrauded a program designed to assist businesses and employees during the pandemic,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Larco-Ward. “This investigation showcases the results that postal inspectors strive to achieve in collaboration with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York.” Congress created the EIDL as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Enacted on March 29, 2020, the CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the EIDLP, which provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. As set forth in court filings and on the record during the defendant’s plea and sentencing hearings, between April 2020 and November 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Agnello fraudulently applied for, and received, at least three EIDLP loans totaling approximately $1.1 million, which he submitted on behalf of Crown Auto Parts & Recycling, LLC (Crown), a Jamaica, Queens-based business that he operated. In an effort to receive loans to which he was not entitled, Agnello submitted false information to the SBA about the number of employees who worked for Crown, as well as about the intended use of the loan proceeds. Instead of using the funds for Crown, Agnello diverted them for his personal use, including by investing approximately $420,000 in a cryptocurrency business. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Defendant : CARMINE G. AGNELLO Age: 39 Smithtown, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-366 (NJC)


title: Wilmington Man Indicted After Machinegun and Manifesto are Found

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on April 16, 2026, charging a Wilmington, Delaware man for unlawfully possessing a Glock 19 equipped with a machinegun conversion device. According to court documents, on Monday, November 24, 2025, at approximately 11:47 p.m., patrol officers of the New Castle County Police Department were conducting a property check in Canby Park West when they observed a white Toyota Tacoma in the parkland, after hours. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver, and sole occupant, 25-year-old Luqmaan Khan of Wilmington. During the stop, officers developed probable cause to order Khan out of the vehicle, and he refused to comply. Subsequently, Khan resisted arrest and was taken into custody by the officers. During their investigation, officers discovered in Khan’s vehicle a .357 caliber Glock handgun loaded with 27 rounds. The handgun had been inserted into a microplastic conversion firearm brace kit. Within the vehicle, officers also found all the following: (i) three more loaded, 27-round magazines (one in the storage slot of the conversion kit); (ii) a loaded Glock 9mm magazine; (iii) an armored ballistic plate; and (iv) a marble composition notebook. In the handwritten notebook, Khan discussed additional weapons and firearms, how they could be used in an attack, and how law enforcement detection could be avoided once an attack was carried out. The notebook referenced a member of the University of Delaware’s Police Department by name, and included a layout of a building with entry and exit points under which the words “UD Police Station” were printed. On November 25, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and NCCPD executed a search warrant at Khan’s Wilmington residence. Within, law enforcement recovered a Glock 19 9mm handgun equipped with an illegal machinegun conversion device, commonly called a “switch.” Law enforcement also recovered a .556 rifle with a scope and a red dot sight, eleven more extended magazines, hollow point rounds of ammunition, and a two-plate tactical vest equipped with a single ballistic plate. The Indictment charges Khan with possession of a machinegun. If convicted, Khan faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment. If Khan is ultimately convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New Castle County Police Department (NCCPD) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Samuel S. Frey are prosecuting the case. United States Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, “The United States has charged Luqmann Khan with possessing a weapon that could have killed scores of Delawareans in mere seconds. And as we have previously alleged, the evidence indicates that Khan was planning to use that weapon, and potentially others, in an attack on the Delaware community. We thank our law enforcement partners at the FBI and NCCPD for thwarting Khan before he could do real harm, and we look forward to proving our case against Khan in court.” “According to the indictment, Luqmaan Khan illegally armed himself with these dangerous weapons. Machinegun conversion devices pose a real danger to our communities. One pull of the trigger is no longer just one bullet; it could be 15 rounds in one second. The FBI, in collaboration with our dedicated law enforcement partners, is unwavering in our commitment to hold individuals like Mr. Khan accountable. The safety and well-being of Delaware residents remain our highest priority,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “Thanks to the proactive work of these patrol officers, a dangerous threat to our community was stopped before it could escalate into violence. Their professionalism, vigilance, and commitment to public safety embody the values we expect and the courage our residents depend on every day. We also extend our sincere thanks to our federal partners, whose collaboration was instrumental in bringing this incident to a safe and successful conclusion,” said Colonel James J. Leonard III of the New Castle County Police Department. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-71. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Illegal Alien Previously Convicted of Drug Offenses Charged with Healthcare Benefit Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Brockton, Mass., has been arrested and charged with healthcare benefit fraud and aggravated identity theft. Amaurys Arias Arias, 44, was charged with one count of making false statements relating to health care matters and one count of aggravated identity theft. The defendant was arrested and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for April 23, 2026. According to the charging documents, Arias used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen to obtain government benefits. Specifically, it is alleged that Arias falsely represented that he was a U.S. citizen when applying for healthcare benefits in Massachusetts and submitted a sworn affidavit falsely alleging the same. As a result, it is alleged that Arias ultimately obtained tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of MassHealth benefits using the stolen identity. It is further alleged that Arias used the stolen identity in connection with prior arrests, leading to convictions in the name of the U.S. citizen victim. The charge of making false statements relating to a health care program provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year 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. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: United Kingdom Citizen Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $97 Million Wine Fraud Scheme

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, James Wellesley, also known as “Andrew Fuller” and “Andrew Templar,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 10 years in prison for wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme to defraud over 140 victims around the world of over $97 million. As part of the sentence, Judge Chen ordered Wellesley to pay $1 million in forfeiture and postponed the imposition of restitution until a later date. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence. “Unlike a fine vintage that improves over time, the defendant will spend years in prison to reflect on his fraudulent wine scheme. James Wellesley preyed on investors around the globe to induce them to invest tens of millions of dollars on lies,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence sends a message to fraudsters that that our Office will prosecute you to the full extent of the law.” “James Wellesley swindled nearly $100 million from investors by pretending to be an executive broker for fine wine collections. Wellesley spoiled the reputation of a prestigious industry as well as his clients’ trust. The FBI continues to stem fraudulent schemes that steal from the wallets of victims,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. From at least June 2017 and continuing through February of 2019, Wellesley posed as the Chief Financial Officer and Operations Manager of Bordeaux Cellars. Wellesley, along with his co-conspirator Stephen Burton, solicited investors at, among other places, investor conferences held in the United States and overseas. Wellesley and Burton claimed to investors that Bordeaux Cellars brokered loans between investors and high-net-worth wine collectors that would be fully collateralized by high-value collections of wine. They promised that investors would receive regular interest payments from the borrowers, and that Bordeaux Cellars would keep custody of the wine, securing the loans while the loans were outstanding. These representations were lies: the “high-net-worth wine collectors” did not actually exist, and Bordeaux Cellars did not maintain custody of the wine purportedly securing the loans. Instead, Wellesley and Burton used incoming loan proceeds to make fraudulent interest payments to investors and for their own personal expenses. From June 2017 to December 2018, victims who had invested in Bordeaux Cellars received supposed interest payments and many victims rolled over their principal investments to new loans at the end of the loan terms. However, the supposed interest payments that victims received were not sourced from lenders paying interest on the loans, but rather were sourced from new investment funds fraudulently obtained by Bordeaux Cellars, in a classic Ponzi-like scheme. Of the over $97 million solicited from victims, Bordeaux Cellars paid back only approximately $14 million before their Ponzi scheme unraveled, leaving victims with losses of over $83 million. Burton pleaded guilty in July 2025 to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy and is currently awaiting sentencing. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Weintraub is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section, Paralegal Specialists Liam McNett and Erika Ellis, and Anne Pings and Amanda J. Chadwick of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Defendant : JAMES WELLESLEY Age: 59 London, United Kingdom E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-79 (PKC)


title: Barre Woman Charged with Social Security Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Barre woman was charged in federal court in Worcester with stealing over $100,000 in Social Security benefits. Jennifer Valley, 51, was charged with one count of theft of government money. Valley will make an appearance in federal court in Worcester at a later date. The charging document alleges that Valley stole approximately $100,218 in Social Security retirement benefits from October 2022 through August 2025. The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 19-25. NCVRW began in 1981 to honor victims of crime, promote victims’ rights, and recognize those who work with and advocate on behalf of victims of crime. The theme for this year’s observance is Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities. Our victim witness professionals listen with compassion as victims share their stories and provide guidance throughout every step of the criminal justice process. The financial litigation team acts diligently to recover illegally obtained funds on behalf of crime victims. And every day, Assistant U.S. Attorneys appear in court to advocate for the rights of victims under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act and ensure those rights are protected. “This week we honor the strength and resilience of crime victims and survivors,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “Together with our law enforcement and community partners, we will continue working to ensure that no victim feels alone and that justice is accessible to all.” Over the past year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama has provided direct services to over 700 crime victims. The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to maintain pivotal partnerships with One Place Metro Birmingham Family Justice Center, One Place of the Shoals, the National Children’s Advocacy Center, North Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Agency for Substance Abuse Prevention. These partnerships are key to expanding access to services and enabling crime victims to find the justice they seek, in whatever form that might take. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Financial Litigation Program (FLP) has worked tirelessly to recover illegally obtained funds and return them to crime victims. In 2025, the FLP collected over $12.3 million in restitution debts imposed in criminal cases. These funds were provided directly to crime victims. The FLP also collected nearly $309,000 in fines imposed in criminal cases in 2025. U.S. Attorney’s Office staff will attend the following events to commemorate NCVRW 2026: One Heart in the Park hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00a.m. – 2:00p.m. at East Lake Park. NCVRW Candlelight Vigil hosted by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Bessemer Division, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Perfecting Reconciliation Church. Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim/Witness Assistance Program can be found here . For additional information about this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and how to assist crime victims in your community, please visit OVC’s website at www.ovc.gov .


title: Claremore Man Sentenced for Receiving and Distributing Images and Videos of Children Being Sexually Abused

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Claremore man was sentenced today after a cybertip showed that he was downloading and sharing child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced James Daniel Lee Campbell, 22, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Campbell was ordered to serve 97 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Campbell will be required to register as a sex offender and is prohibited from looking at sexually explicit materials, such as pornography. Judge Hill further ordered Campbell to pay $3,000 in restitution. In October 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received a cybertip. Campbell was identified as the user, and the cybertip stated that he uploaded, shared, and saved a video of a child being sexually abused. When agents served a search warrant at Campbell’s home, they seized several electronic devices. Court documents show that when agents looked through Campbell’s devices, he was using Snapchat and Telegram to chat with others about child sexual abuse material, and to share and receive photos and videos. He was further using pre-teen dating applications to connect with children. Campbell possessed 47 videos and 13 images of children being sexually abused. Agents reported that the material included the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, a video involving bestiality, and additional images containing child erotica. The images and videos found on his devices were sent to the National Child Victim Identification System, managed by the NCMEC, for identification. Eleven individuals were identified and allowed to submit victim impact statements to the court. Restitution paid by Campbell will go directly to the victim who requested restitution. Previously released on bond, Campbell was taken into custody following his guilty plea in October 2025. He will remain in custody, pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to Series of Multi-Million Dollar Business Email Compromise Schemes

body_text: Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Animashaun Adebo, also known as “Kazeem” and “Kazeem Animashaun,” pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in a series of fraudulent business email compromise (BEC) and related romance schemes that resulted in more than $50 million in losses by individuals and small businesses located within the Eastern District of New York and throughout the United States. The defendant and his co-conspirators misappropriated victim funds and laundered them through shell company accounts in the United States and abroad, sometimes using unsuspecting middlemen to further obscure the fraudulent source of the funds. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, New York Field Office (USSS), announced the plea. “The defendant and his network of criminal associates perpetrated sophisticated frauds targeting victims here in Brooklyn and throughout the country,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Schemes like these cause enormous hardship and financial losses to victims every year. Our Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize prosecuting these online criminal actors and getting victims their hard-earned money back.” “The staggering number of monetary losses this defendant and his network of thieves inflicted on innocent, hardworking, and good people caused significant financial hardship and distress. Let this sentence send a message to other cyber-criminals out there: You won’t get away with your crimes forever. We will track you down. And there will be significant consequences for your criminal misdeeds,” stated USSS Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool. “I am proud of the work the U.S. Secret Service did in this case, and I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and our other law enforcement partners for their diligence in bringing justice to the innocent victims hurt by this criminal network.” A BEC scheme is a form of cyber-enabled financial fraud. In a typical BEC scheme, a malicious actor compromises legitimate business email accounts through computer intrusion techniques or social engineering and uses those accounts to cause the unauthorized transfer of funds. Techniques for perpetrating these schemes include identity theft, spoofing of emails and websites and the use of malware. Confidence fraud is another form of cyber-enabled financial fraud. In a typical confidence fraud, a malicious actor befriends and gains the confidence of another individual through online communications and uses that confidence to cause the transfer of funds for unauthorized purposes. A romance scheme is a type of confidence fraud wherein the perpetrator adopts a fictitious online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The perpetrator then uses the illusion of a romantic relationship to cause the transfer of funds for unauthorized purposes. Between April 2021 and March 2022, the defendant and his co-conspirators orchestrated a series of fraudulent BEC schemes and related romance schemes and laundered and received proceeds from the fraudulent schemes. As one part of the BEC schemes, victim-individuals involved in real estate transactions received fraudulent emails purporting to be from legitimate parties to those transactions. The emails instructed them to wire funds they believed to be related to the real estate transactions to specified bank accounts. The fraudulent email accounts that contacted the victims closely resembled, but were slightly different from, the email addresses of the legitimate parties to the transaction (a process known as “spoofing”). As another part of the BEC schemes, employees of victim-companies received fraudulent emails purporting to be from legitimate vendors or other business partners of those companies directing them to transfer funds to specified bank accounts. The employees were also defrauded through email spoofing and received fraudulent emails from accounts that closely resembled, but were slightly different from, the email addresses of the legitimate vendors and business partners. In each case, after the victims executed the wires in accordance with the fraudulent instructions, the transferred funds were misappropriated from the victims and sent to and through accounts controlled by the defendant and his co-conspirators. The defendant further laundered illicit proceeds through the purchase of luxury watches and through an illegal money exchange operation run by his co-defendant Idowu Ademoroti, who was previously convicted and sentenced to a term of incarceration for his role in the scheme. Adebo ultimately received fraudulent proceeds in corporate bank accounts located in Nigeria. A third defendant, Nelson Ojeriakhi, also a Nigerian national, was arrested in Paris, France and extradited to the United States in July 2025. Ojeriakhi pleaded guilty in November 2025 and is pending sentencing. A fourth defendant, Noguan Marvellous Eboigbe, also a Nigerian national, remains at large. The case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Reich and Daniel J. Marcus are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Liam McNett and Chelsea Guzman. The Defendants : ANIMASHAUN ADEBO (also known as “Kazeem” and “Kazeem Animashaun”) Age: 40 Chicago, Illinois IDOWU ADEMOROTI Age: 33 Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-239 (PKC) NOGUAN MARVELLOUS EBOIGBE (also known as “Randall Olson,” “Martin Roberto” and “Carlos Eduardo”) Age: 45 Lagos, Nigeria E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-240 (PKC) NELSON OJERIAKHI (also known as “Ojeey Mami” and “Oba Millie”) Age: 32 Lagos, Nigeria E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-188 (PKC)


title: Former Fresno Art Council Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $1.8 Million of Publicly Designated Funds

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: plea_agreement_caldwell.pdf FRESNO, Calif. — Suliana Caldwell, 46, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud involving over $1.8 million in funds stolen from the Fresno Art Council, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Caldwell worked as the Fresno Art Council’s operation’s manager from 2021 to February 2026. In this position, she managed the Fresno Arts Council’s bank accounts, payroll, grants, donations, and general finances. Her duties also included providing periodic financial updates and reports to the executive director, board members, and the City and County of Fresno. Beginning in 2022, Caldwell began embezzling funds by making unauthorized withdrawals of money from the Fresno Arts Council’s bank accounts. In 2023, after the Fresno City Council designated the Fresno Arts Council to administer the Measure P grant money, Caldwell significantly increased the amount of money she withdrew from the Council’s accounts. Measure P is a tax initiative approved by Fresno voters in 2018 to provide funding for parks, trails, and the arts, among other things. In August 2023, the Fresno Arts Council received $9.4 million in Measure P funds, and in October 2024, it received an additional $5.7 million in a second round of funding. Caldwell concealed the fraud by using her position of trust as the operations manager to alter and falsify financial reports that showed incorrect funds in Fresno Arts Council bank accounts. She presented these reports to the Fresno Arts Council executive director, board members, and others as accurate when they were not. Between June 2022 and February 2026, Caldwell stole more than $1.8 million from the Fresno Arts Council. She then used the funds to gamble at local casinos, pay for vacations, and for other improper personal expenses. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple and Joseph D. Barton are prosecuting the case. Caldwell is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Aug. 10, 2026. Caldwell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Florida Woman Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida woman who orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $465,489 in COVID-19 relief funding was sentenced to 18 months’ incarceration in Newark federal court on Friday, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Jane Batista, 44, of Lake Worth, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin on October 1, 2024 to a two-count Information that charged her with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From April 2020 to August 2021, Batista submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for herself, her husband, and two businesses they owned and operated. In support of those applications, Batista lied about the number of employees the businesses employed, the income the employees earned, and the revenue Batista and her husband generated as sole proprietors. Batista also submitted forged documents, including fake tax return documents. After the victim lenders funded the loans, Batista used that money for personal expenses and made several large transfers, including one for approximately $15,000. In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin ordered forfeiture in the amount of $465,489 and imposed a two-year term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Maltese with the investigation. The Department of Justice has established the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron L. Webman, Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit, and Robert Taj Moore of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Murray Richman, Esq. Renée C. Hill, Esq.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking After Possessing 86 Pounds of 100% Pure Methamphetamine and 4,700 Carfentanil Pills

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Tobias Jimenez-Martinez, 36, a Mexican national residing in Madera, pleaded guilty today to trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, police officers searched Jimenez’s Madera apartment and seized 39.28 kilograms (86.5 pounds) of actual “ice” methamphetamine with a 100% purity. Jimenez later admitted to transporting the methamphetamine from San Diego and was planning to distribute it in Reno, Nevada. The methamphetamine was packaged in 90 plastic bags of different sizes. Officers also seized approximately 4,700 counterfeit M30 pills that tested positive for carfentanil. According to the DEA, carfentanil is a synthetic opioid estimated to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine. This case is the product of an investigation by the Madera Police Department; the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice, the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MADNET); the Madera County District Attorney’s Office; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case. Jimenez is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff on July 27, 2026. Jimenez faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years, a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. 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, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Jefferson Parish Resident Sentenced to 70 Months Imprisonment for Fraud and Identity Theft Totaling Over $350,000

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On April 9, 2026, JELISSA LACOUR (“LACOUR”) , age 37, a resident of Jefferson Parish, was sentenced by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier for two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. On April 7, 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. Judge Barbier sentenced LACOUR to 46 months imprisonment on the wire fraud counts and 24 consecutive months imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft counts for an aggregate prison term of 70 months. Judge Barbier ordered LACOUR to serve three years of supervised release following her imprisonment and to pay $342,032 in restitution. According to court documents, LACOUR obtained numerous Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans using falsified tax forms, and also fraudulently obtained Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds in the names of numerous purported renters. In some instances, the PPP and ERAP applications were for her accomplices who sought to benefit from the fraudulent applications, while in other instances, LACOUR misused others’ identities to obtain payments in their names. The combined total loss for the wire fraud and aggravated identity theft schemes was approximately $366,236. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chandra Menon of the of the Public Integrity Unit. * * *


title: Former soldier convicted of physically and sexually assaulting minors while serving abroad

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Following a four-day trial, a federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted an Atlanta man of sexually and physically abusing two minors while he was stationed overseas with the U.S. Army. “When he should have been honorably defending our country with the utmost integrity, Schlueter instead spent years terrorizing his young victims through physical and sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thankfully, federal law allowed my office and our partners in Washington to seek justice for the children Schlueter battered and molested abroad. Excellent work by the prosecutors and investigators assigned to this case will ensure that Schlueter is suitably punished for his wickedness.” “The defendant exploited a position of trust to carry out horrific abuse against vulnerable children,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is committed to protecting children wherever these crimes occur and to ensuring those who commit such acts are held fully accountable. We are grateful to the victims for their courage in coming forward and to our partners who helped bring this case to justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Adam Schlueter was stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany from 2009 until 2013, while enlisted in the U.S. Army. In Germany, he physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. At trial, both minors described being choked and beaten by Schlueter. One minor also testified that Schleuter pushed him through a second-story window and dangled him above the ground when he was eight years old. Schlueter sexually assaulted both minors when they were under the age of 10. To prevent his victims and others from reporting the abuse to authorities, Schleuter threatened to harm and even kill witnesses. On April 17, 2026, a jury convicted Adam Schlueter, 39, of Atlanta, of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 12 and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for July 9, 2026. Schleuter faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years of imprisonment for each of the aggravated sexual abuse convictions and may be sentenced to life imprisonment. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters assisted with the prosecution of this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Hard Money Lender Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors in 2 Cases involving Bitwise Industries and Voyager Pacific Capital Management Totaling $45 Million in Losses

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — David Hardcastle, 61, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in two separate cases that resulted in a combined loss of approximately $45 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Startop Investments LLC Hard Money Loan Scheme According to court documents, from December 2022 through May 2023, Hardcastle and business partner Andrew Adler, 32, of Greenwich, Connecticut, loaned Bitwise Industries approximately $20 million in high-interest hard money loans through their special purpose entity Startop Investments LLC. Hardcastle and Adler split the loans up and sold them to other investors. In doing so, they altered the original loan documents to make it appear that Bitwise was obligated to pay significantly less interest on the loans than was true. They also forged the signature of Bitwise’s Co-CEO, Jake Soberal, on the altered documents. This made the loans appear less risky and therefore more appealing to the investors. Hardcastle and Adler received tens of thousands of dollars in origination fees for the loans and stood to make millions more in secret profits from the higher, undisclosed interest rates had the loans been fully repaid. Moreover, one of the loans to Bitwise included a secure interest reserve of approximately $700,000. Secure interest reserves are supposed to be disclosed to loan investors and serve to protect investors in the event the borrower does not repay the loan on schedule. The investors were unaware of this reserve. Hardcastle and Adler then used these reserve funds to make an unrelated investment in another company that they operated without the investors’ authorization, and the money was not available to repay the investors when Bitwise collapsed in May 2023 without repaying the loans. As a result, the investors in the loans lost nearly all of their money. Adler pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to commit wire fraud when he defrauded investors out of $20 million, and on June 2, 2025, was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. Bitwise Industries was a startup technology company headquartered in Fresno County. Bitwise had a parent company and several other related companies, which were controlled by Jake Soberal, Irma Olguin, Jr., and a board of directors. Soberal and Olguin, Jr. pleaded guilty to defrauding Bitwise’s investors and lenders, including Startop, out of approximately $115 million. In December 2024, they were sentenced to 11 years and nine years in prison, respectively. Voyager Pacific Capital Management Ponzi Scheme Hardcastle was a general partner and chief executive officer at Voyager Pacific Capital Management, a real estate investment firm based in Florida with operations throughout the country that managed assets worth tens of millions of dollars. According to court documents, between June 2020 and January 2025, Hardcastle and others falsely represented to investors in their Opportunity Fund II that their money would be used to acquire residences, land, and tax liens, among other assets. Instead, Hardcastle and others used the money to pay promised returns to other participants, personal investments, and other improper purchases. They provided fake financial information to the participants that falsely said that the Fund was performing well when, in fact, it was not. At times, Hardcastle and others at Voyager sold certain properties in the Fund that were in disrepair or underperforming to themselves and did not disclose these sales to the participants. The sales were on paper only and no money changed hands. Hardcastle and others at Voyager made the sales because they did not have sufficient capital to maintain or improve the properties and they were prohibited from incurring debt on the properties based on their agreements with the participants. The sales allowed them to artificially inflate the value of the Fund and the participants’ shares and therefore continue receiving their management fees and other compensation from Voyager. Hardcastle and others at Voyager agreed with each other to carry out their scheme to defraud and knowingly participated therein. In doing so, they acted with the intent to deceive and cheat the participants out of their money. The participants would not have made their investments had they known how Hardcastle and others at Voyager were using their money. Ultimately, the Fund was acquired by a third party at a discount, and the value of the participants’ shares was diminished. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigations in both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Cody Chapple are prosecuting the cases. Hardcastle is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Sept. 14, 2026. Hardcastle faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Former U.S. Army Member Convicted of Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While Serving Abroad

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted a Georgia man Friday of sexually and physically abusing two minors. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Adam Schlueter, 37, of Atlanta, was stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany while a member of the Army from 2009 until 2013. While there, he physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. During trial testimony, both minors described being choked and beaten by Schlueter, among others form of egregious physical abuse. One minor described, at age eight, being pushed through a second-story window and dangled above the ground. Schlueter sexually assaulted both minors when they were under the age of 10. Schlueter also employed threats to prevent his victims and other witnesses from disclosing the abuse to authorities, going so far as to threaten to kill one witness. The jury convicted Schlueter of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 12 and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia; and Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Alleged Conspirators Arrested for Running St. Thomas Strip Club as Prostitution Ring and Harboring Illegal Aliens

body_text: U.S. law enforcement arrested three members of an alleged conspiracy running a prostitution ring and harboring illegal aliens in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. A federal judge in the District of the Virgin Islands issued a criminal complaint and authorized arrest warrants charging Hussein Jamil, also known as Hussian Jamil Suarez, also known as Tony, 56; Magda Castro Santos also known as Tatiana, 39; and Julio Hidaldo De Pena 65; all of St. Thomas, USVI, for their alleged respective roles in a variety of criminal activities centered around an establishment known as Tootsys Gentlemen’s Club (Tootsys). According to court documents, Jamil owns and operates Tootsys, a strip club in St. Thomas, USVI, which he, Castro Santos, and Hidaldo De Pena are alleged to have operated as a brothel. The alleged conspirators advertised Tootsys over Instagram and other platforms to recruit women to work at the club. They are alleged to have hired both U.S. citizens and illegal aliens as dancers and sex workers. Jamil is alleged to have paid for U.S. citizens to fly from elsewhere within the United States to St. Thomas and financed smuggling operations for aliens to illegally enter the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of the dancers working at Tootsys lived in a house on St. Thomas rented by Jamil. Hidaldo De Pena transported the dancers from the rental house to Tootsys and back for their shifts. Castro Santos managed the dancers while at Tootsys, ensuring they paid their required fees, directing clients to the dancers, and collecting payments for private dances and commercial sex, among other managerial acts. When dancers arrived on St. Thomas for the purpose of working at Tootsys, the alleged conspirators’ coercive fee scheme pushed the dancers to make more money by engaging in commercial sex, both at Tootsys and through customers “buying out” dancers to take them to an offsite premises. Jamil, Castro Santo, and Hildaldo de Pena are each charged with conspiracy to transport for purpose of prostitution, conspiracy to commit interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises, and conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to transport for purpose of prostitution and conspiracy to commit interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises and 10 years in prison for conspiracy to harbor aliens for financial gain. Federal Takedown of Tootsys Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the Virgin Islands, and Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Jessica Arco and Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Baker and Cherrisse Woods for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case. The investigation and charges are also supported and prosecuted by JTFA, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. These arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jacqueline F. Dagle Sworn in as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda announces the appointment of Jacqueline F. Dagle as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. “Jacqueline Dagle is a skilled advocate with significant litigation experience and a strong record of public service,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “She brings extensive experience handling complex matters, the ability to manage demanding caseloads, and a commitment to the rule of law. She will be a strong asset to our Civil Division and the office’s mission.” Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Dagle served as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program, where she litigated civil enforcement matters and handled bankruptcy-related proceedings. In that role, she managed a high-volume caseload, appeared regularly before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and conducted legal analysis of complex financial matters. Dagle previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Diane Finkle of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Rhode Island, where she conducted legal research and drafted memoranda, orders, and decisions. She also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Scott L. Kafker of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Earlier in her career, Dagle gained experience at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Civil Rights Unit, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. Dagle earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from New England Law, Boston, where she was a Rappaport Fellow and a member of the Mock Trial Team. She also received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island. Dagle is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: New York Man Indicted for Fraudulently Obtaining $167,000 Worth of Groceries CONCORD – A New York resident was indicted for fraudulently obtaining approximately $167,000 worth of groceries from Hannaford Supermarkets, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Clinton Rathan, 33, was charged with four counts of Wire Fraud. He was arrested in Brookyln, New York, on April 16, 2026, and released on $15,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Concord, New Hampshire, on April 30, 2026. According to the indictment, Rathan placed over 500 pick-up orders for groceries through the Hannaford app across a seven-month period in 2022. Rathan used false or fraudulently-obtained identities and debit or credit cards to place the orders across New England and New York. After Rathan picked up the grocery orders, Hannaford tried to process the debit or credit card information, but the cards were all declined. The charging statute provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


body_text: Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy CONCORD –Alexander Aguasvivas-Pena, 32, a citizen of the Dominican Republic who is currently unlawfully present in the United States, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces. According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2023, law enforcement agencies began investigating a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) operating in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. During the course of the conspiracy, the DTO trafficked multiple kilograms of methamphetamine. The charging statute provides for a sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force led the investigation with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasir Sadat is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.


title: Romanian Nationals Indicted for Fraud Scheme To Steal Nearly $1M in SNAP Benefits from Low-Income Families

body_text: CLEVELAND – Five men have been charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to steal nearly $1 million worth of food assistance benefits from low-income families and individuals in Ohio and California. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the following defendants. All are citizens of Romania: Ionut Ilie, aka Ionut Dorabantu, aka Morgan Anderson, aka Ionut Craciun-Cercel, aka Lukas Hladky, aka Frederick Juhl, 44, not legally present in the U.S.; Constantin Eugen Ion, aka Piranha, 44, also a citizen of Mexico; Valentin Velicu, aka Grasu, aka Yanis Karagunis, 50; Dragos Georghie Vasile, 46; and Marian Alexandru Semplican, 23. Each defendant is charged with: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft Sale or Receipt of Stolen Government Monies Ilie faces an additional charge for Reentry of a Removed Alien. He was previously removed from the United States twice: Feb. 24, 2023, and Feb. 25, 2019, after being found in the country without the consent of the Secretary for Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the U.S. Defendants were apprehended in a series of coordinated arrests throughout Ohio and California, and one remains at large. According to the indictment, the conspiracy allegedly targeted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which is intended to help low-income families and individuals purchase food. In Ohio, the SNAP benefits are loaded onto Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards that can be used at retailers to purchase food. Court documents show that the conspiracy also targeted retailers in California with a similar scheme. U.S. v. Ilie et al., case# 1:26cr147 Through a form of financial fraud that takes place at the point of sale known as “POS skimming,” the defendants allegedly conspired to install devices onto legitimate card readers at retailers that EBT card users frequent. The devices blend seamlessly with the payment terminals, and victims are most likely not aware that their information has been compromised. The devices are programmed with software to capture payment and personal information from the magnetic stripe when EBT cards are swiped. U.S. v. Ilie et al., case #1:26cr147 To carry out the SNAP benefits theft in Ohio, POS skimmers were mailed from California to several local locations including a UPS Store in Mentor in Lake County. The skimmers were then placed at 7-Eleven stores in Toledo and Maple Heights, Ohio, and at a Broadway Food Center in Toledo. Investigators also found that skimmers were placed at gas stations throughout Cleveland and Toledo. Defendants then allegedly checked card balances before draining the EBT accounts of their funds to load onto blank cards which they then re-sold to others. During a search warrant execution at one defendant’s residence in North Hills, California, agents found a room that served as a workshop to manufacture POS skimmers. Among the items seized were faceplates for EBT machines, keypads, wiring, schematics for overlay devices, tools to construct the devices, data extraction components, and several fake IDs. In total, approximately $961,000.00 was stolen, or attempted to be stolen, during the conspiracy. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including prior criminal records, if any, roles in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Cleveland Division, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U. S. Postal Inspection Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also acknowledges the assistance of the United States Secret Service, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Ohio Investigative Unit, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol-OSP Intelligence Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Duncan T. Brown for the Northern District Ohio is leading the prosecution. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Smuggling and Selling Counterfeit Native American Jewelry

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A husband and wife from New Mexico appeared in federal court in Asheville today and pleaded guilty to smuggling counterfeit Native American jewelry made in Vietnam and selling it to customers in the United States as authentic, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kiem Thanh Huynh, 60, and My Ngoc Truong, 61, pleaded guilty to misrepresentation of Indian goods in an amount greater than $1,000, in violation of the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and smuggling. Meridith Stanton, Director of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. “Those who profit by passing off counterfeit goods as authentic Native American items are not just deceiving buyers, they are exploiting culture and taking income from Native American artists and their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Protecting the integrity of Native American art and heritage is vital to persevering Indian cultural traditions and economic opportunity. My office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement counterparts to investigate these cases and hold accountable anyone who seeks to profit from counterfeit Indian items.” “The Indian Arts and Crafts Board administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law,” said Director Stanton. “The Act is intended to rid the American Indian and Alaska Native (Indian) art and crafts marketplace of counterfeits in order to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists and artisans and their Tribes, as well as consumers. Authentic Indian art and craftwork is a critically important tool for the passage of cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next. Huynh and Truong’s importation in bulk of counterfeit Indian jewelry from Vietnam and subsequent wholesale of the jewelry as Navajo made is an affront to Indian cultures, economies, artists, and artisans of the Indian Tribes resident in North Carolina, and Indians nationwide. Due to the outstanding work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Indian Arts and Crafts Act Investigative Unit, the perpetrators 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.” “By smuggling and falsely marketing imported goods as authentic Native American handicrafts, Hyunh and Truong undermined the livelihoods and cultural traditions of Native American artists and took advantage of customers,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “The Indian Arts and Crafts Act exists to protect Native artists, their work, and the generations of tradition behind it. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to work with the Department of Justice and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board to investigate these violations, and today’s guilty plea reflects our commitment to protecting consumers, standing with tribal communities, and holding accountable those who exploit Native artists and this market for profit.” According to filed documents and the plea hearing, Huynh and Truong co-owned MT Jewelry MFG., Inc. (MT Jewelry) located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The business, marketed to wholesale customers, claimed on its website that it specialized “in creating unique and handmade southwestern jewelry.” Huynh and Truong traveled to trade shows throughout the United States, including in Western North Carolina, where they sold their merchandise as authentic Native American jewelry. According to plea documents, much of the jewelry sold by the defendants was not Indian produced or the product of an Indian tribe. Between December 2023 and July 2024, law enforcement intercepted six shipments from Vietnam that were destined for MT Jewelry. The shipments contained jewelry, including pendants, bracelets and rings, made in Vietnam to resemble Native American-style jewelry. The jewelry was adorned with unique stones and/or fish or wildlife products and were marked with inscriptions and other hallmarks commonly used by artists to authenticate their handicrafts. As importers of jewelry, Huynh and Truong failed to mark the items with country-of-origin or other commercially feasible markers to indicate they were imported before selling them. In pleading guilty, the defendants admitted that, on two occasions, Huynh and Truong attended GLW Shows in Western North Carolina where they sold counterfeit jewelry contained in shipments intercepted by investigators. Huynh and Truong falsely claimed that the jewelry was made by Native American artists at their shop in Albuquerque and that their workers were Navajo. As Huynh and Truong admitted in court, the defendants knew the jewelry they were selling was made in Vietnam by non-Indians and that they falsely sold these items as authentic Native American handicraft. Huynh and Truong will remain out of custody pending sentencing. At sentencing they face a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison for the Indian Arts and Crafts Act violation and up to 20 years for the smuggling charge. They have agreed to forfeit $341,967.98, constituting the proceeds of their crimes. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Indian Arts and Crafts Act Investigative Unit for the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.


title: Iranian National Living in San Fernando Valley Arrested on Federal Complaint Charging Her with Selling Weapons for Iran’s Government

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Iranian national residing in the San Fernando Valley has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging her with selling Iranian-made weapons – drones, bombs, and millions of rounds of ammunition – to Sudan, the Justice Department announced today. Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). She was arrested on Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport before she could board a flight departing the United States. Mafi is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. No plea will be taken today. “This individual came from Iran and gained legal status under the Obama administration,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “While enjoying a life in the United States, this woman was allegedly breaking the law by brokering lethal weapons deals with Iranian adversaries. This will not stand, and anyone who breaks our laws and threatens national security will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.” “As Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made clear, the Department of Justice will aggressively prosecute violations of U.S. sanctions that target foreign adversaries such as the government of Iran,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant took advantage of our open immigration system to live freely in Los Angeles while simultaneously working to traffic arms on behalf of a country that seeks to destroy us. Not on our watch. We look forward to securing long prison sentence for her blatant criminal conduct.” “The FBI will not tolerate weapon sales to American adversaries by lawful permanent residents of the United States,” said Akil Davis, The Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The defendant allegedly abused the privilege of living in the United States by delivering weapons on behalf of a regime that sponsors terrorism.” According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Mafi schemed to broker the sale of weapons, weapons components, and ammunition on behalf of the Government of Iran in violation of U.S. law. Mafi is an Iranian national who in October 2016 became a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. She owns and operates an Oman-based company, Atlas International Business LLC, which also is known as “Atlas Global Holding” and “Atlas Tech LLC.” In early 2025, Mafi brokered weapons deals on Iran’s behalf through her company. For example, she facilitated a contract worth more than $70 million for the sale of the Iranian-made Mohajer-6 drone from Iran’s defense ministry to Sudan’s military. She coordinated the Sudanese delegation’s travel to Iran and was paid more than $7 million. She also brokered the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan and submitted a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to purchase the bomb fuses for Sudan. Mafi also brokered the sale of millions of rounds of ammunition from Iran to Sudan. The IEEPA imposes controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States including, among others, its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA prohibits a U.S. person from transacting or dealing in goods or services owned by the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This law also bars U.S. persons from transacting with specially designated nationals and blocked persons such as the IRGC and Iran’s defense ministry. At no time did Mafi apply for or obtain the required licenses from the U.S. Treasury Department to engage in any transactions alleged in the complaint’s affidavit. She also never registered with or applied for approval from the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to engage in brokering activities with respect to U.S. or foreign defense articles. Records obtained pursuant to a search warrant show approximately 62 bidirectional contacts between Mafi and an Iranian intelligence officer’s phone numbers between December 2022 and June 2025. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Mafi would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI is investigating this matter. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Kedar S. Bhatia of the Public Corruption & Civil Rights Section and David C. Lachman of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case, with valuable assistance from Department of Justice Trial Attorney Brendan Geary of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.