title: Georgia Man Sentenced for Fraudulent Check Scheme and Identity Theft

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Suwanee, Ga., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his role in a fraudulent check scheme. Darrell C. Roseborough, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Grey Kays to 204 months in prison without parole. The court also ordered Roseborough to pay $634,806.93 to the victims of the scheme. On Aug. 14, 2025, Roseborough pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. “Today’s hefty sentence reiterates the seriousness of this scheme. Mr. Roseborough led a group that traveled far and wide to defraud financial institutions all over the country. The FBI will continue to work hard to ensure financial fraudsters are held accountable for their actions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus, Kansas City Field Division. According to court documents, Roseborough was the leader of a group that traveled around the United States cashing fraudulent checks. Members of the scheme, which included co-defendants Sheldon Samuels, Derrick Walker, and Tambria Davis, used the information of identity theft victims to open fraudulent accounts at financial institutions and cashed fraudulent checks that were made payable to the identity theft victims. Roseborough made fraudulent checks and participated in the production and distribution of fraudulent driver’s licenses. Roseborough used FedEx to send fraudulent documents to where the scheme was operating, and Samuels and Walker passed the fraudulent documents onto Davis and other check passers who entered the banks to cash the fraudulent checks. In 2001, Roseborough was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina for his role in a similar scheme. “This defendant has repeatedly decided to break the law and engage in criminal activity, and his lengthy sentence reflects those decisions,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney. Sheldon Samuels pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 78 months in prison on Jan. 21, 2026. On Jan. 27, 2026, Tambria Davis was sentenced to time served after being in custody in the Western District of Missouri since April 2024. Derrick Walker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Nov. 18, 2025, and is awaiting sentencing. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley Cooper and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the FBI.


title: British National Convicted on International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charges Linked to the 2017 Deaths of Two Navy Submariners

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: Faces a Sentence of 20 Years to Life Imprisonment BRUNSWICK, GA: British national facing a possible life sentence following his jury trial conviction in the Southern District of Georgia for conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl analogues and other novel controlled substances on a dark web platform called “Dream Market.” The importation and distribution of these substances led to the death of two members of the United States Navy. Paul Anthony Nicholls , 47, of Great Britain, was convicted of one count of Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances Resulting in Death and one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Resulting in Death following a 4-day jury trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. When a sentence is imposed by the Honorable Lisa Godbey Wood, United States District Judge, Defendant Nicholls faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 20 years imprisonment, with a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, as well as significant monetary penalties. There is no parole in the federal system. “This conviction was achieved through the hard work and cooperation of our law enforcement officers and Canadian law enforcement. Two of our navy sailors died because of Nicholl’s distribution of lethal drugs. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who harm people in our communities.” said U.S. Attorney Meg Heap. As described in court documents and testimony, Defendant Nicholls conspired with at least one other person to run a drug trafficking organization titled “Canada1” on the now-defunct dark web marketplace “Dream Market.” “Canada1” advertised various controlled substances for sale on “Dream Market” including the synthetic opioid U-47700 and the fentanyl analogue Methoxy acetyl fentanyl. “Canada1” advertised that they would ship these substances anywhere in the world from their basis of operation in Vancouver, British Columbia. Investigators, utilizing surveillance and other investigative methods, identified Defendant Nicholls as routinely interacting with his conspirator and taking numerous packages bearing the logo for a shell company named “East Van ECO Tours” to be sent out via Canada Post, the Canadian mail system. Following weeks of surveillance, investigators intercepted over 40 packages bearing the “East Van ECO Tours” markings and found them all to contain dangerous fentanyl analogues in both nasal spray and powder form. After confirming the “East Van ECO Tours” packages contained controlled substances, investigators executed search warrants at Defendant Nicholls’ home, Defendant Nicholls’ car, and the car and home of Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator. Expert witness testimony at trial valued the fentanyl analogues recovered from Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator’s home at $24,000,000 and indicated that there were enough substances present to kill 375,000 people. Also located in the home were receipts bearing tracking numbers for thousands of packages sent out by the conspirators to addresses all over the world. Among those receipts, were tracking numbers for two packages that traveled to Kingsland, Georgia in October 2017. Following delivery of those packages, United States Navy submariners B.T.J. and T.L.B. consumed the contents of the packages and each died of opioid overdoses at T.L.B.’s home approximately 4 days apart in October 2017. "This conviction reflects the FDA’s commitment to holding accountable those who peddle illicit narcotics, including fentanyl and its analogues, to Americans,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. "No matter where in the world these individuals operate, the FDA will work with our law enforcement partners to find them and bring them to justice.” “The overdose deaths associated with this investigation are a tragic reminder of the dangers of illegal narcotics being shipped by transnational criminal organizations,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. “The United States Postal Inspection Service remains committed to work with our state, local and international partners in the pursuit of those who traffic in poison.” “Those who disregard the highly toxic nature of fentanyl by heartlessly distributing it for personal gain must be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Norman Dominesey of the NCIS Southeast Field Office. “NCIS and our partners are committed to aggressively investigating any individual or entity complicit in illicit distribution of substances that would threaten national security, undermine warfighter readiness, and endanger Department of the Navy communities.” “Drug traffickers who operate on the dark web often believe their crimes are detached from real-world consequences. This conviction proves that couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s role in this international conspiracy contributed to the deaths of two Navy submariners, an outcome that underscores the deadly reach of these criminal networks. DEA will continue working with our state and local partners in pursuing those who endanger lives for profit.” “This conviction sends a clear message that those who use the dark web to traffic deadly drugs will be held accountable, no matter where they operate,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The deaths of these two U.S. Navy submariners in this case is a tragic reminder of the dangers of synthetic opioids and fentanyl. Through coordinated international and federal partnerships, we will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities and bring them to justice. “Our department remains committed to strong partnerships with our community and our local, state, and federal agency partners,” said Chief of Police Rick M. Evans. “By working together, we are better equipped to target those who distribute and possess illegal drugs, reduce crime, and enhance the safety and quality of life for our residents. Collaboration is key to protecting our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe.” Defendant Nicholls’ conspirator, not named herein, has not been tried on his indictment. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Post, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Kingsland (GA) Police Department, and the Surrey (Canada) Police Department. Additionally, Health Canada and the Pasco County (FL) Sheriff’s Office provided logistical and trial support. The case was prosecuted for the United States of America by Assistant United States Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Timothy P. Dean and former Assistant United States Attorneys Frank M. Pennington, II and E. Greg Gilluly, Junior.


title: Perpetrator Of Nationwide Sports And Pokémon Trading Card Fraud Convicted

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that a jury found ANTHONY CURCIO guilty yesterday of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud for engaging in a scheme to defraud customers by selling them sports and Pokémon trading cards with fake grades purportedly issued by Professional Sports Authenticator (“PSA”). CURCIO was found guilty following a two-and-a-half-week trial before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. “Millions of Americans participate in our collectibles markets, and they should be free from fraud and manipulations,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Anthony Curcio now faces years in prison, and his conviction is a cautionary tale for those who would abuse the collectibles markets. Our Office is dedicated to ensuring that markets of all kinds, including collectibles markets, are safe from fraudsters. Anthony Curcio tried to cover his tracks and hide what he had done, but thanks to our law enforcement partners and the many victims who came forward, he has now been convicted of serious federal crimes.” According to the Indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at trial: From at least 2022 to May 2024, CURCIO and IOSIF BONDARCHUK sold and attempted to sell sports and Pokémon trading cards to many victims across the country with authenticity and condition grades purportedly issued by PSA, but which had been forged by CURCIO. CURCIO directed the scheme and used BONDARCHUK as a front man to interact with victims and list cards for sale on online marketplaces and auction sites. CURCIO and BONDARCHUK sold and attempted to sell trading cards with counterfeit grades for thousands of dollars, and sometimes up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, each, when the cards were actually worth only a small fraction of those sums. In total, CURCIO and BONDARCHUK attempted to deprive victims of over $2 million through their sales and attempted sales by misrepresenting the grade of numerous trading cards. Sports and Pokémon trading cards can have considerable resale value depending on, among other things, their condition and authenticity. PSA is a leader in the card collectibles authentication industry. For a fee, PSA verifies a card’s authenticity and assesses its condition, assigning a numerical grade from one to 10, with one being the lowest grade and 10 being the highest. After grading a card, PSA seals the card in a distinctive, tamper-resistant plastic case that encloses the card to preserve its condition and indicates its grade on a label inside the case. PSA also assigns a unique certification number—or serial number—to each card it grades, which collectors can then look up in PSA’s public database to find out information about the card and confirm that PSA had in fact graded that card. A PSA grade can have a significant impact on a card’s market value, at times increasing the value of the card merely as a result of having been authenticated and graded. And cards with higher grades can sell for considerably more than cards with lower grades, sometimes by multiples. CURCIO’s scheme focused on selling vintage rookie sports cards—particularly Michael Jordan rookie cards—and Pokémon cards that would sell for thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars if they had received a PSA 9 or 10 grade. CURCIO sold ungraded or lower-graded cards for more than they were worth by cleaning the rating and serial numbers off of real PSA labels and then printing fake 9 or 10 grades and new serial numbers on the PSA labels. CURCIO and BONDARCHUK sold the trading cards with fake PSA grades on different online marketplaces and auction sites, such as eBay, as well as in person at card shops, card shows, and in-person trades with victims. In addition to using BONDARCHUK as a front, CURCIO used other fake identities to hide his role from victims, PSA, and law enforcement. At times, CURCIO was confronted by buyers when they realized the rare, highly graded cards they had paid thousands of dollars for were fraudulent; CURCIO refunded the buyers, took back the cards, and then sold them again to new victims. CURCIO even tried to pass off one Michael Jordan rookie card three times, each time with a different forged grade. * * * CURCIO, 45, of Redmond, Washington, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. BONDARCHUK, 38, of Lake Stevens, Washington, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton, Kingdar Prussien, and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.


body_text: Nashua Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing a Firearm Later Recovered at a Crime Scene CONCORD – A Nashua woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to making a false statement to acquire a firearm for another person, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Tanya Hunter, 40, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with acquiring a firearm. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, on December 20, 2023, Hunter purchased the gun from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hudson, New Hampshire, for a Massachusetts man. Hunter lied on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form for the purchase when she said she was the actual buyer or transferee of the firearm. The firearm was later recovered from a crime scene in Massachusetts. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Court scheduled sentencing in this matter for May 11, 2026. The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Howard is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Boston Children’s Hospital Anesthesiologist Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former pediatric cardiac anesthesiology fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital was sentenced yesterday to nearly two decades in prison for producing, possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Defendant was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Christopher Sheerer, 37, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 22 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Sheerer was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $65,722. An additional amount of restitution will be determined at a hearing scheduled for March 26, 2026. In September 2025 , Sheerer pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography; one count of possession of child pornography; and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Sheerer was arrested and charged in July 2024 and has remained in federal custody since. “Every time child sexual abuse material is created, shared, or viewed, children are revictimized again and again,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Each case serves as a difficult reminder that child predators are embedded in our communities. This defendant did not just possess this heinous material – he produced it himself and shared it with others. Moreover, his chosen employment increased his direct contact with children. Today’s sentence reflects the devastating harm these crimes inflict on real children and sends a clear message that those who fuel this abuse will face severe consequences. Our office will continue to work tirelessly to protect children, pursue justice for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.” “Sheerer is among the worst kind of criminal we investigate. He held a position of trust in the community, but behind closed doors he was a predator of the highest order, not only participating in online groups dedicated to the sharing of photos depicting the sexual abuse of children but also acting as a hands-on offender. Now, he’s facing over two decades behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations New England. “When our special agents go to work every day, they’re working toward making the world a safer place for children. We hope that today’s sentence does just that and brings a measure of security to the family of the child he victimized as they move forward and begin to heal.” Sheerer was a fellow in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Boston Children’s Hospital at the time of his arrest and was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. In May 2024, an investigation began into a user of an online, encrypted chat application who belonged to a group dedicated to the sharing of CSAM. The target user was subsequently identified as Sheerer, with an IP address tracing him to Johns Hopkins University. Sheerer uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain admission to that group. Following a search of Sheerer’s residence in Boston, multiple chats were discovered on Sheerer’s phone, several of which contained pictures and videos appearing to be CSAM involving children as young as infants. Forensic analysis of devices seized pursuant to the warrant showed that Sheerer was involved in dozens of chats with users of the encrypted application, several of which included the exchange of CSAM, including imagery of a child known to him. U.S. Attorney Foley and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Districts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and Harrisburg; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Soto and Anne Paruti of the Criminal Division 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: Pennsylvania Man Admits To Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – Yesterday, a Pennsylvania man admitted possessing images of child sexual abuse, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Edwin Isaacson IV, 53, of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday before Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an Information charging him with one count of possession of child pornography. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Isaacson was found at Newark Liberty International Airport after arriving on an inbound international flight in possession of at least 28 videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual conduct. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2026. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division. 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 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 Justice.gov/PSC . ### Defense counsel: David Jay Glassman, Esq., Marlton, New Jersey isaacson.information.pdf


title: Orchestrator of Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 97 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Manfred A. Pentzke Lemus, was sentenced on January 28, 2026, by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón to over eight years in prison for orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19 relief funds issued under the authority of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The Honorable Aida M. Delgado-Colón also imposed forfeiture of $488,674.28 and restitution totaling $2,185,519.85. Pentzke Lemus pleaded guilty on September 24, 2025, to Count one of the indictment, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349) and to count 21, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)). According to court documents, Manfred A. Pentzke Lemus, aka “Man”, “Contable”, “El Gestor,” age 40, from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, organized and led a scheme to defraud the United States Small Business Administration and Oriental Bank by exploiting the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program. Pentzke and his co-conspirators, and the people they recruited submitted hundreds of fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications using false financial data and fabricated documents, including falsified tax forms. Pentzke coordinated the preparation of these applications, often inserting fictitious payroll and income figures, and monitored their approval and disbursement. As a result of the scheme, 223 fraudulent PPP loans were processed, resulting in the disbursement of $5,915,290.33. The SBA also disbursed $3,105,300 in EIDL funds as a result of the scheme. Recruits paid kickbacks to Pentzke and the scheme’s organizers. Pentzke, or companies that he controlled, received 100 of those kickbacks, totaling $486,277.70, which were disguised as legitimate business transactions to conceal their true purpose and facilitate loan forgiveness. The conspiracy operated through layers of recruitment, falsified documentation, and structured kickback payments, resulting in the fraudulent disbursement of millions in federal relief funds. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of exploiting emergency relief programs for personal gain.” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “These funds were intended to support businesses and workers during a national crisis, an unprecedented emergency, not to enrich individuals through fraud; and those who engage in fraud will be held accountable. I commend and thank the agents and prosecutors for their outstanding work on the investigation and prosecution of this case.” Two of Pentzke’s co-defendants have been sentenced, three are pending sentencing. The United States Secret Service, Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, Puerto Rico Bureau of Special Investigations, Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and Guaynabo Municipal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Olinghouse prosecuted the case. The CARES Act authorized federal assistance through the issuance of SBA loans to small businesses and non-profit entities that experienced revenue loss due to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. The EIDL program was one such loan assistance program for small businesses. To procure the loan, applicants had to fill out an online application detailing operational information for the 12‑month period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the number of employees in the business, the gross business revenues realized, and the cost of goods sold. Another form of assistance provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of United States taxpayer funds in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, such as interest on mortgages, rent and utilities, through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). ###


title: Justice Department Secures Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Missouri Housing Authority and Its Former Executive Director

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that the Housing Authority of the City of Bloomfield, Missouri, and its former executive director, Eddie Joe Hankins, have agreed to pay $35,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that Hankins sexually harassed a female housing applicant in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in September 2025, alleges that in 2021, Hankins subjected a female housing applicant to unwelcome sexual comments and touching without her consent, and offered to place her on the wait list for housing in exchange for sex. The lawsuit also alleges that the Housing Authority is vicariously liable for Hankins’ unlawful conduct. “No one should have to endure harassment and discrimination, especially when seeking housing,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will hold housing providers accountable when they target and exploit vulnerable tenants.” “This settlement contains very important protections for both the woman who alleged that she was asked for sex in exchange for a place to live and current or prospective housing authority tenants in the city of Bloomfield,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus for the Eastern District of Missouri. “Housing discrimination will not be tolerated in Missouri.” “The Trump Administration will not permit housing providers to prey on vulnerable women and engage in immoral and illegal sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig W. Trainor of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The Department is dedicated to vigorous fair housing enforcement and ensuring the right of everyone to feel safe and secure in their homes. This settlement reflects that commitment.” Under the settlement agreement, the Defendants must pay $35,000 to the housing applicant. The settlement agreement permanently bars Hankins from managing residential rental properties and requires employees of the Housing Authority to complete Fair Housing Act training. The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received a complaint, conducted an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered more than $17 million for victims of such harassment.


title: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Cornelius Houston, 35, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 15, 2025, Houston was found in possession of a loaded Glock handgun. Houston is prohibited from possessing ammunition or firearms based on his prior felony convictions for robbery and transportation, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance. The Sacramento Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Ng is prosecuting the case. Houston is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on May 14, 2026. Houston faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 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. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Four Queens-Based Sex Traffickers Sentenced to Between 25 and 35 Years in Custody

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Blanca Hernandez Morales was sentenced to 35 years in prison by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall for sex trafficking minors using force, fraud, and coercion, among other crimes. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge DeArcy Hall ordered Hernandez Morales to pay restitution of $179,300. Hernandez Morales was the final of four co-defendants who went to trial in October 2023 on various charges, including sex trafficking, to be sentenced. Her co-defendants and family members Roberto Cesar Cid Dominguez, Luz Cardona, and Jose Facundo Zarate Morales were each previously sentenced to 375 months, 325 months, and 300 months, respectively. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York) announced the sentences. “Today’s sentence holds the defendants accountable for their decade-long exploitation of young women and minors and is a reckoning for the perpetrators of these deplorable crimes,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella. “It is our hope that these extensive prison sentences bring some measure of comfort to the victims in this case.” Mr. Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and the Putnam County Sherriff’s Office for their work on the case. “This family orchestrated an international sex trafficking operation to route vulnerable victims, including minors, from Mexico into the United States to commit sexual acts. For more than a decade, these defendants lured young girls across the border with the enticement of the American dream before ensnaring them into a life of sexual servitude. May today’s lengthy prison sentences highlight the FBI’s intolerance of those who seek to profit from the sexual abuse and exploitation of others,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “This sentencing brings a conclusive end to the yearslong, unimaginable exploitation and abuse of young women and minors. No person should ever be exposed to the dehumanizing atrocities these victims suffered at the hands of their own common-law and blood relatives. HSI New York will never forget the strength of those who bravely came forward and we owe the successful resolution of this case to their courage and willingness to speak out,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. As proven at trial, since approximately 2002, the defendants, all of whom are related by blood or common-law marriage, participated in a sex-trafficking organization (the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization) that used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to cause young women and minor girls from Mexico to engage in prostitution in the United States. Members of the organization pressured the victims, including two minor victims, to travel to the United States with false promises of employment and a better life. When the young girls arrived in New York, they were forced by the defendants to work in prostitution. During the trial, one victim testified that she was 15 years-old and living in Mexico in 2007 when Cardona, her aunt, offered to pay travel expenses to New York City where the teen could work as a cleaner. The victim did not know that Cardona, along with her partner Zarate Morales, his mother Hernandez Morales, and her partner Cid Dominguez, were operating a prostitution business. After the victim arrived in Queens, Cardona and Zarate Morales brokered a deal with a client to sell the victim’s virginity. Thereafter the teenage victim was forced to engage in commercial sex with 20 or more men daily. Although the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization was based in Queens, young women and minor girls were transported to prostitution clients throughout New York State and Connecticut. The organization controlled “routes,” which were comprised of contact lists of potential clients in specific areas and employed individuals who served as drivers. Cid Dominguez also bribed Village of Brewster Police Officer Wayne Peiffer with free sexual services to ensure the organization’s protection from law enforcement in his jurisdiction. Peiffer pleaded guilty in April 2022 to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and was sentenced to 36 months in custody. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel A. Bennek and Nicholas Moscow are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants LUZ ELVIRA CARDONA (also known as “Lucy”) Age: 37 Queens, New York ROBERTO CESAR CID DOMINGUEZ Age: 62 Queens, New York BLANCA HERNANDEZ MORALES (also known as “Nancy,” “Maria Elena,” and “Malena”) Age: 55 Queens, New York JOSE FACUNDO ZARATE MORALES (also known as “El Guero”) Age: 37 Queens, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-622 (LDH)


title: Former NYPD Officer Pleads Guilty To Bribery, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ANDREW NGUYEN, a former officer in the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres to conspiring to solicit and receive bribes, conspiring to distribute narcotics, and possessing a firearm in connection with the conspiracy to distribute narcotics. NGUYEN is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2026. “Andrew Nguyen betrayed the community he swore to protect,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In exchange for bribes, Nguyen used his power as a police officer to distribute deadly drugs in New York City. New Yorkers have the most effective and most respected police department in the world because the NYPD and the people of New York will not tolerate bad cops. Today’s guilty plea reinforces that message.” According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court: For approximately three years, between at least in or about 2020 and November 2023, NGUYEN used his position as a police officer in the NYPD to solicit and accept tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments in exchange for assisting another individual (“CC-1”) with the operation of CC-1’s drug trafficking enterprise. For example, NGUYEN transported drugs, including approximately eight kilograms of cocaine, for CC-1 while NGUYEN was armed with a firearm, including NGUYEN’s NYPD-authorized off-duty firearm, which NGUYEN planned to use to protect CC-1 if violence occurred. While transporting those drugs, NGUYEN also carried his NYPD credentials and an NYPD parking placard, which NGUYEN planned to use to evade arrest in the event he was pulled over by other members of the NYPD. Overall, NGUYEN, who was at all relevant times an officer in the NYPD, accepted more than $30,000 in bribe payments from CC-1 (and solicited tens of thousands of dollars in additional bribes) in connection with NGUYEN’s participation in CC-1’s drug trafficking enterprise. * * * NGUYEN, 41, of Harriman, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and receive a bribe, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other term of prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. King and Jonathan Rebold are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Former Government Official Pleads Guilty to Bribery Conspiracy

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former General Services Administration (GSA) contracting officer’s representative pleaded guilty for his role in agreeing to accept bribes from construction companies. Lennie Lamont Miller, 60, of Brandywine, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiring with Christopher Brackins, 52, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, and James Tillman, 58, of Washington, DC, to direct GSA subcontracting work to construction companies owned by Brackins and Tillman. GSA is a federal agency that manages federal properties. According to court filings, between 2018 and 2021, Miller solicited and received cash and other things of value in exchange for exercising his authority over the GSA contracting process to direct work to his co-conspirators’ companies. In total, Miller received more than $100,000 in cash and other things of value, including a sports car. Miller pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to bribe a federal official and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not been set. Tillman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official and bribery in February 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2026. Brackins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official, wire fraud, and unlawful possession of a machine gun in April 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6, 2026. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland made the announcement. The FBI Baltimore Field Office, GSA Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Jonathan Jacobson of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo of the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.


title: Former teacher sentenced to 7 years in prison for possessing child pornography

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A former teacher at a Catholic school who was fired 25 years ago for hands-on sex offenses to students was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 84 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Martin Bayhan, 58, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty to the instant offense in July 2025. In 1999, while working as a teacher at a Catholic school in Pittsburgh, Bayhan molested two teen boy students. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor crimes and received probation. According to court documents, Bayhan’s Kik, SnapChat and Telegram accounts were all flagged for uploading child sexual abuse material. Agents executed a search warrant at Bayhan’s home and discovered child pornography on his cell phone and a thumb drive. In total, investigators located 36 videos and 300 images of child pornography. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Marietta scam artist sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison for $13 million PPP fraud and tax scheme

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Carl Delano Torjagbo, a/k/a Karl Lucius Delano has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison and ordered to forfeit millions of dollars in cash and property he obtained from a fraudulent $9.6 million Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan and filing fraudulent tax returns that generated a $3.4 million IRS refund. “This defendant shamelessly defrauded the government out of $13 million in taxpayer money to fund his lavish lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through aggressive prosecution, my office will continue to ensure that anyone who abuses government relief programs and robs government coffers pays dearly for their crimes.” “Carl Torjagbo’s fraudulent actions represent one of the largest single instances of PPP loan fraud,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “By fabricating a sham business and lying to steal millions, he blatantly exploited taxpayer dollars meant to help those in need. The FBI will relentlessly pursue criminals like Torjagbo who think they can profit at the public’s expense.” “Torjagbo’s sentence sends a clear message to criminals that committing tax fraud and defrauding federal programs for personal gain ends with them being held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring that fraudsters face the full consequences of their actions.” “This sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to investigate and bring to justice those who victimize the American taxpayer,” said Joel Weaver, TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge. “Fraudulently applying for loans through a federal program meant to assist Americans in need will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their commitment to this goal.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented at trial and sentencing: On February 13, 2021, Torjagbo submitted individual tax returns to the IRS using different social security numbers and dates of birth. The tax returns falsely stated that Torjagbo paid more than $3 million in tax withholdings and reported bogus losses for Kremkov Industries, Torjagbo’s purported gold mining business in Ghana. The false representations resulted in a U.S. Treasury check being issued to Torjagbo in the amount of $3,366,240.76. Just days later, on February 16, 2021, Torjagbo signed a PPP loan application requesting a loan in the amount of $9,554,425. In doing so, Torjagbo falsely certified that Kremkov Industries was in operation on February 15, 2020, had 493 employees who principally resided in the U.S., and had an average monthly payroll of nearly $4 million. To support the application, he submitted phony tax documents and payroll records that identified nearly a dozen celebrities and fictional characters as Kremkov employees, including Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Charlie Brown, Nancy Drew, John Snow, and Emilia Clarke. As a result of Torjagbo’s false and fraudulent representations, a bank transferred $9,554,425 in PPP loan proceeds to Torjagbo’s custody. Torjagbo used those funds to pay personal debts and expenses, purchase a Marietta mansion, and buy luxury items. On July 25, 2025, a jury convicted Torjagbo of one count of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of money laundering. On January 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown sentenced Carl Delano Torjagbo, a/k/a Karl Lucius Delano, 50, of Marietta, Georgia, to 14 years, seven months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Brown also ordered Torjagbo to pay at least $3,366,240.76 of restitution and to forfeit property and proceeds obtained as a result of the frauds, including: a personal money judgment in the amount of $4,615,080.75; more than $1.75 million seized from Torjagbo’s bank accounts; a Marietta residence purchased for approximately $1.7 million; a 2022 BMW M850xi, a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador, and a 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar purchased for more than $500,000 collectively; and land in Cartersville and Acworth, Georgia purchased for more than $241,000. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General provided considerable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly K. Connors and Nicholas L. Evert prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . 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: El Paso Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Tunnel Smuggling Conspiracy

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to 33 months in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to use a border tunnel to smuggle aliens. On Jan. 10, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol and ICE Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered a man-made tunnel connecting Juarez, Mexico and El Paso. According to court documents, Oscar Ivan Carrillo, 20, along with co-conspirators, used handheld tools to create new tunnels connecting existing storm drain tunnels to the man-made tunnel. Carrillo and the others would guide aliens through the tunnels and into the U.S. At the tunnel exit, a box truck modified with a trap door was driven over a manhole cover; the trap door was then opened, allowing the aliens to climb up out of the tunnel and into the box truck without being detected. Carillo was named in a four-count indictment on April 2, 2025, and arrested on June 10. On Nov. 4, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a border tunnel. “Mexican drug cartels and the alien smuggling organizations (ASOs) with which they partner care nothing about the hopes and dreams of those they illegally smuggle into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. “They care only about the money each of the illegal aliens pay to be smuggled. Even after putting their lives at risk by entering the country using the method employed in this case, as well as more dangerous methods, the cartels and their ASOs often extort these illegal aliens by holding them in U.S. stash houses until their family members can pay additional money for their release. In the Western District of Texas, in support of our law enforcement partners with U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, we will always aggressively pursue alien smugglers because doing so hits cartels right where it hurts: in the pocketbook. And weakening Mexican drug cartels makes this country a place where Americans cannot just survive, but thrive.” “This case highlights the relentless efforts of our special agents and U.S. Border Patrol partners to disrupt dangerous smuggling operations,” said Taekuk Cho, ICE HSI El Paso acting Special Agent in Charge. “Criminals continue to innovate and exploit our border for profit, putting lives at risk and undermining our nation’s security. Through coordinated efforts and strategic partnerships, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and dismantling these dangerous smuggling networks.” “This case demonstrates the unwavering commitment and teamwork of our U.S. Border Patrol agents and partners to dismantle dangerous smuggling operations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Munoz. “The discovery and shutdown of this sophisticated tunnel, and the successful prosecution of one of those responsible, sends a clear message: We will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our border security and bring them to justice.” ICE HSI and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case as part of Joint Task Force Alpha. Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), is 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ### U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas Image showing the white box truck parked at the storm drain exit U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas Image of the modification to the floor of the box truck, allowing access into the back of the box from the tunnel U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas Image of the modification allowing access from the storm drain. It also displays an image of the ladder left behind during a foiled smuggling event located inside the storm drain


title: Edwardsville Man Sentenced To 24 Months’ Imprisonment For False Passport Application And Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Arturo Perez Ramirez, age 35, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 28, 2026, to 24 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for making a false statement in application for a passport and aggravated identity theft. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Perez Ramirez was ordered to be removed from the United States in 2019, after he failed to appear for immigration proceedings. In 2020, Perez Ramirez purchased the identity documents of an American citizen, obtained a U.S. Passport under that identity, and thereafter resided in the United States under the assumed identity. The U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Knoxville Man Sentenced To 8 Years For Distribution Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On January 29, 2026, Nathan Lee Westbrook, 27, of Knoxville, TN, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, Westbrook will be on supervised release for 24 years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Westbrook agreed to plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2). According to filed court documents, on February 21, 2025, investigators with the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations – Internet Crimes Against Children (HSI-ICAC) Task Force received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that a user on Kik uploaded and distributed six video files containing child pornography. The IP address associated with the Kik user was investigated and found to be used by Nathan Lee Westbrook. After executing a search warrant for Westbrook’s computer equipment, HSI-ICAC investigators found 12 images containing child pornography and six videos depicting criminal sexual acts with a minor. The investigation revealed Westbrook distributed the six child pornography videos in a private chatroom over the internet. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by HSI-ICAC and Knoxville Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI-ICAC Task Force Officer Tom Evans. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.” ###


title: Clinch County Ex-Spouses Guilty for Trafficking Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Clinch County, Georgia, man involved in a methamphetamine trafficking network linked to a Mexican source of supply in Atlanta was sentenced to serve more than 24 years in prison, after he and his former spouse admitted to their roles in the crime. Crage Bernard Harris, 47, of Homerville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 295 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Jan. 28, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 1, 2025. Co-defendant, Bridget Denise Harris, 53, of Homerville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on July 1, 2025. Bridget Harris faces a mandatory minimum of ten years up to a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 19. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. “Trafficking methamphetamine and other addictive illegal drugs in the Middle District of Georgia will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Law enforcement agencies at every level are working together to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and hold all those profiting from these deadly substances accountable for their crimes.” “Methamphetamine trafficking fuels addiction, violence and instability in our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This significant sentence removes a dangerous trafficker from our streets and helps make our communities safer.” “This case highlights the reach and danger of methamphetamine trafficking networks and the damage they cause in our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “Through strong partnerships with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to target those who profit from these drugs and hold them accountable.” “I want to express my sincere thanks to the DEA and the GBI for their unwavering dedication and hard work in helping to keep drugs off the streets,” said Clinch County Sheriff Raymond Peterson. According to court documents and statements in court, Crage Harris was under investigation for methamphetamine distribution from a Mexican source in 2022, after federal agents discovered packages containing illegal drugs delivered to a residence on Travis Lane in Clinch County, Georgia, associated with him. Based on the suspicion of drug trafficking, additional multi-agency surveillance continued at the Travis Lane location. A search warrant was executed at Travis Lane in April 2022 following the delivery of several packages, under surveillance by the GBI and the Clinch County Sheriff’s Office. Harris’s former wife, co-defendant Bridget Harris, was seen placing the packages in the trunk of a car. Inside the packages, agents found bottles containing liquid methamphetamine and seized approximately 731 grams of methamphetamine. The DEA, the GBI, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Clinch County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Startup CEO Charged With Fraud

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced today the filing of a Superseding Indictment charging GÖKÇE GÜVEN with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges arise from an alleged scheme by the defendant to defraud investors in her technology startup Kalder Inc. (“Kalder”) through material misrepresentations regarding Kalder’s financials, brand partners, and paying customers. GÜVEN, a citizen of Turkey, also used lies about Kalder, as well as forged documents, to obtain an O-1A visa, reserved for individuals of “extraordinary ability,” that would allow her to live and work in the U.S. GÜVEN was previously arrested on November 27, 2025. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. “As alleged, Gökçe Güven built her seed round on fake revenue, inflated brand partnerships, and fabricated documents, and then used the same lies to secure a visa reserved for extraordinary ability,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Beware of fraud masquerading as entrepreneurship. This Office, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigorously pursue market participants who use fraud and deception to victimize investors.” “Gökçe Güven allegedly exaggerated her company’s fiscal condition and partnerships to swindle more than seven million dollars from prospective investors before using these misrepresentations to unlawfully obtain a highly acclaimed visa to the United States,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Güven allegedly curated a façade of her business ingenuity to unlawfully reap financial and personal benefits. The FBI will continue to expose any manipulative tactics employed to advertise misleading investment opportunities at the cost of their related stakeholders.” “This indictment displays the lengths that individuals will go through to defraud investors and the American public, and how they are ultimately caught to pay for their crimes,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Investors placed their trust in this emerging fintech founder and CEO, only to be misled and scammed, as alleged. We commend the work and partnership of the FBI and the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force to put end to self-serving executives and their fraudulent schemes.” As alleged in the Superseding Indictment and other public filings in this case: [1] GÜVEN was the founder and CEO of Kalder, a New York-based technology startup focused on business loyalty and rewards programs. GÜVEN promoted Kalder as a “fintech-marketing platform” that brands could use to create and monetize customized reward programs. In April 2024, GÜVEN began raising Kalder’s “seed round,” soliciting investments from dozens of venture capitalists. GÜVEN provided prospective investors with false statements, misleading claims, and fabricated documents regarding Kalder’s revenue and brand partners. GÜVEN transmitted to potential investors a pitch deck that misrepresented, among other things, that Kalder had 26 brands “using Kalder” and 53 brands in “live freemium” (that is, using basic Kalder services free of charge). As to some brands, Kalder had only entered into pilot programs to provide services for a limited time period and typically at a heavily discounted price. Other brands had no agreement with Kalder whatsoever—not even for free services. Kalder’s pitch deck also falsely reported that Kalder’s recurring revenue had steadily grown month over month since February 2023 and that by March 2024, Kalder had reached $1.2 million in annual recurring revenue. GÜVEN concealed the true financial condition of the company from multiple investors by maintaining two sets of books—one internal set containing Kalder’s accurate monthly and annual financial information that was prepared by Kalder’s outside accounting firm, and a second set with false and inflated numbers that was transmitted to investors and prospective investors. As a result, GÜVEN raised approximately $7 million from more than a dozen investors. GÜVEN, a citizen of Turkey, also made false statements and fabricated documents as part of a visa application. Following the expiration of her student visa, GÜVEN caused Kalder to sponsor her for an O-1A visa, which is typically issued to individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics. GÜVEN’s application repeated the same sorts of misrepresentations that GÜVEN had provided to Kalder’s investors. GÜVEN also supplied letters of support and reference purportedly signed by business executives but that, in fact, GÜVEN had digitally signed herself without the executives’ knowledge or consent. GÜVEN was ultimately issued an O-1A visa in the fall of 2025. * * * GÜVEN, 26, of New York, New York, and Turkey, is charged with securities fraud and wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; visa fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI and USPIS. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Nichols and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Former Brookline Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud and Tax Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A former Brookline, Mass. physician was convicted following a 10-day jury trial in federal court in Boston of health care fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Dr. Pankaj Merchia, 52, of Brookline, Mass. and Boca Raton, Fla., was convicted on Jan. 27, 2026 of one count of health care fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for April 28, 2026. Merchia was indicted for money laundering and health care fraud in December 2022 and later charged for tax offenses in a superseding indictment along with alleged co-conspirator Dr. Shona Pendse in February 2023 . Merchia perpetrated two distinct health care fraud schemes. First, Merchia billed former patients’ insurance companies for monthly rentals of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPap) machines from 2017 to 2019, despite not having treated the patients since at least 2011. In some cases, the patients had returned the devices to him. Merchia used the proceeds of this fraud to purchase an expensive home in Brookline. Additionally, Merchia defrauded another insurance company out of over $390,000 by submitting claims for a CPAP machine provided to his brother. After he was told that the insurance carrier would not pay for treatment rendered by a family member, Merchia created a new medical business and submitted new claims so that the company would pay. Merchia used the proceeds of this fraud to fund a wire transfer of $250,000 and to purchase at least $140,000 in securities. Finally, from 2009 to 2019 Merchia did not report, or pay taxes on, over $6.5 million in income he earned from his medical businesses by falsely claiming that those businesses were owned by his co-conspirator. To defraud the IRS, Merchia fabricated a sham transaction by which he claimed to have sold his medical businesses to his co-conspirator in 2008. To ensure that his co-conspirator did not owe taxes, they claimed large amortization deductions, spread across many years, for the fabricated sale. The charges of money laundering and health care fraud provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the IRS provide for a sentence of up to five 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; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Anthony M. DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to 11 Felony Drug Crimes, Admitting to Role in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lamarr Anthony Welch, also known as “Joe,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, to 11 felony drug offenses, admitting to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch admitted to participating in the conspiracy, to distributing various quantities of methamphetamine totaling 651 grams on multiple occasions between March 3, 2025, and August 27, 2025, and to distributing 4.4 grams fentanyl on August 27, 2025, as part of the DTO. Welch pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch conducted transactions arranged by or at the direction of co-defendants Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 27, of Detroit, McCarver’s nephew Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit, and Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 52, of Huntington. These three individuals and Welch are among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Darnell Marice McCarver pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026, to aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026. Two other co-defendants pleaded guilty. The charges against Joshua Willie McCarver, Henderson, and the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Welch is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. “This defendant repeatedly sold drugs in an already vulnerable community, flooding it with dangerous drugs and profiting from the pain, addiction, and devastation of its residents. He now faces the consequences of his crimes,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “This is another drug trafficking conspiracy dismantled by the incredible work of our law enforcement partners: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department. I also commend Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney for securing guilty pleas from this defendant in all 11 counts against him in the indictment.” “Methamphetamine and fentanyl destroy lives in our community. Actively bringing this poison into our neighborhoods fuels addiction and drives violent crime. Removing traffickers from our streets means protecting families who never chose to be touched by these dangerous drugs. The FBI and our partners will never stop holding accountable those who think they can continue to profit from addiction,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “This is why we participate and are a part of the Federal Drug Task Force/(Toc-West) when you see the hard work of that unit pay off,” said Cabell County Sheriff Doug Adams. “The men and women of that Task Force do a wonderful job, and this is the result of the work they do to and their efforts to make Cabell County safer for the families that call it home. Hope that this sends a clear message to others that want to plague our county with narcotics that have impacted our community in ways that are unimaginable.” United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154. ###


body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A former General Services Administration (GSA) contracting officer’s representative pled guilty today, for his role in agreeing to accept bribes from construction companies. Lennie Lamont Miller, 60, of Brandywine, Maryland, pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official. According to his guilty plea, Miller conspired with Christopher Brackins, 52, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, to direct GSA federal project work to Company A, which Brackins owned. Miller also conspired with James Tillman, 58, of Washington, DC, owner of Company D, to engage in a similar scheme. GSA is a federal agency that manages federal properties. Company A and Company D are general construction companies that performed subcontracting work on GSA projects. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice (DOJ) – Criminal Division; Deputy Inspector General Robert C. Erickson, GSA Office of Inspector General (GSA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Inspector General Platte B. Moring III, U.S. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG); and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). As outlined in court documents, between 2018 and 2021, Miller and Brackins knowingly and willfully conspired together for Miller to exercise his authority over the GSA contracting process. Through the scheme, Miller directed GSA federal project work to Company A in exchange for cash and other things of value. Miller effectively paired Company A with prime contractors Company B and Company C to work on GSA federal projects. He solicited and accepted things of value, in return, from Brackins, including cash, checks, payments for repairs to his vehicle, and payments for repairs at a residence owned by Miller’s relative. Brackins provided Miller with approximately $50,000 worth of money and other things of value. Bribery payments included, in late 2018, Brackins paying a fraudulently inflated bonus to one of his employees. Brackins then directed the employee to pay Miller $8,000 in cash from the fraudulently inflated bonus check. Similarly, in early 2021, Brackins paid Miller $25,000, at Miller’s direction, using an intermediary who accepted the payments through the intermediary’s air-conditioning repair business. Beginning in early 2020, and continuing until at least mid-2021, Miller also funneled work to Company D in exchange for cash and other things of value. Miller introduced Tillman to Company C personnel, effectively pairing Company D and Company C together to bid on GSA federal projects. The former GSA contracting officer’s representative then solicited and accepted things of value from Tillman, including cash, a sports car, and moving expenses for his romantic partner. Miller faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Thursday, April 30, at 2 p.m. Tillman pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official in February 2025. His sentencing is Thursday, April 2, at 10 a.m. Brackins pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal public official, wire fraud, and unlawful possession of a machine gun in April 2025. He is getting sentenced on Thursday, August 6, at 10 a.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the GSA-OIG, FBI, DHS-OIG, and DoD OIG Defense Criminal Investigative Service for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Crespo, along with Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Jonathan Jacobson, DOJ Criminal Division – Public Integrity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Illegal aliens sentenced for laundering over a million dollars in drug proceeds

body_text: ATLANTA — Lucio Hernandez-Mora and Sandra Bejarano-Garcia, illegal aliens from Mexico, have been sentenced to federal prison for laundering over one million dollars in drug proceeds. Hernandez-Mora was also sentenced for possessing two firearms as an illegal alien. “Drug traffickers enrich themselves, and the narco-terrorist cartels that supply them, by spreading poison in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through the newly formed Homeland Security Task Force, the Department of Justice is employing every resource to identify, arrest and prosecute criminals who participate in the deadly drug trade. The sentences imposed on these illegal aliens who were entrusted with enormous amounts of cash and responsible for moving that money for cartel bosses send a strong message that anyone who supports drug trafficking will face significant punishment.” “This case highlights the importance of targeting the financial infrastructure that supports drug trafficking organizations,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Laundering criminal proceeds allows these organizations to operate, recruit, and expand. Through close coordination with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, the DEA will continue to identify and dismantle the financial networks that enable these dangerous criminal operations.” “This case underscores the critical importance of interagency collaboration in combating drug-related crimes. The partnership between the DEA and ATF has proven essential in dismantling the financial networks that support drug trafficking. Together, we will ensure that those who exploit our communities for profit face the full force of the law,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On December 9, 2024, Hernandez-Mora and Bejarano-Garcia delivered $674,905 in bulk-cash drug proceeds to co-conspirators in College Park, Georgia. Then, on February 25, 2025, Hernandez-Mora and Bejarano-Garcia delivered $480,000 in bulk-cash drug proceeds to co-conspirators in Riverdale, Georgia. On April 1, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendants’ residence and located an additional $217,810 in drug proceeds. Agents also found two firearms that Hernandez-Mora purchased unlawfully. The investigation revealed that both Hernandez-Mora and Bejarano-Garcia are illegal aliens from Mexico. Earlier today, Sandra Bejarano-Garcia, 42, of Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to four years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Bejarano-Garcia was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering, after she pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025. On January 21, 2026, Judge Calvert sentenced Lucio Hernandez-Mora, 45, of Guerrero, Mexico, to three years and ten months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Hernandez-Mora was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering and possessing firearms as an illegal alien, after he pleaded guilty on August 27, 2025. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with valuable assistance provided by the Clayton County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin Hall prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. These prosecutions are also 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. 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: Norfolk Man Arrested for Sexually Exploiting Minor

body_text: BOSTON – A Norfolk man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sexually exploiting a two-year-old minor victim from Massachusetts. Ethan Irving, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of sexual exploitation of children. Irving was arrested this morning in Norfolk and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 3:15 p.m. today. In June 2025, Irving was identified as an online user who uploaded three files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Kik Messenger. A July 2025 forensic analysis of two cell phones sized from Irving’s residence located multiple media files depicting CSAM. As a result of the findings, Irving was arrested and charged in Wrentham District Court in July 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty to Dissemination of Obscene Matter and Possession of Child Pornography on Dec. 3, 2025, for which he was sentenced to two years of probation with conditions that prohibit his contact with children. According to the charging documents, on Dec. 15, 2025, while reviewing evidence related to Irving’s state prosecution, additional CSAM was allegedly located on Irving’s devices that had not previously been seen by investigators. Specifically, the images allegedly appeared to be a continuous series, sequential in time, depicting Irving sexually abusing a two-year-old female toddler who was known to him. It is alleged that the images appeared to have been taken inside a bedroom at Irving’s residence, with the bedding depicted in the images matching sheets observed and photographed by law enforcement during a search of the home in July 2025. The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael Jenkins, Chief of East Bridgewater Police Department; and James Floyd, Chief of the Plainville Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Norfolk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov 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: Felon Mexican National Sentenced for Being Unlawfully in the United States

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national previously removed from the United States three times was sentenced today, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Oscar Palacios Castorena, 34, for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Judge Shelby ordered Palacios Castorena to serve 37 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Court records show that Palacios Castorena has a lengthy criminal history while in the United States. In 2010, he was convicted of drug conspiracy in the Northern District of Oklahoma and ordered to serve 30 months imprisonment. In 2012, Palacios Castorena was convicted again for drug conspiracy and unlawful reentry in the Western District of Texas. He was ordered to serve 45 months' imprisonment. In July 2025, state court records show that Palacios Castorena pleaded guilty to domestic abuse in the presence of a minor. He was sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence, which was later revoked after being arrested and charged with stealing a vehicle in state court. During the booking process, law enforcement discovered that Palacios Castorena is not lawfully in the United States. Records show that he was removed from the United States in 2011, 2012, and 2015. Palacios Castorena will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard prosecuted the case.


title: Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced for Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Anthony John Crowley, 52, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer, was sentenced today to 71 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release after having pleaded guilty last year to distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen. In addition to the custodial sentence, Crowley was also ordered to pay a $10,000 assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. Rosen was joined in the announcement by Interim Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of FBI Minneapolis. According to court documents, Crowley, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, knowingly distributed one or more images which contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In 2022, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) received a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The tip informed them that someone was using the Kik application to upload child pornography images. The Kik user ID was linked to Crowley’s phone number and email address. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Crowley’s Kik account and his home and seized his electronic devices. On his Kik account, they located evidence that he had distributed child pornography images to other users and participated in chat groups related to pictures of children. On his electronic devices, law enforcement found child pornography and age-questionable images and what are known as “child erotica” stories. At the time of his crimes and of his arrest, Crowley was a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer stationed at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnetonka Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for their investigation and hard work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline prosecuted the case.


title: Dunbar Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Kanawha County Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Allen Corkhill, also known as “Mike” and “Mike Mike,” 31, of Dunbar, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Corkhill admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. According to court documents and statements made in court, Corkhill participated in the conspiracy during the time period by obtaining methamphetamine from co-defendant Amanda Marie Mace and redistributing it to customers in an around Charleston. Corkhill further admitted to distributing quantities of the methamphetamine on four occasions between October 22, 2024, and January 16, 2025, each time to a confidential informant at or near South Charleston. Corkhill also admitted that Mace was present during one of these transactions, on December 11, 2024. Corkhill is scheduled to be sentenced on April 27, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Corkhill and Mace are among 16 individuals indicted as the result of a federal investigation on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Corkhill and Mace are among six defendants in the main indictment who pleaded guilty. Mace, also known as “A,” 42, of South Charleston, pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2026. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the investigation. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-78. ###