title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Crimes in Connection With Unemployment Insurance Fraud Conspiracy

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man pled guilty in federal court to false-claims, identity theft, and wire-fraud crimes in connection with a tax fraud and unemployment insurance (UI) fraud conspiracy. Daiwor “Mark Brown” Woah-Tee, 53, of Belcamp, is charged with conspiracy to submit false, fictitious, and fraudulent claims to the Internal Revenue Service and wire fraud conspiracy stemming from a scheme to fraudulently obtain UI benefits during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea agreement with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office; Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); and Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D., Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security (DHS-OIG). According to the plea agreement, beginning in January 2018, and continuing until December 2024, Woah-Tee and his conspirators knowingly and willfully conspired to defraud the United States and the Department of the Treasury. The co-conspirators filed fraudulent Form 1040s seeking tax refunds from the IRS through fictitious claims based on fraudulent material representations. Additionally, the co-conspirators identified and recruited individuals willing to become customers of their tax-return business and obtained tax documentation and personal identifiable information from individuals seeking tax-return preparation assistance. Woah-Tee used the information obtained from individuals to prepare tax filings with the IRS. Then he and the co-conspirators filed or caused the filing of false tax returns, which contained fabricated information regarding the taxpayer’s dependents, income, education expenses, and eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The co-conspirators caused the IRS to deposit funds into bank accounts that they controlled and then caused the IRS to deliver treasury checks to addresses they controlled. As a result, the co-conspirators obtained tax refunds they were not entitled to in connection with submitting tax returns in which they illegally sought at least $3.5 million in refunds. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Woah-Tee and his co-conspirators submitted UI applications to the Maryland Department of Labor on behalf of victims, often without the victim’s knowledge, falsely stating that the applicant was entitled to UI benefits. As a result, Woah-Tee and others caused the Maryland Department of Labor to deposit UI benefits into financial accounts that they controlled, allowing them to withdraw the funds using debit cards for their own personal use. The co-conspirators obtained more than $550,000 UI benefits. As part of the plea, Woah-Tee agreed to restitution to the Internal Revenue Service of $3.5 million and restitution to the Maryland Department of Labor of $550,000. He also agreed to a forfeiture of approximately $4 million. Woah-Tee is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to submit false, fictitious, and fraudulent claims to the Internal Revenue Service; 20 years for wire fraud conspiracy; and two years for aggravated identity theft. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit 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: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, and DHS-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared W. Murphy and Matthew P. Phelps who are prosecuting this federal case. # # #


title: Making America Safe Again: DOJ to Award $300 Million to Model Cities Dedicated to Restoring Law and Order

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: The Model Cities Initiative will demonstrate the effectiveness of the Make America Safe Again Mission by taking a whole-of-city approach to reduce crime and restore law and order. WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced the Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a whole-of-city approach directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to transform public safety in America’s cities. Through this initiative, two to four cities will be selected to receive awards supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety. Proposals from qualifying cities are due September 1. “This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.” Investments will be made in a variety of areas addressing public safety, behavioral health, and related staffing, equipment, and services with the goal of leveraging federal resources to build capacity, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable reductions in crime that can serve as a model of innovation for replication nationwide. Eligible applicants include local government entities serving a population of at least 100,000. The MCI initiative will support a range of allowable activities, including: Hiring and retention of sworn and non-sworn personnel directly engaged in or supporting violent crime reduction efforts. Purchase or lease of equipment, tools, or technology that reduce crime and restore law and order including but not limited to real-time crime centers; forensic and DNA tools; body-worn cameras; license plate readers; artificial intelligence systems; small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS; ballistic identification systems; and information technology upgrades. Training and professional development that support intelligence-led policing, violent crime investigations, crisis response, correctional practices that strengthen reentry outcomes, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement partners. Facility Costs including lease, rental, or renovation expenses for space directly used in program operations, such as service delivery sites, training facilities, real-time crime centers, or intelligence analysis centers. Mental health and substance use services that directly support prevention, crisis response, screening and early intervention, treatment, case management, and related services addressing issues linked to public safety outcomes, including services provided in correctional facilities and in the community. Reentry, transitional support, and recidivism reduction programs and services designed to reduce repeat offending, support transitions from custody, and promote successful reintegration into communities, including operational costs for county jails and state prisons that support reentry preparation. Victim services for American victims of crime, including, emergency assistance, case management, shelter and temporary housing, medical and dental care, advocacy, transportation, childcare, legal services, and employment assistance. Youth crime prevention and intervention services that address risk factors for juvenile delinquency and violence, including gang intervention and suppression programs. Cities will apply through a whole-of-city approach. That means that city leaders, including the mayor, sheriff, county prosecutor, and others will work together to submit one application that proposes a persuasive vision of how this money can be awarded strategically throughout their city to improve law enforcement engagement, victim services, detention and reentry services, and preventive programs. Additional information about the award is available at www.justice.gov/grants . The planned competition is a multi-phase process. DOJ anticipates making initial award decisions in late 2026. To apply for this award, please submit application materials to MCIapplications@usdoj.gov . For any questions related to the MCI Call for Applications, you can send your inquiry to MCIquestions@usdoj.gov .


title: Former New York City Police Department Detective Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, John Bolden was sentenced by United States District Judge Diane Gujarati to 48 months in prison for wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). At the time of his criminal conduct, Bolden was a detective with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). In addition to the prison term, Judge Gujarati ordered Bolden to pay restitution in the amount of $303,138 and forfeiture in the amount of $112,002. The defendant previously pleaded guilty on February 18, 2026 . Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence. “Despite being a police officer sworn to uphold the law, the defendant organized a scheme that enabled dozens of individuals, including clients, family members and NYPD co-workers, to obtain millions in federal funds using fictitious tax records,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Bolden brazenly took advantage of a COVID relief program created to help struggling businesses survive an unprecedented national crisis. The sentence imposed today reflects the seriousness of that misconduct and our Office’s commitment to prosecute fraud related to the pandemic.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department; the Small Business Administration’s Office of the Inspector General; the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of the Inspector General; the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General; and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau for their assistance on the case. “John Bolden betrayed his oath to protect the community he served by secretly helping his co-defendants, family, and friends in stealing millions of dollars in PPP funds,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “While an overwhelming majority of NYPD employees strictly adhere to values of integrity and honor, there are those who exploit the system for personal enrichment. The FBI, NYPD, and our federal partner agencies continue working together to hold those accountable who exploit federally funded relief programs.” Then-detective Bolden owned partnership interests in a franchise for a tax-preparation business. Between May 2020 and October 2022, Bolden engaged in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by working with his clients to fraudulently obtain PPP funds. Bolden obtained PPP funds for himself, his co-defendants and more than 65 individuals by helping submit online loan applications containing false and fraudulent information. One of those loan applications belonged to co-defendant Anthony Carreira, also a former NYPD detective, who knowingly submitted false documentation to obtain PPP funds. Co-defendant Christian McKenzie, who is Bolden’s cousin, also fraudulently obtained a PPP loan and steered other applicants to Bolden in exchange for fraudulent PPP proceeds. As part of the scheme, Bolden prepared fictitious Internal Revenue Service Form Schedule C documentation, which accompanied the loan applications and contained false information about his, his co-defendants’ and his clients’ places of employment, gross income and net income. Bolden sought to steal nearly $3 million from the PPP, and succeeded in stealing at least several hundred thousand dollars. For their roles in the scheme, Carreira was sentenced on March 6, 2026 to time served, and McKenzie is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Grubin and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow. The Defendants : JOHN BOLDEN Age: 47 Valley Stream, Long Island ANTHONY CARREIRA Age: 43 Staten Island, New York CHRISTIAN MCKENZIE Age: 48 Wheatley Heights, Long Island E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-361 (DG)


title: Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Distribution of Kilogram Quantities of Fentanyl and Heroin in Myrtle Beach

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. – Federico Parra Lopez, 32, and Marcos Flores Aquino, 25, have been ordered to serve lengthy sentences in federal prison after being convicted of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and heroin in the Myrtle Beach area. These sentencings follow those of their co-defendants, Miguel Angulo Perez, 22, and Omar Sanchez Aquino, 33, who were previously sentenced in this case. All four men are from Mexico and were in the United States illegally. Evidence presented at the sentencing hearings showed that the men were part of a drug trafficking organization that originated in Mexico and operated in Myrtle Beach during 2023 and 2024. After being sent to South Carolina from Mexico, Parra Lopez served as a manager of the operation here and was responsible for maintaining an apartment in Myrtle Beach were kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin were received for further distribution. Parra Lopez was also held accountable for possessing a firearm that was used to protect the drugs at the apartment. Flores Aquino, Angulo Perez, and Sanchez Aquino served as drivers who were responsible for repackaging and delivering the drugs at Parra Lopez’s direction and collecting drug proceeds to be sent back to Mexico. The entire operation was shut down after a joint federal, state, and local investigation resulted in a federal indictment in October 2024. Parra Lopez was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison, which includes a five-year sentence for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Flores Aquino and Angulo Perez were both sentenced to 46 months imprisonment, and Sanchez Aquino was sentenced to 37 months. Each of the men will be deported upon completion of their prison sentences. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Horry County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is prosecuting the case. ###


title: As Part of Freedom 250 Celebration the United States Attorney Announces Hometown Hero Award

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced that Bonneville County Sheriff’s Detective Korey Payne was selected as the recipient of Idaho’s “Hometown Hero” Award. Detective Payne was selected for his extensive work combating child exploitation. As part of the Freedom 250 initiative celebrating America’s 250th birthday, the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho recognized Detective Payne for his exceptional efforts to protect children and his dedicated service to the community. Detective Payne is a Bonneville County Sheriff’s detective and is assigned to Idaho’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. During his nearly two decades of experience in law enforcement, Detective Payne led or played a major role in hundreds of investigations that resulted in the identification and prosecution of offenders who sexually exploited children. Beyond investigative work in his own cases, he mentored and trained other investigators and devoted countless hours to teaching parents and children internet safety practices to prevent child exploitation and victimization. “Protecting our vulnerable children is among the highest priorities for the United States Attorney’s Office and our collective law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “Without the outstanding work of Detective Payne, many of these crimes would go unsolved and additional children would be victimized. His experience, expertise, and commitment to protecting children truly makes him a hero for our community and our state. As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we also recognize Detective Korey Payne and the many other law enforcement officers, first responders, and public servants whose daily work helps protect our communities and safeguard the freedoms we enjoy in this great nation.” “As a member of my Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Korey does some of the hardest work in all of law enforcement,” said Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “He has confronted what others look away from, built the cases that hold offenders accountable, and brought a rare combination of skill, relentlessness, and compassion to every investigation. On behalf of the State of Idaho, congratulations to Korey on this well-earned recognition.” To recognize Detective Payne, U.S. Attorney Davis provided him with a letter of commendation, a commemorative Hometown Hero medallion, and a United States Attorney’s Office challenge coin. ###


component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced the Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a whole-of-city approach directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to transform public safety in America’s cities. Through this initiative, two to four cities will be selected to receive awards supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety. Proposals from qualifying cities are due September 1. “This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.” Investments will be made in a variety of areas addressing public safety, behavioral health, and related staffing, equipment, and services with the goal of leveraging federal resources to build capacity, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable reductions in crime that can serve as a model of innovation for replication nationwide. Eligible applicants include local government entities serving a population of at least 100,000. The MCI initiative will support a range of allowable activities, including: Hiring and retention of sworn and non-sworn personnel directly engaged in or supporting violent crime reduction efforts. Purchase or lease of equipment, tools, or technology that reduce crime and restore law and order including but not limited to real-time crime centers; forensic and DNA tools; body-worn cameras; license plate readers; artificial intelligence systems; small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS; ballistic identification systems; and information technology upgrades. Training and professional development that support intelligence-led policing, violent crime investigations, crisis response, correctional practices that strengthen reentry outcomes, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement partners. Facility Costs including lease, rental, or renovation expenses for space directly used in program operations, such as service delivery sites, training facilities, real-time crime centers, or intelligence analysis centers. Mental health and substance use services that directly support prevention, crisis response, screening and early intervention, treatment, case management, and related services addressing issues linked to public safety outcomes, including services provided in correctional facilities and in the community. Reentry, transitional support, and recidivism reduction programs and services designed to reduce repeat offending, support transitions from custody, and promote successful reintegration into communities, including operational costs for county jails and state prisons that support reentry preparation. Victim services for American victims of crime, including, emergency assistance, case management, shelter and temporary housing, medical and dental care, advocacy, transportation, childcare, legal services, and employment assistance. Youth crime prevention and intervention services that address risk factors for juvenile delinquency and violence, including gang intervention and suppression programs. Cities will apply through a whole-of-city approach. That means that city leaders, including the mayor, sheriff, county prosecutor, and others will work together to submit one application that proposes a persuasive vision of how this money can be awarded strategically throughout their city to improve law enforcement engagement, victim services, detention and reentry services, and preventive programs. Additional information about the award is available at www.justice.gov/grants . The planned competition is a multi-phase process. DOJ anticipates making initial award decisions in late 2026. To apply for this award, please submit application materials to MCIapplications@usdoj.gov . For any questions related to the MCI Call for Applications, you can send your inquiry to MCIquestions@usdoj.gov .


title: Matrix, HealthFair, and HealthFair Founder Agree to Pay $56.5M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Community Care Health Network LLC, doing business as Matrix Medical Network (Matrix), DPN USA, doing business as HealthFair (HealthFair), and Shahriah “James” Ekbatani have agreed to pay a total of $56.5 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by causing the submission of false or invalid diagnosis codes to the Medicare Advantage program. Matrix will pay $36.5 million to resolve claims in a qui tam action filed in the Southern District of New York. HealthFair, which was acquired by Matrix, will pay $5 million and Ekbatani will pay $15 million to resolve claims in a qui tam action filed in the Eastern District of Texas. “When healthcare companies report risk-adjusting diagnoses that are invalid, they siphon money from the Medicare Advantage program,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department remains vigilant in pursuing MAOs, downstream entities, and responsible individuals who do not play by the rules.” “Patients should be able to trust that their medical providers are making, documenting, and sending diagnosis information to insurers based on accurate assessment, testing, and what is best for the patient,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas. “It is a breach of trust when providers look to make more money by making their patients appear sicker than they are. Submitting unsubstantiated diagnoses increases costs to the Medicare Advantage program. This case emphasizes our District’s commitment to justice by pursuing anyone who attempts to steal through misrepresentations.” “For years, Matrix generated false and invalid diagnoses for patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans that were later reported to the Government,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Matrix advertised its ability to identify new diagnosis codes that would boost Medicare Advantage insurers’ payments, and it delivered on that promise by reporting lucrative diagnoses that frequently fell well short of meeting recognized clinical criteria. Matrix did so to generate business for itself, at the expense of the public fisc. New Yorkers hate fraud that drains public funds. Why? Because New Yorkers are smart and they know fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs costs all New Yorkers. This Office is proud to join with the rest of the Department, including the National Fraud Enforcement Division, to hold perpetrators of fraud accountable in Medicare and other contexts.” “The allegations in these matters describe conduct that puts profit ahead of patients and undermines the integrity of the Medicare Advantage program,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will not tolerate efforts to divert taxpayer funded health care dollars for personal or corporate gain. We will continue to pursue every available enforcement avenue with our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone who endangers federal program integrity is met with swift and robust accountability.” The Medicare Advantage (MA) program, also known as Medicare Part C, allows Medicare beneficiaries to opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in health plans that are administered by private insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). The MAOs contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide traditional Medicare coverage to beneficiaries enrolled in their plans in exchange for capitated payments. CMS adjusts these capitated payments based on the health status of each beneficiary as determined through diagnoses submitted by the MAOs. In general, CMS pays more for sicker beneficiaries likely to incur higher healthcare expenses and less for healthier beneficiaries. Diagnosis codes submitted to CMS must be supported by the beneficiaries’ medical records and be accurate, complete, and truthful, based on the best knowledge, information, and belief of the MAO making the submission. Matrix, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, is a health services company that contracts with MAOs to provide in-home assessments to MA plan beneficiaries. HealthFair, a company founded and managed by Ekbatani, operated mobile health care buses staffed by nurse practitioners and medical technicians and fitted with certain medical equipment. It contracted with MAOs in several states to provide health assessments to MA plan beneficiaries on HealthFair buses. Matrix acquired HealthFair in 2018 and shut down its operations by 2020. The United States alleges that during the period from 2014 to 2019, Matrix knowingly caused MAOs to submit false and invalid diagnoses of the following chronic medical conditions to CMS for risk adjustment purposes: proliferative diabetic retinopathy, drug-induced polyneuropathy, rheumatoid polyneuropathy, atrial fibrillation, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and simple chronic bronchitis (the “Invalid Diagnoses”). Matrix reported the Invalid Diagnoses to MAOs based on its in-home assessments even though: (a) there was not sufficient information to support the diagnoses; (b) the diagnoses did not conform with the guidelines for coding and reporting diagnoses as required by CMS; and (c) the conditions were frequently not diagnosed by any other healthcare provider who saw the beneficiary during the year in which the home visit occurred or in the preceding two years or subsequent two years. As a result of the reporting of these Invalid Diagnoses, the MAOs obtained inflated risk adjustment payments from CMS to which they were not entitled. As to HealthFair and Ekbatani, the United States contends that HealthFair knowingly reported certain diagnoses to MAOs that were unsupported, unsubstantiated, and/or invalid. Specifically, from 2015 to 2017, HealthFair providers (1) made certain diagnoses (including but not limited to HIV/AIDS, metastatic cancer, and Myasthenia Gravis) without documentation establishing or confirming the existence of the condition; (2) made certain diagnoses (including but not limited to morbid obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, coagulation defect, drug dependence, major depressive disorder, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) solely based on patient attestation, claims history, past medical history, or medication; (3) diagnosed congestive heart failure and heart arrhythmia despite contradiction by electrocardiogram and echocardiogram results; and (4) diagnosed thrombophilia solely based on separate diagnoses of atrial fibrillation. HealthFair, which acted at the direction of Ekbatani, submitted the diagnoses to its MAO customers, and the MAOs often submitted the diagnoses to CMS for risk-adjusted payments. The settlement with Matrix resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA by Nancy Cahill, a former employee of Matrix, in United States ex rel. Cahill v. Matrix , No. 19-CV-11153 (S.D.N.Y.). The settlements with HealthFair and Ekbatani resolve claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA by Robert Oristaglio, Jr., D.O., who was the chief medical officer of HealthFair, in United States ex rel. Oristaglio v. Community Care Health Network, Inc., d/b/a Matrix Medical Network et al. , No. 4:22-CV-00133-SDJ (E.D. Tex.). Under the FCA, private parties are permitted to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of the recovery. The settlements in these cases provide for Cahill to receive $7.3 million and Oristaglio to receive $3.6 million. This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of coordinated efforts between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of New York and Eastern District of Texas, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matters were handled by Trial Attorney Samson Asiyanbi of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachael Doud and Ilan Stein of the Southern District of New York, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McClendon of the Eastern District of Texas. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Note: The settlement agreement with Matrix Medical Network can be read here , the settlement with HealthFair can be read here , and the settlement with Shahriah Ekbatani can be read here .


title: New Orleans Woman Charged for $1.3 Million COVID Fraud and Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: The alleged total loss to the Small Business Administration for the fraudulent loans is $447,305.98. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced a two-count bill of information, charging AMANDA CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS (“CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS”) , age 44, with wire fraud and tax evasion. Count One charged CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. Count Two charged CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS with tax evasion, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 7201. According to the bill of information, between April 2020 and January 2021, CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS submitted twelve false and misleading applications for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program, seeking approximately $1.3 million. It is alleged that, as a result of these applications, CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS received approximately $447,305.98 through fraud. CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS then used the PPP and EIDL funds for personal and unauthorized expenses, including for a mortgage payment on her personal residence. In addition, CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS attempted to evade paying income tax by filing a false form with the IRS in November of 2022, which substantially understated her monthly income and assets. If convicted of Count One, CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS faces up to twenty (20) years of imprisonment. If convicted of Count Two, CLAYBORNE-WILLIAMS faces up to five (5) years of imprisonment. Each count also carries a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee for each count is also applicable. For more information on the Department of Justice’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 . U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service on this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Marylander Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Daniel Cruz Ramirez, 28, a Maryland resident, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with the sustained sexual abuse of a D.C. resident starting when she was thirteen, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Cruz Ramirez pleaded guilty before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Child. Judge McFadden scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2026. According to court documents, Cruz Ramirez met the victim at church services when she was twelve years old. Cruz Ramirez began texting the victim and told her that he liked her on her first day of school in the eighth grade. There were various messages exchanged between the defendant and the victim spanning April 2024 through December 2025 – including chats on WhatsApp, Instagram, and text message. The chats discussed Cruz Ramirez engaging in sexual acts with the victim and steps to avoid detection, including sneaking into the victim’s house and deleting certain messages and images. Cruz Ramirez sexually abused the victim multiple times between 2024 and 2025, including vaginally penetrating her. On Nov. 17, 2025, Cruz Ramirez recorded a series of videos, including a 26-minute video depicting vaginal and oral penetration of the victim. This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Kelley. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 26cr27


title: Lawton Man in Illegal Possession of 11 Firearms while Subject to a Protective Order is Sentenced to Serve 57 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – JUSTIN DAVID GILLILAND , 46, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of firearms while subject to a protective order, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on October 18, 2024, deputies with the Grady County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence following a disturbance call. The victim reported that she had received multiple unwanted phone calls from Gilliland throughout the day. Fearing for her safety, she and her children left the residence. When they later returned home, they found Gilliland’s vehicle parked in the driveway. Responding deputies eventually arrested Gilliland at the residence after officers recovered a firearm, a loaded magazine, and a bottle of liquor from his vehicle. At the time, Gilliland was subject to a protective order that prohibited him from possessing firearms under federal law. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Gilliland’s residence and recovered ten additional firearms that Gilliland had falsely denied possessing. On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Gilliland for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms. On November 4, 2025, Gilliland pleaded guilty and admitted that he knowingly possessed firearms while subject to a protective order. At a sentencing hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Gilliland to serve 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the seriousness of the offense, the need to protect the public, and to promote respect for the law as reasons for the sentence imposed. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Grady County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary E. Walters and Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA), 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. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of OTBA, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Maryland Member of Major D.C. Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced to 87 Months

body_text: WASHINGTON - Michael Owens, 38, of St. Charles, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison in connection with his role in a multi-year conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Owens was an active participant in a drug trafficking network that moved massive quantities of fentanyl and cocaine into the District. He personally admitted the narcotics amounted to more than a kilogram of fentanyl and two kilograms of cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When he learned his customers ‘loved’ what he was selling, he sought an even more potent supply. That kind of indifference fuels fatal overdoses. Owens’ sentence reflects the gravity of his choices and serves as a warning: anyone who helps drive the opioid crisis in our community will be held accountable, no matter their role.” Owens pleaded guilty on Dec. 8, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge McFadden ordered Owens to serve five years of supervised release and to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $30,000. According to court papers, from at least August 2022 through about November 2023, Owens conspired with co-conspirator Ronnie Rogers and others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine in the District. Owens served as a redistributor in the conspiracy, acquiring bulk quantities of fentanyl and cocaine from Rogers and reselling them in smaller quantities to other distributors and buyers. Rogers supplied Owens with fentanyl in two-gram bundles, each divided into 10 individual packages. Owens repaid Rogers after making sales. Wiretap interceptions recorded the two discussing drug debts, supply quantities, and contingency plans in the event either was raided by law enforcement. In one intercepted communication from March 2023, Owens told Rogers that his customers loved what he was selling and asked for stronger, more potent fentanyl. In another, Owens confirmed he was nearly finished distributing a supply of both fentanyl and cocaine and was ready to be resupplied. As part of his plea agreement, Owens admitted responsibility for between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl and between 500 grams and two kilograms of cocaine. Rogers, 71, of the District, was sentenced to 236 months in prison. Co-defendant Wayne Glymph, 49, of Port Tobacco, Maryland, was sentenced to 162 months. Co-defendant Samuel Braxton, 57, of Temple Hills, Maryland, who led the organization while incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix, was sentenced to 162 months. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division Office, the FBI Washington Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Alexandria Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Eliopoulos and Matthew W. Kinskey. This operation was supported in part by the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) supplies grant funding and strategic assistance to MCIN member sites. These resources enable the identification, disruption, and dismantling of criminal organizations through enhanced inter-agency collaboration and data sharing, contributing to a safer Maryland for all. 23cr394


title: Pensacola Felon Indicted for Gun & Drug Possession

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

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Joseph Jerome Reynolds, Jr., 31, has been indicted in federal court for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Reynolds, Jr. appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 6, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. Reynolds, Jr. faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and up to three years’ imprisonment for each count of possession of a controlled substance. The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Cuban Man Pleads Guilty to Labor Trafficking

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – An illegal alien from Cuba pleaded guilty in federal court today to labor trafficking after he helped smuggle three Cuban women into the U.S. and forced them to work in strip clubs across the country, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Yoirlan Tome-Rojas, 46, helped bring three adult females from Cuba to the U.S. by paying for their flights, drivers, hotels, and the coyotes who smuggled them across the U.S.-Mexico border. Tome-Rojas charged the women a travel debt up to $50,000 each and forced them to work in strip clubs seven days a week. Throughout the months the women were in his custody, he transported them to Indiana, Detroit, Michigan, and San Antonio for them to work in various clubs. Tome-Rojas required the women to provide him with all of their earnings and prohibited them from leaving or ending their work until their respective travel debts were paid off. He continually added the cost of food, clothes, shelter, transportation, and more to the women’s travel debts. Two of the women were with Tome-Rojas for approximately three months and, according to Tome-Rojas only paid approximately $1,000 toward their debt. Throughout their victimization, the women feared for their own safety and for the safety of their families in Cuba. Tome-Rojas pleaded guilty to three counts of labor trafficking. Each count holds a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia McNab and Karina O’Daniel are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Ten-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Stolen Firearms

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 33 months in prison for illegally possessing stolen firearms as a ten-time convicted felon. According to court documents, David Vincent Primm, 28, admitted to illegally possessing two firearms that had been reported stolen during vehicle burglaries. On March 1, 2025, police responded to a call of a vehicle break-in and theft in a residential neighborhood of Mobile. The victim had a Sig Sauer and a Glock pistol stolen from a vehicle parked in his backyard. Later that same day, a second victim who lived down the street from the first victim called police and reported that an intruder had burglarized her vehicle and stolen her debit card and driver’s license. Days later, the second victim notified police that someone had incurred more than $700 in fraudulent charges on her stolen debit card at a Walmart, a hair salon, and a smoke shop. Surveillance videos from those locations depicted Primm using the victim’s stolen debit card. On March 10, 2025, police executed a search warrant to locate and arrest Primm at an apartment complex in Mobile. Officers found Primm hiding inside a bedroom closet piling clothing on top of himself. Primm briefly tried to run away from officers, who detained him and seized his cell phone to obtain a warrant to search its contents. Primm admitted to police that he had used the second victim’s stolen debit card. He further admitted that an individual had given him the first victim’s stolen Sig Sauer and Glock pistols to sell to another person. Primm said he received $250 for the stolen guns and kept $50 of the illicit proceeds as his “cut.” Officers searched Primm’s phone, which contained pictures of the first victim’s stolen Sig Sauer and Glock pistols with the serial numbers visible. Primm admitted that he took the photos of the guns as part of his effort to sell them. At the time Primm illegally possessed the stolen guns, he admitted he knew he had ten prior felony convictions, including six convictions for breaking and entering vehicles and four convictions for credit card fraud. Under federal law, Primm’s felony convictions rendered his possession of any firearms unlawful. In addition to the 33-month prison sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Primm to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing and will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Primm to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Mishawaka Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison For Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms

body_text: SOUTH BEND – James Hanback, 61 years old, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to unlicensed dealing in firearms, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Hanback was sentenced to 6 months in prison followed by 18 months of supervised release with the first 6 months to be served on home detention. “As part of Operation Take Back America, agents of the BATFE traced numerous firearms that were involved in crimes to unlicensed gun dealer James Hanback. The Defendant purchased about 204 firearms from licensed dealers between January 2021 and the summer of 2025, and he listed about 165 firearms for sale on the internet, though he himself was not a federally licensed firearms dealer. He also made numerous cash deposits totaling more than $98,000 into his bank account. Investigators executed a search warrant at Hanback’s home after he sold two firearms to an undercover officer, and they recovered 10 more firearms and other documents relating to firearms transactions,” U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred said. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Neopit Man Indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on  Menominee Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 27, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Damien J. Peters (age 39) from Neopit, Wisconsin, for aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6) and 1153(a). According to the indictment, on or about April 21, 2026, while at a location on the Menominee Indian Reservation, Peters struck another person in the head, causing pain, swelling, and a concussion. If convicted, Peters faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier. An indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Former USAID Employee Pleads Guilty to CARES Act Fraud

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A former U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employee pled guilty in federal court, today, to charges stemming from a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act scheme that enabled him to illegally obtain more than $176,000. Simeon Bakare, 55, of Waldorf, Maryland, pled guilty to wire-fraud charges in connection with the scheme. Bakare previously worked on information technology matters for USAID. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Acting Special Agent in Charge Eduardo Santos, USAID Office of Inspector General (USAID OIG). USAID OIG is a statutorily independent law enforcement agency that has continued jurisdiction to investigate criminal activity affecting ongoing U.S. foreign assistance programs. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations. According to the guilty plea, beginning in April 2020, and continuing until November 2021, Bakare knowingly and willfully engaged in a scheme to defraud the SBA. Bakare admitted he submitted, or caused the submission of, multiple fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications. Additionally, through this scheme, Bakare caused the deposits of EIDL and PPP benefits into bank accounts he controlled. In furthering the fraud scheme, Bakare used fabricated documents in support of his fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications. Bakare submitted at least five false loan applications to obtain EIDL and PPP benefits, along with loan forgiveness, including fraudulent IRS Schedule C Forms and false attestations regarding the existence of sole proprietorships. None of the businesses Bakare listed on the applications had significant employees, office space, revenues, costs of goods sold, or business operations. Bakare admitted he used the PPP and EIDL proceeds for improper personal purposes, such as car and housing payments, along with grocery costs. Bakare faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Sentencing is set for Thursday, September 3, at 9:30 a.m. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USAID OIG for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared M. Beim and Joseph L. Wenner who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Three Illegal Aliens With Prior Felony Convictions Charged for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Three Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances yesterday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country. Rodolfo Arnoldo Campillo-Castro, Carlos Joaquin Lopez-Orozco, and Hugo Cesar Astorga-Nunez, all citizens of Mexico, are each charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for all three defendants are scheduled for June 16, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Campillo-Castro, Lopez-Orozco, and Astorga-Nunez were all previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally. On August 14, 2025, officers with the North Las Vegas Police Department arrested Campillo-Castro for trafficking in controlled substance. On May 29, 2026, after serving a term of 16 to 40 months in prison for Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Campillo-Castro was remanded by the Nevada Department of Corrections to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Campillo-Castro had been previously deported to Mexico on or about January 13, 2009. On May 17, 2024, officers with the North Las Vegas Police Department arrested Lopez-Orozco for trafficking in controlled substance. On May 21, 2026, after serving a term of 24 to 60 months in prison for trafficking in controlled substance, Lopez-Orozco was remanded by the Nevada Department of Corrections to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Lopez-Orozco had been previously deported to Mexico on or about March 26, 2019. On May 19, 2026, ICE, Las Vegas, Field Operations Team, while conducting targeted enforcement activities, arrested Astorga-Nunez. Astorga-Nunez, who had been previously deported to Mexico on or about May 24, 2011, and again on or about December 2, 2017. Astorga-Nunez has prior felony convictions for Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Sell, Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act, and Transport of a Controlled Substance. If convicted, Astorga-Nunez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. If convicted, Campillo-Castro and Lopez-Orozco each face a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Green Bay Man Indicted for Sexually Exploiting Numerous Children

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on June 2, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging William G. Waterstradt (age 22) with offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children. According to the publicly filed criminal complaint that preceded yesterday’s indictment, Waterstradt created a fake Snapchat account to facilitate the exploitation of numerous underage girls. Detectives recovered communications between Waterstradt and dozens of girls, some as young as 12 years old, in which he falsely claimed to be 16 or 17 years old. The investigation began after a 12-year-old student saw sexually explicit images on a friend’s phone during recess, prompting a report to school officials. Detectives subsequently identified multiple underage victims. Many reported that they had exchanged sexually explicit images with Waterstradt. Three victims stated that they met Waterstradt in person and engaged in sexual intercourse and/or sexual contact, which he sometimes recorded on his phone. Detectives also determined that Waterstradt shared some of these recordings with unknown individuals online. Waterstradt is charged with production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. He is also charged with two counts of child enticement, each carrying a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. This case was investigated by the Langlade County Sheriff’s Office, the Sheboygan Police Department, the Green Bay Police Department, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paris (Illinois) Police Department, with assistance from the Forest County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin Police Department, the Germantown Police Department, the Grafton Police Department, the Marquette University Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Langlade County District Attorney’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Jersey City Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Transport Stolen Goods

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Jersey City man was sentenced on June 1, 2026 to 48 months’ imprisonment for engaging in a conspiracy to burglarize logistics warehouses and transport the goods stolen from those warehouses and an additional 8 months’ imprisonment for violating his supervised release, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Derek Spivey, 38, of Jersey City, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to an information charging him with conspiring to transport stolen goods. Spivey also previously pleaded guilty to violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Spivey conspired with Jamil Bethea, Jamal Reid, Rasheed Sharpe, and others to burglarize trailers at logistics warehouses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, transport the goods stolen from those warehouses, and sell the stolen goods to others. As part of the conspiracy, burglars stole $50,000 of Department of Defense laptops from a Pennsylvania warehouse in January 2025; $200,000 of high-end perfume from a Pennsylvania warehouse in March 2025; and $20,000 of liquor from a New Jersey warehouse in March 2025. Spivey and his co-conspirators then transported stolen goods into and through New Jersey for the purpose of selling them. Bethea, Reid, and Sharpe previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. Judge Kiel previously sentenced Sharpe to 41 months’ imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy. Bethea and Reid are scheduled to be sentenced later this year. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. He also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Philadelphia Field Division with its assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. ### Defense counsel: Thomas Young, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender.


title: Collins, Missouri Man Sentenced for Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Collins, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for producing and receiving child pornography. Matthew Maggard, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Maggard to serve a 15-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. Maggard pleaded guilty on Feb. 4, 2026, to producing images of a minor for the purpose of manufacturing child pornography. Maggard also pleaded guilty to receiving images of child pornography over the internet. According to court documents, Maggard was identified through an investigation that originated in Minnesota. During a search warrant executed at Maggard’s home in Collins, Mo., investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol located and seized the defendant’s electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the devices located child pornography images, also known as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the defendant had received over the internet. The forensic examination also located images of a minor victim the defendant had taken using his cell phone on two separate occasions; March 9, 2024, and June 8, 2024. Maggard will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Covington Man Sentenced for Sending Child Sexual Abuse Material via Internet

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Covington man, Nicholas Esteban Starry, 31, was sentenced on Tuesday to 168 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for transportation of child pornography. In May 2024, law enforcement received two CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that originated from X and Google identifying accounts linked to Starry that had posted and uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Further investigation confirmed Starry’s use of the accounts, and a search warrant for Starry’s Google account revealed seven files, six of which were child sexual abuse material. Following a search of his residence, Starry was arrested and interviewed and admitted viewing child pornography using the same accounts referenced in the CyberTip; a forensic analysis of his phone revealed additional evidence of child sexual abuse material. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Leonhard prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. – END –


title: CEO of Iran Tech Company Arrested on Federal Charge of Supplying U.S. Equipment to Iran’s Nuclear and Military Establishment

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: A dual U.S.-Iranian national and CEO of an Iran-based technology company was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran by acquiring sophisticated U.S.-origin networking, security, and encryption equipment for Iranian customers — including the Iranian regime’s nuclear and military establishments. “As alleged, Ghomi enriched himself by supplying U.S. technology to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and other sanctioned entities responsible for the Iran’s nuclear program,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The National Security Division will hold accountable those who violate our laws to further Iran’s nuclear ambitions.” “Ghomi is accused of aiding our declared enemies by selling U.S.-origin computer networking parts to Iran and earning millions of dollars in violation of U.S. sanction laws,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed. We will hold him accountable by seeking an appropriate prison sentence and by seizing his assets, including his $35 million Newport Beach mansion.” “Today’s arrest reflects our commitment to disrupt the illegal flow of American technology to foreign nations, especially our adversaries,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office. “As alleged, Mr. Ghomi spent years exploiting United States financial systems and procurement channels to move controlled equipment to Iran while hiding his activities behind front companies and falsified documentation. We will continue to work with our partners to safeguard national security by utilizing our financial investigative expertise.” Jamshid Ghomi, 63, of Newport Coast, California, is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Ghomi is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. The IEEPA and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) impose controls and restrictions on transactions involving Iran based on the threats posed by Iran to the national security of the United States, including its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorism. The IEEPA and ITSR prohibit the export, re-export, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran without first obtaining authorization from OFAC. According to the affidavit filed with the complaint, Ghomi is the founder, owner, and CEO of Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd. (FPR), a Tehran-based computer networking company. For more than a decade, Ghomi has used FPR to procure U.S.-origin networking equipment for customers in Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Ghomi or FPR never obtained a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizing those transactions. Ghomi identified, negotiated, purchased, and arranged the shipment of large quantities of controlled U.S. technology for his own company. From 2011 to 2015, he used his own eBay and PayPal accounts to make more than 400 purchases of computer-networking equipment, directing the goods to intermediaries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2023, Ghomi personally negotiated the purchase of U.S.-origin networking equipment directly from suppliers in Minnesota and Nebraska, routing it through a UAE front company and on to FPR in Iran. None of these items could be lawfully exported to Iran without a license from OFAC. From 2014 to 2018, Ghomi arranged the smuggling of more than 250 metric tons (275.6 U.S. tons) of networking equipment into Iran, using freight forwarders and intermediaries in Dubai to disguise that Iran was the true destination. Ghomi knew this conduct was illegal and took deliberate steps to conceal it. He directed his UAE co-conspirators to keep his name off shipping paperwork, to omit invoices from shipments bound for Iran, and on at least two occasions to hide U.S.-origin computer equipment inside larger shipments. He used front companies in the UAE to obscure his role, and he personally received warnings on invoices and software licenses that exporting these goods to Iran was prohibited. Ghomi and his co-conspirators referred to Iran as “Motherland” in their internal correspondence concerning the equipment’s procurement. FPR’s annual sales exceeded $10 million and ran to hundreds of Iranian companies and government entities, many of which were subject to U.S. sanctions. A relatively small but significant portion of that business went to the most sensitive end-users in Iran: the Iranian regime’s nuclear and military establishment. From 2017 to 2023, FPR supplied U.S.-origin computer networking equipment to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) — the Iranian government agency responsible for Iran’s nuclear program, including its centrifuge and uranium-enrichment programs. The U.S. State Department sanctioned AEOI in 2020 for playing a leading role in Iran's nonperformance of its nuclear commitments, including exceeding the limits on its uranium stockpile and enrichment levels. According to the affidavit, AEOI required FPR to register as an approved vendor, which it did in 2021 and 2022. From 2014 to 2022, FPR supplied U.S.-origin networking, security, and encryption equipment to Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics — the Iranian ministry responsible for research, development, and manufacturing across Iran’s defense enterprise — and to affiliated military and defense-electronics entities. FPR’s 2017 contract with Iran Computer Industries, signed by Ghomi, expressly identified the buyer as the “Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics — Iran Computer Industries.” Ghomi laundered the proceeds of his illegal business into the United States, depositing FPR’s Iranian sales revenue into its operating account at a sanctioned Iranian bank and then sweeping those funds to himself. Within days, he received corresponding wires into his U.S. accounts from a rotating set of unrelated trading companies and exchange houses in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Turkey, and the UAE. Those wires bore false descriptions such as “Buying Goods” and “For Consulting Fees.” From 2011 to 2024, Ghomi moved more than $15 million from Iran into his U.S. bank accounts and into a construction escrow account held on his behalf. He falsely reported those funds to the IRS as a foreign inheritance. Ghomi’s federal tax returns reported almost no income, his highest reported income in any year being $20,684. Ghomi claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit, a federal tax break for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families, in seven different tax years. Over the same period, Ghomi reported more than $1.7 million in home-mortgage interest and $1.25 million in state and local real-estate taxes on his federal income tax returns. Ghomi funded the construction of his Orange County, California, mansion with the proceeds of his sanctions-evasion scheme. Ghomi purchased a vacant lot in Newport Coast in March 2010 for $4,490,000 and paid approximately $10,490,371 to construct the residence from 2010 to 2013. From May 2011 to August 2015, foreign-source wires totaling more than $7 million flowed into the escrow account funding the home’s construction. These wires came from many of the same trading companies as the transfers from FPR’s operating account, were handled by the same FPR employees, and bore the same false descriptions. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Ghomi would face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. IRS-CI, in coordination with the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Lachman for the Central District of California is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. A complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Member of an International Money Laundering Organization Pleads Guilty to Laundering Millions of Dollars in Drug Proceeds

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking. According to court documents and proceedings, since at least 2021, Puquan Huang, 50, a Chinese national residing in Buford, Georgia, was a member of an international money laundering organization that engaged in a sophisticated trade-based money laundering scheme. Huang and his co-conspirators routinely traveled throughout the United States, including South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, to collect bulk cash generated from the sale of drugs in the United States, including fentanyl and cocaine, from drug traffickers and distributors. Due to the illicit nature of the transactions, Huang and his co-conspirators confirmed their authorization to collect drug cash not by using their names or personal details, but by presenting verification codes, which were oftentimes unique serial numbers taken from U.S. currency notes. To avoid detection by law enforcement, Huang and his co-conspirators met with drug trafficking representatives at odd hours in atypical locations, such as gas stations and parking lots, for very short periods, and refrained from using traditional banking systems, such as wire transfers. Pickups of drug cash were typically coordinated by and occurred at the direction of co-conspirators. Using aliases, Huang and his co-conspirators primarily communicated on encrypted platforms, such as WeChat, with co-conspirators located in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and other foreign countries to arrange for the laundering of the drug proceeds by purchasing bulk electronics in the United States and exporting them to co-conspirators in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Huang conspired to launder several millions of dollars of drug proceeds, with money pickups and exchanges typically ranging between approximately $80,000 and $200,000. As part of the conspiracy, law enforcement stopped Huang transporting approximately $272,000 in drug proceeds in North Carolina. Huang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina, and Administrator Terrance C. “Terry” Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement. The DEA’s Charleston, South Carolina Resident Office and Atlanta, Georgia Division Office, Homeland Security Task Force/959 Group is investigating the case with assistance from the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit; DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit; DEA’s office in Columbia, South Carolina; the FBI’s offices in Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations; and state and local law enforcement in South Carolina and North Carolina. Trial Attorneys Jasmin Salehi Fashami and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett E. McMillian for the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.


title: Delaware County Man Sentenced for Social Security Fraud Charge

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brian Gill, age 60, of Andes, New York, was sentenced Friday to 5 years’ probation and restitution in the amount of $117,015.40 for a charge of social security fraud. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge, Boston/New York Field Division, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Gill admitted that between January 2021 and November 2023, while Gill was actively collecting social security disability benefits, Gill was also managing and personally engaging in physical labor for a tree services company he owned and operated. Gill also admitted he concealed from the Social Security Administration (SSA) the fact that he was working and falsely stated on a SSA form that he had not been working. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Social Security Disability fraud is a serious offense that robs taxpayers of funds needed to assist those who are truly unable to work. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, people who try to game the system, like this defendant, are identified and held accountable.” “Individuals who deliberately conceal work activity while receiving Social Security disability benefits undermine programs intended to support those with legitimate needs,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, SSA OIG, Boston/New York Field Division. “We remain committed to investigating allegations of fraud and working with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who exploit these programs are held accountable.” Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed conditions of supervision that included regular reporting to a probation officer; at least monthly restitution payments to the SSA; reporting to probation officials regarding income and earnings; and prohibitions against drug use and firearms possession. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Offices of the New York State Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Gillis and Adrian LaRochelle prosecuted the case.


title: Calhoun County Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Additional Potential Victims or Witnesses Are Encouraged to Come Forward GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Gerald Lee Preston, 69, of Homer, Michigan, was indicted on criminal charges related to alleged sexual exploitation of minors. According to court documents, Preston is charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, specifically that, in 2011, he used, persuaded, induced and enticed two separate minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. If convicted, Preston faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentence a court can impose for each count of sexual exploitation is 30 years in prison. U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “Every one of the prosecutors in my office is dedicated to getting justice for the children who are being sexually exploited. Simply put--we won’t stop until it stops. I applaud the work that the HSI agents have done on this case and we look forward to seeing this case through to a successful conclusion.” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is leading the ongoing investigation of Gerald Preston. HSI requests and encourages anyone that has relevant information about or may be a victim of Preston’s alleged crimes to call the HSI Tipline at (866) DHS-2-ICE, that is (866) 347-2423, or email investigators and victim assistance personnel at HSI-Preston-Investigation@ice.dhs.gov . The Grand Rapids office of HSI is investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Constance Turnbull is prosecuting it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Japanese National Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Conspiring to Export Firearm Components and Tactical Accessories to Japan

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Shota Yamamoto, 29, of Tokyo, Japan, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by United States District Court Judge Micah W.J. Smith to 12 months and one day in prison for conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act by exporting firearm components and tactical accessories to Japan. Yamamoto pled guilty on January 22, 2026. Yamamoto is expected to be deported to Japan upon the completion of his sentence. According to court records, from approximately March 2024 through July 2025, Yamamoto conspired with another person to export firearm components and tactical accessories from the United States to Japan without the required licenses. Yamamoto intended to use those items to retrofit airsoft equipment for sale to airsoft enthusiasts in Japan seeking highly realistic equipment. Airsoft is a recreational activity in which participants use replica firearms to engage in simulated combat scenarios using non-metallic pellets. Yamamoto used an address in Hawaii to receive shipments from U.S. firearms components and accessories dealers, and then arranged for their export to Japan, either by carrying them in checked luggage or by shipping them through a commercial shipping company. Yamamoto admitted that he exported or attempted to export over 900 firearms components and accessories, including AR-15 lower receiver parts kits, upper receivers, magazines, and similar components, each of which required a license to export that Yamamoto did not have. “The unlawful export of firearm components endangers the public and presents a significant national security threat,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Yamamoto’s sentence and expected deportation should serve as a stern warning that this conduct will not be tolerated. The protection of our country is paramount, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will devote significant resources to investigating and prosecuting these cases.” “The sentencing sends a clear message: Homeland Security Investigations will not tolerate the illegal export of firearm components that threaten public safety and national security. HSI remains committed to working with our partners to investigate and disrupt these criminal networks, and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.


title: Florida woman convicted for conspiracy to commit mail fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Florida woman was convicted for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits. Cheryl Galloway , 67, of Yulee, Florida, was convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud in U.S. District Court, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Galloway now faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release when Judge Dudley H. Bowen convenes sentencing proceedings at a later date. There is no parole in the federal system. “Using the postal system to advance a fraudulent scheme in order to enrich yourself will result in the harshest of consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will identify these criminals and hold them accountable.” As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period, Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states. The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail. "After a five-day jury trial, Cheryl Galloway was found guilty for her role in a scheme that stole taxpayer-funded benefits. Galloway and her co-conspirators filed fraudulent claims with workforce agencies across the country, falsely claiming employment and pandemic-related unemployment to obtain benefits they never deserved,” said Anthony P. D'Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “This conviction is a stark reminder that my office will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and pursue anyone who steals from American taxpayers." In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds. Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm . The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon and J. Bishop Ravenel.