title: McLeansville Woman Charged With Health Care Fraud,  Part of National Health Care Fraud Takedown

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, NC – United States Attorney Dan Bishop announced criminal charges against Deborah Lanell White, age 54, in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from a multi-year scheme to defraud Medicaid. As alleged in the criminal complaint, White, the owner of Reginald Center of Turn Around, billed North Carolina Medicaid for thousands of fictitious drug tests resulting in a loss of $2.8 million dollars. The charges announced yesterday by U.S. Attorney Bishop are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms. The coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including: Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers. 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers. Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million. 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025. The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced as part of the enforcement initiative. Descriptions of each case involved in the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown are available on the Department’s website here . The Middle District of North Carolina, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the Takedown: the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Investigations Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Iverson, Special Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Spillman, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid. 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. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering United States

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in the Springfield, Mo. area, was sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of a prior felony. Pedro Lopez-Dominguez, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Megan Benton to eight months imprisonment and one year of supervised release. On Jan. 18, 2026, Greene County Missouri Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Lopez-Dominguez during a traffic stop for erratic and intoxicated driving. After the arrest, authorities learned that Lopez-Dominguez had an outstanding arrest warrant from Taney County, Missouri, for a previous criminal offense and failing to appear before that court. Upon determining that Lopez-Dominguez was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE). Agents responded and determined Lopez-Dominguez was illegally in the United States and had illegally entered the United States in violation of federal immigration law on at least five previous occasions. Lopez-Dominguez was previous convicted for illegal entry into the United States as a previously removed alien in 2019. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Greene County Missouri Sheriff’s Department. Operation Take Back America 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: Mexican National Sentenced for Possessing Firearm and Illegal Reentry into the United States

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for being an alien in possession of a firearm, and for illegal reentry into the United States. Isreal Ramirez-Jaramillo, 34, a citizen of Mexico who has been previously deported on two occasions and was living in Osage Beach, Mo., pleaded guilty on Dec. 9, 2025. United States District Judge Stephen R. Bough sentenced Ramirez-Jaramillo to two years in federal prison without parole, to be followed by one year of supervised release. On April 20, 2025, Osage Beach Police Department responded to an apartment in response to a report of a man abusing his wife and discharging a firearm. Through investigation, officers learned Ramirez-Jaramillo consumed alcohol, became intoxicated and was arguing with his girlfriend. During the argument, Ramirez-Jaramillo went to his car in the parking lot, and his girlfriend followed him and they continued arguing. Neighbors exited their apartments to observe the disturbance, which angered Ramirez-Jaramillo. He removed a firearm from his car, yelled “where is the tough guy at,” and fired a round into the sky. Police officers located Ramirez-Jaramillo within the apartment and recovered the firearm, a SCCY, model CPX-2 9mm pistol. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Komoroski and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Duenckel. It was investigated by the Osage Beach Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Operation Take Back America 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: Illinois Man Admits Bank Fraud Conspiracy Involving Checks Stolen from the Mail

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – An Illinois man on Wednesday admitted engaging in a conspiracy to steal checks from the mail and deposit them into fraudulently-opened bank accounts. Isaiah W. Douglas, 24, of Champaign, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of possession of stolen mail matter. He admitted conspiring with others to deposit checks that had been stolen from the mail by opening unauthorized bank accounts in the names of the businesses that were listed as payees on the checks. Douglas admitted that he and his co-conspirators intended to cause a loss of at least $581,123, based on the value of stolen checks deposited into unauthorized business accounts and the stolen checks recovered by police. Luis A. Franco-Gonzalez, 26, of Rantoul, Ill., and Isaiah B. Handford, 28, pleaded guilty on May 20 to one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. Douglas’ plea agreement says that he and others stole checks, or caused them to be stolen, from collection boxes in and around St. Louis. Douglas then offered money to Handford and Franco-Gonzalez to fraudulently open bank accounts and supplied them with false business documents to do so. On June 12, 2023, Handford entered a St. Louis bank and applied to open a business bank account in the name of one of the victim businesses by falsely claiming that he was an owner and registered agent of the business. Suspicious bank officials refused to open an account. That same day, Franco-Gonzalez was successful in opening an account at a different bank in Chesterfield and depositing a $312,677 check. The following day, Handford and Franco-Gonzalez tried to open an account at a bank in Creve Coeur. Franco-Gonzalez entered the bank while Handford waited in the parking lot in the getaway vehicle, a tan Mercedes sedan. The bank refused to open an account for Franco-Gonzalez and he fled the bank on foot. Police spotted the Mercedes nearby and arrested Handford. Officers went to a nearby Drury Hotel, saw Franco-Gonzalez in a white Ford Explorer in the parking lot and arrested him. The Explorer contained a handgun and fraudulent paperwork in the name of one of the victims. Officers encountered Douglas at the hotel, carrying a backpack and a duffel bag that contained more fraudulent paperwork, a handgun and 53 loose checks, money orders, and envelopes that had been stolen from collection boxes. In hotel rooms used by the conspirators, police found more stolen mail and an additional stolen check. All three are scheduled to be sentenced on September 2. The Creve Coeur Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.


title: Felon Unlawfully In The Country Sentenced To 48 Months In Prison For Dealing Methamphetamine While In Possession Of Loaded Handgun And Shotgun

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Javier Velasquez Antunes was sentenced yesterday to 48 months in federal prison for dealing methamphetamine while illegally possessing a loaded handgun and shotgun. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria handed down the sentence. Antunes, 50, a national of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12, 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2026, to Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) and Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). According to the plea agreement, Antunes admitted that on July 10, 2025, he and two others dealt methamphetamine in the Mission District of San Francisco. Officers from the San Francisco Police Department (“SFPD”) observed Antunes sell approximately one gram of methamphetamine from a car parked on Mission Street, before apprehending Antunes, two accomplices, and the buyer. All told, the four men had at least twelve grams net weight of methamphetamine between them. SFPD then searched the car in which Antunes was sitting and found a loaded nine-millimeter handgun directly at the base of his seat as well as a loaded twelve-gauge shotgun bearing his DNA in a violin case in the back seat. Police also recovered various rifle and shotgun ammunition from the car. Antunes had previously been convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance While Armed and Felon in Possession of a Firearm in state court. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) Special Agent in Charge John Wester made the announcement. In addition to the prison term, Judge Chhabria also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release and ordered that he forfeit money, a cellular phone, and the firearms and ammunition. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli J. Cohen prosecuted the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, with the assistance of the ATF and the San Francisco Police Department.


title: Illegal Alien With Multiple Deportations and Violent Felony Convictions Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on three prior occasions. According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on April 29, 2024, Miguel Antonio Murillo-Ramos was found in the United States after he was previously deported to Mexico on January 17, 2015, April 10, 2019, and November 1, 2023. Murillo-Ramos has two prior convictions for illegally reentering the United States after being deported from 2017 and 2020. Both convictions were from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. Murillo-Ramos also has felony convictions for Robbery, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon from the Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada. Murillo-Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a fourth time. 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 prosecuted 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 . 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: Felon Indicted in Multimillion Dollar Healthcare Kickback and False Documents Conspiracy

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, United States Attorney Ellis Boyle announced criminal charges against Murad “Mike” Ayyad, 45, of Roswell, Georgia, in connection with a health care fraud conspiracy that involved the payment of millions of dollars in kickbacks and the creation and use of dozens of fraudulent contracts and invoices. Ayyad is alleged to have caused the submission of fraudulent claims for laboratory testing to Medicare, the Health Resources Services Administration (“HRSA”), TRICARE, and other payers through several labs and other entities that he owned and controlled. The federal charges are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. “Our office is committed to rooting out fraud perpetrated on federal health care benefit programs, particularly when the fraud involves payment of illegal kickbacks, which corrupt medical judgment and require taxpayers to pay for medically unnecessary services,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. The indictment alleges Ayyad solicited and received kickback payments from clinical laboratories, including two laboratories in which he had a de facto ownership interest, in exchange for generating referrals. To conceal the kickback payments, Ayyad caused the creation of dozens of sham invoices and contracts, at least one of which was provided to federal law enforcement officials as part of a kickback investigation into one of the laboratories Ayyad controlled. Ayyad also offered and paid kickbacks to independent contractor sales reps for generating referrals to the laboratories. Ayyad and the independent contractor sales rep targeted providers and their employees with marketing and solicitation efforts that included in-person meetings, meals, cash payments, and in-kind payments. “Safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs is central to our mission, and the results of this year’s National Health Care Fraud Takedown reflect the strength of our collective commitment. The cases announced today demonstrate not only the scale, but the seriousness of the misconduct uncovered, ranging from patient harming schemes to multibillion dollar fraud operations,” said Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell. “HHS-OIG will continue to pursue those who engage in such conduct and hold them accountable. I am grateful for the tireless work of our special agents and for the partnership we share with our federal, state, and local law enforcement colleagues as we work together to protect patients and preserve public funds.” “This indictment underscores the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) ongoing commitment to safeguarding TRICARE, the Department of War’s primary health care program, and ensuring that medical providers and related businesses adhere to federal law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Allison Russo of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Fraudulent arrangements that compromise medical judgment or misuse federally funded healthcare programs undermine trust and accountability. DCIS will continue to pursue individuals and entities that engage in such conduct.” 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. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Department Health & Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, investigated the case with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. More information about the Healthcare Fraud Takedown can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-00102-M-KS. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Tennessee Man to Serve 60 Months for Trafficking Fentanyl at  Hotel and Casino in Bristol

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Tennessee man, who trafficked fentanyl-laced pills and fentanyl powder into Southwest Virginia, including to the parking lot of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison. Jermaine Crayton Jr., 20, of Chattanooga, Tenn. pled guilty in February to one count of conspiracy possess with the intent to distribute and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents, following a law enforcement operation in August 2025, investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, City of Bristol Virginia Police Department, Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration developed intelligence that Crayton was trafficking fentanyl-laced pills and powder fentanyl. The intelligence indicated that Crayton, on a regular basis, had been bringing large quantities of fentanyl pills into Smyth County for further distribution. On August 18, 2025, law enforcement arranged a controlled purchase of 1,000 fentanyl pills and two ounces of fentanyl powder from Crayton at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Bristol, Virginia. After they identified Crayton, law enforcement converged on Crayton’s vehicle, at which time Crayton fled on foot. While fleeing, Crayton dropped several items, including a baggie containing pressed fentanyl pills and a baggie containing powder fentanyl. Following his arrest, it was determined that Crayton had brought 2,372 fentanyl pills and 58.72 grams of fentanyl powder to the casino. The type of pills Crayton was distributing are increasingly common and extremely dangerous. They are known as “pressed” pills or “M30s” designed to resemble a pharmaceutical preparation of oxycodone pills. However, they often contain fentanyl, in inconsistent doses that can lead to overdose and death. Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Washington Division, made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, City of Bristol Virginia Police Department, and Washington County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Whit Pierce is prosecuting the case for the United States.


title: Former Army Soldier Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Crimes Committed in Alaska and Texas

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former Army soldier pleaded guilty today to child exploitation crimes he committed while living in Alaska and Texas, including attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting minors known to him, and trafficking of CSAM. Herrera According to court documents, beginning in March 2021, Seth Herrera, 36, previously of El Paso, Texas, started using The Onion Router (TOR) and multiple encrypted and/or privacy-enhancing applications to access, possess, receive, and transport CSAM on his cell phones. Herrera used these phones to browse the dark web and used encrypted messaging applications to seek out, access and receive CSAM. He created his own publicly accessible group on one of the platforms where he stored his preferred CSAM files. In six weeks, he uploaded over 100 files to this group. Across various applications, Herrera participated in hundreds of groups and channels dedicated to CSAM. At the time, the defendant belonged to over 400 Telegram groups and over 1,400 Telegram channels alone. Some groups focused on CSAM involving bestiality, incest, and infants/toddlers. Law enforcement seized Herrera’s devices in May 2024 and discovered tens of thousands of CSAM videos and images, depicting sadistic and masochistic content of boys and girls ranging in age from infant through pubescent. Starting in December 2022, Herrera also used various AI chatbots on Telegram and other websites to create morphed CSAM. In some instances, Herrera would take non-explicit images of children, some known to him personally, and use AI to undress and morph bodies, and make it appear as if they were engaging in sexually explicit conduct. While fueling his desire for online CSAM, beginning in March 2021, Herrera started taking surreptitious photos and recordings of minors known to him in El Paso, Texas. In December 2022, Herrera captured screenshots of minors via security cameras around his home. In one instance, Herrera used AI chatbots to enhance and improve the quality of an explicit screenshot. In total, Herrera secretly produced at least 28 photos and two videos of one minor from security cameras. Herrera moved to Alaska in August 2023 and transported all his CSAM files across state lines because they were stored in password-protected photo vaults on his phones. On Aug. 23, 2024, Herrera was arrested at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, where he served as a Specialist, after a federal grand jury indicted him on transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography. On May 14, 2025, a grand jury in the Western District of Texas indicted Herrera on production and receipt of child pornography related to his conduct in El Paso. Herrera entered his plea under a global plea agreement after the Western District of Texas transferred their case to the District of Alaska on June 15, 2026. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29 and faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas, Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Michele Starostka of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s (ARMY CID) Western Field Office made the announcement. HSI and Army CID investigated the case. Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson for the District of Alaska are prosecuting the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory J. Rasmussen for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case in Texas. 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 .


title: Manderson Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 22, 2026. Gene Kaline, 33, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Kaline was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in January 2026. He pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026. In the Fall of 2025, Kaline led local police officers on several dangerous, high-speed chases while eluding them in a stolen vehicle. On one date, he was speeding into oncoming traffic in the course of which he nearly ran over a deputy sheriff attempting to deploy traffic spikes to disable the car Kaline was driving. Kaline was not caught. Days later, Kaline again led officers on a dangerous, high-speed chase without, initially, being caught. Later the same day, he was again involved in a pursuit during which he collided with a police car. Fortunately, no one was injured by the defendant’s flagrant actions and the defendant was apprehended. In the stolen car Kaline was driving, officers found a stolen 9mm handgun. Kaline has a 2019 felony conviction for Violation of a Protection Order. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Box Elder Police Department, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. Kaline was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: 73-Year-Old Former Cub Scout Leader Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ATLANTA – Ernest Vera, a former Cub Scout leader and baseball and football coach, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sex abuse videos on the Kik messaging application. “No matter their age, child sex predators like Ernest Vera must be prosecuted and punished,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, this sex offender should remain in federal prison until he is nearly 80 years old, helping to achieve justice for his victims, prevent him from exploiting others, and deter others from similar misconduct.” “Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation and victimization of a real child,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Vera actively sought out and traded these horrific images online, fueling the demand for child exploitation. The FBI remains committed to identifying those who prey on children and bringing them to justice, regardless of their age or where they operate.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In September 2021, FBI agents searched Ernest Vera’s home after learning he used social media to send and receive depictions of child sex abuse. During an interview at his home, Vera admitted that he used the Kik messaging application to view and trade sexually explicit images of children as young as thirteen years old. Vera also told investigators that he used Kik to encourage users whom he believed to be female teenagers living in India, Thailand, and South Africa to send sexual images of themselves, which they did. The FBI later searched Vera’s digital devices and his cellphone, where they found approximately 90 images and a dozen videos of child sex abuse. On June 22, 2026, Ernest Vera, 73, of Powder Springs, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown to serve six years in prison without the possibility of parole. Vera was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing hearing. After he completes his prison sentence, Vera will be on supervised release for 10 years. Vera was convicted of distribution of child sexual abuse material after he pleaded guilty on January 7, 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Boylan prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Former soldier sentenced to 18 years in prison for coercing minors to produce child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A former U.S. Army soldier stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a child. According to court documents, Isaac James Guinsler, 25, used Snapchat and Apple accounts to share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and communicate with minor victims. On Guinsler’s electronic devices, investigators identified 297 CSAM images and three CSAM videos as well as voluminous sexually explicit messages exchanged with individuals who self-identified to Guinsler as minors. Investigators identified and interviewed two minor victims, aged 13 and 16. Guinsler coerced the victims to engage in sexual activity, exchanged sexually explicit images with them, and obtained CSAM from them. Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Washington Field Office, investigated this case with assistance from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-7.


title: Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl in Southwestern Connecticut

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MONTEL CAPLE, also known as “Forbes,” 30, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a southwestern Connecticut narcotics trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, which was investigating gang activity in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport, identified Christian Pichardo as a supplier of various narcotics to gang members and other drug distributors. During the investigation, investigators intercepted calls and text messages over court-authorized wiretaps between Pichardo and his associates, made controlled purchases of narcotics, and seized drugs from members of the conspiracy and their drug customers. Some of the drugs seized during the investigation had been cut with fentanyl analogues, nitazines, and xylazine. Nitazines are synthetic opioids stronger than fentanyl, and xylazine is a large animal tranquilizer. Pichardo supplied fentanyl to Caple, which Caple sold to his own customers. Caple also sometimes supplied narcotics to Pichardo. Caple was arrested on August 5, 2024. On December 11, 2025, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Caple, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on August 24. Pichardo pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on July 14, 2025, was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment . This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bridgeport, Stratford, and Norwalk Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.


title: Des Moines Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on June 23, 2026, to 188 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to public court documents, in August 2025, Andrew Gordon Meyer, 26, was found by the Des Moines Police slumped over in his vehicle while it was still running. Inside Meyer’s car, officers found cash, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, and other drug paraphernalia, consistent with drug trafficking. The investigation revealed that Meyer sold fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Des Moines Metro area and possessed firearms. Meyer was sentenced under the United States Sentencing Guidelines as a Career Offender and has an extensive criminal history that includes weapons-offenses and multiple drug-related convictions. After completing his term of imprisonment, Meyer will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mallory Weiser.


title: Homeland Security Task Force Case Sends Sibling Co-Conspirators to Federal Prison for Roles in Transnational Criminal Organization

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: As the result of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation, a brother and sister were both sentenced this week to life in prison and 33 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a large-scale alien smuggling organization (ASO) directly linked to the Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). “The individuals sentenced today for coordinating these crimes are a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of human trafficking across the southern border,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Under this Administration and this Department of Justice, such heinous criminal conduct and collaboration with deadly Mexican cartels will not be tolerated.” “The reach of Mexican drug cartels does not stop at the border,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This violent, cartel-backed Alien Smuggling Organization operated for years in this country, endangering the lives and livelihood of so many. This case shows why our goal of eliminating Mexican drug cartels and their affiliates is worthy, necessary, and in the best interest of the American people. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with our HSTF partners, the Western District of Texas will continue to aggressively lead the way.” “HSI Eagle Pass’s unwavering commitment to justice has resulted in the lengthy imprisonment of two ruthless human smugglers whose actions led to hostage taking and the tragic loss of life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “This sentencing sends a powerful message: HSI will never tolerate those who exploit and endanger innocent lives for profit. The success of this HSTF investigation highlights the vital importance of collaboration. Our agents, working closely with dedicated law enforcement partners, dismantled Guzman’s criminal enterprise and ensured they face the full weight of justice. By combining our resources and expertise through the HSTF, we safeguard our communities and bring the most dangerous offenders to justice.” According to court documents, Edgar Daniel Guzman, 32, of Albertville, Alabama, was a leader/organizer of a Transnational Criminal Organization that operated in Mexico and across the southern United States — including Alabama, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas — since at least 2021. Between 2021 and 2026, the ASO committed numerous acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, home invasion, and armed kidnapping. In his role, Guzman coordinated several failed alien smuggling attempts on behalf of the ASO and maintained CashApp accounts that revealed direct ties to co-conspirators and financial transactions connecting to corresponding smuggling events. Guzman pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking. He was sentenced on June 22 to life in prison. Guzman’s sister, Jesika Guzman-Garcia, 35, an illegal alien from Guanajuato, Mexico, was one of many co-conspirators in the ASO. She was tied to a smuggling event that resulted in the deaths of the smuggling load driver and two illegal aliens. As in her brother’s case, an investigation revealed that a CashApp account belonging to Guzman-Garcia was linked to several failed human smuggling events within the Western District of Texas. Using the app, Guzman-Garcia made 459 payments to individuals from July 25, 2018, to April 1, 2023, totaling $84,046. Guzman-Garcia pleaded guilty on Aug. 7, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death. She was sentenced on June 23 to 405 months in federal prison. Flipped vehicle from failed smuggling attempt that resulted in the deaths of three people. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas sentenced Guzman and Guzman-Garcia and presides over the case. More related sentencings are scheduled in the coming months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner for the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking in Sacramento Area

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Felix Ortiz-Plata, 45, a Mexican national illegally residing in Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 16 years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, in 2022 Ortiz-Plata was at the center of a substantial drug trafficking operation and operated a clandestine stash house with multiple firearms and was responsible for 377 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 ounces of cocaine. Ortiz-Plata has a history of large-scale drug trafficking and was on court-ordered supervision for a state court conviction at the age of 33 when he became involved in this extensive drug trafficking conspiracy. On Aug. 18, 2025, Ortiz-Plata pleaded guilty. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Forest Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Land Management, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.


title: Klamath Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Distributing Explosive Devices

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

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—A Klamath Falls, Oregon, man pleaded guilty on Monday for illegally distributing explosive devices, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. Jason Edward Lowery, 52, pleaded guilty to distribution of explosives by a non-licensee. According to court documents, in June 2025, Lowery sold multiple illegal M-type explosive devices at his residence and at his place of business in Klamath Falls. Pursuant to a search warrant at Lowery’s residence, business, and vehicle, investigators seized over 200 homemade explosive devices and materials for constructing more explosives. Police seized a destructive device that had a large amount of explosive powder and nails strapped to it. At Lowery’s residence, police also seized firearms and methamphetamine. Lowery’s phone revealed texts showing he was selling devices to multiple individuals. On July 17, 2025, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a two-count indictment charging Lowery with distribution of explosives by a non-licensee and manufacture of explosives by a non-licensee. Lowery faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on October 8, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge. As part of the plea agreement, Lowery has agreed to forfeit any criminally-derived proceeds and property used to facilitate his crimes identified by the government prior to sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Oregon State Police are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith R. Harper is prosecuting the case.


title: Alien Admits to Illegally Voting in Federal Election

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County man admitted to illegally voting in a federal election, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Eliezer Kadoch, a resident of Toms River, New Jersey, who is not a citizen of the United States, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of voting by an alien in a federal election before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Brendan Day in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Kadoch, 39, is a citizen of France and has never been a citizen of the United States. In November 2022, Kadoch voted in the midterm election that was held in part for the purpose of electing a Member of the United States House of Representatives. The voting by an alien charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 6 months in prison and a $100,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Day on October 26, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the investigation. This case was brought under the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted in the District of New Jersey. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division. ### Defense Counsel: Yosef Jacobovitch, Esq. kadoch.information.pdf


component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Boston Man Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl CONCORD – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court for distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Jeison Eulogio Dume-Calderone, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 70 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release. Dume-Calderone pleaded guilty to the charges on December 1, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security has determined that Dume-Calderon is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who is present in the United States unlawfully. “Today’s sentence underscores our office’s commitment to combating the flow of methamphetamine and fentanyl into our communities. This defendant chose to traffic in highly addictive and dangerous drugs and now will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Drug traffickers who move pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl into our communities are driven by profit, with no regard for the lives they put at risk” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic these deadly substances into New Hampshire will be identified, investigated, and held accountable. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to disrupting the supply of illicit drugs and protecting families from the devastating consequences of addiction, overdose, and drug-related violence.” The investigation was led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennfer C. Davis is prosecuting the case. This effort 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: Trenton Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County man was sentenced yesterday to 90 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Anthony Brown, 31, of Trenton, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch on February 17, 2026 in Trenton federal court to an Indictment charging him with possessing firearms as a convicted felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: During the evening of October 3, 2023, Trenton Police Officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Brown. During the stop, Brown exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Brown then led law enforcement on a foot pursuit along the Delaware and Raritan Canal while he clutched a dark-colored cross-body style bag in his hands. Brown attempted to discard his bag in brush adjacent to the canal before he dove into the canal. Officers caught up with Brown, assisted him getting out of the canal, and subsequently arrested him. Inside Brown’s bag were two semi-automatic handguns. Brown’s status as a felon—at the time, he had prior felony convictions—prohibited him from possessing firearms. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kirsch sentenced Brown to 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka; officers of the Trenton Police Department, under the supervision of Director Steve Wilson; and members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Janetta D. Marbrey, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard G. Shephard and Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. ### Defense counsel: Aidan P. O’Connor, Esq., of Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.


title: Dubuque Felon Who Possessed Multiple Guns  Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed multiple firearms as a felon in the summer of 2024 was sentenced today to 8 years in federal prison. Bailey Michael Valentine, age 26, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 27, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that in May 2024, law enforcement officers pulled over a car in which Valentine was the passenger. Officers found Valentine’s backpack in the car. It contained methamphetamine. Later that day, officers searched his house and found a stolen and loaded gun. Valentine continued to possess a firearm on multiple occasions after that. In July 2024, officers pulled over another car that Valentine was driving. Inside the car, officers found a loaded gun that belonged to Valentine, as well as ammunition that he had stolen earlier in the day. Valentine has an extensive criminal history, including two drug‑related felony convictions from 2021. Valentine was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Valentine was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. 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. Valentine is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives and the Dubuque Drug Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1031. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: USAO-KS gives “comfort donations” to charity that helps abused children

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – In the spirit of Freedom 250 , a celebration to the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country are taking part in charity drives to benefit their local communities. In the District of Kansas (USAO-KS), we sought to give small tokens of joy to Kansas children struggling emotionally after physical and/or sexual abuse by donating to a non-profit agency which helps abused children. The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas (CAC) supports 19 local child advocacy centers throughout the state of Kansas. CAC’s mission is to provide an immediate and compassionate response for child abuse victims by facilitating coordination among law enforcement, child protection services, mental health providers, as well as parents and caregivers. USAO-KS organized a collection drive for CAC. Staff in the Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, Kansas offices bought books, toys, blankets, snacks and other items which will be given to children who arrive at the centers. “When they come to a CAC, they are kind of handling some of the harshest days in the midst of crisis,” said Klarissa Ponce of the CAC. “To be able to greet them with either a snack or leave them with an item of appreciation for their time, just brings that moment of joy back to a sensitive and really traumatic experience for them. We’re very excited that we are able to have some fun items to bring back that childhood spirit.” “I would like to thank USAO employees for their generosity in helping the CAC accomplish its important work on behalf of the children of Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Placing service above self is one of the pillars on which our nation was founded 250 years ago, and I’m proud to see our staff continue that legacy.” If you want to learn more about the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kansas and the invaluable services it provides, click on this link https://www.kscac.org/ ###


title: Fairfax felon found with firearm now returning to prison

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fairfax man was sentenced today to a year and five months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on June 11, 2025, Basim Dauwd Jami, aka David Jackson, 64, possessed a handgun when law enforcement approached him to serve an outstanding warrant for an alleged probation violation. Jami attempted to flee on foot, but officers arrested him in a nearby parking garage. In 1986, Jami broke into a home and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old victim. In 2005, he was convicted for driving under the influence. In 2007, Jami was found in possession of a concealed weapon, which officers discovered when they stopped Jami during a rape investigation. As a convicted felon, Jami cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the City of Fairfax Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Clement prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-17.


title: Four Charged in Nebraska as Part of National Health Care Fraud Takedown

body_text: On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced criminal charges against four defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges include billing health care benefit programs for services not rendered and overcharging for medication, fraud involving mental health care, and fraudulent claims in relation to durable medical equipment. The charges announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Woods are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Tuesday’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms. Tuesday’s coordinated enforcement action involved a whole-of-government approach, including: Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers. 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers. Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million. 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025. The following individuals were charged in the District of Nebraska: Angie Albert , 50, and Brent Conaway , 51, both of Hinton, Oklahoma, were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, and money laundering, in connection with a scheme to bill health care benefit programs for services not rendered and to overcharge for medication. As alleged in the indictment, Albert and Conaway submitted and caused to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid false claims for treatment with Spravato, a ketamine nasal spray. The false claims totaled approximately $4,451,498.44 and resulted in overpayments totaling approximately $976,978.82. Assets seized and subject to forfeiture to date include a motorcycle, two vehicles, and an RV. Additionally, the defendants’ residence is subject to forfeiture. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Packard and Kelli Ceraolo of the District of Nebraska. Phyllis M. Rooney , 67, of Kapolei, Hawaii, was charged by information with false statements in connection with health care services related to mental health counseling services that she did not provide. The defendant caused a loss to Nebraska Medicaid of $92,582.43. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald J. Kleine of the District of Nebraska. Cassi Wigington , 49, of Omaha, Nebraska, was charged by information with health care fraud in connection with a scheme to submit fraudulent claims to Nebraska Medicaid and other insurers for durable medical equipment, specifically, custom-made breast protheses. Wigington billed for products that patients never received, causing the submission of fraudulent claims to Nebraska Medicaid and other insurers in the amount of $445,455.37. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Lynch of the District of Nebraska. The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia participated in the investigation of federal cases announced Tuesday. Descriptions of each case involved in Tuesday’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here . The District of Nebraska, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); FBI; and Nebraska Attorney General. 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. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Sixth Defendant Pleads Guilty for Role in Conspiracy to Launder  Tens of Millions of Dollars in Illicit Cash Proceeds

body_text: A Brazilian man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accepted the guilty plea today. On June 1, the district court also accepted the guilty pleas of five co-defendants. According to court documents, Omar Aliperti De Mello Correa, 34, a U.S. citizen residing in Orlando; Ygor Fokin Saviolli, 35, a Brazilian national; Gabriel Cezar Menezes, 29, a Brazilian national; Joao Andrade De Mello, 29, a Brazilian national; Tadeu Sebastiane Rabelo Alves Barbosa, 30, a Brazilian national; and Leandro De Avila Goncalves, 42, a Brazilian national, all illegally residing in Orlando, were part of a sophisticated money laundering organization that operated across the United States and spanned several countries. Members of the conspiracy arranged for bulk cash proceeds from the sale of controlled substances to be received by U.S.-based couriers and deposited at banks across the country in order to conceal and return those profits to, among others, the sources of drug supply operating outside the United States. Dozens of pickups across the country were coordinated through WhatsApp message chains that included facilitators and couriers. Saviolli provided upfront funds to facilitate the operations of the money laundering organization and oversaw the receipt and laundering of the bulk cash drug proceeds. Menezes also served as a facilitator, providing direction to and oversight of couriers, and personally picked up bulk cash on multiple occasions. Correa, De Mello, Barbosa, and Goncalves all served as couriers for the money laundering organization, conducting bulk cash pickups in cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Rochester, New York, and Tampa, among others. During the course of the conspiracy, the organization concealed more than $30 million in cash. Saviolli, whose plea was accepted today, and the five co-defendants each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Saviolli is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11. Menezes, Correa, De Mello, Barbosa, and Goncalves are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20. 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 Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rochester Resident Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Brasilia Attaché Office and Miami Field Office. Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) 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 International Unit investigates and prosecutes cross-border money laundering schemes involving transnational criminal organizations, cartels, foreign official corruption and related money laundering affecting the U.S. financial system and prosecutes criminal cases and civil forfeiture matters to recover the proceeds of those crimes.


title: Union County Man Admits Role in Armed Carjacking  with an Assault Rifle

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man on June 23, 2026 admitted his role in an armed carjacking involving an assault rifle, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Elijah Lott, 28, of Scotch Plains, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to three counts of an indictment charging him with one count of carjacking, one count of conspiracy to commit carjacking and one count of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On August 6, 2020, Lott and two accomplices committed a gunpoint carjacking with an assault rifle in Irvington, New Jersey. During the carjacking, the accomplices ordered the victims to get out of the car while pointing firearms at them. Then, one of Lott’s accomplices got into the car and drove away. The conspiracy to commit carjacking offense carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison. The carjacking and conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence offenses each carry maximum potential penalties of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for October 21, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents and members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; members of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda and Chief of Police Sharonda Morris; and members of the Irvington Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Tracy Bowers, with the investigation leading to the charges and guilty plea. The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark, and Assistant United States Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the National Security Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Christopher D. Adams, Esq. whiteheadlott.indictment.pdf


title: Cresco Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Gun

body_text: A man who unlawfully possessed a stolen gun was sentenced on June 23, 2026, to eight years in federal prison. Dalton Lee Hagen, age 28, from Cresco, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 6, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Information at the sentencing hearing showed that in January 2025, law enforcement officers were investigating a burglary. Officers learned that Hagen was involved and searched his home. In the basement of Hagen’s home, officers found a gun. Prior to January 2025, Hagen had broken into a car outside a local Cresco business and stole the gun. Hagen is prohibited from possessing firearms because of multiple prior felony convictions. Hagen was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hagen was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. 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. Hagen is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Cresco Police Department, the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, Howard County Sherriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-02053.


title: Eight North Carolina Return Preparers Plead Guilty in Almost $25M Pandemic-Relief Fraud Scheme

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: The owner of a North Carolina tax return preparation business pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to prepare false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits. Seven other return preparers have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the same scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, Nejlai Mitchell owned and operated a tax return preparation business out of Lumberton, North Carolina, and Hope Mills, North Carolina. From approximately April 2022 through May 2023, Mitchell and seven employees filed false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the paid sick and family leave credit, a credit passed by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. As a result of the conspiracy, the IRS paid out approximately $13,890,697 in fraudulent tax refund claims. “Instead of honoring their legal and ethical duties as tax preparers, this group allegedly engineered a calculated scheme to enrich themselves by submitting false returns,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Stealing taxpayer funded relief in a national emergency is both reprehensible and deeply harmful to the public, and we will not hesitate to hold accountable those who exploit a crisis for personal gain. The Fraud Division remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the integrity of federal relief programs and pursuing tax fraud wherever it occurs.” Mitchell admitted to the conspiracy shortly after Whitnee Leach pleaded guilty, on May 19, 2026, to participating in the same conspiracy. Both Mitchell and Leach also pleaded guilty to assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Six other co-conspirators pleaded guilty to preparing federal tax returns for clients that included materially false items. Tiffany Moody and Shaneen Ray pleaded guilty on December 9, 2025; Eyoubo McBurney and Katrena Stanback pleaded guilty on September 24, 2025; and Jeannie Negron and Sylvia Swindell pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025. Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced in September. Leach is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Mitchell and Leach face a maximum penalty of five years for conspiracy and three years for preparing and filing false tax returns. The remaining six defendants each face a maximum penalty of three years in prison for preparing and filing false tax returns for clients. Their sentencing hearings are set for July 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle of the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Caroline Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes of the Eastern District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case. 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.


title: Celina Pharmacy Owner Sentenced for Opioid Distribution/Health Care Fraud

body_text: NASHVILLE – Thomas K. Weir, 65, of Celina, Tennessee, the majority owner of Oakley Pharmacy, doing business as Dale Hollow Pharmacy and Clay County Xpress Pharmacy, was sentenced June 18, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $1,419,974 in restitution to Medicare and TennCare, and required to forfeit the pharmacy building and warehouse used in the scheme for his role in a years-long conspiracy to unlawfully dispense controlled substances and defraud federal and state health care programs, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. U.S. District Judge Aleta A. Trauger imposed the sentence. Weir's sentence concludes the criminal prosecution of all four defendants charged in the conspiracy. "The defendants turned trusted community pharmacies into engines for opioid distribution and health care fraud," said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. "Rather than serving patients and protecting public health, they ignored clear warning signs, fueled the unlawful distribution of dangerous drugs, and billed taxpayer-funded health care programs for the privilege. Today's sentence, along with the forfeiture of the property used to facilitate these crimes, demonstrates that those who choose profit over patient safety will be held accountable." Weir previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. Co-defendants William L. Donaldson, 65, former owner and pharmacist of Dale Hollow Pharmacy; Pamela Spivey, 55, co-owner of Xpress Pharmacy; and Charles Robert "Bobby" Oakley, 74, of Manchester, Tennessee, a minority owner of Dale Hollow Pharmacy, previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Donaldson was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Oakley and Spivey were each sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay criminal restitution. According to court records, the conspiracy operated for approximately five years and involved the unlawful dispensing of controlled substances and the submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare and TennCare. Between 2014 and 2019, the conspirators operated Dale Hollow Pharmacy and Xpress Pharmacy in Celina, Tennessee, as sources of controlled substances for patients despite numerous red flags indicating abuse, diversion, and prescriptions issued outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. Patients routinely traveled long distances, often in groups, to obtain controlled substances from the pharmacies. In May and June 2016, Drug Enforcement Administration diversion investigators inspected Dale Hollow Pharmacy. The following year, Weir and others entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA addressing violations of federal regulations governing the dispensing of controlled substances. Despite that agreement, dispensing practices continued, and the volume of controlled substances dispensed by both pharmacies increased, along with clear signs of abuse and diversion. The conspirators also submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare Part D plans and TennCare for controlled substances dispensed to beneficiaries, including medically unnecessary combinations of highly abused drugs. To increase prescription volume, the conspirators engaged in a kickback scheme that included paying patient co-payments, distributing a fictitious currency known as "Monkey Bucks" that could be redeemed for cash, and paying patients cash to fill prescriptions that were subsequently billed to Medicare and TennCare. “Today’s sentencing represents another important step in our ongoing efforts to combat health care fraud and opioid abuse,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners helps ensure that those responsible are held accountable, while safeguarding our communities and protecting the integrity of federal health care programs.” "Pharmacy owners like Mr. Weir who exploit the most vulnerable and seek to profit from addiction must be held to account; we've lost too many Americans to opioid abuse," said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “It’s vitally important that pharmacies operate within the laws designed to prevent diversion of medications that carry a high potential for abuse.” “Cases like these reflect the nonstop, coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local partners to protect innocent patients and tax dollars,” said David Rausch, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director. “We will continue working around the clock to dismantle schemes that endanger public health, and we will not relent in ensuring that those who exploit vulnerable communities for profit are brought to justice.” As part of his sentence, Weir was ordered to forfeit real property used to facilitate the offenses, including the pharmacy building and an associated warehouse, as well as a money judgment exceeding $700,000. Two pharmacists-in-charge associated with the pharmacies, John Polston, 64, of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, and Michael Griffith, 41, of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, were charged separately, pleaded guilty, and cooperated with the government's investigation and prosecution. They are scheduled to be sentenced in July. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Celina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah K. Bogni and Zachary T. Hinkle prosecuted the case. The forfeiture was secured through the substantial efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint and the Asset Forfeiture Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Bowden-McIntyre is handling related civil litigation. #####


title: Helena man sentenced to 15 years for selling meth while armed with a handgun

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Helena man who was selling methamphetamine and using a handgun for protection was sentenced today to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Kyle Andrew Bailey, 43, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Bailey was selling methamphetamine and fentanyl while carrying a small handgun for personal protection. Bailey was riding in a car that was pulled over by law enforcement on July 11, 2025, and refused to give his name. Deputies ultimately identified him and learned he had three warrants for his arrest; Bailey ran from the car and was quickly caught. Upon his arrest, deputies discovered Bailey was carrying a .22 caliber handgun, two bags containing 50 fentanyl pills, and a bag of meth. Bailey told deputies he had more meth in the car. Deputies found three bags of meth, 17 zip lock bags, a digital scale, four syringes, and five cell phones. In all, Bailey had 98 grams of meth and 6.7 grams of fentanyl. Bailey told law enforcement he had stolen a pound of meth in Billings and was selling it to survive while living out of his car. He bought the handgun with a couple grams of meth and said he felt safer with it because “no one’s going to mess with you if you have a gun,” describing it as his security blanket. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force including the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Helena Police Department, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, and the DEA conducted the investigation.


title: The Department of Justice Reaches a Proposed Consent Decree with Kansas to Enjoin the State from Enforcing its Unconstitutional In-State Tuition and Scholarship Programs for Illegal Aliens

component: Civil Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the United States filed a complaint against Kansas and joined with the State in filing a proposed consent decree to permanently enjoin Kansas laws that provide in-state tuition for illegal aliens. The proposed consent decree, which must still be approved by the court, would resolve the Department’s claims that Kansas’s laws unconstitutionally discriminate against American citizens in favor of illegal aliens. Specifically, Kansas’s challenged laws grant reduced tuition to illegal aliens over U.S. citizens, which not only violates federal law but also incentivizes illegal immigration and rewards illegal immigrants with scholarship benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for. “For decades, the Kansas legislature gave preferential treatment to illegal aliens over American citizens,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “We encourage all States to follow the commonsense correction of Attorney General Kobach, ceasing any policy that rewards illegal entry into our nation with educational opportunities not available to U.S. citizens.” “Kansas’s unconstitutional and un-American laws should never have been passed in the first place and are prohibited by federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice has won on this exact issue in Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Nebraska, and we will take this fight to any states that fail to put American citizens first.” “This proposed consent decree demonstrates the quality of partnership between Kansas state leaders and the Department of Justice for the shared purpose of ensuring that federal tax dollars are not used to discriminate against Kansas’s lawful citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. The motion came just hours after the Justice Department filed a complaint in the District of Kansas against the state of Kansas seeking to enjoin the state from enforcing laws that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates to all aliens who maintain Kansas residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. This is the 10th lawsuit in a series of actions the department has filed to fulfill President Trump’s commitment to ensure that illegal aliens are not obtaining taxpayer benefits or preferential treatment. These efforts have already delivered wins for the American people, as three similar lawsuits in Texas , Kentucky , Oklahoma , and Nebraska have resulted favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional analogous laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens. Lawsuits against other states that similarly put illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the country in Illinois , Minnesota , Virginia , California , and New Jersey .


title: Massachusetts Company Sentenced for Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker’s Death

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., a corporation doing business in East Freetown, Mass., was sentenced in federal court in Boston for willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety standards in a 2023 incident that led to a worker’s death. John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., was sentenced on May 6, 2026 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson to 18 months’ probation. On June 22, 2026, John Oliveira & Sons was ordered to pay $115,000 in restitution. According to court documents, the company utilized a large soil screener for purposes of processing and screening soil and similar substances. The soil screener was approximately 46 feet long and 13 feet high, and weighed approximately 35,880 lbs. The tail conveyor of the soil screener – which weighed approximately 1,500 pounds – could be placed in a vertical closed position or could be opened to an approximate 45° angle. At various occasions in 2022 or 2023, the tail conveyor of the soil screener closed unexpectedly, and the soil screener had suffered a ruptured hydraulic pressure line. On Sept. 6, 2023, a company employee was working alongside a co-owner on the tail conveyer of the soil screener, which was in the open position. At the time, there was no equipment in place to prevent the tail conveyer from closing. According to the charging documents, as the employee was seeking to remove a bolt, the tail conveyor closed unexpectedly. The employee held onto the upper frame of the soil screener as the tail conveyer closed into the vertical position, crushing the employee’s head. The employee suffered massive head trauma and was pronounced dead soon thereafter. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Anthony D’Esposito, Inspector General of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Jeff Erskine, Regional Administrator of the Department of Labor OSHA Boston Region; and Maia Fisher, Regional Solicitor for Department of Labor Boston Region made the announcement. Assistance in the investigation was also provided by the OSHA Criminal Investigations Team, Boston Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.