title: PANAMA CITY FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO NARCOTICS AND FIREARMS CHARGES

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Matthew Lee Keith, 41, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another dangerous criminal has been removed from our streets. The message from my office is clear: to the criminals who flood our communities with deadly drugs and violence, your days are numbered. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent of the law.” Court documents reflect that in August 2024, as part of an ongoing drug investigation, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle occupied by the defendant in Panama City, Florida. During the traffic stop, the vehicle was checked by a trained K-9 unit which alerted to the presence of drugs. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, investigators located fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, alprazolam, a loaded handgun, as well as other items indicative of drug distribution. The defendant is a convicted felon, who has previously been convicted of numerous felony offenses, including Tampering with a Witness, Carrying a Concealed Weapon, Battery, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Heroin, and Possession of Cocaine. If convicted, Keith faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking crime and up to 15 years for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a consecutive five-year term with a maximum of life imprisonment. The case involved a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2025, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark Walker. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Louisville Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., man, Benard Babot, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 66 months in prison, for conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to his plea agreement, Babot knew that his coconspirators communicated with businesses located around the world, to entice them to send funds to purchase goods his coconspirators falsely purported to sell. Babot opened at least 25 business bank accounts in the actual name of, or a very similar name to, these legitimate companies, which were international food, agricultural, or chemical supply companies, for the purpose of receiving money from the victim purchasers. He opened some of these accounts in Lexington, Kentucky. According to documents filed with the Court, Babot also set up shell companies with Secretaries of State imitating the legitimate companies. Babot would then provide the bank account information to his coconspirators, who in turn conveyed it to the victims for the purpose of directing payment. The victims wired money to Babot, and never received the goods they purchased. According to his Plea Agreement, Babot would then funnel the proceeds through additional accounts, send cashier’s checks to conspirators, wire funds to coconspirators located overseas through peer-to-peer money transmission services, and withdraw the funds for personal use, often in amounts exceeding $10,000. In total, between January 2019 and December 2023, Babot participated in concealing more than $8.2 million in fraud proceeds, resulting from schemes to defraud over 30 international businesses located in more than 25 countries. According to documents filed with the Court, Babot earned $2,480,392.11 as a result of his participation in the offense and used these proceeds on personal expenditures and personal business ventures, such as his night club in Louisville. Under federal law, Babot must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Estill County Man Sentenced for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – An Irvine, Ky., man, Steven Randall Neal, 37, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves to 292 months in prison, for attempting to persuade a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity online. According to court documents, in 2021, Neal began messaging the minor victim, whom he knew through their family, on Facebook Messenger. On multiple occasions Neal communicated with the victim online, attempting to get the victim to send sexually explicit pictures and ultimately enticing the minor to engage in sexually explicit activity. Furthermore, Neal admitted that on two occasions, he engaged in hands-on sexual abuse of the victim and that he used Facebook Messenger to request the victim’s presence so he could continue the sexual contact. Under federal law, Neal must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by FBI, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Melton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . – END –


title: Guatemalan National Indicted for Reentry of Deported Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ-SOSA (“LOPEZ-SOSA”) , age 31, a native of Guatemala, was indicted on September 18, 2025, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, LOPEZ-SOSA , an illegal alien, was found in St. Tammany Parish on September 11, 2025. He had previously been convicted of violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326, Illegal Re-entry of Removed Alien on April 5, 2018, and sentenced to a term of 2 days. LOPEZ-SOSA was removed to Guatemala on April 20, 2018. If convicted, LOPEZ-SOSA faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), 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). Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: North Fort Myers Felon Sentenced To Eight Years For Possessing A Stolen Firearm As A Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Michael Lee Stover (37, North Fort Myers) to eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Stover to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Stover pled guilty on June 12, 2025. According to court documents, Stover took a firearm from the hood of another man’s car at a carwash in North Fort Myers on April 3, 2025. After taking the gun, Stover fled the scene. Deputies later served a search warrant on Stover’s North Fort Myers residence and located the stolen firearm. Stover was previously convicted of five felony offenses – including escape from custody (2021); fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer (2021); burglary (2011); aggravated battery (2011); and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription (2009). As a result, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Houma Man Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl Distribution

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DESMOND JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”) , age 44, of Houma, LA, pled guilty before United States District Judge Jay Zainey to possession with intent to distribute forty (40) grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Judge Zainey scheduled sentencing for December 9, 2025. At sentencing, JOHNSON faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, JOHNSON was suspected of dealing both heroin and fentanyl from an apartment in Houma. The execution of a search warrant on that apartment revealed large amounts of fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia, indicative of drug trafficking. In a post-Miranda interview with law enforcement, JOHNSON admitted to possessing fentanyl, with the intent to distribute same. Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Federal Prison For Possessing Firearm During Police Chase

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Christopher George Montgomery (30, Port Saint Lucie) to four years and nine months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Montgomery to forfeit the firearm and ammunition possessed during the offense. Montgomery pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025. According to court documents, Montgomery was subject to a county-wide “be on the lookout” announcement for offenses he allegedly committed previously. His vehicle was located in Desoto County and fled Arcadia Police Department Officers. After Montgomery’s vehicle got stuck on an embankment, he fled on foot but was ultimately arrested. Officers retraced Montgomery’s flight path and located a chamber-loaded Glock pistol in a drainage culvert along the path where Montgomery had fled. Officers also found a loaded Glock extended magazine in Montgomery’s vehicle. Montgomery is a convicted felon, and as a result, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Arcadia Police Department, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Mail Destruction

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that PJ WHITAKER (“WHITAKER”) , age 36, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 16, 2025, before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to the two-count indictment charging him with destruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703. According to court documents, in November 2023, in response to several complaints regarding stolen mail and rifled parcels, United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General agents conducted surveillance in that section of the distribution center. WHITAKER was observed removing several parcels from the conveyor belt, manipulating the parcels, and returning them to the conveyor belt. Several opened parcels were found near WHITAKER’S workstation. WHITAKER faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Repeat Fraudster Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Massive Belize Real Estate Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ANDRIS PUKKE, a/k/a “Marc Romeo,” a/k/a “Andy Storm,” was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken for leading a years-long real estate scam in Belize called “Sanctuary Belize,” in which hundreds of victims—many of whom were retirees—were defrauded of approximately $77 million. “Hundreds of hard-working Americans—many of them retirees—lost their savings to this brazen fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Andris Pukke thought he could hide behind foreign land deals and false names, but he was wrong. This sentence removes a bad actor and serves as a warning to other would-be fraudsters.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: PUKKE directed and controlled Sanctuary Belize, which was a vacation and retirement community under development in Belize. PUKKE fraudulently induced hundreds of victims to invest more than $100 million in lots in Sanctuary Belize. Victims purchased lots with the understanding that they would obtain lots in a built-out community that they could use to build retirement homes, vacation homes, or investment properties. The victims were induced to invest by PUKKE and his salespeople, and a large majority of the victims were never in fact able to build the homes in Sanctuary Belize that they’d hoped for. PUKKE has prior convictions for mail fraud and obstruction of justice and has a prior $172 million judgment against him from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) in connection with a prior deceptive company he controlled, AmeriDebt. Knowing that victims would not want to invest in Sanctuary Belize if they were aware of the criminal background of the man who controlled Sanctuary Belize, PUKKE directed his salespeople to lie and say that he was not involved in Sanctuary Belize. PUKKE used the aliases “Marc Romeo” and “Andy Storm” to conceal his involvement and control of Sanctuary Belize. PUKKE also directed his salespeople to tell victims that Sanctuary Belize had no debt and that every dollar from victims would go to develop the property. In fact, Sanctuary Belize had more than $12 million in debt, and PUKKE stole nearly $10 million from Sanctuary Belize for, among other things, the purchase and renovation of a waterfront home, the repayment of a personal loan, personal investments in startup companies, child support payments, purchase of land in the Bahamas, and payments to family and friends. While under investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, PUKKE unsuccessfully attempted to induce another individual to create a sham document that he hoped to show prosecutors and the investigating grand jury in an effort to corruptly avoid prosecution. PUKKE was convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice on July 10, 2024. In connection with his sentencing, victims sent nearly two hundred letters to the Court describing the harm caused to them, including in some cases, the loss of their retirement savings. * * * In addition to the prison term, PUKKE, 56, of Newport Beach, California, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. PUKKE was ordered to forfeit $9,912,396 and was previously ordered in litigation with the FTC to pay restitution to victims of Sanctuary Belize in the amount of $120.2 million. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Trade Commission for their assistance with the case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey C. Coffman, James McMahon, and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty To Possessing With The Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Edwin Tollinchi-Rodriguez (40, Indiana) has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Tollinchi-Rodriguez faces a minimum term of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Tollinchi-Rodriguez is an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County. On September 5, 2024, a Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officer conducted a pat-down search of Tollinchi-Rodriguez and discovered a wrapped-up package containing a white coagulated substance. The white substance was analyzed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory and an analyst determined the substance to be methamphetamine hydrochloride. Given that the substance was 99% pure, Tollinchi-Rodriguez was in possession of approximately 236.6 grams of methamphetamine. Tollinchi-Rodriguez told DEA agents that he was asked to collect some prohibited items from a shower at the prison for $500 and deliver the items to another housing unit at the prison the following day. On September 5, 2024, he collected the items, which included the methamphetamine. Tollinchi-Rodriguez also described how the amount of methamphetamine that ordinarily would fit in the lid of a lip balm container typically sells for $400 inside the prison. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.


title: Federal Judge Sentences Man to More than Seven Years in Prison for Robbing U.S. Postal Service Carrier in Chicago

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to more than seven years in prison for robbing a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier at gunpoint in Chicago. The robbery occurred on the afternoon of Nov. 10, 2023, in the 900 block of North Francisco Avenue in Chicago. RICHARD THOMPSON approached the carrier as she was stepping out of her USPS vehicle. The carrier retreated into the vehicle when she saw Thompson approaching, but Thompson followed her inside and blocked her exit. He then displayed a handgun and demanded and obtained the carrier’s USPS-issued Arrow Key, which opens certain postal collection boxes. Thompson then fled the area with the Arrow Key. He was arrested in May 2024 and has remained in federal custody since then. At the time of the robbery, Thompson was on pre-trial release in the Circuit Cook of Cook County for an unrelated criminal charge. Thompson, 54, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to a federal robbery charge. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood sentenced Thompson to seven years and two months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Branka Cimesa. “The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function and its employees must be allowed to deliver mail to the American people safely and securely,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Furthermore, stealing a mailbox Arrow Key is a serious crime; it gives criminals access to certain mailboxes of everyday citizens, who rely on the Postal Service to receive their mail. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute to the full extent of the law those individuals who seek to gain access to the public’s mail whether through violence, theft, or fraud.” “This sentencing is another example of the roles postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners play in protecting Postal Service employees and customers,” said USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça. “As Postal Service employees continue to play an integral role in our communities, we are clear in our resolve to aggressively investigate anyone who brings harm to these invaluable public servants.”


title: Toppenish Woman Sentenced to 5 Years of Federal Probation for Aiding and Abetting Assault with a Firearm

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on September 15, 2025, District Court Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Kathleen Ardith Albert, of Toppenish, Washington, to five years of federal probation for Aiding and Abetting Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Albert is an enrolled member of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Yakama Nation. The following information was made public during the legal proceedings. On May 16, 2024, Nora Saluskin-Cloud rented a room at the El Corral Motel located in Toppenish, Washington. This location has a high volume of calls for service and has long been a public safety concern to law enforcement. This hotel is now closed. The evidence in the case showed that on this occasion, Albert purchased a quantity of drugs from another subject identified as Saluskin-Cloud. Saluskin-Cloud handed Albert a firearm and accompanied Saluskin-Cloud to one of the rooms. When they entered the room, the evidence showed that Albert observed several people standing in the room in various stages of undress at which time Saluskin-Cloud picked up a machete and threated to injure the people in the room. Saluskin-Cloud ordered Albert to “watch” the people in the room and “keep” them in the room. Albert sat in a chair that blocked the people from exiting the room while she was in possession of the firearm and under the influence of controlled substance. Two of the victims managed to escape through a window and then contacted police. Saluskin-Cloud is currently in state custody on another matter. “This was clearly a traumatic and dangerous situation for all of these victims, who were trapped in a room without their consent with someone who was armed and potentially volatile from drug use," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "It is fortunate no one was injured and at least the victims were able to escape. Together with our partners, FBI Seattle is committed to combatting violent crime on tribal lands and throughout Washington state.” Pete Serrano, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, said “I commend the courage of the victims of this crime who escaped from the room where they were held against their will by a person who was under the influence of drugs while possessing a firearm. I hope that today’s sentence is sufficient to send the message that the Defendant’s misconduct cannot be tolerated in a free and open society. It is also a tribute to the critical collaboration between federal and tribal authorities when we can bring a matter like this to a safe resolution for all involved.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse. 1:24-CR-02054-MKD-2


title: Rockford Man Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm

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

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. WESLEY SMITH, 37, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Smith to 77 months in prison. Smith admitted in a plea agreement that on May 2, 2024, he possessed a loaded firearm in a residence in Rockford. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and Gary Caruana, Winnebago County Sheriff. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim. Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.


title: Mexican National Unlawfully Present In The United States Sentenced To 20 Years For Discharging A Firearm At Spokane Police During A Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: Spokane, Washington – On September 18, 2025, United States Chief District Judge Stanley A. Bastain sentenced Israel Garcia, 36, to 20 years in federal prison after his guilty pleas to Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime and Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl. Garcia was ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution to the Spokane Police Department and placed on a period of 5 years of supervised release should he again return to the United States after serving his sentence. According to information disclosed in court documents and proceedings, Garcia, a documented gang member living in the Yakima, Washington area, was convicted in 2015 of Assault on Federal Officers (15-CR-02068-SAB) related to a drug and firearm trafficking investigation. For that conduct, Judge Bastian sentenced him to 84 months in federal custody. Garcia was released in 2021 and deported to Mexico. Garcia returned unlawfully to the United States in 2022 and resumed his drug trafficking and escalated to distributing thousands of deadly fentanyl pills into the community. On October 16, 2022, Garcia traveled from Yakima to Spokane to deliver 10,000 fentanyl pills. When Spokane Police identified themselves and approached him to effectuate his arrest, Garcia got out of his vehicle and immediately opened fire on the officers, while attempting to flee to avoid arrest. The path of the bullets from Garcia were directed at multiple law enforcement officers; however, the bullets were also fired in direction of his vehicle, which still contained his male and female passengers and a minor child. Additionally, but for the angle of a car door window, which redirected one of Garcia’s rounds, a law enforcement officer would have been shot in the head. That officer nevertheless suffered injuries to his head and face. Officers returned fire, striking Garcia and ending the clear and present danger he presented to the officers and the community. The female passenger and minor child were terrified but otherwise reported to be physically unharmed. Because Garcia was under federal supervision for his prior conviction at the time of this incident, he was arrested for violation of his supervised release and later charged with the new offenses. Working in conjunction with the Spokane County Prosecutors Office, Garcia will be transferred to Spokane County to face state charges regarding the assault on the law enforcement officers. Pete Serrano, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, remarked on how dangerous Garcia’s conduct was: “We have zero tolerance for dangerous offenders like Garcia who pose an immediate threat to our community and our law enforcement partners. Garcia opened fire on the police in the streets of Spokane, attempting to strike several police officers. It is unconscionable that he engaged in this behavior after having just been released from prison for the same kind of violent conduct. This case highlights the importance of our partnerships between our state and federal partners and how closely we work with the Spokane County Prosecutors Office.” “Mr. Garcia was a menace to our community, both because of his fentanyl trafficking as well as his violent behavior,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Prison is clearly the right place for him, and I am proud that DEA and our partners could facilitate his lengthy incarceration.” This case was investigated by the Spokane Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter and Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Cartier Giroux. 2:23CR00001-SAB-1


title: Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Carlos Fredy Granados, 35, an immigrant illegally residing in Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. At the time Granados entered his guilty plea, he acknowledged that upon completion of his sentence, he will be subject to removal from the United States. According to court documents, between at least May and August of 2023, Carlos Granados sexually exploited and abused a 15-year-old girl who was in his care, custody, and control. Granados engaged in sexual intercourse with Minor Victim 1 and sexually exploited her for the purpose of producing images and videos of the abuse. On October 28, 2023, IMPD Officers responded to a report of child sexual abuse after a witness discovered nude images and videos of the minor on Granados’ cell phone. Investigators searched Granados’ cell phones and discovered 12 sexually explicit videos and 16 images of the child, including some alongside Granados. The images and videos were taken inside the shared home and at a hotel. Investigators also found sexually explicit messages between Granados and the victim, discussing a sexual relationship and exchanging sexually explicit material. “Carlos Granados’ crimes are among the most heinous we encounter, and his conviction underscores our commitment to removing the most violent and predatory illegal immigrants from our communities,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana “Consistent with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Operation Restore Justice Initiative, we will continue to prioritize prosecutions that protect our children and uphold the rule of law.” “This sentence shows that child sexual predators will be held accountable and punished for their heinous crimes preying on innocent victims. The U.S. Secret Service is committed to protecting innocent victims from criminals who seek to sexually exploit them,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “Thank you to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department, Secret Service personnel and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their work on this case and bringing justice for this victim.” The U.S. Secret Service and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this 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, 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. If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood


title: 7 men sentenced to federal prison for roles in large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – The final defendant in a national narcotics conspiracy was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 94 months in prison. The six other coconspirators were previously sentenced in federal court, and four of those defendants received sentences of more than 100 months in prison. According to court documents, from at least July 2018 until March 2023, Juan-Jose Carrillo, 32, of Compton, California, and the six other defendants were responsible for the distribution of more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine from California into and throughout the Cincinnati area. The methamphetamine supplier was connected to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). The defendants charged represent both high-level suppliers and local-level drug distributors. The other defendants include Franklin Johnson (sentenced to 156 months in prison), Gerald Jeter, Jr. (132 months in prison), Anthony Clardy II (104 months in prison), Dre’Quan Christopher (102 months), Robert Day (72 months), and Tyrone Jordan (36 months). Court documents detail that Carillo was a source of supply that coordinated deliveries of methamphetamine to Jeter, Johnson and/or Clardy, to be shipped to southern Ohio. Jeter, and later Johnson, would travel to the West Coast to obtain the methamphetamine, and ship it back to Cincinnati. Jeter and Johnson were both high-level distributors of methamphetamine, who would break down the large loads of methamphetamine for re-sale to mid-level distributors in the Cincinnati area. The mid-level distributors included defendants Clardy and Day. In addition, defendant Christopher was a street-level dealer who would sell the methamphetamine to his clients throughout the Cincinnati area. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023. Dominick S. Gerace, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and officials with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit, Cincinnati Police Department Narcotics Unit, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit (RENU), and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force (NKDSF) announced the sentence imposed on Sept. 17 by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Deputy Criminal Chief Frederic C. Shadley represented the United States in this case. # # #


title: Broken Arrow Man Sentenced After Attempting to Receive Child Pornography and Meet a Minor Child

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Broken Arrow man was sentenced today for Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Danny Lawrence Newton, 43, to 96 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Newton will also be required to register as a sex offender. In June 2024, Newton initiated contact with a person on social media whom he believed was a 14-year-old. While chatting, court records show that Newton requested photos from the minor and talked to the minor about having sex. Newton then arranged to meet the 14-year-old in person and drove to the address provided, where law enforcement detained him. Newton will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations, the Skiatook Police Department, the Pryor Police Department, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated it as part of Operation Clean Sweep II. This operation partnered with the Tornado Alley Child Exploitation and Trafficking Task Force, which aims to hold child predators accountable throughout the Northern District of Oklahoma. 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: Selma Man Gets Federal Prison Time for Mail Theft and Destruction of a Letter Box

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that a Selma man has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for possessing stolen mail and destroying a U.S. Postal Service collection box. On September 23, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 21-year-old J’Kwon Tyshi Williams to 30 months in prison. Following his prison term, Williams will serve two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 and $1,180 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records and William’s plea agreement, during the early morning hours of November 9, 2023, the Millbrook Police Department responded to a report of individuals attempting to break into a blue U.S. Postal Service collection box located outside the Millbrook Post Office. Witnesses observed a car parked in front of the box with its hood raised and several people gathered around. When a patrol officer approached, the group jumped into the vehicle and sped away. The driver, later identified as Williams, led officers on a high-speed chase, often exceeding 120 miles per hour and swerving into oncoming lanes. The pursuit continued from Elmore County to Dallas County, ending when Williams crashed into a light pole. Williams and his passengers then fled on foot. Inside the vehicle, officers discovered items commonly known as burglary tools, including a reciprocating saw, tire iron, and pliers. In addition, officers found Williams’s wallet, numerous stolen checks, other stolen mail, check-writing paper, an ammunition magazine for a handgun, ammunition, and multiple ATM deposit receipts. Although Williams and his associates failed to breach the Millbrook collection box, inspectors found it heavily damaged and determined it had to be replaced to protect the security of the mail. The replacement cost was $1,180. On June 5, 2025, Williams pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of stolen mail and destruction of a letter box. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Millbrook Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits prosecuted.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Albuquerque Man for Carjacking and Kidnapping That Ended in a Fatal Shooting

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury has charged Sheliky Sanchez with the August 7, 2025, carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death, crimes which under federal law are eligible for the death penalty. According to court documents, on August 7, 2025, Sanchez , 18, carjacked and kidnapped the driver of a 2022 Ford Escape using a firearm, then intentionally killed the driver during and in relation to those crimes. A federal grand jury indicted Sanchez for carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a violent crime and causing death by firing it, and kidnapping resulting in death. All three counts are eligible for the federal death penalty. Sanchez will remain in custody while awaiting trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Sanchez faces a mandatory life sentence or the death penalty for the kidnapping resulting in death charge. For the carjacking resulting in death and causing death through the use of a firearm during a violent crime charges, Sanchez faces any term of imprisonment up to life in prison or the death penalty. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack E. Burkhead and Samuel Hurtado are prosecuting the case. View the Indictment (Sanchez).pdf An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Grove City Resident Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Grove City, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating federal laws regarding the sexual exploitation of minors, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Michael William Boston, 40, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on October 25, 2022, Boston transported material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor in interstate commerce. In pleading guilty, Boston also took responsibility for transporting child sexual abuse material on specific dates in April 2023 and July 2023, and for the possession of more than 1,500 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Judge Wiegand scheduled sentencing for January 20, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Northwest Computer Crime Unit conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Boston. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Fairview Township Tax Collector Pleads Guilty to  Embezzling $400,000 in Property Taxes

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Karen McGinnis, age 46, of Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick to embezzling public funds. McGinnis was charged by criminal information on September 8, 2025. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, from March 2023 to January 2025, McGinnis was the tax collector for Fairview Township responsible for collecting property taxes from the residents of Fairview Township, including taxes payable to the Township, Luzerne County, and the Crestwood School District. During that timeframe, McGinnis embezzled more than $400,000 in property taxes and converted them to her own personal use. Both Luzerne County and the Crestwood School District received more than $10,000 from the federal government via grants and other programs during this timeframe. McGinnis resigned as tax collector in March 2025. McGinnis agreed not to seek public office for the longer of three years or any term of probation imposed, and she agreed to make full restitution of the money she embezzled as part of her sentence. “The role of IRS-Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in embezzlement and fraud cases due to the complex financial transactions that can take time to unravel,” stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle A. Moreno is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Former Financial Director for Multinational Consulting Company Indicted for Misappropriating More than $8.2 Million

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Jordan Khammar with wire fraud and money laundering for his role in a decade-long scheme to defraud a multinational media, brand management, and consulting company and stealing over $8.2 million. Khammar was arrested this morning in Columbus, Ohio, and will appear this afternoon in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York) announced the arrest and charges. “As alleged, for over a decade and on hundreds of occasions, Khammar betrayed his employer’s trust and took advantage of his access to its financial systems for personal gain,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office remains committed to seeking justice for all victims of fraud and prosecuting those who perpetrate it.” “Not only is it alleged that Khammar engaged in a scheme to steal, misappropriate, and embezzle nearly $8.2 million from his former employer by exploiting his access the company’s financial system, but he then tried to conceal his fraud by falsifying company records," stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Chavis. "For a decade, Khammar greedily filled his pockets and spent the stolen money lavishly, but IRS Criminal Investigation caught up with him, and he will now pay what he owes for his alleged criminal acts." As alleged in the indictment, Khammar was hired as a financial consultant in 2006 by a multinational media, brand management, and consulting company (Company-1). He eventually became the company’s Financial Director with access to and control over a wide range of its financial accounts and systems including those tied to banking, accounting, bookkeeping and payroll functions. Between January 2015 and May 2025, Khammar abused that access and control to engage in a scheme to defraud Company-1 out of millions of dollars. During the 10-year period, Khammar initiated over 300 fraudulent wire transactions, sending himself more than $8.2 million dollars from Company-1’s bank account. Khammar took steps to conceal his scheme from Company-1, including by manipulating its books and records, circumventing internal controls, and limiting other employees’ and consultants’ access to the company financial systems and accounts. For example, Khammar created over 100 false entries in Company-1’s general ledger, disguising his fraudulent wire transfers as purportedly legitimate payments for Company 1’s expenses such as company credit card bill payments, tax payments, and costs associated with the renovation of Company 1’s Brooklyn office. Khammar wired most of the stolen money to an account held in the name of Olive Tree Ventures, Inc. (Olive Tree), a company that he founded, owned, and controlled. From the Olive Tree account, Khammar dispersed a large portion of the funds to finance his independent business ventures including his media production company, Sideswipe Media, Inc. (Sideswipe), and diverting: $3.2 million to fund Sideswipe’s payroll including to pay multiple individuals associated with Sideswipe’s film and television productions, as well as $325,000 in payroll payments to himself; $429,000 in commercial real estate rental payments for office space in Brooklyn used by Olive Tree and Sideswipe; and $415,000 in transfers to Sideswipe’s bank account. Khammar also used the stolen funds to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of real estate in Florida and Ohio, and to further pay himself and a variety of personal expenses, including: $1.2 million in personal credit card bills; $163,000 in purported payroll payments to himself via another company that he founded, owned and controlled; $135,000 in cash withdrawals; and Tens of thousands of dollars in other expenses including furniture, travel, meal purchases, and utility payments. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Khammar faces up to 20 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax and Dana Rehnquist are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Liam McNett. Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : JORDAN KHAMMAR Age: 47 Columbus, Ohio E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-283 (AMD)


title: SDTX charges two illegal aliens for choking federal agent during escape

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A pair of Mexican nationals have been taken into custody for strangling a Border Patrol agent in her vehicle during their escape en route to a detention facility in the Houston area, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Juan Carmen Padron Mendez, 29, and Juan Carlos Padron Barron, 23, are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. The criminal complaint alleges that on Sept. 22, authorities encountered Mendez and Barron and determined they were in the United States illegally. Law enforcement took them into custody and secured both men with flexicuffs in a Border Patrol vehicle in order to transport them to a detention facility. The charges allege that, while en route to the detention facility, the Border Patrol agent stopped at a red light and heard a seatbelt unbuckling. When she turned towards the back seat, Mendez quickly wrapped his arm around her neck and began choking her, according to the complaint. During the incident, Barron allegedly exited the vehicle, retrieved both men’s personal belongings from the front seat, and fled on foot. Mendez then released the agent and also fled the scene, according to the complaint. The agent was able to immediately call for assistance, after which authorities apprehended both men. The agent allegedly reported fearing for her life but has since recovered. “The Southern District of Texas has zero tolerance for those who assault law enforcement,” said Ganjei. “Let it be known: if you lay a hand on an officer, deputy, or federal agent, SDTX will do whatever it can to put you in federal prison for as long as the law will allow. You’ve been warned.” Barron and Mendez are both charged with assault, resisting or impeding a federal officer and face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine as well as another one year and up to $100,000 if convicted of escape from custody of an officer of the United States. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Marshals Service as well as Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Harris County Constables Office – Precinct 5, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Conroe, Houston and Pasadena. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Stotts is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations 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 and Project Safe Neighborhood . A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Venezuelan National Pleads Guilty to Lying on Immigration and Firearms Forms

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – A 24-year-old Venezuelan man residing unlawfully in Perrysburg, Ohio, and who was enrolled as a student at a local high school has pleaded guilty to lying on immigration forms and on applications to purchase a firearm. In June, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Anthony Emmanuel Labrador-Sierra, a Venezuelan national, with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States, making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, and two counts of making or using false writings or documents. The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges Sept. 22 before U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp. According to the indictment, the defendant submitted a false date of birth to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on federal applications for Temporary Protective Status and Employment Authorization Documents in 2024 and 2025. In the original criminal complaint and underlying affidavit filed in May, investigators found that Perrysburg Schools reported to the Perrysburg Police Department that they received information that Labrador-Sierra, a student attending Perrysburg High School, was not a minor, but was instead a 24-year-old man who had enrolled under false pretenses. If convicted, Labrador-Sierra faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by an alien; up to 10 years in prison for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm; and up to five years in prison for using false documents. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2026. This case is being investigated by the City of Perrysburg Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection−Sandusky Bay Station, the FBI Toledo Field Office, the ATF, with assistance from the Wood County Prosecutor’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Melching and Tracey Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Jury Convicts Man of Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump and Assault of a Federal Law Enforcement Officer

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A federal jury today convicted Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, of Hawaii, for attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump when he was a major presidential candidate in a planned sniper attack at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Today’s guilty verdict against would-be Trump assassin Ryan Routh illustrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to punishing those who engage in political violence,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This attempted assassination was not only an attack on our President, but an affront to our very nation itself. I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Jason Quiñones, his entire trial team, and our law enforcement partners for protecting President Trump and securing this important verdict.” “This verdict sends a clear message. An attempt to assassinate a presidential candidate is an attack on our Republic and on the rights of every citizen,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue those who try to silence political voices, and no enemy, foreign or domestic, will ever silence the will of the American people. I want to thank and congratulate the trial team and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work and dedication in bringing this case to justice.” “Ryan Routh’s attempted assassination of President Trump was a disgusting act — mere weeks before an election and only months after a separate assassination attempt came dangerously close to succeeding,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “FBI teams worked quickly and diligently with local partners and the Department of Justice to demonstrate a clear fact pattern of Routh’s planning and intent, and we are grateful to see a quick resolution. The FBI will continue working aggressively to take violent offenders off American streets and protect public officials from threats of all nature.” “There are few crimes more serious than attempting to assassinate a President or former President of the United States, for such an act strikes at the very heart of our Nation and our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The evidence was clear – a loaded rifle with its serial number obliterated, a backpack and gear found in the woods near Trump International, cellphone records placing the defendant at the scene, and a letter confessing intent – all pointing to a chilling attempt to assassinate then former-President Trump. Today’s jury verdict is a resounding rejection of political violence and a reminder of how perilously close we came to a tragedy of historic proportions.” “Today’s jury verdict delivers justice. What Routh did was objectively evil — an attempt not only to take a life, but to rob Americans of their right to vote and to silence free speech. This was nothing less than an attempted assassination of both a man and the democratic voice he represented,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We have seen over the past decade how political violence — from the assassination of Charlie Kirk to threats meant to silence conservative voices — has poisoned our public square. Such violence is un-American. It is an assault on every one of us, no matter our politics. The Southern District of Florida will relentlessly pursue those who try to steal our freedoms, and we will ensure that the rule of law — not fear, not violence — prevails.” According to the evidence presented at trial, then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano – who was patrolling one hole ahead of the president at the golf course – spotted Routh pointing an AK-style rifle at Special Agent Fercano from a sniper’s hide in the fence abutting the golf course. Agent Fercano, in fear for his life and the life of President Trump, opened fire at Routh, who fled. Law enforcement subsequently found a loaded SKS-style rifle equipped with a scope, a magazine containing an additional nineteen rounds of ammunition and the safety off, steel armor plates, and a camera attached to the fence pointing toward the sixth hole green of the golf course, where Routh had been hiding: A witness saw Routh running across the road from the golf course and getting into a black Nissan Xterra. Based on information provided by the witness, Routh was later apprehended heading northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. A search of Routh’s Nissan Xterra found numerous mobile phones, and a list of flights out of the country in the afternoon and evening of Sept. 15, 2024 – the day of the attempted assassination – along with directions to Miami International Airport. Cell records for two of the cell phones found in the Nissan Xterra showed that on multiple days and times from Aug. 18 to Sept. 15, Routh’s cell phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International and the President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago. A witness testified at trial that he contacted law enforcement stating that Routh had dropped off a box at his residence in April after Routh made another trip to the area near the golf course. Included in the box was a handwritten letter from Routh addressed “Dear World,” which stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.” Routh was convicted of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; assaulting a federal officer (the Secret Service Special Agent, Robert Fercano), which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Martin County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with this case. Senior Counsel John C. Shipley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne, National Security Section Chief Maria K. Medetis Long, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Luce for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorneys James Donnelly and John Cella of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department will continue to defend the democratic process, safeguard our leaders, and ensure accountability for political violence.


title: Justice Department Expands Tribal Access Program to Improve the Exchange of Critical Data with Federally Recognized Tribes

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has selected six federally recognized Tribes to participate in the continued expansion of the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP), a program that provides Tribal governments with means to access, enter, and exchange data with national crime information systems, including those maintained by the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. The announcement follows trips by senior Justice Department officials to Tribal Nations this year to hear from Tribal and federal law enforcement officials and Tribal leaders about the public safety challenges faced by Tribal communities. “Criminals should have no doubt: Indian Country will not be a refuge for lawlessness,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Tribal Access Program gives Tribal law enforcement real-time access to crime data, arming them with the information necessary to identify criminals, track down predators, and deliver justice for victims. The Department stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Tribal officers to restore law and order to Indian Country, and those who target the vulnerable in Tribal communities will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable.” With this expansion, TAP now supports 154 Tribes and more than 460 Tribal government agencies. “The Department of Justice is committed to enhancing public safety for the Tribal communities in Colorado,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “The Tribal Access Program is a resource the Southern Ute Tribe can leverage to serve and protect their nation’s citizens even more effectively.” TAP provides training as well as software and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI CJIS systems. The Justice Department began TAP in 2015 in response to concerns raised by Tribal leaders about the need to have direct access to federal systems. Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; registered convicted sex offenders; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; entered orders that prevent dangerous prohibited persons from obtaining firearms; run criminal histories; identified and arrested fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children. The following additional Tribes have been selected for participation in TAP: Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Cayuga Nation (New York) Duckwater Shoshone Tribe Pueblo of Zia Seneca-Cayuga Nation (Oklahoma) Southern Ute Indian Tribe TAP is managed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and the Office of Tribal Justice. It is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). For more information on TAP, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap .


title: Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

body_text: A New York man was sentenced today to 108 months in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, in connection with his efforts to attack civilians with a knife in Queens, New York. Awais Chudhary, 25, of Queens, pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of New York to attempting to provide material support to ISIS. According to court documents, in 2019, Chudhary pledged his allegiance to ISIS’s then-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and began planning for a knife or bomb attack on behalf of the group. Chudhary identified targets, including the pedestrian bridges over the Grand Central Parkway and the Flushing Bay Promenade, where he intended to carry out the attacks. Chudhary conducted several reconnaissance trips to these locations and made video recordings of the areas he intended to attack. “Awais Chudhary pledged allegiance to a brutal terrorist organization and set out to kill American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our prosecutors have ensured that he will spend years behind bars for his crimes, and the Department of Justice will continue to protect the American people from all threats foreign and domestic.” “Awais Chudhary planned a horrific knife attack in the name of ISIS on civilians in New York, but his plan failed,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The men and women of the FBI never lose sight of the threat posed by supporters of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to detect and stop violent plots and will work just as diligently with our Justice Department partners to make sure these criminals are held accountable.” “After consuming violent ISIS propaganda for more than a year, the defendant took real world steps to carry out a lethal terrorist attack in Queens, including scouting the location of his attack and analyzing when it would be the most crowded so he could inflict maximum slaughter,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Thanks to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Chudhary was stopped before anyone was harmed.” According to court filings, Chudhary sought guidance from people whom he believed to be ISIS supporters, including about what type of knife to use and how to prevent detection from law enforcement by not leaving “traces of finger prints [or] DNA.” Chudhary also sent a screenshot of an ISIS propaganda magazine that included a diagram of the human body depicting where to stab victims with a knife. In preparing for his attack, Chudhary ordered items online that he intended to use, including a tactical knife, a mask, gloves, and a cellphone chest and head-strap to help him record the attack, which he hoped would serve as inspiration to other ISIS supporters. Chudhary was arrested as he attempted to retrieve the items he ordered from an online retailer’s locker in Queens. Before planning his specific violent attack, Chudhary separately contributed to ISIS’s violent aims to help recruit English-speaking internet users to the group’s hateful cause. Working with another ISIS member who was separately convicted of material support charges, Chudhary assisted ISIS in its propaganda efforts by helping to translate some of the group’s propaganda materials into English. See United States v. Carpenter , No. 21 Cr. 38 (KAC) (E.D. Tenn). Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Joeseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York, and Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen H. Sise, Lindsey R. Oken, and Andrew D. Reich for the Eastern District of New York and Trial Attorney Kevin Nunnally of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Morris County Individual and Ocean County Individual Charged with Oxycodone Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two New Jersey individuals were charged with conspiracy to unlawfully divert oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced. Michael Kiszka, 60, of East Hanover, New Jersey and Gregory Kubina, 50, of Whiting, New Jersey, were charged by complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. On September 11, 2025, they made their initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen. The defendants were released on a $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Kiszka and Kubina engaged in a scheme to obtain high-dosage oxycodone pills from several doctors located in New Jersey and sell those pills to street-level drug users. Specifically, Kiszka obtained oxycodone pills directly from certain doctors and purchased oxycodone pills that Kubina obtained from other doctors. Beginning around April 2024, Kiszka and Kubina were responsible for diverting over 10,000 oxycodone pills to street-level drug users. If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a $1 million fine. Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited special agents, task force officers, and diversion investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark, New Jersey, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kruti D. Dharia and Jake A. Nasar of the Office’s Health Care Fraud and Opioids Abuse Prevention Unit. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. #### Defense counsel: Claressa Lowe, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender (Gregory Kubina) Kevin G. Roe, Esq. (Michael Kiszka) kiszka.complaint.pdf


title: Justice Department Expands Health Care Fraud Unit to Target Health Care Fraud in Massachusetts

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The Justice Department’s Criminal Division announced the expansion of its Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force to the District of Massachusetts today. This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care and life sciences hubs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has a national reputation in health care enforcement and has developed a significant record of success in investigating and prosecuting health care fraud, including complex cases involving pharmaceutical and medical device companies, providers, and executives. In FY 2025 alone, working together on health care fraud enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit and Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit recovered more than $450 million in fraudulently obtained funds. Building on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s historic track record and the success of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit’s specialized prosecutors and data-driven, multi-agency Strike Force model, the Department is deploying a powerful force multiplier, allowing it to accelerate the detection, investigation, and prosecution of complex fraud schemes throughout the District of Massachusetts. “Boston is home to world-class health care institutions, cutting-edge life sciences innovators, and a robust health care startup ecosystem, making it one of the most influential and active regions in the national health care landscape,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The expansion of the New England Strike Force to Boston will ensure that we are focused, efficient, and coordinated in our efforts to root out both individual and corporate bad actors engaged in criminal misconduct in the health care marketplace.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts has a long history of leading the nation in health care fraud enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “The unique partnership between our criminal and civil health care fraud enforcement matters has led to groundbreaking and historic enforcement success and industrywide changes. The Office has cracked down on fraud committed by pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers as well as unethical doctors and corporate executives who put greed ahead of patient safety and steal from government programs. The Strike Force model will act as a force multiplier, increasing resources and promoting even greater successes.” “Healthcare fraud costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars every year, whether it is through the unlawful diversion of federal program funds or powerful prescription drugs,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “That is why the FBI is working day in and day out to root out those who place a greater value on profits than they do on the well-being of patients. We welcome the expansion of the New England Strike Force to Massachusetts as we continue to work with our partners to hold anyone fleecing the U.S. government accountable.” “The expansion of the New England Health Care Fraud Strike Force into Boston further strengthens our capacity to protect Medicare and Medicaid from criminal networks,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As a national hub for health care innovation, Boston presents both extraordinary promise for HHS initiatives and increased exposure to sophisticated complex fraud schemes. This strategic expansion underscores our unwavering commitment to deploying investigative expertise where the stakes are highest, working in close collaboration with law enforcement partners to advance fraud detection, dismantle criminal schemes, and hold wrongdoers accountable.” “Protecting the public from harm caused by criminal misconduct involving drugs and medical devices is a priority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “The expansion of the Strike Force into Boston, a vital hub for life sciences, will enable more robust and coordinated efforts to dismantle criminal networks that introduce unlawful medical products into the market, ultimately protecting patient health and trust in our healthcare system.” As part of the expansion, the New England Strike Force, which was launched in June 2022 and is led by Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell, will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit, led by Chief Mackenzie Queenin. In addition to the FBI, HHS-OIG and FDA, the Strike Force will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, and key state agencies, including the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Massachusetts and the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Through the establishment of this strategic partnership with the District of Massachusetts, the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit continues to build on its record of success during a historic enforcement year, which to-date has included the announcement of the largest-ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown in June 2025. In addition, the Unit has significantly expanded its focus on corporate accountability, resolving cases against companies engaged in systemic fraudulent conduct, including recent corporate resolutions with the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Troy Health, Inc . The Unit’s corporate enforcement efforts align closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Massachusetts and its reputation of successful prosecutions of corporate bad actors operating in the health care industry. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which was launched in March 2007. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Prince George’s County Man Pleads Guilty to Cares Act Unemployment Insurance Fraud

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – Terry Chen, 25, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with submitting fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance (UI) claims. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the plea agreement, beginning in 2021, and continuing until about September 2022, Chen and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud the United States, the State of Maryland, multiple financial institutions, and multiple individuals, including multiple identity theft victims. The co-conspirators submitted false and fraudulent UI benefits claims to the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL), Maryland’s agency that is responsible for processing the claims. Chen participated in UI claims resulting in losses exceeding $1 million but less than $1.5 million. Additionally, Chen used debit cards issued in the names of aggravated identity theft victims to obtain UI fraud funds. Co-conspirators Bryan Nushawn Ruffin, 27, of Woodbridge, Virginia, and Kiara Smith, 28, of Fort Washington, Maryland, were employed by a company that provided professional support services to the MD-DOL to review UI claims and administer UI benefits. As detailed in the plea agreement, Chen and his co-conspirators possessed and used computers that the company issued to Ruffin and Smith to access non-public UI data and databases maintained by the MD-DOL. Ruffin and Smith then granted Chen and his co-conspirators access to MD-DOL databases which they used to change information on existing UI claims. This included the contact email address, online account password, and payment method for existing UI claims. The co-conspirators furthered the scheme by using the identity theft victims’ personal identifying information (PII). They also used their access to the MD-DOL databases to upload and approve documents submitted in support of fraudulent UI claims, remove fraud holds on UI claims, certify weeks for determining UI benefits, and engage in other actions to facilitate the fraudulent UI benefits payments. During the scheme, the MD-DOL believed they were disbursing UI benefits to debit cards/accounts of UI applicants, but the accounts were allegedly opened and controlled by Chen and his co-conspirators. Chen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracy; a mandatory sentence of two years, consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft; and 10 years for possession of a machine gun. Additionally, Chen is facing 20 years for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Chen’s sentencing is currently set for February 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. The District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information about the Department’s response to the pandemic, visit justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and FBI for their work in the investigation along with the MD-DOL for its assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Paul A. Riley, and Joseph L. Wenner, who are prosecuting the case, and recognized the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for their valuable assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Billings man sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for multiple sex crimes spanning approximately 30 years on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Billings man who was a prolific sex offender and preyed on the most vulnerable and marginalized Native Americans in Montana for decades by molesting, sexually assaulting, drugging, trafficking, and exploiting any defenseless person without regard to their sex, age or biological relationship was sentenced yesterday to 290 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. James Kirby King, 58, was found guilty by a federal district judge in September 2024 of the following charges: Aggravated sexual abuse of a child, one count Incest, two counts Sexual exploitation of children, three counts Aggravated sexual abuse by rendering unconscious or drugging the victim, two counts Sexual abuse, two counts Attempted aggravated sexual abuse by rendering unconscious or drugging the victim, one count Attempted sexual abuse, one count Sexual abuse of a minor, one count Aggravated sexual abuse by force, one count Attempted possession with the intent to sell child pornography in Indian Country, one count Possession of child pornography in Indian Country, one count Attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, one count Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents and at trial, the government presented evidence that led to convictions for offenses against victims identified as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3, Jane Doe 4, Jane Doe 10, and other multiple victims. Some of the victims were under the age of 12 at the time, some were under the age of 16, and some were adults. Most of the conduct occurred on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, where King once lived, and in Billings, where King lived more recently. The charged conduct began as early as approximately 1992 and continued until his arrest in 2023. As alleged in court documents, for more than a decade King repeatedly molested, drugged, assaulted and sexually exploited Jane Doe 1, whose first memory of the molestation was when she was five years old in 1996. In approximately 1994 or 1995, when Jane Doe 2 was 14 years old, King gave her a small amount of alcohol at his residence and she “went blank.” Jane Doe 2 later awoke and became aware of King kneeling between her legs and taking pictures of her. In addition, King attempted to sexually exploit Jane Doe 3 on numerous occasions and forced numerous sex acts on her both as a child and later as an adult on the Fort Belknap Reservation and in Billings. King drugged and raped Jane Doe 4 on the Fort Belknap Reservation when she was in her 20s and he was in his 40s. And King attempted to sex traffic by coercion Jane Doe 10 in October 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Myers and Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services and Great Falls Police Department. XXX


title: Prue Man Sentenced After Sexually Abusing a 14-Year-Old and Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Prue man was sentenced today for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and Receipt of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Caleb Paul Toothman, 43, to 365 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Toothman will also be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Heil further ordered Toothman to pay $3,000 in restitution. In December 2023, Toothman connected with a 14-year-old minor victim through a website and began communicating with them via social media. On two separate occasions, the minor victim agreed to meet Toothman and snuck out of their home. Toothman picked up the minor and then drove to a park where he sexually abused the victim. Further, Toothman requested and received sexually explicit photos of the minor victim. Toothman is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Michel and Kate Brandon prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 .


component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Criminal Division today announced the expansion of its Health Care Fraud Unit’s New England Strike Force to the District of Massachusetts. This expansion brings enhanced federal enforcement resources to one of the nation’s most significant health care and life sciences hubs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has a national reputation in health care enforcement and has developed a significant record of success in investigating and prosecuting health care fraud, including complex cases involving pharmaceutical and medical device companies, providers, and executives. In FY 2025 alone, working together on health care fraud enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit and Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit recovered more than $450 million in fraudulently obtained funds. Building on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s historic track record and the success of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit’s specialized prosecutors and data-driven, multi-agency Strike Force model, the Department is deploying a powerful force multiplier, allowing it to accelerate the detection, investigation, and prosecution of complex fraud schemes throughout the District of Massachusetts. “Boston is home to world-class health care institutions, cutting-edge life sciences innovators, and a robust health care startup ecosystem, making it one of the most influential and active regions in the national health care landscape,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The expansion of the New England Strike Force to Boston will ensure that we are focused, efficient, and coordinated in our efforts to root out both individual and corporate bad actors engaged in criminal misconduct in the health care marketplace.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts has a long history of leading the nation in health care fraud enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “The unique partnership between our criminal and civil health care fraud enforcement matters has led to groundbreaking and historic enforcement success and industrywide changes. The Office has cracked down on fraud committed by pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers as well as unethical doctors and corporate executives who put greed ahead of patient safety and steal from government programs. The Strike Force model will act as a force multiplier, increasing resources and promoting even greater successes.” “Increasing law enforcement resources in Massachusetts is another step forward in our vigorous fight against healthcare fraud,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI, alongside our partners, remains committed to combatting criminals who seek to defraud Americans and our healthcare system. We look forward to the benefits this expansion will bring.” “Healthcare fraud costs taxpayers tens of billions of dollars every year, whether it is through the unlawful diversion of federal program funds or powerful prescription drugs,” said Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks of the FBI’s Boston Field Office. “That is why the FBI is working day in and day out to root out those who place a greater value on profits than they do on the well-being of patients. We welcome the expansion of the New England Strike Force to Massachusetts as we continue to work with our partners to hold anyone fleecing the U.S. government accountable.” “The expansion of the New England Health Care Fraud Strike Force into Boston further strengthens our capacity to protect Medicare and Medicaid from criminal networks,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As a national hub for health care innovation, Boston presents both extraordinary promise for HHS initiatives and increased exposure to sophisticated complex fraud schemes. This strategic expansion underscores our unwavering commitment to deploying investigative expertise where the stakes are highest, working in close collaboration with law enforcement partners to advance fraud detection, dismantle criminal schemes, and hold wrongdoers accountable.” “Protecting the public from harm caused by criminal misconduct involving drugs and medical devices is a priority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “The expansion of the Strike Force into Boston, a vital hub for life sciences, will enable more robust and coordinated efforts to dismantle criminal networks that introduce unlawful medical products into the market, ultimately protecting patient health and trust in our healthcare system.” As part of the expansion, the New England Strike Force, which was launched in June 2022 and is led by Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell, will coordinate closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit, led by Chief Mackenzie Queenin. In addition to the FBI, HHS-OIG and FDA, the Strike Force will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, and key state agencies, including the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of Massachusetts and the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Through the establishment of this strategic partnership with the District of Massachusetts, the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit continues to build on its record of success during a historic enforcement year, which to-date has included the announcement of the largest-ever National Health Care Fraud Takedown in June 2025. In addition, the Unit has significantly expanded its focus on corporate accountability, resolving cases against companies engaged in systemic fraudulent conduct, including recent corporate resolutions with the Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Troy Health, Inc. The Unit’s corporate enforcement efforts align closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Massachusetts and its reputation of successful prosecutions of corporate bad actors operating in the health care industry. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which was launched in March 2007. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .