title: 5 Indicted by Federal Grand Jury in Bowling Green for a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned an Indictment on February 11, 2026, charging three men and two women with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and other drug trafficking related offenses. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Director Tommy Loving of the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force made the announcement. The indictment alleges that as early as April 1, 2025 and continuing to on or about October 16, 2025, Davon M. Grandberry , 30, Jarru R. Cavitt , 30, Ashley M. Huff , 36, O’Shay D. Everett , 33, and Shelby D. Puckett , 28, conspired and agreed together to knowingly and intentionally possess with the intent to distribute, and distributed, five-hundred (500) grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture, and five-hundred (500) grams or more of cocaine. Each defendant was then charged with additional crimes they allegedly committed as part of the conspiracy. Specifically: Grandberry is charged with distributing a methamphetamine mixture on April 18 and May 2, 2025. Grandberry is also charged with distributing 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine on August 21, 2025. Cavitt and Grandberry are charged jointly with distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on August 27 and September 2, 2025. Cavitt and Everett are charged jointly with possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine on September 22, 2025. Cavitt and Huff are charged jointly with possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine on September 22, 2025. Cavitt and Puckett are charged jointly with possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on September 24, 2025. Altogether, over 50 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 kilograms of cocaine, and approximately $20,000 in cash were seized as part of this investigation. These crimes took place in Warren, Hart, and Butler Counties. Grandberry , Cavitt , and Huff , have all been arraigned before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Grandberry and Cavitt were detained pending further proceedings. Huff was released on special conditions. Everett and Puckett will make their appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at a later date. If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office and the Bowling Green/Warren County Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (AHIDTA) Drug Task Force, with assistance from the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the United States Attorney’s Office Bowling Green Branch is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: New Orleans Woman Guilty of Aiding Preparation of False Tax Return, Aiding in Making False Statements to Small Business Administration and Making False Statements to Small Business Administration

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – ASHLEY COOPER (“COOPER”) , age 41 of New Orleans, LA, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026 before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to a three-count Bill of Information that charged her with aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, aiding and abetting in making false statements to the Small Business Administration, and making false statements to the Small Business Administration related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, as to Count 1, COOPER admitted that she aided and assisted with the preparation of a false tax return on behalf of a client by claiming false fuel tax credits in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). This false tax return resulted in a fraudulently obtained refund from the IRS for the 2022 tax year. As to Count 2, COOPER admitted that she also aided and abetted a person in filing a false Paycheck Protection Program loan through the CARES Act, resulting in a fraudulently obtained loan of approximately $20,832.00 in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and 2. Finally, as to with regard to Count 3, COOPER made false statements to the SBA to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief loans funded by the federal government, including PPP funds, for which she received approximately $19,790.00, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Sentencing will be on June 10, 2026. For Count 1, COOPER faces up to three years in prison, up to $100,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release, for her false statements to the IRS. For Counts 2 and 3, she faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for her false statements. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, per count, due after conviction. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Chevron Agrees to Pay a $1M Civil Penalty for Violations of the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) announced a settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for violations of the Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. Under the agreement, Chevron will pay a civil penalty of just over $1 million and has retired credits worth about $3.6 million to remedy its violations. In June 2023, Chevron disclosed that, from January 2022 through August 2022, the company invalidly generated over 2.2 million advanced biofuel production credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers or RINs, on renewable diesel that had previously been used for RIN generation and sold to third parties. “Today’s action demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to the Renewable Fuel Standard program by ensuring that Renewable Identification Numbers generated and traded represent actual renewable fuel gallons produced,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The benefits that flow from the Renewable Fuel Standard program to rural American communities depend on the integrity of program credits, and this action ensures the reliability of Renewable Identification Numbers in the marketplace.” Under the RFS program, renewable fuel producers may generate RINs on renewable fuel they produce that is used in the United States. RINs may only be generated once on any volume of renewable fuel to prevent the potential double counting. The RFS program is a national policy that requires a certain volume of renewable fuel be used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel in transportation fuel, home heating oil, or jet fuel. Refiners and importers, known as “obligated parties”, must acquire and retire a specific number of RINs each year based on the amount of petroleum fuel that they produce and import into the U.S. market. Obligated parties can acquire RINs by producing renewable fuels themselves and blending that fuel into gasoline or diesel, or by purchasing them from other parties in the RIN market. Chevron is both a renewable fuel producer and an obligated party because it produces both renewable diesel and petroleum fuels. Prior to executing the settlement, Chevron retired valid RINs to offset the ones it had generated, worth about $3.6 million. The success of the RFS program relies on the integrity of the RIN market. This resolution furthers the goals of, and promotes public trust in, the RFS program. Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section filed the Stipulation of Settlement with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. The Stipulation of Settlement is available at: www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees .


title: Former Greenville CEO, Employees Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 16-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin S. Murdock, 56, Thomas C. Lee, 56, both of Greenville, and Vidhya V. Narayanan, 45, of Atlanta, for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The indictment alleges that Murdock owned and operated Premier Medical Laboratory Services, headquartered in Greenville. Lee and Narayanan were both high-level employees of Premier. Premier offered diagnostic testing services for medical providers, including but not limited to COVID-19 testing. The defendants devised a multi-part scheme to fraudulently generate revenue from health care benefit programs related to the pandemic. This included submitted false claims to the federal government for individual tests when in truth the tests had been pooled together for combined, faster processing and for manipulating test processing software. As a result, the defendants billed for tests that virtually worthless and ineligible for reimbursement. The conspiracy to defraud healthcare benefit programs generated millions in fraudulent proceeds. The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment. Murdock previously agreed to a consent judgment of $27,544,460, acknowledging there is a likelihood he would be found liable in the civil action brought against him by the United States and the States of Colorado, Georgia, and South Carolina for violating the False Claims Act, the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act, the Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act, and the South Carolina Medical Assistance Provider Fraud Statute. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office's Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault Charges in Drunk Driving Crash

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona woman pleaded guilty to a 2023 drunk driving crash that seriously injured two people. According to court documents, on December 30, 2023, Shaina Shorty , 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drove while intoxicated and crashed into a vehicle occupied by Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2. As a result of the crash, both Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 sustained serious bodily injuries. Shorty pleaded guilty to two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing she faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant 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 Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.


title: Las Cruces Man Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Handgun While Under Felony Indictment

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

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty after being caught carrying a loaded, stolen handgun outside a Las Cruces gas station while under indictment and on community supervision for a felony robbery in Texas. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on January 14, 2025, Stephen Gregory Smith , 24, was found in possession of a loaded handgun and ammunition outside a gas station in Las Cruces, New Mexico after officers responded to reports that he was harassing customers. During the encounter, Smith admitted he had the concealed firearm in his pocket. Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen earlier that day from a nearby residence. At the time, Smith was under indictment and on community supervision in Texas for a felony robbery charge, which prohibited him from possessing firearms. Smith pleaded guilty to illegal receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. Upon his release from prison, Smith will be subject to two years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Armijo is prosecuting the case.


title: Federal inmate sentenced for threatening Bureau of Prisons Administrator

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal inmate has been sentenced to additional time in prison for threatening a prison official in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. John Robert Bond, 55, pleaded guilty to making threats against a federal official and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on March 11, 2026. According to information presented in court, on May 25, 2025, Bond stated that upon his release from prison he was going to “blow up” the home of one of the prison administrators at the Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont. Bond was scheduled to be released on June 13, 2025. In response to the threat, jailers searched Bond’s belongings and found notes describing the administrator and the location of their home. As a result, Bond was charged with a criminal violation and not released as scheduled. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Chris Jackson. ###


title: Justice Department Assists with Global Operation Targeting Environmental Crime and Waste Trafficking

body_text: Note, the press release has been updated to include a disclaimer in the penultimate paragraph. The Justice Department announced a recently concluded large-scale international operation targeting organized crime networks involved in waste and pollution crime. The global operation code-named Custos Viridis , took place between January and December 2025 on five continents, and was led by Europol working alongside partners from 71 countries and international organizations including the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the largest-ever global law enforcement operation focusing exclusively on pollution and waste crime. The aim was to significantly disrupt criminal networks engaged in environmental crime, waste trafficking, pollution, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. The enforcement actions helped protect society and the environment from serious risks. Starting with an intelligence phase between January to June 2025, the operation’s operational phase took place from July to December 2025. The United States. focused on securing the southern border by targeting individuals and organized crime that sought to smuggle hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a type of fluorinated gas (FGas), and dangerous illegal pesticides into the country. The government’s efforts also combatted the sale and use of these illegal pesticides and illicit marijuana grows across the country. Collaboration with international and domestic partners significantly increased the effectiveness of this operation. Large Amounts of Harmful Substances Seized In the United States, investigations led to: 21 arrests; Total sentences of defendants to more than 21 months in prison and 155 months of probation Total sentences of defendants to pay more than $4.2 million in restitution and more than $2.2 million in forfeitures; 1484 pounds of FGas seized; 40 pounds and 6 gallons of illegal pesticides seized. Globally, investigators conducted 1,048 inspections during the operation, leading to the arrest of 337 individuals. In total, the seizures include: 127,149 tons of waste; 602 tons of polluting agents, including 398 tons of FGas; 75 tons of plant protection products; 2.3 tons of mercury; Over $10 million in cash and bank accounts; and Key evidence, 130 vehicles, heavy machinery, firearms, apartments, and companies. Investigators estimate that the commercial value of the illicit FGas trade alone ranged from $17 million to $23 million, depending on the final destination of the illicit goods. The seized waste types, which could generate illicit profits of at least $36 million, included various types of hazardous waste, end-of-life vehicles, scrap metal, plastics, used solar panels, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), tires, and textile waste. Organized Crime Networks Identified Several organized crime networks were identified as responsible for trafficking illicit waste within Europe and exporting waste to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Among other offenses, these networks were also found to be involved in the illicit marketing of FGas, the illegal trade of plant protection products, and illicit gold mining activities using hazardous chemicals like mercury and cyanide. New Trends and Phenomena Operation Custos Viridis highlighted the global and flexible nature of environmental crime networks which show little regard for the environment and society. The illegal trafficking and dumping of hazardous waste and polluting substances have severe environmental consequences, including long-term pollution of soil and water. Seizures of mercury highlight the link between environmental crime and illegal gold mining activities, with remediation costs potentially exceeding dozens of millions of dollars. Custos Viridis Steering Group: The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division was on the steering committee and helped design and plan the operation. Besides the United States, other countries on the steering committee were: Australia, Brazil, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Custos Viridis Participants: Countries: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Colombia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Costa Rica, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Fiji, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine*, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zimbabwe. *This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue. Organizations and entities: AmbienDura – Waste Force Project, Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, CARICOM, CIVIPOL, EFCA, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), EL PAcCTO (Europe Latin America Program of Assistance against Transnational Organized Crime), Enforce, EnviCrimeNet, Eurojust, Frontex, GI-TOC, IMPEL, NGO Shipbreaking Platform, OzonAction, Wolfsberg Group, World Resources Institute.


title: El Salvadorian Illegal Alien Charged With Assaulting Federal Officers

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – An El Salvadorian illegal alien made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with an attack on federal law enforcement during a traffic stop. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Santos Alvarenga-Rodriguez, 47, for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers in Howard County, Maryland. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the criminal complaint, on January 18, 2026, as Alvarenga-Rodriguez operated a vehicle, ICE-ERO officers checked its license plate. During the investigation, the query returned identification information for Alvarenga-Rodriguez, including a restriction code on his Maryland driver’s license. The restriction code indicated that he may not be legally present in the United States. Then law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and positively identified Alvarenga-Rodriguez. Law enforcement gave Alvarenga-Rodriguez verbal commands to exit the vehicle, but he refused. Alvarenga-Rodriguez then started the vehicle and placed his hand on the gearshift to put it into drive. The officers continued ordering Alvarenga-Rodriguez to comply with the arrest and eventually engaged him to prevent him from fleeing. As Alvarenga-Rodriguez resisted, he bit an officer on his left forearm and injured another officer by causing a laceration to the officer’s nose. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Wilkes-Barre Man Charged With Drug Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Reneard Harris, age 67, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Harris either distributed or possessed with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine base on three separate occasions between February 18, 2026, and March 3, 2026, in Luzerne County. Harris had been on pre-trial release in another federal drug trafficking case at the time of his distribution and possession with intent to distribute the cocaine base. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Alabama Resident Pleads Guilty To Armed Felony Assaults And Transporting Stolen Vehicle

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Paul New, age 20, of Semmes, Alabama, entered a guilty plea in federal district court to four counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, one count of Use, Carry, Brandish, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than ten years in prison consecutive to any other sentence and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on May 30, 2025, New assaulted four victims with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm, and that New knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to that crime of violence. The Indictment further alleged that on May 30, 2025, New unlawfully transported a stolen motor vehicle from the State of Alabama to the State of Oklahoma, knowing the vehicle was stolen. The crimes occurred in Atoka County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Atoka Police Department, the Atoka County Sheriff’s Office, the Stringtown Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the City of Kiowa Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. New will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Sturgis Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Sexual Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on March 9, 2026. Bryson Priest, 26, was sentenced to 10 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $95 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered. Priest was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on November 21, 2025. Between March 2021 and January 2023, Priest engaged in sexually explicit communications with a female minor who was 15 years old when they began communicating, and Priest was between 21 and 23 years old. Priest persuaded the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct during their online communications. Priest then created images of the minor by taking screen shots with his cell phone of the images and videos she sent him of her engaging in the sexually explicit activity or by recording his cell phone screen while she “live-streamed” with him over Snapchat. Priest was also in possession of other child sexual abuse material, discovered after law enforcement searched accounts and devices belonging to Priest. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Rapid City Police Department. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Priest was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Roanoke Woman Sentenced in Paycheck Protection Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke woman who orchestrated a wide-ranging conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a scheme to steal from the Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program, was sentenced today to eight years in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $1.8 million in restitution. Jaimeka Michelle Austin, 32, pled guilty in March 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering. In addition to prison time, Austin was ordered to pay full restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and has agreed to a forfeiture money judgment in the sum of $190,390. Austin was indicted in June 2024 along with 23 others as part of a 142-count indictment alleging wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements, and fraud in relation to an emergency benefits program. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the SBA that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. Between June 2020 and December 2020, Austin communicated with several individuals about helping them to defraud another pandemic relief program, the Economy Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Austin helped multiple individuals submit fraudulent applications to the EIDL program and also did so herself, getting $9,000 in EIDL money. In January 2021, Austin asked her tax preparer, Artebia Hobbs, if she knew how to obtain PPP loans. Hobbs agreed to help Austin get fraudulent PPP loans for Austin herself and also to help Austin submit fraudulent PPP applications on behalf of others. They agreed to charge prospective loan applicants $5,000 (to be split evenly between them) to obtain a $20,000 PPP loan. Austin recruited individuals to apply for PPP loans via social media and word of mouth, knowing that most who would be applying were not eligible to receive such loans because they did not own a business and were not self-employed at the time – two conditions required for PPP loans. Austin and her co-conspirators submitted more than 100 fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of dozens of applicants, including for those who did not have a pre-existing business. These applications included multiple false statements, including inflated business income and fraudulent IRS Schedule C forms. Austin also submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for her own business, Mechelle’s Boutique. As a part of these applications, Austin vastly inflated the amount of revenue that Mechelle’s Boutique received. Based on her fraudulent submissions, Austin ultimately received two PPP loans totaling over $52,000. In total, Austin received, and helped others receive, nearly $2 million in fraudulent PPP loans. Austin used the proceeds of her fraudulent loans and her commissions from helping others with their own fraudulent loans for various retail and vacation expenses. Austin spent significant sums of money at luxury retailers like Burberry and Gucci. And she spent large amounts of money on vacations, including travels to Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and Puerto Rico. On her trip to Puerto Rico, Austin spent over $10,000 while staying at a high-end resort. On October 4, 2021, Austin used some of the proceeds from her PPP fraud scheme to purchase a new-construction single-family home in Charlotte, North Carolina. However, because Austin was already concerned that the “feds” were watching her and did not want to draw additional attention from the federal government, she sought to conceal the source of the funds she was using to make her $70,000 down payment on the home. As a result, Austin gave $70,000 of her fraudulent proceeds to a third party; the third party then wired the funds to the closing attorney. Austin and the third party falsely represented that this money was a gift from the third party and that it did not originate from Austin. Austin closed on the Charlotte property two days later and used her fraud proceeds to pay some of the mortgage payments on the property. In May 2022, Austin filed a quitclaim deed granting herself and her mother joint ownership rights over the Charlotte property. In April 2023, Austin and her mother listed the Charlotte property for sale, and it went under contract for $398,000. Austin and her mother were set to receive just under $95,000 in proceeds from this sale. In May 2023, the United States seized these sale proceeds, and, pursuant to an August 2024 default judgment, this money was forfeited to the United States. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, and Kareem A. Carter, Special Agent in Charge of IRS – Criminal Investigation, Washington DC Field Office, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason M. Scheff and Lee S. Brett are prosecuting the case for the United States.


title: Nacogdoches County felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violation

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas –A Nacogdoches convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. William Charles Fincher, 42, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on March 10, 2026. According to information presented in court, in July 2024, local law enforcement was dispatched to Fincher’s Nacogdoches residence in response to a domestic disturbance. During the response, it was discovered there were multiple firearms at the residence. Further investigation revealed Fincher is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nacogdoches Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter. ##


title: Craven County Gang Members Sentenced to a Total of 89 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Guns

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kaihem Hicks to over 11 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine and fentanyl and possessing a gun while selling drugs. Inmate Hicks pleaded guilty to the charges. Inmate Hicks is the final defendant to be sentenced in a Craven County drug and gun investigation. “So much trauma inflicted by these men against their own community, and for what? The law protects children and families. These men destroy all of that for a little bit of money, but now they will endure nearly 90 years collectively in big boy federal prison. Time for anyone who might look up to this gang to reconsider, lest they earn decades of concrete and steel, instead. Respect yourself, your family, and your community.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and ATF identified the “Bloody Shovel Gang” and the “Gangster Disciples” as sources suppling fentanyl, methamphetamine, and guns in New Bern, Vanceboro, and the surrounding area. In 2023 and 2024, investigators conducted a series of controlled purchases of drugs and guns from several gang members, to include Inmate Hicks of the Bloody Shovel Gang. Through these controlled purchases, investigators learned that co-conspirator Torrey Denard Stevenson supplied dealers in the Bloody Shovel Gang with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs sourced from the Atlanta area. Stevenson and the Bloody Shovel Gang dealers set up shop at an apartment complex in New Bern to sell these drugs. Clayton James Wright, Jr., the leader of the Gangster Disciples, bought drugs from Inmate Stevenson for his Gangster Disciples to resell around Craven County. During the course of the investigation, Inmate Wright and the Gangster Disciples also bought drugs from Durham area suppliers. As a result of approximately 20 controlled purchases of drugs and firearms, traffic stops, and search warrants, investigators seized over 460 grams of fentanyl, over 1,500 grams of methamphetamine, and multiple handguns. In addition to Inmate Hicks, the following other gang bangers got sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy: Inmate Torrey Denard Stevenson (16 years), Inmate Clayton James Wright, Jr. (21 years), Inmate Demario Lequan Moore (11 years), Inmate Brandon Jamal Smith (9 years), Inmate Robert Niquan Bryant (5 years), Inmate Andre Dimetrease Hudson (14 years), and Inmate Deaurvion Malik Roundtree (2 years). Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. CCSO, ATF, New Bern Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, NC SBI, Wayne, Nash, Beaufort, and Carteret County Sheriff’s Offices, USMS, District Attorney’s Offices in Craven, Nash, and Wayne counties investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Childress and Caroline Webb prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-FL, Case No. 4:24-CR-46-M, and Case No. 4:24-CR-56-BO.


title: Federal Jury Convicts McAlester Resident Of Four Counts Of Sexual Abuse In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jeffrey Brent Thomas, age 48, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country, punishable by 30 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The jury trial began with testimony on March 9, 2026, and concluded on March 10, 2026, with the guilty verdicts. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that between January 1, 2020, and January 16, 2021, Thomas sexually abused a child who was under the age of 12 years. The United States also presented evidence that Thomas sexually abused two other minor children. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Thomas will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessie K. Pippin and Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.


title: Former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Employee Agrees to Pay $122,480 to Resolve Conflict-of-Interest Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Christine Tu, a former Patent Examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has agreed to pay $122,480 to resolve allegations that she violated conflict-of-interest rules during the course of her employment with the USPTO. Among other things, the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 prohibits executive branch employees from participating personally and substantially in particular matters that will affect their own financial interests. The settlement resolves allegations that, between October 2019 and November 2022, Tu worked personally and substantially on at least one patent application submitted by a company in which she had a disqualifying financial interest. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that Ms. Tu reviewed more than 20 patent applications submitted by a company that was a commercial competitor of a company for which she owned more than $125,000 worth of stock. As part of the settlement, Tu has agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve allegations that her conduct violated conflict-of-interest prohibitions for federal employees. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and Special Agent In Charge, Laura Barsczewski of the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations made the announcement. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General. This matter was handled by Trial Attorney Joshua Barron of the Civil Division. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Berks County Man Indicted For Possessing Contraband In Prison

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ramsee Munoz, age 35, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of possessing contraband in prison. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Munoz, an inmate at Federal Correctional Institute Schuylkill, possessed a weapon, specifically a 6- and 1/3-inch metal object, sharpened on both sides with one side being serrated, on September 18, 2025, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Box Elder Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison  for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on March 9, 2026. David Derby, 29, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $190 in restitution and $100 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered. Derby was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on November 12, 2025. Between September 2024 and April 8, 2025, Derby used the internet-based application Kik and his Motorola cellular phone and Samsung tablet computer to receive video files containing sexually explicit visual depictions of minors into his Kik account. Law enforcement officers located video files of child pornography in Derby’s Kik account. One of the videos was of a juvenile male being sexually assaulted. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Derby was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Connecticut Man Sentenced to Nine Years’ Imprisonment for Participating in a Nationwide Romance Scam

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Connecticut man was sentenced on March 5, 2026, to nine years’ imprisonment for wire fraud and money laundering stemming from his participation in a romance scam that affected victims across the country, including in central Iowa. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Naabanyin Aniagyei-Cobbold, 30, played an integral part in an extensive romance scam conspiracy—a fraudulent scheme in which individuals create fake profiles on internet dating sites and other social media platforms to exploit victims for financial gain. Aniagyei-Cobbold operated a fake company, Alpha Distributions LLC, that he used to receive money from victims. Aniagyei-Cobbold recruited and coached at least one other individual through creating a sham entity, a website, and opening bank accounts—all for the purpose of receiving money from romance scam victims. Aniagyei-Cobbold received over $1.5 million from victims, including over $400,000 from a victim living in the Southern District of Iowa. The victims sent Aniagyei-Cobbold money at the request of their purported romantic partners, believing it was going to be used to facilitate uniting them with their partner, among other things. Many victims drained their retirement accounts, sold their homes and vehicles, returned to work after retirement, and borrowed substantial sums from friends and family. During the conspiracy, Aniagyei-Cobbold created and starred in a music video titled “S.C.A.M.” which contained lyrics about receiving “scam money” and “laundering it up,” with “money coming in” and “living lavish.” In one frame of the video, Aniagyei-Cobbold poses next to a vehicle on which “SCAM” is spelled out in on the hood of the car in one-hundred-dollar bills. When confronted by the FBI, Aniagyei-Cobbold lied about the nature of Alpha Distributions LLC and why the victims were sending him so much money, claiming Alpha Distributions was a legitimate company used to source electronics for individuals in Africa. He produced false invoices, receipts, and other documentation in response to a federal grand jury subpoena in an attempt to further obstruct the investigation. “Romance scammers prey on victims when they are at their most vulnerable,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “They exploit people by convincing them they are in a real relationship, then slowly abuse that trust to steal their life savings, often leading to bankruptcy. This case is an egregious example of the ruthless persistence exhibited by scammers to enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable people. The FBI will continue working with all of our partners to apprehend these criminals and bring them to justice.” “The financial and emotional harm caused by this scheme has been devastating. Victims were deliberately targeted and manipulated through deception and false relationships, often losing money they could not afford to lose. Many were elderly or living on fixed incomes, and the impact has extended beyond financial loss to broken trust, emotional trauma, and lasting hardship for families,” said Polk County Sheriff Kevin J. Schneider. “The Polk County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the strong partnership with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in holding those responsible accountable and seeking justice for victims across central Iowa. We remain committed to protecting our communities, supporting victims, and working collaboratively to uphold the rule of law.” In addition to the term of imprisonment, Aniagyei-Cobbold was ordered to pay $1,554,442.46 in restitution. After completing his prison term, Aniagyei-Cobbold will serve a three-year term of supervised release. Co-defendant, Nana Takyiwa Adonu, will be sentenced on July 16, 2026. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Omaha Cyber Task Force and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case. According to the FBI, in 2024, approximately 59,000 people fell victim to romance-related scams, losing over $672 million dollars. The FBI says that many times, once a victim realizes that they have been exploited, they feel embarrassed or ashamed, and do not want to let anyone know what happened to them, including law enforcement. However, the FBI encourages anyone who has been victimized by this fraud or unsuccessfully targeted to file a complaint. If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately. If you have already sent money, report any transfer of funds to your financial institution and contact law enforcement. If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 1-888-777-4590 or file a complaint online: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint . You can also report fraud complaints to your local FBI field office by calling 1‑800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or visiting https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety .


title: Illegal Alien from El Salvador Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removals

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Salvadoran national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States after prior removals. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Helmer Osmin Gutierrez , 43, to time served. Gutierrez had been incarcerated since October 18, 2025. According to court records, in October 2025, an officer with the Farmington Police Department stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. A U.S. Border Patrol Agent responded to the scene in response to a call for assistance in identifying the four men in the vehicle. The responding agent was able to identify the four men, including Gutierrez. The agent conducted a field immigration inspection of the four men and determined that Gutierrez was a citizen of El Salvador and did not have any documentation to be in the U.S. legally. A review of immigration records confirmed Gutierrez had been removed from the country in May 2008, at Miami, Florida and in May 2010 at Chandler, Arizona. U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case with assistance from the Farmington Police Department. Operation Take Back America : This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: New Orleans Woman Guilty of False Statements to the IRS and Cares Act Fraud

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – MYIESHA ROBERTSON (“ROBERTSON”), age 35, of New Orleans, LA, pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026 before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to a three-count Bill of Information that charged her with making false statements to the IRS on behalf of a client, and in her own tax filings, and false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, ROBERTSON admitted, in Count 1, making false statements to the IRS in 2022 when she falsely claimed credits for a tax customer, resulting in a refund to which the customer was not entitled in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). As to Count 2, ROBERTSON admitted her failure to report the correct amount of her own taxable income of approximately $116,000 for 2022 in her 1040 IRS tax form in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). Finally, as to Count 3, ROBERTSON made false statements to the SBA in order to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related, federal government funded, relief loans of approximately $60,900, including PPP funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Sentencing will be on June 10, 2026. As to Counts 1 and 2, ROBERTSON faces up to three years in prison, up to $100,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements to the IRS. As to Count 3, she faces up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements count. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count due after conviction. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Stafford man sentenced to life in prison for child sexual abuse crimes he committed while on supervised release for previous convictions

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to life in prison for sexual exploitation of children after prior convictions, coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after prior convictions, possession of CSAM after prior convictions, and commission of sexual exploitation of children offenses while a registered sex offender. According to court documents, Nicholas Wayne Hanlon, 40, pled guilty on Nov. 5, 2013, in the District of Columbia, to two counts of receipt of CSAM and one count of travel with the intent to engage in sexually illicit conduct after he attempted to meet with a purported 12-year-old girl for sex. Hanlon was sentenced to eight years in prison and 10 years of supervised release and was required to register as a sex offender. His term of supervised release began on Feb. 14, 2020. From November 2020 through July 2024, Hanlon used SnapChat and Instagram to engage in sexually explicit conversations with and request and receive CSAM from at least seven minors across multiple states. Throughout his conversations with the minor victims, Hanlon requested, at times on a near daily basis, that they send him videos and photographs of themselves engaged in sexually explicit activity. Hanlon mapped out where many of the minors lived, looking up driving directions in several instances. Hanlon told multiple victims that he was a teenager. Investigators found approximately 150 child pornography images and 20 child pornography videos depicting Hanlon’s victims on his cellphone and numerous additional videos and images in his SnapChat and Instagram accounts. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys April N. Russo and Vanessa K. Strobbe, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndi McVey prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-151.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Inmate Serving Life Sentence in Violent Kidnaping of Rideshare Driver During Escape from Georgia Custody

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal inmate serving a life sentence was convicted by a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 27 for his role in a violent scheme to abduct and rob a rideshare driver while fleeing Georgia state custody. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Stevenson Charles, 24, had been in federal custody until Dec. 5, 2025, when he was transferred to Georgia state custody to await trial on charges related to a 2022 murder and armed robbery. During a routine security check on Dec. 22, 2025, authorities discovered that Charles and two other inmates — Yusuf Minor, 31, and Naod Yohannes, 25 — were missing from the facility. “This defendant’s escape from custody triggered a violent chain of events that put an innocent rideshare driver in grave danger,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The evidence at trial showed a brutal kidnapping carried out to facilitate his flight from justice. Thanks to the determined work of our federal agents and law enforcement partners, the victim survived and the defendant now stands convicted by a jury of his peers. Our Office will continue to work with our partners to ensure that violent offenders who threaten the public are held fully accountable.” After escaping, Charles and his co-conspirators used a rideshare service in Georgia and kidnapped the driver. Once inside the vehicle, one of the defendants wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck from behind, bound the victim’s hands, and forced the victim into the backseat. The defendants then threatened the victim’s life and told the victim to keep their head down while they drove into South Florida. The defendants forced the victim to provide access to her banking accounts and used the victim’s banking cards to make purchases at businesses in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, including securing a short-term rental residence in Broward County. When the victim attempted to escape, the defendants physically assaulted the victim and made threats against her life. The defendants transported the victim to the rental residence, where they prevented the victim from leaving. Over 18 hours into the kidnapping, during the evening of Dec. 22, 2025, law enforcement located Charles driving the victim’s vehicle, with Yohannes also inside. Law enforcement attempted to disable the vehicle and Charles exited the vehicle while it was still moving. Charles fled on foot, leading agents on a chase through a construction site. During the foot chase, Charles discarded a semi-automatic handgun before being apprehended shortly thereafter. The firearm was subsequently recovered along the route of the pursuit. The jury convicted Charles of kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the conspiracy and kidnapping counts and up 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act robbery count. Charles also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison on the felon-in-possession count if the Court determines that he qualifies as an armed career criminal under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). Charles waived a jury trial on the ACCA phase of the felon-in-possession count, which the Court has set for a future date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Yohannes and Minor are scheduled to stand trial on March 30. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami is investigating the case. FBI Atlanta; the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Atlanta; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; the Martin County Sheriff’s Office; the Broward Sheriff’s Office; and USMS Miami provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Maultasch and Breezye Telfair are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-60009. ###


title: Four-Time Deported Alien Sentenced To Over 11 Years In Prison as Part of the Homeland Security Task Force For Trafficking 33 Kilograms of Cocaine And Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An armed Mexican national with multiple illegal reentry convictions was sentenced to prison yesterday as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) for trafficking more than 33 kilograms of cocaine and illegally reentering the United States after deportation, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, Chief Estella D. Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), and Sheriff Van W. Shaw of the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. Raul Bello Rojas, 44, was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of a mixture of cocaine, and illegal reentry of a deported convicted felon. “Rojas repeatedly violated our nation’s immigration laws and returned to the United States to traffic large quantities of cocaine. Armed with guns, he posed a serious threat to our community. This sentence ensures he’ll spend more than a decade in federal prison before being promptly deported,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Every time a dangerous criminal like Rojas returns to our streets and brings drugs and weapons into our neighborhoods, families and communities are put at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Zito. “This outcome shows that HSI and our partners are determined to stand between traffickers and the people they threaten. We’re committed to making Charlotte—and every community we serve—a safer place by taking action against those who repeatedly break our laws and endanger lives.” “This investigation shows what is possible when local and federal agencies work side-by-side to keep our great city safe. Rojas’s actions posed a serious threat to our community, and through strong partnerships we were able to hold him accountable,” said Chief Patterson. “CMPD will continue to work closely with our federal partners to protect our residents and ensure that those who conduct criminal acts in Charlotte are held responsible.” “This investigation shows the importance of law enforcement agencies working together in our areas to arrest and convict violent repeat offenders. Through these partnerships, we ensure that our limited resources are utilized to the fullest extent,” said Sheriff Shaw. According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, Rojas was involved in high-level cocaine trafficking in the greater Charlotte area. Court records show that between December 2024 and January 2025, Rojas sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer on at least three occasions. Following the controlled purchases, on February 28, 2025, HSI agents and CMPD officers executed a search warrant at Rojas’s residence in Charlotte. During the search, investigators located a total of 34 bricks of cocaine weighing approximately 33 kilograms, including: 26 individual bricks of cocaine located in the attic and eight additional bricks located in the closet of the primary bedroom. Investigators also located several additional items during the search including two firearms, an SCCY CPX-1 9mm handgun located in the primary bedroom nightstand, and a Bryco Arms .380 handgun located in a bag with a brick of cocaine. Investigators also located approximately $64,489 in U.S. currency, as well as digital scales and a drug ledger. According to court records, Rojas has previously been deported from the United States on at least four occasions, frequently following criminal convictions. He was first deported on October 1, 2010, after an Assault on Family Member conviction in Virginia. Rojas was later deported from Texas in 2013 following an illegal entry conviction. In the ensuing years, Rojas was deported after felony illegal reentry convictions in Utah (2015) and Virginia (2019), before reentering the country again and trafficking cocaine. Rojas is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended HSI, CMPD, and the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Bozin with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced in Traveling to the District Intending to Sexually Abuse a Six-Year-Old Girl

body_text: WASHINGTON – Timothy Brockerman, 35, of Herndon, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 96 months in prison in connection with traveling to the District where he intended to sexually abuse a six-year-old child, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Brockerman pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2025, before Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact. In addition to the 96-month prison term, Judge Moss ordered Brockerman to serve 20 years of supervised release. "Timothy Brockerman drove across state lines to the District intending to sexually abuse a 6-year-old child. He didn't fantasize, he acted,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This office, along with our law enforcement partners, will prosecute anyone who intends to harm a child and bring the full force of justice against them." According to court documents, on April 21, 2025, Brockerman communicated with another internet user in an online chat group. Brockerman discussed his sexual interest in children. The other user stated that he was the father of a 6-year-old child. Brockerman indicated to the user that he was willing to travel to the District to sexually abuse the child. On April 29, 2025, police arrested Brockerman after he traveled from his home in Virginia to meet the online user. When Brockerman was arrested, law enforcement seized a cell phone that contained videos and images of child sexual abuse material. The phone also contained chats and text messages with other individuals that discussed the sexual abuse of children. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen and was brought as part of Operation Restore Justice and the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 25cr133 ##


title: Man Sentenced to 5 Years’ imprisonment for Covid-19 Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a scheme that resulted in a $148,000 fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Jason Roath, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 60 months’ imprisonment based upon his guilty plea to theft of government money relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain and spend a COVID loan guaranteed by the SBA under the CARES Act. According to court documents, a fraudulent application for an EIDL was submitted using the name and identifiers of a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer. All information on the loan application was false – the name, address, business, number of employees, and revenue. The application directed the loan to be deposited in Roath’s bank account. On Aug. 5, 2020, the $148,000 loan was deposited into Roath’s account. That same day, Roath withdrew $500 in cash from an ATM and transferred $2,500 to his debit cards. Two days later, on Aug. 7, 2020, Roath used the EIDL proceeds to rent a room and gamble at the Ameristar Casino. He also bought fast food, paid past due utility bills, and put money on debit cards. On Aug. 9, 2020, Roath’s bank froze the account due to his spending being inconsistent with business spending. Roath had 6 prior felony convictions and 17 prior misdemeanor convictions for theft, bad checks, and forgery dating back to 1994. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigation Service and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.


title: Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Francis Combs, 58, of Cool Ridge, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 30, 2024, Combs sold a Bryco Arms model Jennings J-22 .22-caliber pistol to a confidential informant in Raleigh County. As part of his guilty plea, Combs admitted to conducting the transaction at his residence and after selling a quantity of fentanyl to the confidential informant at a gas station in Ghent. Combs also admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl and a Jimenez Arms model JA-Nine 9mm pistol to a confidential informant at his residence on August 1, 2024. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Combs knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on June 26, 2007, and being a felon in possession of a firearm in Wyoming County Circuit Court on October 1, 2019. Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on June 24, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-188. ###


title: New Haven Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS SALAMAN, also known as “Bebe,” 44, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 168 months of imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Salaman was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman, his associate Jesus Seguinot, and their associates. Salaman has been detained since his arrest on April 5, 2022. On December 19, 2024, a jury found Salaman and Seguinot guilty of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and Salaman guilty of three counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The government learned that while Salaman was detained, and during the trial itself, he worked with others to make several threatening social media posts to intimidate individuals who were cooperating with the government and testifying at his trial. Salaman’s criminal history includes convictions for reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, assault and firearms offenses, and criminal contempt. On July 30, 2025, Seguinot was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment . This investigation was conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.


title: Reston man who was previously convicted of threatening the President sentenced to over two years in prison for latest threats

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Reston man was sentenced today to two years and four months in prison for sending threats online to kill the President. According to court documents, between Feb. 15, 2025, and May 15, 2025, Valeriy Kouznetsov, 41, made multiple threats toward the President of the United States, his family, and other government officials. Kouznetsov posted these threats on X (formerly Twitter), some of which he sent directly to the X accounts belonging to the President and other officials. For example, on March 28, 2025, Kouznetsov posted a message threatening the President with a “7/13 secret service repeat Philadelphia,” a reference to the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. On April 17, 2025, Kouznetsov threatened, “you are a hopeless and helpless American (expletive) I will murder all of you filthy rats.” Two days later, he publicly posted “I murder all of you including (the President).” Kouznetsov has a history of threatening the life of the President. In July 2020, Kouznetsov approached the Trump International Hotel in Washington, climbed over the bike rack fencing, and attempted to enter the facility. When he encountered hotel staff, Kouznetsov threatened to harm hotel employees and stab the President. Kouznetsov was arrested, convicted of threatening to kill or injure the President, and sentenced to two years and three months in prison and a three-year term of supervised release. On April 5, 2023, Kouznetsov was arrested on a supervised release violation after he entered the area around the White House. His supervised release was revoked, and he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. The U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Mercer prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-271.


title: Hays woman sentenced to 22 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Hays woman who beat a man so badly he later died from his injuries was sentenced to 22 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Heavenlee Drewann Sears, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in November 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Fort Belknap law enforcement responded to John Doe’s house on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation around 6:00 AM on September 30, 2023. When the officer entered the house, he saw Doe on the kitchen floor, bloodied and unconscious. Doe’s daughter, Sears, and Alta Chandler were at the house, along with a relative of both Doe and Sears who had called 911. Emergency medical services responded to the scene to transport Doe to the hospital. Body camera from the medical response shows Doe’s audibly labored breathing, along with his swollen and bloody face. Sears and Chandler are visible on the body camera lingering around the area where Doe had been laying, and the tribal officer repeatedly admonished Chandler to stop trying to wipe up blood. A peppermint schnapps bottle is depicted at the scene on the body camera. Sears was arrested later that day and was wearing a bloody sweater and pants when she was taken into custody. When Sears spoke with the FBI, she told them she and Chandler had been drinking and driving around the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and their evening had included the purchase of a bottle of peppermint schnapps. Eventually, Sears admitted she and Chandler had gone to Doe’s house while they were heavily intoxicated and, once there, beat him. Sears hit Doe in the head with the bottle of peppermint schnapps, and Chandler hit Does with her fists while he was on the ground. Doe was taken to Fort Belknap Indian Health Services. He was unresponsive and breathing erratically. His admission records state his ears and face were bruised and swollen, his nose was lacerated, his upper lip was lacerated, and there was a human bite mark on his forehead. There were also bite marks to his left wrist and left upper chest. After he was intubated, Doe was life flighted to a higher level of care. On October 18, 2023, Doe was admitted to the Long-Term Care Hospital in Billings, Montana. He was diagnosed with traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. He was largely unresponsive to stimuli and completely nonverbal due to his traumatic brain injury. Doe died on December 11, 2023. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography Charge

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lunenburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Michael Myers, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 16, 2026. Myers was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2024 and has remained in federal custody since that time. In 2015, Myers was convicted of possession of CSAM, for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation by state authorities. He is a Level One Sex Offender. In August 2023, Myers was identified as the owner of a Kik Messenger account transmitting CSAM files. One of the files depicted a male victim, approximately as young at eight years old, being raped by an adult male. Separately, in April 2024, Myers was identified as the owner of a Reddit account transmitting CSAM files depicting the abuse of a minor male victim. Search warrants obtained for both the Kik and Reddit accounts revealed several chats further demonstrating Myers’ criminal sexual interest in young boys. During a search of his Lunenburg residence in December 2024, an anonymous private messenger application was found on Myers’ cell phone and showed that several videos and pictures depicting CSAM were sent and received. Due to Myers’ prior conviction, the charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Lunenburg Police Interim Police Chief Jeffrey M. Thibodeau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER PURVIS, 29, was sentenced today to 60 months of imprisonment, consecutive to federal and state sentences that he is currently serving, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 7, 2022, New Britain Police attempted to stop a car in which Purvis was an occupant. As officers approached the car, Purvis accelerated at a high rate of speed. The car crashed a short time later and Purvis and others ran from the scene. A search of the car revealed quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, and a loaded Glock 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen. Analysis of the firearm and drug packaging revealed the presence of Purvis’ DNA. Purvis pleaded guilty on August 8, 2025. Purvis is currently serving a 72-month federal sentence for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in northern Vermont, and a concurrent six-year Connecticut state sentence for firearm and threatening offenses. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and the Bristol Police Department. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Christopher Lembo.


title: Two Men Admit Pocketing Millions in Donations from Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium Meant for Charity

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Noly Hermoso Ilarde of San Diego pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he and a co-conspirator created a sham charity and then fraudulently pocketed millions of dollars in donations. Ilarde and his partner in crime, Martin Jose Rebollo Jr., presented themselves as the non-profit “Chula Vista Fast Pitch,” a defunct charity that provided support for youth softball activities. They applied and were selected to provide unpaid volunteers to work concessions at Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium in exchange for approximately 10 percent of the sales going to their charity. However, Ilarde and Rebollo admitted they paid each supposed volunteer about $50 in cash per event and then divided the remaining money between themselves. Ilarde pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy. In his plea agreement, he admitted the fake charity received approximately $3.5 million in payments from Delaware North, the hospitality management company in charge of concessions at Petco Park, and more than $250,000 in payments from Aztec Shops, the non-profit in charge of concessions at Snapdragon Stadium. Delaware North and Aztec Shops deposited money into bank accounts under the control of Rebollo, and Ilarde and Rebollo used that money to pay volunteers in cash before splitting the remaining money. Ilarde admitted that he personally gained more than $550,000 from the scheme. Rebollo pleaded guilty in December 2025 to Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Filing a False Tax Return and Social Security Fraud in connection with the scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2026. According to his plea agreement, Rebollo’ gain as a result of this conspiracy is greater than $1.5 million – which he failed to report on his tax return. According to the plea agreements, the defendants did not pay any funds to the Chula Vista Fast Pitch charity, and no funds were used for any youth softball activities or other charitable or non-profit purposes. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey D. Hill. DEFENDANT Case Number: 26-CR-0643 Noly Hermoso Ilarde Age: 57 San Diego SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater DEFENDANT Case Number: 25-CR-4668 Martin Jose Rebollo Jr Age: 58 Chula Vista SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater Filing a False Tax Return – Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7206(1) Maximum penalty: Three years in prison and $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater Failure to Disclose Event to the Social Security Administration – Title 42, U.S.C., Section 408(a)(4) Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation IRS Criminal Investigation Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General


title: Former Navy Chief Petty Officer sentenced to 35 years in prison for conspiring to sexually abuse children

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Water View man was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for conspiring to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. According to court documents, after retiring as a Navy Chief Petty Officer, Cory Richard Hambley, 43, worked as a program analyst for the Missile Defense Agency, where he held a Top Secret security clearance. In November 2022, Hambley, who was married, contacted his former girlfriend, Grace Elizabeth Paradis, 43, of Virginia Beach. Hambley repeatedly encouraged Paradis to provide CSAM depicting Paradis abusing two minor children, ages five and nine. Knowing that Paradis was struggling to pay her rent, Hambley leveraged Paradis’ financial situation as well as Paradis’ interest in a relationship with Hambley to induce her to provide CSAM. Hambley provided Paradis with a camera to be hidden and used to surreptitiously record images of the children, including Paradis sexually abusing them. In March 2023, Hambley transferred nearly $4,000 to Paradis with the expectation that she would produce and provide CSAM. Paradis recorded the children’s abuse and provided the resultant CSAM to Hambley. Hambley also provided Paradis access to a Google Drive folder to facilitate her provision of CSAM to him. During this time, Hambley was married to “CH.” Before they were married, CH introduced Hambley to a minor child. Afterward, Hambley, CH, and the child lived together. On Hambley’s electronic devices, investigators found CSAM files depicting the child that were created without the child’s knowledge. Investigators also found images of two adult victims, with whom Hambley had served in the U.S. Navy, that Hambley created without their knowledge. Hambley also collected and shared other CSAM on the Internet. Investigators identified an additional 1,155 images and 142 videos of CSAM on Hambley's electronic devices. Paradis pled guilty on Oct. 23, 2025, to conspiring to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 21 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison. The Homeland Security Investigations Norfolk office investigated this case with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Virginia Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Gantt and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-44. This release was revised on March 18, 2026, to more accurately reflect the defendant's position at the Missile Defense Agency.


title: Former Florissant Police Officer Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Searching Women’s Phones for Nude Images

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a former Florissant, Missouri police officer to 24 months in prison for illegally searching the phones of 20 women for nude photos and ordered him to pay $2,681 in restitution to his victims. Julian Alcala, 31, pulled the women over while on duty, in uniform and in a marked police vehicle between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala took mobile phones from 19 of the victims by claiming that he needed to go back to his patrol car and use their phone to confirm insurance coverage. He told the 20th that he was confirming her vehicle registration. Alcala then searched through the phones without a warrant, probable cause or a lawful reason. When he found images that portrayed either the victim or a loved one or both in a partial or full state of nudity, he used his own cell phone to take photographs. Alcala also found and forwarded a video of one victim to his cell phone. When that victim discovered the forwarding of the video and reported it to the FBI, court-approved search warrants of Alcala’s cell phone and his cloud storage uncovered the other victims. In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug said Alcala had violated his oath to protect and serve. Victims, she said, had previously trusted police officers, but Alcala’s actions had replaced that trust with “mistrust and disgust and fear of law enforcement.” She pointed out that Alcala victimized five women in just one shift. In another, he victimized three women and in a third he victimized two. Alcala, 30, pleaded guilty in December to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. “When Julian Alcala abused his authority, the damage extended far beyond his immediate victims,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “His actions dishonored the badge and undermined the public trust that every officer is sworn to uphold. I appreciate the leadership of the Florissant Police Department for working closely with the FBI to hold Alcala accountable and ensure he could no longer victimize members of this community.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug prosecuted the case.