title: North Dakota FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office Recover $4.8 Million Dollars Scammed from Dickinson Public Schools

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Bismarck – On April 30, 2026, U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Chase announced, pursuant to a civil warrant, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, working in conjunction with the FBI, seized $4,856,578.51 in money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools during a business email compromise scheme. As stated in the filings in civil case number 1:26-cv-008, the FBI and United States Attorney’s Office traced money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools to a Citibank account. Thereafter, on March 27, 2026, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint and obtained a federal Warrant of Arrest in Rem to seize the money located in this account. On April 22, 2026, pursuant to this seizure warrant, Citibank produced a check to the United States Marshals Service in the amount of $4,856,578.5, which represented money fraudulently obtained from Dickinson Public Schools. The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the goal of obtaining a final judgment for the seized $4,856,578.51 and then, pursuant to 28 C.F.R. Part 9, will request that the Department of Justice Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) remit the forfeited funds back to Dickinson Public Schools. The timeline for final adjudication of these proceedings is unspecified; however, the United States Attorney’s Office is working diligently to pursue the speedy resolution of this matter. This seizure occurred as part of civil case number 1:26-cv-088, which is still an ongoing case. The seized funds will be held by the United States Marshals Service until the District Court enters a final order of disposition. “The United States Attorney’s Office is pursuing this ongoing civil forfeiture lawsuit with the ultimate goal of remitting the seized $4,856,578.51 to victims in accordance with Department of Justice policy,” said US Attorney Nick Chase. “The FBI remains committed to protecting Americans from scams of all kinds, including business email compromises,” said Special Agent In Charge Christopher Dotson. “We are proud of the work with our law enforcement partners and will continue to investigate and prosecute unscrupulous scam artists. We will also continue to educate the public on ways to avoid becoming a victim." PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J. O’Konek and Matthew D. Greenley, white collar fraud prosecutors located in Bismarck and Fargo, are familiar with how these schemes operate and caution North Dakotans to pause before responding to emails. They offer the following advice, “Scammers are successful by relying on time and distance. They attempt to make you act quickly by presenting false or frightening consequences and they can effectively impersonate others by the distance of the internet. When you receive an email asking you: 1) to change how you are making payments; 2) to alter wiring instructions; or 3) for information about your company, stop and contact the party with whom you are doing business. A quick phone call to a supervisor, client, or banker can verify whether you received a legitimate email. Do not allow scammers to use time and distance to make you act quickly. Instead, take a moment to review the email, look for irregularities, and check that the email address is from the person with whom you previously worked. If an email looks suspicious, it most likely is.” To learn more about how to spot an attempted scam, and what to do if you fall victim, visit the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center webpage and review their public service announcements, including the December 19, 2025 alert “ Senior U.S. Officials Continue to be Impersonated in Malicious Messaging Campaign .” This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Dickinson Police Department. Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the criminal elements of this offense. As a result, no additional comments will be made on the ongoing criminal investigation. AUSA Jonathan J. O’Konek and AUSA Matthew D. Greenley are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 87 Months in Trafficking Nine Firearms, Including to Buyer Who Said He Was ‘At War’

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

body_text: WASHINGTON - Brandon Smith, 34, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 87 months in prison for conspiring to traffic at least nine firearms to a prohibited buyer over the course of six months, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon Smith was already on supervised probation for a violent felony when he chose to traffic firearms, and he continued even after being told the buyer intended to use them for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Over the course of six months, he arranged the sale of at least nine guns—including one with an obliterated serial number—to a prohibited individual. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment, but a sustained and deliberate effort to arm someone who could not legally possess firearms. My office remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our communities by trafficking illegal guns.” On Jan. 9, 2026, Smith pleaded guilty before Judge Howell to conspiracy to commit trafficking in firearms. In addition to the 87-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Smith to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 108-month prison term. According to court papers, beginning in November 2023, ATF opened an investigation after a confidential source reported that Smith, then on supervised probation for a violent felony, was actively advertising firearms for sale by texting photographs of guns to prospective buyers, including individuals with prior felony convictions. During the next six months, Smith sold or arranged the sale of nine firearms to a buyer on six separate occasions. During the transactions, Smith sold his own personal carry firearm on multiple occasions when a supplier failed to deliver, then purchased a replacement for himself afterward. In early January 2024, as Smith and the buyer discussed an upcoming transaction, the buyer told Smith he needed the firearms because he was “at war” after his cousin had been killed. Smith proceeded with the sale. The buyer had also told Smith he was serving a criminal justice sentence at the time of the transactions. Smith acknowledged that he, too, was “on papers.” Smith arranged a total of six transactions from Nov. 30, 2023, through May 30, 2024, resulting in the sale of nine firearms. At least one of the firearms had its serial number obliterated. On Oct. 26, 2024, MPD officers conducted a traffic stop on the 1600 block of 16th Street SE and found Smith in the front passenger seat of a parked vehicle. Officers observed open containers of alcohol and discovered a satchel at his feet. Inside the satchel, in plain view, was a loaded Glock Model 19X 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber and 16 additional rounds in the magazine. The bag also contained a bank card and government-issued identification in Smith’s name. Smith has prior convictions for Simple Assault (2011), Attempted Robbery (2013), and Robbery and Possession of a Firearm during a Crime of Violence (2016), for which he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was serving a term of supervised probation from the 2016 conviction at the time of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan. Hidden camera photo taken as Smith sold a firearm on Nov. 30, 2023. The Glock .40 caliber pistol that Smith sold for $900 on Nov. 30, 2023. The Walther P99 9mm pistol that Smith sold for $900 on Dec. 12, 2023. The Glock Model 19x 9 mm that police recovered from Smith’s bag on Oct. 26, 2024. 24cr574


title: Five Illegal Aliens With Prior Felony Convictions and Multiple Deportations Charged for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Five illegal aliens unlawfully residing in Las Vegas made their initial court appearances this week to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country. Juan Manuel Castellanos-Velazquez; Jimmy Jeyson Escobar-Nerio; Victor Hugo Garcia-Dominguez; Marbin Alexander Ramirez-Rodas; and Antonio Trinidad Garcia-Gallo are all charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. Preliminary hearings for Juan Manuel Castellanos-Velazquez and Jimmy Jeyson Escobar-Nerio are scheduled for May 11, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III. Preliminary hearings for Victor Hugo Garcia-Dominguez, Marbin Alexander Ramirez-Rodas, and Antonio Trinidad Garcia-Gallo are scheduled for May 13, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Albregts. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaints and statements made during court proceedings, Castellanos-Velazquez, Garcia-Dominguez, and Garcia-Gallo are citizens and nationals of Mexico. Escobar-Nerio, and Ramirez-Rodas are citizens and nationals of El Salvador. All five were previously deported and removed from the United States and reentered the United States illegally. On April 7, 2023, officers from the North Las Vegas Police Department arrested Castellanos-Velazquez for two counts of Trafficking Controlled Substance, Sale/Transfer Controlled Substance, and Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act. On April 13, 2026, after serving a 36-to-96-month sentence for drug trafficking, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Castellanos-Velazquez to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Castellanos-Velazquez was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on eight prior occasions: February 28, 2008; August 24, 2008; August 28, 2008; December 30, 2008; April 21, 2016; May 4, 2016; May 18, 2016; and May 27, 2016. On April 4, 2026, officers from the North Las Vegas Police Department arrested Escobar-Nerio for Driving Under the Influence. On April 8, 2026, the North Las Vegas Community Correctional Center remanded Escobar-Nerio to ICE custody in Las Vegas Nevada. Escobar-Nerio was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions: October 10, 2019, and January 8, 2021. Escobar-Nerio has a prior felony conviction from December 16, 2020, out of the United States District Court, Southern District of California for deported alien found in the United States, the same charge he is currently facing. On September 11, 2024, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Garcia-Dominguez for Kidnapping and Robbery with Use of a Deadly Weapon. On April 16, 2026, after serving a 19-to-96-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Garcia-Dominguez to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia-Dominguez was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions: August 10, 2020, and December 20, 2023. Garcia-Dominguez also has a prior felony conviction for Attempt Burglary, and a conviction for Battery Domestic Violence. On March 16, 2026, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Ramirez-Rodas for Domestic Battery by Strangulation, Battery Domestic Violence on Pregnant Victim, Coercion Domestic Violence with Threat or Use of Physical Force, Driving Under the Influence, and Child Abuse or Neglect. On April 17, 2026, the Clark County Detention Center remanded Garcia-Gallo to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia-Gallo was previously removed on November 25, 2022. Garcia-Gallo has prior felony convictions for Trafficking Controlled Substance from 2015, and Prohibited Alien in Possession of Firearm from 2021. On April 17, 2024, officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Garcia-Gallo for four counts Possession for Sale Controlled Substance, Trafficking Controlled Substance, and Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act. On April 22, 2026, after serving a 2-to-5-year sentence for Trafficking in Controlled Substance, the Nevada Department of Corrections remanded Garcia-Gallo to ICE custody in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia-Gallo was previously removed and deported from the United States to Mexico on two prior occasions: August 20, 2015, and June 9, 2020. Garcia-Gallo was previously convicted in 2018, for felony Trafficking Controlled Substance, and he was also convicted in 2020 for Deported Alien Found in the United States, the same charge he is currently facing. If convicted, Ramirez-Rodas faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. If convicted, Escobar-Nerio; Garcia-Dominguez; and Garcia-Gallo all face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. If convicted, Castellanos-Velazquez, faces a maximum statutory penalty of two years in prison, a one-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Ruben Levya made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the cases; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the cases. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Mexican National and Prior Felon Sentenced After Shooting at Neighbor's Dog

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national living in the United States unlawfully and a prior felon was sentenced today after shooting at his neighbor's dog, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Edwin Soto, 28, for being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition, and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Soto was ordered to serve 52 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Upon his release, Soto is expected to face removal proceedings. In August 2025, law enforcement officers responded to a “shots fired” call. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness who explained that someone shot at his dog. When officers spoke with Soto, he claimed that a dog defecated in his yard and was hesitant to answer any questions about firearms. After serving a search warrant on Soto’s home, officers found four firearms. When officers spoke with Soto, he stated the firearms were his and that he was not aware that he couldn’t possess firearms. While booking Soto into jail, records showed that he is a citizen and national of Mexico by birth. Court records show that in 2020, Soto pleaded guilty in state court for discharging a weapon into a dwelling and was previously deported from the United States. Soto will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.


title: Previously convicted felon returning to prison for latest firearms possession offense

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Dumfries man was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on July 21, 2025, Jonathan Daniel Smith discharged a handgun while he was engaged in a fight with another individual at a gas station in Woodbridge. On July 24, 2025, Prince William County Police officers recognized Smith from footage of the incident and apprehended him after a pursuit. During the chase, Smith attempted to hide his handgun, which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition in an extended magazine, under a parked car. Witnesses directed law enforcement to the handgun's location. A comparative analysis confirmed that a shell casing recovered from the shooting had been fired from Smith’s handgun. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia In 2023, Smith was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. As a convicted felon, Smith cannot lawfully possess firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Prince William County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Walutes Jr. prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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-324.


title: Pharmacy Technician Pleads Guilty to $5.6M Health Care Fraud Scheme and Illegal Distribution of Oxycodone

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A Michigan man pleaded guilty yesterday to defrauding health care benefit programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, by billing for prescription medications that he never dispensed and providing unlawful prescriptions of oxycodone to drug traffickers in exchange for cash. According to court documents, Ali Naserdean, 32, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, was a pharmacy technician at three metro-Detroit pharmacies. From 2019 through 2022, Naserdean and his co-conspirator submitted false and fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs for prescription drugs that were not ordered by a doctor and never dispensed to the patient. Naserdean and his co-conspirator used forged prescriptions from doctors to hide their scheme, when the patient had never seen the listed doctor and the medication had never actually been prescribed. Naserdean and his co-conspirator caused over $5.6 million of loss to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Additionally, from 2019 through 2022, Naserdean provided unlawful prescriptions of oxycodone to drug traffickers in exchange for cash, without regard to whether the prescriptions were actually prescribed by physicians or dispensed in good faith. Naserdean pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and possession with intent to illegally distribute oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 1 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan; Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Detroit Field Office, HHS-OIG, and the City of Dearborn Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Kuebler for the Eastern District of Michigan prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: 25 Defendants Convicted in International $215M Scam That Targeted 1,000+ Victims

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – After a four-day trial, a federal jury found two men and a woman guilty of involvement with an international email hacking scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 victims out of approximately $215 million. The scheme spanned 47 states and 19 countries. On April 24, 2026, a jury in Toledo, Ohio, convicted Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, 40, of Romeoville, Illinois, Aruan Drake, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Peter Reed, 35, of Oak Forest, Illinois, of Wire Fraud Conspiracy. Additionally, Awoyemi and Drake were convicted of a Money Laundering Conspiracy. U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp II presided over the trial. In total, 25 defendants have been convicted for their roles in this fraud and money laundering scheme, commonly referred to as a “business email compromise.” According to court documents and evidence presented in court, individuals, businesses, and other organizations in the United States, were targeted and hacked by Nigerian-linked fraud organizations. Their objective was to gain access to e-mail accounts held by individual users. The co-conspirators would then monitor the communications, and other activities of the individual email users to learn about their business practices and contacts. After gaining sufficient intelligence about the nature of a hacking victim’s activities, the co-conspirators would send a fraudulent e-mail to either the hacking victim, or to someone communicating with the hacking victim, requesting payment. Because the co-conspirators were familiar with the victims’ activities, the fraudulent e-mails were crafted in a way to convince recipients that the request for payment was for legitimate business activities. Once members of the conspiracy obtained payment from victims, conspiracy members used a web of fraudulently created bank accounts and cash transfer systems to launder and distribute the funds. Approximately $50 million of the stolen money was used to purchase cashier’s checks that were presented for payment to the New Dolton Currency Exchange, a Chicago-area money service business owned and operated by co-defendant Lon Goodman. Goodman accepted cashier’s checks from co-conspirators who presented false identifications or presented checks payable to others. Goodman routinely accepted false know-your-customer information and continued doing business with individuals after being warned by banks that checks were obtained with stolen funds or otherwise returned as fraudulent. When it became too risky to accept cashier’s checks in an individual’s name, Goodman would nonetheless accept checks from those individuals payable to shell companies that those individuals controlled. In Ohio, victim businesses affected were in Norwalk, Kent, Akron, Hudson, Maple Heights, Westfield Center, New Riegel, and Greenwich. Outside Ohio, victims were identified in New York, California, Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, New Jersey, and numerous other states. International victims were identified in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Malaysia, Panama, Bermuda, Romania, and other countries. The wire transfers sent by the victims ranged from tens of thousands, to millions of dollars. In one instance, a victim business sent $2.7 million to a shell company bank account that was controlled by a conspiracy member. Among the items seized or subject to forfeiture during the investigation included: Nearly $1.2 million worth of cashier’s checks, cryptocurrency, and cash Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, $45,000 value Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, $30,000 value Richard Mille Felipe Massa watch, $140,000 value 4,423 square foot residence in Lawrenceville, Georgia In addition to the convictions obtained after trial of Awoyemi, Drake, and Reed, the following defendants pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Money Laundering Conspiracy: Ayobami Osas Christopher, aka Lovely Man, 30, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Lawrenceville, Georgia Emmauel Okereke, aka Omo Igbo, 42, a Nigerian national, residing in Atlanta, Olalekan Bashiru, aka Ola Bash, 36, a Nigerian national, residing in Chicago Mark Dabney, 26, of Chicago Casey Adesulu Jr., 28, of Houston Jeremiah Agina, 29, a Nigerian national, residing in Houston Ayorinde Emmanuel Adebayo, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Olympia Fields, Illinois Emily Agyemang, 35, of Joliet, Illinois Ademola Balogun, 43, a Nigerian national, residing in Chicago Olabode Bankole, 37, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Loganville, Georgia India Barnes, 37, of Atlanta Emmanuel Essilfie, 28, a Ghanaian national, residing in Naperville, Illinois Chukwuemeka Evulukwu, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Atlanta Jeremiah Glinsey, 32, of Chicago Lon Goodman, 69, of Whiting, Indiana Shaquille I. Jackson, 33, of Chicago Mikhail Keize, 31, of Loganville, Georgia Katiera Lackey, 25, of Houston Kingsley Owusu, 37, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Chicago Anton Parker, 37, of Chicago Carlton Pruitt, 27, of Bellwood, Illinois Ronnell Spencer, 35, of Chicago Each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. The investigations leading to the indictment were conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Border Patrol Sandusky Bay Intelligence Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Gene Crawford and Robert Melching led this prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Defendant Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Attempting to Obstruct a Federal Drug Trafficking Investigation

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Julian Gonzalez was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 57 months’ imprisonment for attempted obstruction of justice. Gonzalez was convicted of this crime following a one-week jury trial in October 2024. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence. “Gonzalez was convicted at trial of intentionally trying to destroy evidence during an ongoing criminal investigation into his narcotics trafficking,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The jury’s verdict and today’s sentence make clear that those who think they are above the law, seek to undermine our judicial system, and obstruct law enforcement will be prosecuted and held accountable.” “Julian Gonzalez attempted to interfere with a federal investigation and destroy evidence linking him to drug trafficking in New York City,” stated FBI Assistant in Charge Barnacle. “Today’s sentencing represents the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable individuals who try to conceal their crimes from law enforcement.” During an investigation into Gonzalez’s drug trafficking and distribution of cocaine throughout New York City, the FBI obtained a judicially authorized warrant to seize and search his cell phone for evidence of criminal activity. On March 17, 2023, Gonzalez arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, aboard an international flight. Shortly after he landed, FBI agents met Gonzalez, identified themselves, and provided Gonzalez with the search warrant for his phone. Initially, Gonzalez reluctantly unlocked his phone and gave it to the agents. The agents then began looking through the phone and photographing Gonzalez’s Signal messages that appeared to relate to drug trafficking, including the sale of one kilogram of cocaine for approximately $20,000. Shortly after handing his phone to the FBI agents, and while the agents were conducting their preliminary search, Gonzalez asked to use his phone to call his wife. When the agents handed the phone back to Gonzalez, Gonzalez slammed the phone on the ground, causing significant damage. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Rebecca M. Schuman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of former Paralegal Specialist Nadya Osman. The Defendant : JULIAN GONZALEZ Age: 51 Yonkers, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-179 (WFK)


title: New York Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dominic Love Davis, 52, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for failure to update his registration as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis was convicted of first-degree sexual abuse of a 7-year-old in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Circuit Court on January 7, 2013, and required to register as a sex offender for life. Following his release from incarceration on April 30, 2021, Davis failed to complete his required initial sex offender registration. After a state arrest warrant was issued, law enforcement located Davis and determined that he had been living in Brooklyn, New York. Davis also failed to register as a sex offender in that state. From on or about May 20, 2021, through on or about April 15, 2025, Davis failed to update his registration including when he traveled from West Virginia to New York. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the West Virginia State Police, and the Kanawha County Probation Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-72. ###


title: Man Sentenced for Embezzling $434,000

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Thursday sentenced a man who embezzled $434,000 from a medical business in the St. Louis area to a year and a day in prison and ordered him to repay the money. Talon Lewis’ embezzlement lasted from Oct. 21, 2019, through at least Feb. 19, 2025. At the time, he was an accounts payable specialist at a medical business. One of his jobs was to upload a list of patients who were owed refunds so the company could generate and mail refund checks to patients. Lewis had refunds sent to himself or to the homes of friends and acquaintances, sometimes using fake names, by adding those people to the patient refund lists. Lewis recruited 14 people to aid his scheme. Those friends and acquaintances then kicked back 30% of the money they fraudulently received to Lewis. He spent his share of the money on personal expenses and at local casinos. As part of the sentence, Judge Sippel barred Lewis from gambling or entering gambling establishments during his three-year term of supervised release. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Acting Inspector in Charge, Nicholas Bucciarelli, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile Office. Lewis, 33, formerly of St. Charles, Missouri, pleaded guilty in January to one count of mail fraud. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Bristol, Virginia Man Sentenced to 10 Years on Federal Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man who conspired with others to distribute more than 600 fentanyl pills was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison. Briar Stephens, 25, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime. “This office will continue to partner with law enforcement to target anyone who illegally distributes fentanyl in the Western District of Virginia,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “Keeping our communities safe is our top priority. We are committed to pursuing justice against drug traffickers who illegally distribute dangerous substances like fentanyl. Through collaboration and unwavering determination, we strive to uphold justice and protect the citizens we serve. The DEA Bristol Post of Duty will continue to partner with law enforcement to target anyone who illegally distribute fentanyl in Western Virginia,” said Christopher Goumenis, DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge. According to court documents, between September 2024 and October 2024, Stephens, Bobby Arnett, and others, conspired to distribute fentanyl. Specially, over the course of the conspiracy, Stephens purchased fentanyl pills that he and Arnett further distributed in Washington County, Virginia within the Western District of Virginia, and elsewhere. On October 16, 2024, Stephens possessed approximately 600 fentanyl pills with the intent to further distribute them. Stephens also possessed a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol in his waistband in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. The Elizabethton Tennessee Police Department, Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Holston River Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred Announces Indictment in Operation “Porterhouse Parlay” Alleging an Illegal Gambling Conspiracy, Extortion, and Money Laundering

body_text: HAMMOND – On April 16, 2026, a federal grand jury in Hammond, Indiana, returned a 28-count indictment charging James L. Gerodemos a/k/a “Jimmy the Greek,” Dean Gialamos a/k/a “Dean Gem,” Chris L. Gerodemos, and nineteen others with running an illegal gambling conspiracy that used extortionate means to collect gambling debts and laundered the money, among other crimes. According to the indictment, the organization operated in northwest Indiana and elsewhere from on or about January 2021 to on or about April of 2026. The indictment was unsealed on April 29, 2026, following the execution of arrest and search warrants accompanying the indictment. “Through this indictment, the grand jury has alleged that the defendants built an illegal gambling organization that operated both online and in person at two northern Indiana businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “According to the indictment, members of the organization used threats and intimidation to collect on gambling debts. My office bears the burden of proving that the defendants are guilty of these charges, which I am confident we will do. In the meantime, I want to make two points. First, every defendant named in this indictment is entitled to a fair trial by a jury of their peers and is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. And second, like all investigations, this one is continuing. My office will investigate any additional crimes revealed by the evidence and any additional subjects who might have participated in the alleged criminal activity. If you believe that you are a victim of the alleged organization, or if you have any information relevant to it, you are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.” “Illegal gambling operations often fuel broader criminal activity and exploit our communities for profit,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI, in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues, is committed to dismantling these criminal networks and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.” “Today marks the culmination of a lengthy, complex and collaborative investigation,” said Indiana Gaming Commission Law Enforcement Superintendent Brock Pilgrim. “The indictments, arrest and search warrants all send a clear message: those who attempt to corrupt the integrity of licensed gaming operations in Indiana will be held accountable.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Indiana Gaming Commission, with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistance U.S. Attorneys Philip Benson and Kevin Wolff.


title: Payment Processing Broker Pleads Guilty to Fraudulent Bank Debits

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: An Oregon man who worked as a payment processing broker pleaded guilty today to wire fraud for his role in using fraudulent, unauthorized debits to steal money from victims’ bank accounts. According to court documents, Jeremy Todd Briley, 46, of Oregon, worked as a payment processing broker. Acting on behalf of clients (merchants), Briley identified payment processors in the United States for his clients to use in processing charges. Briley’s two largest clients were sham companies that falsely represented that they provided online marketing services to businesses. Instead, they stole from victims by fraudulently debiting their bank accounts, causing over $14 million in unauthorized debits and attempted debits. From February 2017 to December 2023, Briley obtained and maintained payment processing relationships for those sham companies so that they could process fraudulent debits, knowing that the sham companies were fraudulently debiting bank accounts. Despite repeatedly receiving information that the debits processed on behalf of the sham companies were not authorized by the victims, Briley concealed the fraudulent activities of the sham companies in various ways, and he arranged for a payment processor to deceive banks by manipulating return rates on the fraudulent debits. Briley pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Chicago Region made the announcement. The USPIS and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Daniel Zytnick of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida is handling forfeiture. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case Against Property Management Company for $750,000

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a $750,000 agreement to settle allegations that Indian Oaks Apartments LTD, Russell Management Services LLC, H.J. Russell & Company, and The Russell Realty LP violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a mother’s requests for a ground-floor unit because her son had been diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes permanent mobility impairment. This settlement is the second largest ever obtained by the department in an individual housing discrimination case. “The defendants should have moved this family with a terminally ill child to a ground-floor unit without delay,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Americans with disabilities have the right to equal access to housing in the United States, and this Justice Department will continue to ensure the protection of this right.” “Refusing to move a terminally ill child and his family, when ground-floor units were available, was a clear violation of both law and decency,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Rental property owners and their employees must know and follow the Fair Housing Act, as denying reasonable accommodations is illegal, and our office will not hesitate to pursue those who break the law.” The lawsuit, filed on Oct. 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleges that the owners and property managers of an apartment complex in Fort Valley, Georgia, failed to grant a mother’s requests for a reasonable accommodation, despite her repeated requests over a 14-month period and the existence of multiple available ground-floor units. The complaint alleges that the defendants’ actions made it impossible for the mother to carry her son in and out of the apartment without help from her older children, leading to profound physical, psychological, and emotional losses for her son and lost academic and social opportunities for her older children. The settlement requires the defendants to pay $750,000 to the family, comply with certain policy and training provisions, and report to the department on reasonable accommodation requests at any properties they own or operate. The lawsuit arose as a result of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation of the complaint, HUD issued a charge of discrimination and the tenant elected to have the case heard in federal court. If you have experienced housing discrimination, submit a report online or call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743. You may also file a report with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by submitting a complaint online or calling 1-800-669-9777. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt .


title: PA Lifesharing, LCC Agrees To Pay $1.2M To Settle False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG, PA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that PA Lifesharing, LLC (PAL) has agreed to pay $1,211,095.53 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to Medicaid by allowing unqualified Direct Support Professionals to render 1:1 services in violation of the applicable Medicaid rules and regulations. According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024, PAL submitted claims to Medicaid for services rendered by Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who PAL knew were not properly cleared and/or trained and thus unqualified to render 1:1 services. “Ensuring patients are being treated by properly trained individuals is of the upmost importance, said Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)." “We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate allegations of improper billings and uphold the integrity of the Medicaid program.” Once PAL was aware of the investigation, they cooperated with the United States including self-identifying some of the improper claims and correcting the issues that led to the false claims. This settlement resolved a sealed lawsuit originally filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permits a private party to file a complaint on behalf of the United States and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. This qui tam is captioned United States ex rel. Jane Doe v. PA Lifesharing, LLC, Carolyn Bennett Carson, and Rajkumar Wale , No. 1:24-CV-1053 (M.D.P.A.). The whistleblower will receive $242,219 of the settlement amount. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tamara Haken and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania with assistance from the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. # # #


title: El Salvadoran National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry; Faces Deportation

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Angel Vidal Reyes Guzman, age 33, a citizen of El Salvador, was sentenced to time served (approximately two months) by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Reyes Guzman was indicted by a federal grand jury after having been previously convicted of a charge of moral turpitude in Virginia in 2013. Reyes Guzman had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order in 2013 and illegally reentered the United States sometime thereafter. Reyes Guzman pleaded guilty to illegal reentry prior to his sentencing. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. # # #


title: Harrisburg Man Sentenced To 15 Years’ Imprisonment For Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Aaron Williams, age 54, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 15 years’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year-term of supervised release for possessing with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in May 2023, Williams sold over 80 grams of crack cocaine to an individual in Harrisburg. A search warrant was later executed at Williams’s Harrisburg residence, and law enforcement found over 400 grams of powder cocaine and over 300 grams of crack cocaine. Law enforcement also found over $7,000 in cash. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrisburg Police Bureau investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Jury Finds Maryland Man Guilty of Armed Carjacking and Armed Robbery of Army Veteran

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Miquel Beasley, 23, of Maryland, was convicted yesterday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, for an armed carjacking and armed robbery that took place in March 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Beasley was found guilty of one count of armed carjacking, one count of armed robbery, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He was indicted in D.C. Superior Court on February 5, 2025. The Honorable Errol Arthur scheduled sentencing for July 22, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 3:15 p.m. on March 22, 2024, the victim, a 62-year-old Army veteran, met up with Beasley in the 3900 block of First Street SE to purchase marijuana. Beasley entered the victim’s car from the passenger side and once in the vehicle he produced a black handgun, put the handgun to the victim’s head, and demanded that the victim exit his car. The victim got out of his car, and Beasley got into the driver’s seat and drove away. He was arrested on January 30, 2025, and has been in custody since. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Alexander Cook and Samuel Ison. 2025 CF3 001237


title: Homeland Security Taskforce Investigation Leads to Ohio Man Pleading Guilty to Role in Interstate Fentanyl Pill Trafficking Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 25-year-old man has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving fentanyl pills shipped from Arizona to Ohio. Alijaha Scott, of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the following charges: Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering According to court documents, from about April 2022 to 2024, Scott and other co-conspirators engaged in a drug trafficking operation that included shipping parcels of fentanyl pills from Arizona to the Youngstown area, where the pills were redistributed to customers. On Aug. 2, 2023, Scott flew from Ohio to Arizona, shipped a drug parcel to the Youngtown area, and then flew back to Ohio. Law enforcement stopped Scott on Interstate 80 after he returned from the trip and found a vacuum-sealing machine (commonly used to package bulk drugs or cash for smuggling) in his suitcase. Law enforcement also reviewed cellphone evidence, which showed Scott was talking to another conspirator about fentanyl pills. Scott is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 4. A federal district court judge will determine sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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. HSTF Cleveland comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney James P. Lewis for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller Highlights a Dozen Recent Child Exploitation Prosecutions Across the District

body_text: LAFAYETTE – Today, United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller highlights a dozen recent prosecutions in the Western District of Louisiana involving serious child exploitation crimes. These cases span the entire District and include charges such as interstate transportation of minors to engage in illegal sexual activity, coercion and enticement of minors to produce child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”), and the receipt, production, and distribution of CSAM as well. “The defendants charged in these cases span not only our 42-parish District but also the spectrum of predators that require our vigilance as law enforcement and as parents: people in positions of trust like teachers and National Guardsmen, recidivist sex offenders, people using AI to generate child pornography using our children’s faces or preying upon children they meet on video game platforms, and people paying others to abuse children at their instruction or transporting them across state lines to abuse them. Our message in prosecuting these cases and highlighting them here is simple: we as Louisianans, as parents, and as families have had enough of this awful abuse and are committed to seeing those who perpetrate these acts brought to justice.” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “We look forward to seeing justice done in these significant cases and to continuing our work alongside our federal and state partners to make our Louisiana community safe for our children.” "Children should be able to trust adults and when that trust is shattered by predators, the FBI and our partner law enforcement agencies will work with prosecutors to see that justice is done," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI is committed to doing whatever it can to protect our most vulnerable victims." “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans remains steadfast in our mission to protect children from predators in our communities and online,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of HSI New Orleans. “The scale and complexity of these crimes have increased, making teamwork essential. Partnerships with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and other Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners are critical to identifying, investigating, and bringing offenders to justice, and ensuring survivors receive the support they need to heal.” The following cases highlight ongoing efforts to protect children and hold offenders accountable in the Western District: In the Lafayette area: Christie Elizabeth Dunbar Oster , 38 of Broussard, was indicted for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Oster, an eighth-grade teacher who was named Teacher of the Year in 2025, is charged with having maintained a sexual relationship with a minor victim during most of 2024. As alleged, Oster formed a sexual relationship with one of her eighth-grade students by meeting with her outside of school hours and using their cell phone communications not only to engage in sexual discussions but also to instruct the minor victim to do things like deleting text messages to avoid detection by the minor victim’s parents or others. Oster faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by FBI and is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case number is No. 26-CR-00158. Luxe Arlen Thomas , 19 of Scott, was indicted for producing child pornography, interstate transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and other CSAM-related crimes. Thomas, who was a U.S. National Guardsman, engaged in a monthslong pattern of abuse against a minor girl whom he understood to have intellectual disabilities and to be in the foster system, with Thomas traveling to another state to engage in sexually explicit conduct with her and then transporting her back to Louisiana to do the same, producing and possessing images of sexually explicit conduct as he did so. Thomas faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by HSI and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard. The case number is 26-CR-00164. Rickey James Hebert, 66 of Abbeville, was indicted for conspiracy to produce child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and receipt of child pornography. As alleged, Hebert was paying a Filipina woman to create live videos of minor children being sexually abused and otherwise engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hebert faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. The case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. The case number is No. 6:26-CR-00151. Scott Nicholas Martel , 36 of Basile , was indicted for receiving and possessing CSAM. As alleged, Martel falsely portrayed himself online as having access to minors by using online names such as “BaileyMomof2daughters” to secure CSAM from other users in internet-based chat rooms. A search of Martel’s phone in February 2026 revealed a trove of CSAM he received in this way, as well as AI-generated pornographic materials involving Martel’s use of pictures available online of minor children living in his area. Martel faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The FBI is investigating this case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott Cassidy with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. The case number is 26-CR-00095. Michael Roy Williams , 61 of Opelousas, was indicted in two separate cases, one charging him for possessing an explosive device and the other for possessing CSAM. These cases arose from St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives receiving information indicating that Williams possessed child pornography. After they obtained a search warrant for Williams’ smartphone, detectives then learned that Williams possessed an explosive device, which they recovered from his residence after securing another search warrant. Williams faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge. These matters are being investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, and are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case numbers are 26-CR-00152 and 26-CR-00153. Donald W. Bergeron , 42 of Broussard, was indicted on Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. As alleged, Bergeron, who has a prior conviction for incest with a child, used social media messaging applications and cloud-based file storage services to send, receive, and save images of CSAM. Bergeron faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The case is being investigated by the FBI and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Ashley Hammons with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. The case number is 26-CR-00154. Cody Allen Bell , 34 of Carencro, was indicted for receiving and possessing CSAM. The investigation stems from a tip provided to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by an encrypted messaged application, with the tip advising that someone attempted to upload CSAM to the messaging application. NCMEC forwarded the tip to the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations for further investigation, and detectives identified Bell as the individual utilizing the messaging application. Detectives executed search warrants on Bell’s account as well as a cloud-based storage account that he utilized and his cellular telephone and located CSAM in all locations. Bell faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and Louisiana Bureau of Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren S. Sarver with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case number is 26-CR-00160. In the Lake Charles area: Victor Gomes , 25 of Texas, was charged with attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity after traveling from Texas to meet a minor girl at a Lake Charles-area park to transport her back to Texas to engage in sexual activity. As it would turn out, Gomes had been communicating with an undercover FBI agent, and after he was caught in an FBI sting operation trying to meet a minor girl in Lake Charles, planning to transport her back to Texas. If convicted, Gomes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Sarver with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. The case number is 26-CR-00108. Oscar Rodriguez , 38 of Lake Charles, involved Rodriguez attempting to meet a 14-year-old girl at a Lake Charles-area hotel to engage in sexual activity only to find that it was an undercover operation. Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life if convicted. This matter is being investigated by FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon II with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. The case number is 26-CR-00103. In the Shreveport area: Darryl Hawkins , 43 of Shreveport, was indicted for attempting to coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. As alleged, Hawkins communicated via social media platform with an undercover FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl, ultimately traveling to a local park in the Shreveport area to meet the purported minor after engaging in sexual discussions online. Hawkins faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and Shreveport Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart. The case number is 26-CR-00133 . Joshua Bixby, 22 of Shreveport, was indicted for producing child pornography. The indictment stems from a complaint by a minor female alleging that Bixby solicited her to produce and send sexually explicit images via a social media platform, with an FBI investigation identifying additional victims, ages 12-16 whom Bixby solicited on the same platform. If convicted, Bixby faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison. This matter is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell with the assistance from Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Stewart. The case number is 26-CR-00134. In the Monroe area: Ronnie Carlton Rogers, 41 of California, was indicted for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Rogers, who was previously convicted of child sexual abuse, is alleged to have targeted a minor girl under the age of 12 in northeast Louisiana through a video game, meeting the girl and engaging in sexual discussions while instructing her to expose herself to him. Rogers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison if convicted. The case is being investigated by the Monroe, Louisiana and San Francisco, California offices of the FBI, West Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office and the California State Probation Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. The case number is 26-CR-00149. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. These investigations are a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under each case’s respective case number. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Members of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” Telegram Channel Sentenced to Prison

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A member of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” has been sentenced for participating in a fraud conspiracy, organized through the cloud-based messaging service Telegram, that targeted retailers across the country, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Brian Nicklaus Buchanan, 30, of Clayton, North Carolina, to 12 months and one day in prison. Buchanan previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. “Refund fraud is a billion-dollar problem plaguing American companies,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. “These sentences send a message to cybercriminals that you can’t hide behind your keyboard. Federal law enforcement will track you down, arrest you, and you will go to prison.” “Global fraud is a billion-dollar enterprise fueling organized crime. Retail refund schemes alone cost billions, and there is no such thing as a victimless crime,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, FBI Birmingham Special Agent in Charge. “Every fraudulent return, every exploited system, ultimately impacts jobs, prices, and public safety. This case exemplifies the FBI’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding American companies and their customers. Through strong global and private sector partnerships, we can disrupt and dismantle these networks at their core.” The following members of “Noir’s Luxury Refunds” have previously been sentenced: Jason Seib, also known as “Waynor,” 44, from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, was sentenced to time served after being in custody for 26 months; David James Park, also known as “Plutus,” 24, from Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 13 months in prison; Nicholas John Caruso, also known as “Deaf,” 33, from Dallas, Texas, was sentenced to 8 months in prison; Jennifer Mireya Palma, also known as “Bianca,” 25, from Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to 10 months in prison; Damion Wayne Scarlett, also known as “Dash,” 27, from Deer Park, New York, was sentenced to 16 months in prison; CK Chikong Tran, also known as “Radiant,” 31, from New York, New York, was sentenced to 21 months in prison; and Tyree Samuel Tinsley, also known as “Tysamtin,” 32, from Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. According to court documents, these individuals were members of Noir’s Organization, a group that operated the Telegram channel “Noir’s Luxury Refunds,” as well as other fraud-based Telegram channels. Noir’s Luxury Refunds was dedicated to refund fraud, a type of fraud where a purchaser claims to return an item, receives a refund, but keeps the product. Customers would pay Noir’s Organization a percentage of the product price in exchange for the organization fraudulently refunding the item on the customer’s behalf. Noir’s Organization marketed itself as having the expertise to defraud retailers across the world in a wide range of industries. At one point, the Noir’s Luxury Refunds channel had over 5,900 followers. Noir’s Organization operated from July 2020 until July 2022. Documents reflect that the group obtained refunds or attempted to obtain refunds for millions of dollars’ worth of products, including electronics, designer clothing and apparel, home furnishings, and appliances. Noir’s Organization used a variety of tactics to commit refund fraud, including social engineering to manipulate customer services representatives into issuing refunds, manipulating shipping labels to deceive a retailer into believing they had received a returned product when they had not, and recruiting customer service representatives as “insiders” to perform refunds on the conspiracy’s behalf. Noir’s Organization also developed malware that would target retailers’ websites to facilitate refund fraud by circumventing fraud prevention measures. The FBI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and Brett A. Janich, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter, prosecuted the cases. Assistance was provided by Target Corporation; Amazon.com, Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Wayfair Inc.; Dell Technologies; Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.; American Airlines Group Inc.; Hewlett Packard Incorporated; Adidas AG; eBay Inc.; and Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group. The Sûreté Nationale of Morrocco also provided valuable assistance to the investigation. This case was brought as part of Operation Chargeback, an FBI investigation into organized refund fraud groups across the United States and internationally. Cases have also been brought in the Western District of Washington and the Northern District of Oklahoma as part of the initiative. For more resources on cybercrime, visit www.ic3.gov .


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jorge Humberto Olais Solano, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted April 29, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed three times. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Olais Solano illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 2026. Olais Solano was last removed from the United States through Del Rio, Texas, on April 26, 2017. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evelyn M. Stoner is prosecuting 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. HSTF York comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is twenty 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: Florida Woman Pleads Guilty To Orchestrating Multimillion-Dollar Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that NYDIRA ADAMS, a/k/a “Nadira Adams,” a/k/a “Nadira Adams-McMillan,” pled guilty today to carrying out a scheme in which she caused federal student loan borrowers to submit documents containing misrepresentations and false statements to the U.S. Department of Education to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. ADAMS’s scheme sought to cause the Department of Education to forgive over $5 million in federal student loan debt based on lies, misrepresentations, and falsehoods. ADAMS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote. “Nydira Adams marketed herself as a guru, but what she was really selling was fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Adams’s greed cost an important federal program servicing the American public over $5 million. Programs funded by taxpayers and designed to reward genuine public service cannot be treated as personal profit centers. New Yorkers and all Americans want us to make sure their tax dollars are not stolen.” According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings: From at least in or about March 2023 through at least in or about January 2025, Adams held herself out as the “Student Loan Default Guru” and operated a business under the same name. In reality, AdAMS used misrepresentations, false statements, and false documents to deceive the Department of Education into forgiving federal student loans issued to borrowers who paid Adams thousands of dollars for her purported services. On multiple occasions, Adams knowingly and intentionally caused applications for Department of Education relief programs to be submitted that contained falsehoods pertaining to the borrowers’ eligibility for the relief programs. Among other falsehoods, Adams claimed that one California-based borrower worked full-time at a New York-based religious institution and falsely represented that another borrower worked full-time for a public school district. Adams’s scheme resulted in an intended loss of over $5 million to the Department of Education. * * * Adams, 38, of Pensacola, Florida, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 60 months in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Department of Education Office of Inspector General – Eastern Regional Office, the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Special Agents assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Boone County Man Sentenced for Accessing Child Pornography Through the Dark Web

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Walton, Ky., man, Kameron Thomas, 35, was sentenced on Friday to 37 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for accessing child pornography with the intent to view it. According to court documents, in January 2025, Thomas’s roommate, Ronald Knox , distributed a depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover law enforcement officer by means of a BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. In May 2025, law enforcement searched their residence, during which Thomas admitted that he accessed child pornography through a Tor browser on his smartphone and that he had been doing so regularly for years. Law enforcement seized Thomas’s device, which revealed evidence corroborating his admissions. Knox was previously sentenced to 168 months for the distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Under federal law, Thomas must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years. Jason D. Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Craig Patrick Sorrell, Campbell County Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Campbell County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . – END –


title: Justice Department Settles Disability Discrimination Case Against  Property Management Company for $750,000

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – The Justice Department announced today a $750,000 agreement to settle allegations that Indian Oaks Apartments LTD, Russell Management Services LLC, H.J. Russell & Company, and The Russell Realty LP violated the Fair Housing Act by refusing to grant a mother’s requests for a ground-floor unit because her son had been diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes permanent mobility impairment. This settlement is the second largest ever obtained by the department in an individual housing discrimination case. “The defendants should have moved this family with a terminally ill child to a ground-floor unit without delay,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Americans with disabilities have the right to equal access to housing in the United States, and this Justice Department will continue to ensure the protection of this right.” “Refusing to move a terminally ill child and his family, when ground-floor units were available, was a clear violation of both law and decency,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Rental property owners and their employees must know and follow the Fair Housing Act, as denying reasonable accommodations is illegal, and our office will not hesitate to pursue those who break the law.” The lawsuit, filed on October 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleges that the owners and property managers of an apartment complex in Fort Valley, Georgia, failed to grant a mother’s requests for a reasonable accommodation, despite her repeated requests over a 14-month period and the existence of multiple available ground-floor units. The complaint alleges that the defendants’ actions made it impossible for the mother to carry her son in and out of the apartment without help from her older children, leading to profound physical, psychological, and emotional losses for her son and lost academic and social opportunities for her older children. The settlement requires the defendants to pay $750,000 to the family, comply with certain policy and training provisions, and report to the department on reasonable accommodation requests at any properties they own or operate. The lawsuit arose because of a complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation of the complaint, HUD issued a charge of discrimination and the tenant elected to have the case heard in federal court. If you have experienced housing discrimination, submit a report online or call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743. You may also file a report with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by submitting a complaint online or calling 1-800-669-9777. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . The investigation and resolution of this matter was led by members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia, specifically Civil Rights Investigative Specialist Danyelle D. White, with support from Civil Chief W. Taylor McNeill, and led by former Civil Chief Bowen Shomaker and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Simon, and by attorneys from the Civil Rights Division.


title: Leading Dark Web Marketplace Creator and Operator Extradited from Colombia to the United States

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A German national living in Colombia was extradited to the United States on charges that he owned and operated “The Versus Project,” an online dark web marketplace that enabled its over 380,000 registered users to buy and sell illegal goods, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey previously returned an eight-count indictment, unsealed yesterday, charging Patrick Schmitz, 37, of Taganga, Colombia, in connection with his operation of the marketplace. In June 2024, Schmitz was arrested in Colombia pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. On April 29, 2026, Schmitz was extradited to the United States and earlier today had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cari Fais where Schmitz was detained pending trial. The Versus Project, also known as Versus, was a leading dark web marketplace that enabled users to buy and sell illegal goods, including heroin and other illicit drugs, stolen and fraudulent identification documents and access devices, counterfeit currency, malware, and hacking tools. Versus operated from about November 2019 through about May 2022. During that time, Versus had over 380,000 registered users, offered over 32,000 product listings and facilitated over 300,000 completed orders, resulting in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions. According to court documents, Patrick Schmitz, 37, of Taganga, Colombia, was a cofounder of Versus and handled the day-to-day management, such as responding to user tickets for assistance with issues on the platform, reviewing vendor applications, and resolving disputes between vendors and customers. Over time, Schmitz recruited and supervised staff who worked on Versus and reported to him. Schmitz also promoted Versus on the dark web, recruited vendors, and developed strategies to monetize Versus. Schmitz received a portion of the profits generated and his virtual currency wallets transacted in cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars. “The indictment leading to this extradition makes clear that law enforcement will shine a bright light on criminal conduct on the dark web. We will investigate and prosecute those who seek to use the anonymity of the dark web to profit from the sale of illegal goods. No matter how many monikers a user hides behind or where in the world they are, we will use all legal means to find them and bring them to justice.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “This extradition demonstrates the strength of the Justice Department’s international partnerships, and our ability to identify dark web criminals running platforms engaging in such widespread and varied illegal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Versus Project allowed thousands of criminals to endanger the American people with heroin, illegal drugs, and tools for fraud and hacking. Although Versus hid on the dark web, today’s announcement demonstrates that Versus was not beyond the reach of the Justice Department and its international partners. Illegal online criminal marketplaces, no matter where they are located, will be targeted and brought down.” “HSI Newark’s unwavering efforts led to the identification, arrest, and extradition of a key international cybercriminal, significantly disrupting a major illicit online marketplace,” said HSI Newark Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy. “This action underscores the dedication of HSI and our partners to combating cyber-enabled crime and ensuring individuals who exploit the internet for illegal activities are held accountable.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Versus was modeled after an e-commerce website. Users could choose a username and password to create a free account to access Versus. Users could then search for products by keyword or scroll through listings by category. The categories of products on Versus included “drugs,” “fraud,” “digital items,” “services,” and “software & malware.” Versus required its users to transact in digital currencies, including Bitcoin and Monero, and did not allow for transactions in fiat currencies. Versus and its users were therefore able to bypass traditional financial systems, which collect information about their customers and maintain anti-money laundering and fraud programs. Versus generated revenue through multiple methods, including by keeping a percentage of each completed transaction as a commission and vendors were required to pay penalties if they were found to have violated Versus’ rules. In June 2024, Schmitz was arrested in Colombia pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest request. On April 29, Schmitz was extradited to the United States and earlier today had an initial appearance where he was detained pending trial. Schmitz is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to import controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of controlled substances by means of the internet, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of use of a communications facility, which carries a maximum penalty of 4 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to unlawfully transfer an identification document, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison; and one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with leading the investigation. He also thanked the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Kansas City Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile. The Justice Department’s Judicial Attache in Bogota, Colombia, and the Policía Nacional de Colombia provided valuable assistance concerning Schmitz’s provisional arrest and extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the United States Marshals Service also provided valuable assistance in securing Schmitz’s arrest and extradition. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan of the Cybercrime Unit in the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys Jorge Gonzalez and Stefanie Schwartz of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in Washington, D.C. This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This investigation is also the latest in the Justice Department’s ongoing JCODE efforts (Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement) to address the growing number of illicit vendors operating on the darknet providing large quantities of harmful substances to thousands of people across the United States. The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains. The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Alexis Schacht, Esq., New York; Donald Yanella, Esq., Ridgewood, NJ. schmitz.indictment.pdf


title: GoodFellas Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years for a Drive-by Shooting

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Tahj Rankine, also known as Biggz, 27, of Tucker, Georgia, a member of the GoodFellas criminal street gang, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for his participation in a drive-by shooting at a crowded gas station that injured an innocent bystander and others. Rankine pleaded guilty in January 2026 to discharging a firearm during a crime of violence — specifically, attempted murder committed in the aid of the GoodFellas’ racketeering enterprise. “Gang shootings in public places are all too common,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant and his gang terrorized customers at a gas station, unleashing more than 30 rounds, endangering innocent victims, and even hitting a car containing children. Violent gang activity that imperils innocent lives has no place in our communities. It must be rooted out entirely.” “Tahj Rankine drove a vehicle while fellow gang members shot out of it, maiming an innocent bystander,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “Our Homeland Security Task Force will continue to target gangsters who disregard public safety and drive violence in our community.” “Drive-by shootings endanger entire communities, not just intended targets,” said Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “Rankine’s actions — driving armed gang members into a public space and enabling gunfire — show a blatant disregard for human life that left an innocent bystander injured. The FBI, alongside our partners on the Homeland Security Task Force, will continue to prioritize dismantling violent gangs like GoodFellas and holding those who fuel this kind of reckless violence accountable.” According to court documents, GoodFellas is an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods and in jails and prisons within Georgia. The GoodFellas gang generates money for the gang through, among other criminal activities, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. The gang uses violence and threats of violence, including murder, attempted murder, and obstruction of justice to protect its territory and reputation. In February 2021, on the day of the shooting, Rankine drove fellow gang members to an open Quickmart gas station, where they believed members of a rival gang were present. A second car, also filled with armed GoodFellas members, accompanied Rankine’s vehicle. Rankine drove through the Quickmart parking lot, turned around, and then drove through the parking lot again. As Rankine drove through the second time, gang members in Rankine’s vehicle and the other vehicle shot from the vehicles toward the gas station’s storefront. Several people were injured, including an innocent bystander whose children were traumatized when bullets hit the car they were sitting in. A Quickmart employee estimated that the shooters fired 30 to 40 times. The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. These arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.