title: Justice Department Requires Egg Producers to End Coordinated Benchmark Manipulation that Artificially Inflated Prices Across the Country

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with 17 State Attorneys General, filed a civil lawsuit against Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (Cal-Maine); Hickman’s Egg Ranch Inc. (Hickman’s); and Centrum Valley Holdings LLC, Versova Holdings LLC, and Versova Management Cooperative (Versova) for unlawful coordinated manipulation of egg prices. At the same time, the Department filed proposed settlements that will, if approved by the court, prevent these companies from engaging in such coordinated manipulation in the future. “No product more quintessentially represents affordability than the price Americans pay for eggs,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “These actions prove this Department’s continued commitment to protecting competition and providing real relief for everyday Americans’ pocketbooks.” “Food affordability is a top priority of the Antitrust Division,” said Former Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “These settlements resolve years of conduct that dragged on Americans’ finances and their everyday lives. I thank and recognize the dedicated work of the Division’s talented staff and state partners.” “The Antitrust Division is steadfast in our work to protect our nation’s citizens from illegal conduct that makes daily life less affordable,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Sarrine of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are proud that these settlements will keep egg prices competitive and keep money in the hands of consumers across the country.” Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, the complaint alleges that Cal-Maine, Hickman’s, and Versova coordinated to artificially inflate the daily quotations of Urner Barry Publications, a market reporting company whose publications affect prices that grocery stores, restaurants, and others pay for eggs nationwide. Defendants produce and sell eggs to grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses that ultimately sell or provide eggs to American consumers. Defendants and other egg producers also bid to acquire eggs on spot markets, including the Egg Clearinghouse. Urner Barry considers this bidding information when it issues daily price quotations that influence wholesale egg prices. Every year, billions of eggs are sold with prices based on Urner Barry’s price quotations. As the complaint alleges, Defendants conspired to inflate Urner Barry’s price quotations by agreeing to: (1) submit a large number of bids; (2) cause multiple Defendants to bid in order to signal to Urner Barry that a diverse set of market participants needed to buy eggs; (3) submit a large number of bids in the hours leading up to the publication of Urner Barry’s price quotations; (4) submit bids that were unlikely to lead to executed trades; and (5) execute trades at premium prices. As the complaint also alleges, egg price quotations dropped significantly from their peak after Defendants learned of the Department’s investigation and were instructed to preserve documents in March 2025. The proposed settlements result from the Department’s focus on anticompetitive practices that lead to higher food prices. If approved by the court, these settlements will prohibit Defendants from: Communicating with competitors regarding bidding strategies and the prices, timing, and number of bids; Communicating with competitors regarding certain information about bids, prices, supply, and demand that they may share with a benchmark publication; Agreeing with competitors on the number, pricing, or other terms of bids or transactions; Communicating with competitors regarding bids or transactions that are not based on legitimate business needs; Communicating with competitors regarding bids or transactions that are intended to affect a benchmark publication. Additionally, the proposed settlements will require that Defendants adopt antitrust compliance programs, appoint antitrust compliance officers, monitor meetings of cooperatives and joint ventures, and report potential violations of the proposed settlements. The Attorneys General of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin joined the Department in the complaint and proposed settlements. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlements, along with competitive impact statements, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlements within 60 days following the publication to Zachary Trotter and John Thornburgh, Acting Chief and Assistant Chief, Chicago Office, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Rookery Building, 209 S. LaSalle St., Ste. 600, Chicago, Illinois 60604. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa may enter the final judgments upon finding they are in the public interest. Anyone with information about anticompetitive conduct in agricultural industries or any other violations of the antitrust laws is encouraged to contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov . Cal-Maine is headquartered in Ridgeland, Mississippi; Hickman’s is headquartered in Buckeye, Arizona; and Versova is headquartered in Sioux Center, Iowa. Note : See the Complaint here , the Proposed Final Judgments for Cal-Maine here , Hickman’s here , and Versova here , and the Stipulation and Order for Cal-Maine here , Hickman’s here , and Versova here .


title: St. Croix Man Sentenced To 10 Years for Discharging a Firearm in a Local Restaurant

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper of the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Terrell E. Johnson, 31, of St. Croix was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 10 years imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence while inside the Cruzian Bayou Bistro Restaurant, located in the King’s Alley Walk in Christiansted. According to court documents, Johnson, 31, entered the restaurant on February 10, 2024, and sat at the bar. When Johnson began to roll a marijuana cigarette, Johnson was told that smoking in the restaurant was prohibited. Johnson became irate and was asked for a second time to stop rolling the marijuana cigarette. When told to leave the establishment, Johnson retrieved a Glock .40 caliber firearm from his black fanny pack and threatened to shoot one of the owners of the restaurant. Johnson continued to make threats and ultimately fired the gun into the air. As Johnson walked away from the establishment, he fired three additional shots. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Kyle Payne and Assistant United States Attorney Martin Forrest IV of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.


title: Twelve Charged in Federal Takedown of Drug Operation Run by Inmate in the Westville Correctional Facility

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Twelve individuals have been charged in a federal indictment alleging their participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and other controlled substances throughout central Indiana. The charges follow a months-long investigation led by the Crossroads of America Homeland Security Task Force. The defendants and the charges they face are as follows: Defendant Charge(s) Justin Veal, 37, Indianapolis Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances Sade Butler, 27, Indianapolis Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances (two counts) Adrian Swift, 39, Indianapolis Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances (two counts) Shawnlisa Nevels, 44, Fort Wayne Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances Bobby Young, 51, Anderson Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances Dontrell Cole, 24, Indianapolis Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances Jared Schloerb, 52, Indianapolis Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances Megan Daniels, 49, Columbus, IN Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Controlled Substances Scott Foor, 45, Indianapolis Distribute of 50 Grams of Methamphetamine Daquel Jones, 35, Indianapolis Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of Methamphetamine Dawud Quarles, 33, Indianapolis Unlawful Use of Communication Facility Larry Craig, 54, Indianapolis Unlawful Use of Communication Facility According to the indictment, Justin Veal, operating from within the Westville Correctional Facility in Westville, Indiana, led a drug‑trafficking organization responsible for distributing hundreds of pounds of illegal narcotics across the Southern District of Indiana. At Veal’s direction, co‑conspirators Sade Butler of Indianapolis and Shawnlisa Nevels of Fort Wayne obtained methamphetamine, cocaine, Suboxone, and fentanyl from various suppliers and distributed the drugs to customers in Anderson, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and several other Indiana communities. During the investigation, law enforcement seized the following contraband and proceeds of criminal activity: 13 firearms, including select-fire weapons with drum magazines 130 pounds of methamphetamine 550 grams of cocaine 241 grams of fentanyl 25 Suboxone Strips 1750 grams of synthetic cannabinoid (“spice”) Several thousand counterfeit fentanyl pills Heroin Cash A pill press with drug residue High-value jewelry 15 cell phones 2 vehicles U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsay Karwoski and Patrick Gibson, who are prosecuting this case. This operation 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. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. An indictment or criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former USPS Mail Carrier Sentenced To 39 Months In Prison For Mail Theft And Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that Tameka Babulal, a/k/a “Tameka Williams,” a/k/a “Sharniece Williams,” a/k/a “Meek Williams,” a former United States Postal Service (“USPS”) mail carrier assigned to Mount Vernon, New York, was sentenced to 39 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel for abusing her position as a mail carrier to steal checks, credit cards, financial mail, and personal identifying information from victims on her mail route, and using that stolen mail and information to commit fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence imposed by Judge Seibel included 15 months on BABULAL’s mail theft, fraud, and false statement offenses, followed by a mandatory consecutive 24-month sentence for aggravated identity theft. “Postal workers are entrusted with some of the most sensitive materials Americans send and receive: checks, credit cards, tax documents, Social Security information, and financial mail,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Tameka Babulal betrayed that trust by stealing from the very people on the mail routes she was paid to serve and then using their mail and identities to commit fraud. Today’s sentence makes clear that those who corrupt the mail system from within and exploit the public’s trust for personal gain will be held accountable.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, public filings, and statements made in court proceedings: From in or about December 2022 through May 23, 2024, BABULAL conspired with others in a scheme to possess, steal, and misuse mail stolen from the USPS in Mount Vernon, New York. BABULAL stole hundreds of mail items from hundreds of victims whose mail she touched, including checks, credit cards, financial mail, tax documents, Social Security cards, and other sensitive materials. She kept those items at the Hempstead, New York, residence she shared with her husband and co-conspirator, Joel Babulal. BABULAL’s victims included elderly people in their 90s, young adults in their early 20s, business owners, churchgoers, military personnel, and other everyday people. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Babulal residence on May 23, 2024, officers recovered, among other things, dozens of checks, treasury checks, and money orders in victims’ names, including blank or washed checks; 51 credit cards in other people’s names; unopened financial mail appearing to contain credit cards or checks; several Social Security cards and tax documents in other people’s names; bundles of unopened mail and packages; and a USPS postal bin filled with victims’ undelivered mail. Using the mail and other items she stole from victims on her mail route, BABULAL carried out an extensive credit card, check, and identity theft fraud scheme involving dozens of victims. BABULAL’s credit card scheme involved at least around $40,922.41 in fraudulent transactions using stolen credit cards. Additionally, BABULAL’s check fraud scheme involved $13,510 in fraudulent transactions using stolen checks, and her possession of an additional at least $78,705.05 in checks and money orders. To commit her crimes, BABULAL used various means of identification of her victims. For example, BABULAL and her co-conspirators used their victims’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, and other identifying information to fraudulently open accounts, submit credit-card applications, activate payment cards, and attempt transactions. The Government’s investigation also revealed that BABULAL made false statements to obtain her USPS position. In her USPS employment application, she falsely claimed that she had previously worked at a Taco Bell restaurant under a supervisor named “Mark Khan.” In fact, “Mark Khan” was not a real person, and both the name “Mark Khan” and the phone number she listed for him were used by BABULAL’s husband and co-conspirator, Joel Babulal. On March 18, 2026, BABULAL pled guilty before Judge Seibel to conspiracy to steal and unlawfully possess mail, theft of mail by a postal employee, unlawful possession of mail, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false statements. BABULAL’s husband, Joel Babulal, pled guilty to conspiring with his wife and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2026. * * * In addition to the prison term, BABULAL, 38, of Hempstead, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPS, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reyhan Watson, John Sarlitto, and James McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Operating Multi-Kilo Fentanyl Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Daniel Don Juan (35, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, on April 12, 2025, agents from the Department of Homeland Security (HSI) in Jacksonville were contacted by HSI agents in Savannah regarding a traffic stop conducted by the Turner County Georgia Sheriff’s Office (TCSO). One of Don Juan’s co-conspirators had been pulled over for a traffic violation. During the stop, TCSO and Georgia State Police conducted a dog sniff around the co-conspirator’s vehicle during which the dog alerted to drugs being present inside the vehicle. During a subsequent search, the officers located approximately seven kilograms of fentanyl. Agents determined that this co-conspirator was transporting the drugs from Lawrenceville, Georgia, to Jacksonville, Florida. According to Don Juan’s co-conspirator, on the morning of April 12, 2025, the co-conspirator was instructed by Don Juan to meet an individual at a store in Lawrenceville to pick up “7 pieces,” which was later determined to mean the seven kilograms of fentanyl. Once the co-conspirator arrived in the store parking lot, a male arrived in a separate vehicle and placed a box containing the seven kilograms of fentanyl in the back of co-conspirators vehicle. Already serving a federal prison term for a prior drug conspiracy conviction, Don Juan used a contraband cellphone and instructed this co-conspirator to deliver this box to Jacksonville. Don Juan provided specific instructions on the route to Jacksonville as well as a meeting location and information regarding the person his co-conspirator was to meet in Jacksonville to deliver the box containing the drugs. Agents learned that this co-conspirator had made several trips to deliver drugs for Don Juan in the past, including within the Middle District of Florida. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Highway Patrol, the Turner County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Cannizarro and Elisibeth Adams. 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: Chinese national pleads guilty to narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and material support to terrorism in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: A Honduras-based Chinese national extradited from Guatemala pled guilty today to conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, conspiring to launder money derived from drug trafficking, and to providing material support to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, specifically the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). According to court documents, Wenshen Xu, 52, used a transportation network and contacts in Latin America to smuggle multi-kilogram loads of cocaine into the United States. Xu’s transportation network included access to airstrips, airports, armored cars, couriers, and associates. On July 17, 2025, Xu and others agreed to arrange and facilitate the transportation of a multi-kilogram load of cocaine out of Cali, Colombia, on behalf of an individual who claimed to represent the CJNG. Xu and his co-conspirators imported over 450 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Xu and his co-conspirators also coordinated the laundering of over $22 million dollars from the sale of cocaine and fentanyl by drug trafficking organizations. This money laundering network used a variety of concealment methods, including cryptocurrency money transfers, trade-based money laundering, and encrypted communications platforms. Xu was arrested in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on July 17, 2025, at the request of the United States and was extradited to the United States on Jan. 30. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit is investigating the case, with assistance from DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence, Document and Media Exploitation Unit; DEA’s offices in Guatemala and Colombia; the Colombian National Police; and the Guatemalan National Police. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Guatemala. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edgardo J. Rodriguez and Christopher M. Carter for the Eastern District of Viriginia and Trial Attorney Chelsea R. Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are 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 Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the DEA; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims. 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-231.


title: Chinese National Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Henglie Zhou (31, China) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to five years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Zhou pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, on October 7, 2024, as part of an ongoing investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, a trooper from the Florida Highway Patrol stopped a transit van for a traffic violation. Zhou was the driver and sole occupant of the van. A canine unit responded to the traffic stop and alerted to the presence of drugs inside the vehicle. A search of the van revealed 22 cardboard boxes in the cargo area. Each box contained between 20 and 30 vacuum-sealed bags containing marijuana. In total, there was approximately 597 pounds, or 271 kilograms, of marijuana. Zhou later advised that the van was rented. He claimed to not know who had rented the van or for how long it was rented. Zhou denied having knowledge of the marijuana being inside the van or whether the boxes were inside at the time he took possession of the vehicle. The investigation revealed that Zhou had rented the van the same day of his arrest. Rental agency records further revealed that Zhou had previously rented cargo vans in Jacksonville on 11 occasions between March and September 2024. Each rental lasted one or two days. In related court proceedings, Jack Anntsai Chang, Kenneth Chu, Hang Sin, Yonquan Yu, Wai Lok Hui, Shaoyun Ye, Fan Liu, and Key’on Garmon have each been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams. 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: Central Falls Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Central Falls man involved in narcotics trafficking has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for distribution of fentanyl. Christian Carrion, 33, was sentenced on June 25, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 5 years imprisonment to be followed by 4 years of supervised release on one count of distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force conducted an investigation that identified Carrion as involved in fentanyl distribution. As part of that investigation, Carrion sold approximately 56 grams of fentanyl to another individual in May 2025. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julianne Klein and Peter I. Roklan. The matter was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.


title: Colby woman accused of forging coworkers’ signatures to steal from employer

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with using her position as head of the financial division to embezzle more than $750,000 from her employer. According to court documents, Shania A. Shanahan, 39, of Colby was indicted on: • 43 counts of bank fraud. • 25 counts of money laundering, and • Five counts of aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Shanahan is the former controller at an agricultural cooperative in Colby that provides grain and fuel services to its members. She supervised the accounting department, and her duties included processing and making payments, reconciling bank accounts, and making entries into the general ledger for purchases and expenses. Between January 2017 and November 2025, Shanahan is accused of forging 233 checks for approximately $753,575 from the co-op’s account and depositing the funds into her personal bank account. She allegedly used coworkers’ signatures without their knowledge or consent which is the basis for the identity theft charges. The defendant is accused of concealing the deception by falsifying records to make the fraudulent payments appear to be legitimate payments to herself and other third-party vendors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Ricardo Refujio Ortiz-Ortega, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful entry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Ronnie L.J. Richard, 43, of Wichita was indicted on two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. Chad W. Sunley, 45, was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances -methamphetamine, four counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. Arthur Waters, 46, was indicted on one count of escape from custody. The U.S. Marshal Service is investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Recovery Of $19.5 Million For Victims Of China-Based Pump-And-Dump Schemes

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the Nashville Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Terence G. Reilly, announced today the filing of two civil forfeiture Complaints for more than $19.5 million in cash and stock obtained through pump-and-dump market manipulation schemes involving CTRL Group Limited (“CTRL Group”) and Dreamland Limited (“Dreamland”), Hong Kong-based companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The proceeds were previously seized pursuant to judicially-authorized seizure warrants. “Today’s action demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting U.S. investors and safeguarding the integrity of our markets,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “These schemes, driven by Asia‑based small‑cap foreign issuers seeking to manipulate share prices and exploit American investors, pose serious risks to those who place their trust in our financial system. Investors should exercise caution when dealing with thinly traded foreign issuers, as these companies can be especially vulnerable to manipulation and can expose investors to significant, often hidden, risks. I want to thank the FBI and our law enforcement partners for their exceptional work and their continued dedication to rooting out this conduct and prioritizing the recovery of funds stolen from victims.” “Pump-and-dump schemes erode the integrity of our capital markets and cause financial hardship for countless investors,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. “The recovery of $19.5 million is an important first step toward providing relief for victims and should serve as a reminder that the FBI will vigorously investigate and pursue those who seek to manipulate financial systems for personal gain.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaints filed in Manhattan federal court today:(1) CTRL Group CTRL Group is a British Virgin Islands-registered company that purports to offer marketing and advertising services in Hong Kong, including mobile game promotions. CTRL Group began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol MCTR on January 22, 2025. In late May and early June 2025, various social media accounts on multiple platforms began to post hundreds of identical comments touting MCTR as a stock that was going to increase in value. For instance, these users would make a post saying “$MCTR Here We Go” or “$MCTR New alerts have been posted in the last hours,” followed by a link to a Discord group chat that purported to offer investment advice. On June 3, 2025, MCTR stock price and trading volume spiked sharply. MCTR opened at $7.12 per share—up more than 50% from the prior day—hit an intra-day high of $33.69 per share, and closed at $32.90 per share, with approximately 44,200,000 shares trading that day, a jump of more than 70,000% compared to the previous day. Similar price surges occurred on June 4 and June 5. The surge in MCTR’s price and volume was accompanied by a surge in social media activity promoting MCTR. After the social media activity stopped, MCTR’s stock price dropped. By the end of June 2025, MCTR’s stock price had declined to $2.82 per share. Between MCTR’s initial public offering and June 5, 2025, and primarily during the period of social media promotion discussed above, 10 U.S. brokerage accounts engaged in massive, profitable, and anomalous trading in MCTR, selling a combined total of approximately 1,065,313 shares for total proceeds of approximately $11,966,324.44. These 10 accounts were opened by individuals located in China or Hong Kong. Although the accounts were ostensibly owned and controlled by different people, eight of these accounts logged into their brokerage accounts with the same IP address and/or MAC address as at least one of the other accounts, indicating collusion. On or about June 1, 2026 and June 23, 2026, the Government seized approximately $10.3 million in cash from the 10 brokerage accounts pursuant to seizure warrants issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Dreamland Dreamland is a Cayman Islands-incorporated company that purports to operate an event management business in Hong Kong. Dreamland began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol TDIC on July 23, 2025. Between May 13-14, 2026, the share price of TDIC surged more than ten-fold, apparently driven at least in part by social media campaigns promoting TDIC as a “short squeeze” play. Between January 2, 2026, and May 12, 2026, TDIC’s closing price ranged between $0.57 and $2.36 per share, with an average daily trading volume of approximately 2,600,000 shares. On May 13, 2026, TDIC’s stock price suddenly soared to an intra-day high of $30.00 per share, before closing at $23.05 per share, with approximately 109,000,000 shares trading. The following day, May 14, 2026, TDIC’s share price opened at $21.49 and declined to a closing share price of $0.80. By June 12, 2026, TDIC’s price closed at $0.23 per share. On or about May 14, 2026, during the sudden surge in TDIC’s share price, a U.S. brokerage firm notified the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of unauthorized trades as a result of compromised login credentials, resulting in potential stock manipulation of TDIC. The credentials, which belonged to a third-party financial advisor that used the brokerage’s trading platform, were used to attempt to access eight client accounts and successfully accessed three client accounts, which attempted to purchase a combined total of approximately 1,361,488 shares of TDIC for a total of approximately $22,882,550.70 (an average share price of $16.81). All of the purchases appear to have been cancelled by the brokerage. Around the same time as the social media promotion of TDIC and the compromised account activity, a brokerage account held in the name of Imperial Vision Fund SPC – Series 1 SP (“Imperial Vision”) sold approximately 1,486,841 shares of TDIC for total proceeds of approximately $17,692,745.89. Imperial Vision purports to be a Hong Kong-based investment fund incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and it previously purchased TDIC shares directly from Dreamland. On June 15, 2026, the Government seized approximately $8.4 million in cash and approximately $850,000 worth of securities from the Imperial Vision brokerage account pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. * * * Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of FINRA and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Cross-Border Task Force. The two cases are being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista is in charge of the CTRL Group action. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Li is in charge of the Dreamland action. A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards a judgment in favor of the United States. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaints, and the descriptions of the Complaints set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Denton County man sentenced to federal prison for committing three armed robberies of banks in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Denton man who committed three armed robberies of banks in the Denton County area, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, announced Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jonathan Mark Fleming, 41, pleaded guilty to bank robbery and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on June 29, 2026. According to information presented in court, from November 2022 to February 2023, the defendant committed three armed robberies of banks in the Denton County area. For each robbery, the defendant dressed in all black, wore black gloves, black ski goggles and a black mask. He also brandished a firearm. During the first two robberies, the defendant arrived at the banks in a red Dodge Challenger. For the final robbery, he arrived in a Dodge Ram TRX truck. Investigators were able to track the Dodge Ram TRX truck to the original dealership and learned the defendant had purchased the truck with a large cash payment and a trade-in of a red Dodge Challenger. Having identified the defendant as a possible suspect, a search warrant was subsequently obtained for Fleming’s apartment on February 23, 2023. During the search of the apartment, Fleming was located as the sole occupant and was arrested. Officers also located items that they had observed on video surveillance from the robberies, including a black/gray duffel bag, black clothing, a black face covering, a gun belt with holster, and black ski goggles. A large sum of United States currency, which was still wrapped in bank currency bands, was also located inside the apartment, as well as multiple firearms; specifically, a black M&P Smith and Wesson handgun in a holster (believed to be used in the robbery committed on November 10, 2022); a black newly purchased Glock handgun with a receipt; and two AR-style rifles. In addition, two police radio scanners and multiple receipts, detailing large deposits ranging from $19,000 to $40,000 into various bank accounts, were located. In all the defendant stole approximately $450,000.00 in cash from the three bank robberies. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Denton Police Department; Lewisville Police Department; Flower Mound Police Department; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.


title: Sturgis Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on June 29, 2026. Luke Basche, 21, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $48,570 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered. Basche was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026. Between December 2022, and January 2025, Basche used Mega, an internet-based chat application to search for, download, and view sexually explicit visual depiction of child pornography to his cellular phone. After Basche received and downloaded child pornography to his Apple iPhone, he stored many of the depictions in his Dropbox and Google accounts, which are cloud-based internet storage services. Investigators found over 2,500 images and 445 videos of child pornography on his phone. Basche also stored child pornography on computers and a hard drive. The victims depicted in child pornography he received included infants and toddlers. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. Basche was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Illegal Alien from El Salvador Charged with Possession of 70 Machinegun Conversion Devices in Hudson County

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An illegal alien from El Salvador was charged with possessing machineguns in North Bergen, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Erick Marquez Cruz, age 21, of North Bergen, New Jersey was charged by criminal complaint with possession of machineguns. Cruz had his initial court appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court and was ordered detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On June 25, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cruz’s residence in North Bergen, New Jersey. Among other items, law enforcement found inside Cruz’s bedroom a 3D printer used to manufacture firearm components and various firearm components, including approximately 17 3D-printed frames, multiple 3D-printed magazines, and approximately 70 machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). An image of some of the firearm components and MCDs seized from Cruz’s residence is depicted below. MCDs, which themselves are classified as machineguns by statute, are capable of converting semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons that release multiple rounds of ammunition with the single pull of a trigger. The charge of possession of a machinegun carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant as a result of the offense, or twice the gross loss to a person other than the defendant as a result of the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka, and officers of the North Bergen Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert J. Farley, Jr., with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shriram Harid of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Laura Sayler, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender. cruz.complaint.pdf


title: Artesia Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Kidnap and Murdering a Woman in 2021

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Artesia man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping a woman from an Artesia motel and murdering her at a remote site in Eddy County in 2021. According to court documents, on February 26, 2021, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Jerrold Albert Chavarria , 37, and Jerry Romero , 47, kidnapped Jane Doe from the Budget Inn motel in Artesia, New Mexico. Video footage from the Budget Inn motel showed Romero escorting a sobbing Jane Doe into the back seat of a red SUV driven by Chavarria . Approximately one hour later, at 5:35 a.m., the video footage showed Romero and Chavarria returning to the Budget Inn motel without Jane Doe. At 10:21 a.m., Jane Doe’s lifeless body was discovered at a remote location on an oil lease approximately 11 miles from the Budget Inn motel. Jane Doe had been shot twenty-one times at close range with two different calibers of ammunition. Chavarria pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and faces up to life in prison at sentencing. Romero remains in custody pending trial, which is not currently scheduled. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Roswell Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo are prosecuting the case.


title: Member of violent home invasion robbery crew sentenced to 25 years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – One of the members of an armed robbery crew that carried out a series of home invasion robberies in 2022, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 25 years in prison for racketeering and conspiracy to commit RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act), announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Christopher Joseph Johnson, 24, aided and abetted the murder of Irah Marcello Sok who was fatally shot in midst of a Snohomish County home invasion robbery in August 2022. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “You used violence, fear, and intimidation… The victims face unthinkable trauma due to you and your coconspirators insatiable greed.” “This crime ring terrorized people up and down the I-5 corridor – women, children, families – anyone they thought had valuables they could steal,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This lengthy sentence keeps this defendant off the streets until he is well into his 40’s, protecting the public and hopefully making a change in his behavior.” “Throughout the summer of 2022, Mr. Johnson and his co-conspirators conducted a series of terrifying and destructive home invasions, stopping at nothing in pursuit of their ill-gotten gains, including murder, kidnapping, and other violence,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “It is heartbreaking that these victims endured these horrific experiences, and no sentence will ever undo the harm or bring back a loved one. Today, however, justice has been served thanks to the hard work of multiple agencies joining together on this case. FBI Seattle and our partners will continue to work relentlessly to hold those responsible for these violent crimes to account.” Johnson pleaded guilty in February 2026, admitting he was involved in a pattern of violent crimes allegedly committed by codefendant Kevin Thissel, 29, and their co-conspirators. In the summer of 2022, Johnson and his coconspirators targeted certain families for robberies. To create a climate of fear, the robbery crew burst into homes in the middle of the night, dressed in black with guns drawn, often claiming to be police. They wore masks and used zip-ties to restrain the victims – including children as young as nine. They would steal any valuables they could ransack from these homes. Each member of the robbery crew had a certain job: identifying potential victims based on social media posts about their wealth or collections; surveilling the target homes; serving as a driver; kicking in the door; corralling the family; holding the victims at gunpoint; and ransacking the homes for valuables. Some of those participating in this violent robbery scheme were juveniles. The crimes Johnson committed include: May 24, 2022, the armed robbery of a family in Mount Vernon, Washington, and the kidnapping of a young boy in connection with the Mount Vernon robbery. May 24, 2022, attempted burglary on Mercer Island – one robber fired a gun but did not hit one of three victims inside the house. May 27, 2022, burglary of an unoccupied Kent, Washington, residence. June 19, 2022, the attempted burglary of an occupied residence in Kent. One of the residents fired at the robbery crew causing them to flee. July 14, 2022, the armed robbery of a couple in Burien, Washington. July 28, 2022, the armed robbery of a woman in Kent, Washington, and her kidnapping to force her to obtain cash from ATMs. August 12, 2022, the robbery of two Kent residents who were locked in a closet while their home was ransacked. August 19, 2022, the Snohomish County armed robbery of a couple and their child and the murder of one of the Snohomish County robbery victims. Some of the criminal acts described in the plea agreement were not formally charged. They were considered by Judge King to determine the sentence. Restitution for the victims will be set at a hearing on September 22, 2026. As anticipated with the plea agreement, Johnson pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Snohomish County Superior Court for the August 19, 2022, fatal shooting of Irah Marcello Sok. He was sentenced to 25 years for that crime which will run concurrent with the federal sentence. Judge King agreed to Johnson’s request and recommended that he serve his sentence in the Washington State Prison system. In recommending the 25-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “…(D)uring the course of approximately six months, Johnson and others committed a series of violent offenses across Western Washington, including home invasion robberies, kidnappings, and murder. Johnson willingly involved himself in the enterprise and actively participated in the efforts of the enterprise, which used violence and the threat of violence to coerce victims into yielding to their demands.” Johnson will be on five years of supervised release following his prison term. The case is being investigated by the FBI with significant assistance from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the Mount Vernon Police Department, the Kent Police Department, and the King County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Brian Wynne are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen Hobbs and Michael Lang worked closely with the Snohomish County Prosecutors Office on investigating and charging this case.


title: Two Memphis Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax Fraud

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal judge sentenced Robert Wells, 54, and Andre Wilson, 54, to federal prison for defrauding the United States Government. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today. According to information presented in court, Wells and Wilson owned Wells and Wilson Financial, a Memphis-based tax preparation business, from at least 2017 to 2025. During the relevant time period, both men conspired with each other to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) out of more than $250,000 by filing fraudulent tax returns from 2018 through 2022. Specifically, Wells and Wilson defrauded the IRS by preparing returns for clients that were materially false, including false itemized deductions, false businesses, and false business income and/or expenses. As a result, many of their clients received inflated refunds to which they were not entitled. United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Wilson on June 17, 2026 to 24 months' imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Parker sentenced Wells on June 18, 2026 to 14 months' imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Both defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the total amount of $163,762.80. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of the United States Treasury and taxpayer resources is a top priority for the Department of Justice and this office. Income tax fraud schemes strike at the very heart of our federal government’s financial ability to provide services and protection for our citizens, and we will use all available resources to punish and deter such dishonest criminal behavior.” "This sentencing sends a clear message that those who knowingly abuse the tax system and violate the public’s trust will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “The defendants ran a scheme deliberately undermining the integrity of our nation’s tax system by filing fraudulent returns and inflating refunds. Our special agents continue to follow the money in financial crimes and work with our federal partners to ensure offenders are brought to justice.” The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin and Trial Attorney Max Willner-Giwerc of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Felon who Fatally Shot St. Louis County Barbershop Patron Sentenced to 125 Months in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a felon who fatally shot someone in a barbershop in 2023 to 125 months in prison. Nolan Ryan Thomas, now 34, pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Nov. 10, 2023, St. Louis County police were called to a barbershop in the 11600 block of West Florissant Avenue, where a patron had been shot in the leg. Police found Thomas hiding in a nearby wooded area, with suspected narcotics and near a handgun. The victim later died of his injury. While in jail, Thomas admitted shooting the victim but said he did so in self-defense. Thomas is a felon and is thus barred from possessing a firearm. Judge Schelp ordered Thomas’ sentence to run consecutive to any sentence he receives for pending charges in St. Louis County Circuit Court. The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nichole Frankenberg prosecuted the case.


title: Lamar Woman Sentenced and Ordered to Pay Over $1.4M for Tax Fraud Scheme

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: ABERDEEN, MS – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that Patricia Jones, 44, of Lamar, Benton County, Mississippi was sentenced by Senior District Judge Sharion Aycock. After pleading guilty on an earlier date, Jones was sentenced to 50 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release and ordered to pay $1,422,022 to her victims. According to court documents, Patricia Jones submitted false and fraudulent IRS forms in order to obtain Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funds. ERC was designed to encourage employers to continue to pay employees during the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendant submitted these forms on behalf of herself and others, attempting to claim over $3.8 Million in fraudulent refunds and generating over $1.4 Million in fraudulent payments by the IRS to Jones and others. U.S. Attorney Leary stated, “On April 7 th , the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. Its core mission is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The initiative is working thanks to the hard work of federal investigators and prosecutors who devote themselves to these often-complex cases. I congratulate these men and woman who seek to ensure that taxpayer funded benefits go to where they are intended.” “Today’s sentencing of Patricia Jones reaffirms our commitment to protecting the integrity of the nation’s tax system,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS-CI Atlanta Field Office. “Individuals who cheat the American taxpayer undermine public trust and siphon resources intended to support our communities. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are highly trained financial investigators, skilled at following the money, uncovering complex fraud schemes, and ensuring that individuals who attempt to cheat the American taxpayer are held fully accountable. We remain committed to protecting public trust by taking action against those who misuse federal relief programs.” This case was investigated by the IRS and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Dabbs. The National Fraud Enforcement Division efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Topeka man sentenced for possessing child pornography

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 90 months in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Joseph Donald Dube, 40, Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child pornography. In December 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Dube’s home as part of an investigation into him possibly being in possession of CSAM. Police seized multiple electronic devices which contained images of minors under 12 years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults. “It is horrifying that Mr. Dube possessed this material and interacted with children routinely in his work as a teacher,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Thankfully, he was brought to justice through the hard work of the KBI and Secret Service.” The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Kyle Man Pleads Guilty in $3.2 Million Corporate Embezzlement Case

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A Kyle man pleaded guilty in a federal court in Austin to embezzling more than $3.2 million from his former employer, Austin Freight Systems (AFS), announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Mitchell David Slentz, 34, was in charge of accounting operations at AFS, overseeing all accounting activities, financial reporting and internal controls, including submitting requests to JP Morgan Chase Bank to make payments to AFS’s vendors. Beginning no later than October 2023 and continuing at least until about March 2025, Slentz fraudulently misappropriated money from AFS through 147 payments, and deposited approximately $3,277,937.35 into his personal bank accounts through the use of interstate wire communications. Using the criminally derived money, Slentz paid $25,000 on July 24, 2024, and $33,887.83 on Sept. 3, 2024, for student loan debt. Additional fraudulent activities were revealed through financial analyses of several of Slentz’s accounts. Furthermore, Slentz gambled extensively on an online gambling platform, depositing and/or winning more than $1 million through online gambling. Slentz was charged via information on May 14 and made his initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin M. Howell on June 8. On June 29, he pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived proceeds. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Austin White Collar Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Somers is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Ute Mountain Ute Man Sentenced To 87 Months For Sex Assault In Indian Country

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that Bentley Watts Jr., 22, Towaoc, Colorado, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of assault with intent to commit abusive sexual contact in Indian Country and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country. According to the plea agreement, on June 15, 2024, Watts Jr. assaulted his former intimate partner within the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation. Watts Jr. dragged the victim to his bedroom, punched her multiple times, placed the victim in a chokehold, sexually assaulted her, and hit her with a crowbar. At the time of the assault, Watts Jr. had a domestic violence protection order from Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Court that prohibited him from contacting the victim. “This is a just sentence for a terrible crime,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Seeking justice for victims of violent crimes in our tribal communities is a critical priority for the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado.” “Violence on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation like that perpetrated by this defendant will always bring a quick response from the FBI,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “We will continue to hold those responsible for violent crimes on tribal lands accountable.” United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing. The Bureau of Indian Affairs-Ute Mountain Ute Agency and the FBI Durango Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa Franceware handled the prosecution of the case. Case Number: 1:24-cr-00230-GPG-JMC


title: Braden H. Boucek Formally Invested as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE — Braden H. Boucek was formally invested as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee during an investiture ceremony held June 26, 2026, at the Soli Deo Center on the campus of Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville. The investiture marked the formal ceremonial recognition of Boucek's appointment as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Middle District of Tennessee. Chief Judge William L. Campbell Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee administered the oath of office. Judge Whitney Hermandorfer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, who administered Boucek's initial oath of office in December 2025, presided over the ceremony. United States Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty delivered remarks recognizing Boucek's unanimous Senate confirmation and his record of public service. Blackburn noted that Boucek "was unanimously confirmed by the Senate late last year," adding that such confirmations "don't happen a lot in Washington, D.C." She also highlighted the Senate's desire for nominees with significant prosecutorial experience, strong professional reputations, and a commitment to faithfully enforcing federal law. Hagerty described the office of United States Attorney as "an incredible responsibility at a very auspicious time" and encouraged Boucek to faithfully uphold the rule of law. Boucek's public service includes serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in both Nashville and Memphis, an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, and an Assistant District Attorney. Before his confirmation, he served as Vice President of Litigation at the Southeastern Legal Foundation. In his remarks, Boucek reflected on the history of the Office of the United States Attorney, noting that it was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, predating the Department of Justice itself. He emphasized the enduring responsibility of identifying, defending, and faithfully enforcing federal law while safeguarding the constitutional rights guaranteed to every American. "To take an oath to defend the Constitution is the honor of a lifetime, and one for which I will be unceasing in my gratitude," Boucek said. Boucek pledged vigorous enforcement of federal law while exercising prosecutorial authority with restraint. "The days of wholesale non-enforcement of categories of federal law are over," Boucek said. "Apart from enforcing the federal laws that protect your life, liberty, and property, we will stay out of your hair, your wallet, and your lives." Boucek concluded by thanking his wife, Monica, and their children for their steadfast support and reaffirmed his commitment to the people of the Middle District of Tennessee. "We will never stop fighting for you," Boucek said. The ceremony was attended by members of the federal judiciary, former United States Attorneys for the Middle District of Tennessee, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, state and local officials, law enforcement leaders, members of the legal community, and Boucek's family and friends. The program included the presentation of the colors by the Music City Young Marines, an invocation by Pastor Tommy Vallejos, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boucek's daughter, and a benediction by Pastor Todd Teller. #####


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Multiple Immigration-Related Prosecutions

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced, today, multiple immigration-related prosecutions, including charges against several members of a Baltimore-area drug trafficking organization (DTO). These prosecutions are in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America . Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the prosecutions with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division. On June 24, the Office announced the indictment of six aliens unlawfully in the United States, stemming from a local drug investigation. The illegal aliens, along with a seventh defendant, are charged with several crimes in connection with a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the Baltimore metropolitan area. According to the indictment, beginning in March 2025, and continuing into October 2025, the DTO members conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of a cocaine mixture along with 280 grams or more of a cocaine-base mixture. Additionally, on June 29, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Vanessa Yalixa Munoz-Baque, 31, of Ecuador, to six months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after her prior removal. Authorities previously removed Munoz-Baque from the U.S. in August 2023. On November 3, 2023, Munoz-Baque illegally re-entered the U.S. again, and began residing in Frederick, Maryland. Law enforcement discovered her illegally present in the U.S. upon her arrest for attempted murder. On June 25, Desiderio Eliceo Perez Gonzalez, 37, of Guatemala, pled guilty to illegal entry charges. In 2016, Perez Gonzalez illegally entered the U.S. through Texas. Then on March 23, 2026, law enforcement found and apprehended Perez Gonzalez in Maryland. In addition, on June 17, Roberto Lopez-Perez, 37, of Honduras, was indicted on illegal re-entry charges. According to court documents, on March 3, 2026, law enforcement encountered Lopez-Perez in Talbot County, Maryland, after a prior removal. Lopez-Perez knowingly and intentionally re-entered the U.S. without examination or inspection by an immigration official. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO and the DEA for their work in these investigations. Ms. Hayes also thanked the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting these federal cases. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Former DeSoto County Elementary Teacher Sentenced for Possession of Child Exploitation Materials

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: ABERDEEN, MS – An Olive Branch, Mississippi man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for possessing images and videos of children under 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Prior to his arrest, he was an elementary school teacher. According to court documents, Mitchell Cantrell, 37, was downloading and viewing child sexual abuse content from the internet. The content found on his electronic devices included sexual materials involving preteens, toddlers, and infants. The Southaven Police Department identified and investigated this case and worked with the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute Cantrell. In addition to his prison term, Cantrell was sentenced to ten years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender where he lives, where he works, and where he is a student. Scott Leary, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi stated, “As Americans we are unfortunately divided on so many issues. There are, however, certain issues upon which we should all agree. Foremost is society’s responsibility to protect children. There is simply no room for child exploitation in our country. I thank the citizens of this great state for standing with federal and state law enforcement in combating these crimes. With the advent of advanced technology, investigating child exploitation is becoming more complex – we must remain vigilant. We should all be proud of the great job the Southaven Police Department did in investigating this case. The Project Safe Childhood initiative is working; federal and state law enforcement are working together to protect our kids. Perhaps one day we can stamp out this scourge.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC


title: Mexican National with Prior Drug Trafficking Conviction Sentenced

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

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for unlawfully residing in the United States and possessing a loaded firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel sentenced Bryan Abisai Costeira Hernandez, 28, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Costeira Hernandez was ordered to serve 41 months' imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Upon release, Costeira Hernandez is expected to face removal proceedings. According to court documents, in January 2026, Costeira Hernandez was pulled over for a traffic violation. Unable to verify the identification that Costeira Hernandez provided to officers, he was detained. Officers searched the vehicle and found a loaded firearm and drugs. After officers placed him in handcuffs, Costeira Hernandez attempted to run away from the officers. While transporting Costeira Hernandez to jail, he told officers that he provided a false name and admitted that he was previously deported for unlawfully being in the United States. State court records show that Costeira Hernandez has several pending charges, including possessing a stolen vehicle, obstruction, and possession of a controlled substance. Costeira Hernandez previously pleaded guilty in two separate felony cases for possessing a stolen vehicle, trafficking illegal drugs, resisting, obstruction, among other charges. In both cases, he received suspended sentences and was removed from the United States in 2022. Costeira Hernandez 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 Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.


title: Dominican National Previously Convicted of Drug Trafficking Offense Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that YUNIOR BENAVIDES, 50, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to unlawful reentry of a removed alien. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2009, Benavides and others were charged with federal offenses related to their participation in a Hartford area narcotics distribution conspiracy. He pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment and, in November 2013, was deported to the Dominican Republic. Benavides subsequently illegally reentered the U.S. On March 6, 2026, HSI agents stopped a car in West Hartford in connection with a drug trafficking investigation. Benavides, the driver of the car, was identified as being unlawfully present in the U.S. and was taken into custody. He was also in possession of a false identification document. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for September 22, 2026, at which time Benavides faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He has been detained since March 6. This matter has been investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. 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: Two Arrested and Charged in String of T-Mobile Armed Robberies

body_text: WASHINGTON – Juwan Tyre Hall, 30, and Anthony Burno, 32, of the District of Columbia, were arrested Friday after being indicted on four counts of Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery after allegedly committing a string of armed robberies targeting T-Mobile stores across the District of Columbia and Maryland, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. According to court documents, between November 2025 and March 2026, Hall and Burno allegedly engaged in a series of armed robberies targeting six T-Mobile stores and one pawn shop, where they stole both money and devices out of safes in each location. The two men, dressed in black and wearing masks, entered stores brandishing a handgun, which they used to threaten customers and employees to cooperate. After stealing the contents of the safes, they would then flee the scene, often using a different stolen vehicle. After the robberies, Hall and Burno changed and disposed of their clothing and switched out their stolen vehicles for alternate vehicles. Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox and Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Charges in an Indictment are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 26cr139


title: EagleBank Agrees to Pay More than $9.7 Million to  Resolve Bank Secrecy Act Investigation

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Note: A copy of the non-prosecution agreement and statement of facts can be found here . EagleBank, a community bank with operations in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and its parent entity, Eagle Bancorp Inc. (collectively, EagleBank), entered into a non-prosecution agreement today and agreed to pay over $9.7 million to resolve the Justice Department’s investigation into violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. “For more than a decade, EagleBank knowingly allowed favored clients to operate a check kiting scheme, even as compliance personnel repeatedly tried to stop it,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Financial institutions are the first line of defense against financial crimes and must be gatekeepers, not gateways, for criminal activity. As this resolution makes clear, when banks deliberately allow unlawful conduct to persist, the Criminal Division will ensure they are held accountable.” “It is simply unacceptable for financial institutions to permit fraud under their noses,” said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Our office is determined to investigate corporate crimes and fight financial fraud. We thank our partners for working with us.” “EagleBank’s failure to stop major fraud weakened the financial system and enabled criminal activity,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI will continue working with partners to hold institutions accountable and protect the public.” According to the non-prosecution agreement, EagleBank admits that between 2010 and 2021, it willfully failed to establish an anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) program, in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. In one instance, the bank admits that it allowed two customers, a son and his father, to operate a check kiting scheme for more than a decade through accounts at EagleBank. Check kiting is a form of fraud in which an accountholder writes a check for an amount greater than the amount available in the account and deposits that check into an account at a different bank, with the intent that the second bank will credit the funds to the second account before discovering the check was not supported by sufficient funds. Fraudsters frequently continue to write bad checks, often in a circular pattern amongst banks, to nominally cover overdrafts by continuing to take advantage of the delay in processing checks. In this case, the father was a friend and business partner of EagleBank’s former chairman and CEO, who resigned in 2019. Over the course of the scheme, senior bank executives repeatedly overrode the efforts of compliance personnel to close the accounts and end the illicit conduct. EagleBank’s facilitation of this scheme resulted in a loss of almost $6.3 million to another financial institution. Under the terms of the non-prosecution agreement, EagleBank agreed to pay the United States a fine of $9,057,821.62 and forfeiture of $736,515. The forfeiture amount consists of EagleBank’s proceeds from overdraft fees on the accounts involved in the check kiting scheme. EagleBank has further agreed to take additional remedial measures to strengthen its AML/CFT program, to cooperate with the Department’s investigation, and to report any violations of federal criminal law to the Department. The FBI investigated the case. This case is being prosecuted by Chief Michael P. Grady of the Bank Integrity Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.


title: 764 Member Charged with Plot to Kill Two FBI Special Agents and a Federal Prosecutor and to Steal Incriminating Evidence from FBI

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aaron Corey, a.k.a. “Baggeth,” age 23, of Albany, New York, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with attempted murder for hire, solicitation of a crime of violence, and obstruction of justice, related to his attempts to hire a hit man kill the two FBI Special Agents and the Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) assigned to investigate and prosecute him in an unrelated federal criminal case. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division Craig Tremaroli made the announcement. The complaint, which was unsealed today, alleges that Corey self-identifies as a member of the “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists operating within the United States and abroad. Among other things, those involved with the 764 network methodically target vulnerable, underage populations by using social media to encourage the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The complaint further alleges that Corey, who is being detained pending trial on unrelated federal child pornography charges, sent multiple letters to another inmate asking for help to hire someone to steal from the FBI the electronic devices seized from him for use at his upcoming trial and to murder the two FBI agents and the AUSA assigned to that case. Specifically, Corey allegedly directed that the victims be kidnapped, injected with fentanyl, and then put through a woodchipper. When the AUSA assigned to Corey’s case left the U.S. Attorney’s Office to take another job, Corey allegedly updated his request and added to his hit list the name of the AUSA who took over the case. According to the complaint, the inmate who received Corey’s letters sent them to his attorney, who informed the FBI, and at the FBI’s request the other inmate provided the phone number of an undercover law enforcement officer (the “UC”) to Corey. The complaint further alleges that Corey, believing the UC to be a real hit man, wrote a letter to the UC offering to pay $200 down and $5,000 total for his electronic devices to be stolen from the FBI and $500 down and $30,000 total for the two FBI agents and the recently assigned AUSA to be murdered, reiterating his desire for them to be put through a woodchipper, this time asking for a video recording. Corey allegedly spoke with the UC multiple times and arranged for his fiancée, who lives abroad, to send the requested down payments of $200 and $500 to the UC, which she did. “I commend the quick work of the FBI in investigating and disrupting this alleged and depraved murder‑for‑hire scheme. Their swift actions brought an immediate end to this disturbing situation involving an Assistant United States Attorney in my office and two FBI Special Agents. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Let me be clear: any attempt to obstruct justice or to harm federal law enforcement officials or federal prosecutors will be met with the full weight of the Department of Justice. My office will continue to tirelessly prosecute all 764 members and other Nihilistic Violent Extremists, whose violent and anti‑social goals have no place in civilized society and will not be tolerated.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli said, "As alleged in the criminal complaint, Mr. Corey ordered the gruesome murder of two FBI Special Agents and an Assistant United States Attorney. He quickly found out just how seriously the FBI takes threats of violence, especially those directed toward law enforcement. His alleged plot was a depraved effort to rid himself of the serious federal charge he was facing, but it only resulted in additional charges that, if convicted, will significantly extend his time in federal prison. This sadistic behavior is exactly why the FBI is deeply committed to relentlessly investigating the sick individuals in the dangerous 764 network that aim to spread violence and chaos in our society." Corey was arraigned on the new charges today in Albany, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart and will remain in pretrial detention. The charges in the complaint carry a combined maximum sentence of 50 years in prison, a fine of up to $750,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The charges pending against Corey in the underlying receipt of child pornography case and in the complaint described above are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent of all charges unless and until proven guilty. FBI is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry is prosecuting the case. criminal_complaint_us_v_aaron_corey_ndny.pdf


title: Four Contractors Indicted For Wire Fraud And Money Laundering Related To Parts Provided To The US Military

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a 19 count indictment on June 17, 2026 against David Turner, 59, of Walkertown, North Carolina, Roger Wolfgram, 56, of Augusta, Georgia, Adam Boudet, 39, of Augusta, Georgia, and Alex Bath, 50, of Maryville, Tennessee, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and charging Turner and Wolfgram with money laundering. The defendants appeared in court on June 30, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. They were released pending trial, which has been set before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, on September 8, 2026, in the United States District Court in Knoxville, Tennessee. The indictment alleges that Turner, Wolfgram, Boudet, and Bath conspired together to obtain contracts with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide to the military certain original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, such as fuel injectors, turbochargers, and generators, but instead provided unapproved aftermarket parts. The indictment alleges that the defendants fraudulently concealed the true source of certain parts by, among other things, creating fake labels, creating false documents, and altering documents to make it appear as though the parts were OEM parts when in fact, they were not. The indictment also alleges that Turner and Wolfgram entered into a kickback agreement whereby Turner would receive a portion of the profits that resulted from the sale of the aftermarket parts at OEM prices. The indictment also alleges that Turner and Wolfgram conspired to commit money laundering by concealing the proceeds of the fraud when Wolfgram paid Turner’s kickbacks to a company Turner created. If convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, the defendants face a term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to three years. If convicted of money laundering, Turner and Wolfgram face a term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, and supervised release of up to three years. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Jason Sargenski of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation made the announcement. This indictment is the result of an investigation by DCIS and IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Dykes will represent the United States. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: Fresno Man sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm After a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — David Richard Garcia Jr., 34, of Fresno, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 11 years and five months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Jan. 23, 2025, Garcia was found to be in possession of a Glock 22 .40‑caliber handgun. Garcia is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions in Fresno County including, robbery, assault, and evading a peace office with willful disregard for safety. According to court documents, Garcia possessed a firearm during a violent crime spree that created extreme danger to the community. He came to law enforcement’s attention as a suspect in a series of catalytic converter thefts, and evidence later tied him to multiple thefts and the tools used to commit them. According to the Garcia, he was gambling thousands of dollars a day using proceeds from the thefts. During one incident, he threatened a vehicle owner with a firearm after being interrupted mid‑theft. Leading up to his arrest, Garcia led officers on a nearly 50‑minute high‑speed chase through city streets, running red lights, colliding with another vehicle, driving into oncoming traffic, and continuing to flee even after crashing into a boulder that obstructed his windshield. The pursuit ended only after he crashed into a power pole, trash cans, and the fence of a middle school. Garcia pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2026. Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.


title: St. Croix Man Sentenced To 10 Years for Discharging a Firearm in a Local Restaurant

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Croix, USVI – United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper of the District of the Virgin Islands announced today that Terrell E. Johnson, 31, of St. Croix was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy to 10 years imprisonment for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence while inside the Cruzian Bayou Bistro Restaurant, located in the King’s Alley Walk in Christiansted. According to court documents, Johnson, 31, entered the restaurant on February 10, 2024, and sat at the bar. When Johnson began to roll a marijuana cigarette, Johnson was told that smoking in the restaurant was prohibited. Johnson became irate and was asked for a second time to stop rolling the marijuana cigarette. When told to leave the establishment, Johnson retrieved a Glock .40 caliber firearm from his black fanny pack and threatened to shoot one of the owners of the restaurant. Johnson continued to make threats and ultimately fired the gun into the air. As Johnson walked away from the establishment, he fired three additional shots. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Virgin Islands Police Department. It was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Kyle Payne and Assistant United States Attorney Martin Forrest IV of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands. ###


title: Human Smuggler Who Assaulted Aliens  Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Miguel Martinez-Meraz, 56, of Rancho San Felipe, Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced last week by United States Chief District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 72 months in prison. Martinez-Meraz previously pleaded guilty to Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit and Reentry of a Removed Alien. On January 16, 2025, Martinez-Meraz was apprehended by United States Border Patrol agents in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. At the time of his arrest, Martinez-Meraz was with a Chinese national who was unlawfully present in the United States. During the investigation, agents located the Chinese national’s brother who had been left behind in the desert. Martinez-Meraz admitted that he served as a foot guide for the two migrants through the desert near Ajo, Arizona. One of the migrants told agents that Martinez-Meraz beat his brother and held him at knifepoint to force him to continue moving. Martinez-Meraz committed these offenses while under supervised release for a previous conviction. Agents from United States Border Patrol-Ajo Station conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arturo Aguilar, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-25-00975-TUC-JGZ RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-114_Martinez-Meraz # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.