title: Trinity Hospital Agrees to Pay $1.7M to Resolve Alleged Stark Law Violations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Trinity Hospital Holding Company (Trinity) has agreed to pay the United States $1.7 million to resolve allegations relating to improper financial relationships between Trinity and two referring physicians. Trinity operates a hospital located in Steubenville, Ohio. Trinity disclosed the arrangements at issue to the government following an independent investigation. The Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, prohibits hospitals from billing for certain services referred by physicians with whom the hospital has a financial relationship, unless that relationship satisfies one of the law’s statutory or regulatory exceptions. The settlement resolves allegations that from 2014 through 2020 Trinity made improper financial contributions to two referring physicians in the form of rental arrangements for office space. The United States alleged that these arrangements violated the Stark Law because the rental arrangements exceeded fair market value. “The Stark Law is designed to ensure that decisions about patient care are not influenced by physicians’ personal financial interest,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement reflects, we will hold accountable those who violate these important safeguards, but we will also give credit when resolving such misconduct to those who fully disclose their mistakes, take appropriate remedial actions, and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.” In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Trinity took significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, Trinity promptly took remedial action, disclosed the relevant arrangements to the government, and cooperated with the government’s investigation. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel David Finkelstein. The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Nine Men, including Well Known Musical Artists, Federally Charged for Kidnapping at Music Studio in Dallas

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – This week, nine individuals – including well known musical artists—were federally charged for kidnapping and robbing at gunpoint numerous victims at a music studio in Dallas, Texas, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Eight of the nine were arrested yesterday in Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. The charged defendants include: Lontrell Williams. Jr., aka “Pooh Shiesty” Lontrell Williams, Sr. Rodney Wright, Jr., aka “Big30” Kedarius Waters Terrance Rodgers Damarian Gipson Demarcus Glover Kordae Johnson Darrion McDaniel “As alleged, nine defendants travelled to Dallas, Texas, to kidnap and rob victims who thought they were coming into town for a business meeting. Instead of discussing business in a civil matter, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives,” said Ryan Raybould, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “For anyone contemplating using violence and intimidation as a business practice, I’m here to tell you that it will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas. This case also highlights the outstanding contributions of my colleagues across the United States, including in the Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, and the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our state and local partners.” “The Western District of Tennessee employs a whole team concept with federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue all violent criminals who dare to commit crime or seek safe haven within our jurisdiction. Here, agents from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, strongly supported by Task Force Officers from the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, and aviation assets from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, brought these violent criminals to justice and put them behind bars. These defendants will be transported to the Northern District of Texas to face their crimes,” said D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. “Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are key to reducing violent crime. The collaboration of multiple agencies ensured the successful arrest of several individuals in both Texas and Tennessee. The FBI remains dedicated to investigating violent offenders and holding them accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. The complaint alleges that on January 10 of this year, three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas for a scheduled business meeting. Lontrell Williams, Jr. arranged this meeting, purportedly to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims. As alleged, once these three men were inside the studio, Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators, several of whom traveled from Memphis, executed a coordinated armed takeover. The complaint alleges that Williams Jr. produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a release from the recording contract at gunpoint. The remaining conspirators displayed firearms and robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and other high-value items. One victim was choked to the point of near unconsciousness. Photos of some of his injuries were included in the complaint: Photos of injuries sustained to the wrist and neck of one victim Defendant Wright barricaded the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from escaping. Court records reflect that Lontrell Williams, Jr., or Pooh Shiesty, was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of the Southern District of Florida. Part of the terms of his home detention were that he could not commit other criminal offenses or possess firearms. His father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is alleged to have helped plan and execute the federal kidnapping. As described in the complaint, within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, the defendants added posts on social media, displaying what appeared to be some of the stolen jewelry, depicted in the photographs from the complaint: Screenshot of video posted from Rodgers’ social media account depicted a Rolex believed to be stolen in the robbery Screenshots from Glover’s social media account depicting him wearing purportedly stolen jewelry As outlined in the complaint, some of the evidence establishing the defendants’ roles in the federal offense includes: Electronic monitoring data placing Williams Jr. at the offense location in violation of his home detention conditions; Cell phone records and license plate reader data corroborating the coordinated travel of multiple defendants from Memphis to Dallas; Rental car records confirming Williams Sr. rented a vehicle used by the group; Surveillance footage from the offense location, a nearby office supply store, and a hotel where several defendants stayed following the offense; Latent fingerprints recovered from the crime scene matching two defendants; Social media posts by defendants displaying what appears to be stolen property in the days following the offense; and Greyhound Bus records confirming the travel of multiple defendants from Dallas to Memphis the day after the offense. If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI’s Memphis Resident Agency and Nashville Field Office, the Memphis Safe Task Force, the Dallas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claire Demers and Robert Withers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### For more information, please contact USATXN.Media@usdoj.gov .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness Month

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: This April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin joins the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), communities nationwide, and Tribal nations in observing Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to stand with survivors and support efforts to prevent sexual violence. In Fiscal Year 2025, the OVW awarded more than $5.6 million to Wisconsin grantees through various OVW grant programs. These programs include the Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program, the Legal Assistance for Victims Program, and the Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program. “Survivors of sexual assault deserve safety, dignity, and justice,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting and seeking justice for survivors. We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to ensure survivors find a justice system that is compassionate and ready to help provide for their safety and healing.” We encourage everyone in our district to learn more about sexual assault and take steps to support friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who have suffered these crimes. By understanding the signs of abuse and connecting victims to available resources, we can all play a role in creating safer, supportive communities. The Department of Justice funds essential victim services through its grants. Grantees of OVW and the Department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) run programs that support victims of sexual assault. There are many services available to help victims, including the Sexual Assault Hotline, 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), and the StrongHearts Native Helpline, 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483). In addition, OVW’s website has a “Resources for Survivors” page, which lists state sexual assault coalitions that can direct victims to local resources and services, as well as opportunities to get involved. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Duxbury Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Duxbury man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Daniel Debreczeni, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2026. Debreczeni was arrested and charged in August 2025 . Between Nov. 29, 2023 and Dec. 12, 2023, Debreczeni distributed three videos containing CSAM in a private chat room dedicated to child sexual abuse on the Kik Messenger platform. The children in the three videos appeared to be between approximately two, three and eight years old. During a subsequent search of Debreczeni’s residence, five images and 19 videos depicting CSAM were located on Debreczeni’s Kik account. The charge of distribution of child pornography, provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Duxbury and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Virginia Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Erich Zeeb, 51, of Roanoke, Virginia, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “What Zeeb did was depraved and disgusting and he richly deserved the long sentence he received from Judge Beckering. This case should remind all parents of the long reach that sex predators have because of the internet. Please do what you can to warn your children about this risk and help them avoid it. My message to others who sexually exploit our children is this—there is a prison cell waiting for you too.” Zeeb met the victim, who was then 15 years old, online in 2012. He presented himself to the victim and her parents as an Olympian-in-training and someone who could help the victim with her own Olympic aspirations. As U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering stated at sentencing, Zeeb groomed the victim, gained her parents’ trust, and then used that access to sexually exploit the victim on multiple occasions. During the investigation, law enforcement received credible accounts of similar exploitation and abuse by Zeeb involving additional girls and young women. “This sentencing reflects HSI’s unwavering resolve to protect our communities and hold those who prey on children fully accountable” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “We will continue to pursue justice and safeguard the most vulnerable among us.” The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Michigan State Police, and the Houston, Texas Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hanna Rutkowski. 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: Guatemalan National Sentenced to 12 Months In Prison for Illegal Reentry;  Faces Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Favio Rodas Cardona, age 32, a citizen of Guyana, was sentenced yesterday to 12 months’ imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Rodas Cardona was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for sexual abuse of children and related charges in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, on November 5, 2025. Rodas Cardona had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order in 2013. Rodas Cardona pleaded guilty to illegal reentry before being sentenced. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. # # #


title: Norfolk man sentenced to over three years in prison for laundering funds fraudulently obtained from a pandemic relief program

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions relating to the fraudulent receipt of funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in May 2020, Brian Renard Manley Jr., 39, sent an email containing information about his businesses to an individual in Georgia who created fake tax returns for the business and submitted a fraudulent PPP application. PPP was administered by the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest financing to pay up to eight weeks of payroll costs for eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the pandemic. As a result of the fraudulent PPP application, Brian Manley received $350,000, which he immediately transferred into a newly opened bank account for a different company. The next day, he forwarded an email to the same individual in Georgia from his co-defendant spouse, Lacole Manley, which contained information and data about her business. Lacole Manley later received an additional $350,000 PPP loan after a fraudulent application was submitted in her name by the same individual in Georgia. The Manleys used the PPP funds to pay for various personal expenses, including travel to Orlando and Las Vegas as well as the purchase of a luxury vehicle. Lacole Manley is expected to be sentenced on May 19. The IRS Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office and the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony C. Mozzi and Clayton D. LaForge are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-56.


title: Former Suffolk County Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to COVID Unemployment and Loan Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A former corrections officer employed by the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to submitting fraudulent information in an effort to obtain loans through CARES Act programs like the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Jasmine Murphy, 39, of Boston, pleaded guilty to seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution, arising out of PUA and PPP loan benefits obtained prior to her employment at the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department and Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits obtained prior to, and during, her employment there. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2026. In December 2025 , Murphy was indicted along with another officer Christnel Orisca. Murphy had been a Corrections Officer with the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Department from approximately January 2022 to December 2024. Prior to her employment with the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department, Murphy fraudulently applied for pandemic unemployment and small business loan benefits while working for trucking and workforce services companies. While working at the Sheriff’s Department, Murphy fraudulently collected UI benefits for a brief period of time early in her tenure. In total, Murphy obtained approximately $44,346 in unemployment benefits and small business loan funds to which she was not entitled. In their PUA applications, both Murphy and Orisca made fraudulent representations about their employment status and thereafter falsely claimed, on a weekly basis, that they did not work and did not receive any income during the prior week. In their PPP loan applications, Murphy and Orisca submitted false statements to SBA-approved lenders, including about the income and/or payroll of their purported small businesses, in order to obtain their loans. According to the charging documents, they also made false representations on forms submitted to request that their PPP loans be forgiven. Orisca pleaded guilty in November 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 12, 2026. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of making false statements to a financial institution provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $1 million fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D., U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline via the https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to 8 Years for Meth Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court today for possessing more than 56 pounds of methamphetamine and for entering the United States illegally after deportation. Apolinar Gocovachi Pacheco, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 8 years in prison without parole for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and for unlawful reentry after removal. On Sept. 3, 2024, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper pulled over a gray 2011 Acura MDX on Interstate 29, near the N.W. 112 th Street exit in Kansas City, Mo. An adult male, identified as Pedro Alberto Quiroz Ayala, who did not have a valid driver’s license, was driving the Acura, with a female juvenile in the front passenger seat and Pacheco and another adult male, identified as Pablo DeJesus Peralta Anguis, in the back seat. When the trooper searched the vehicle, he found a large duffle bag in the third-row seating area that contained approximately 55.6 pounds of methamphetamine. He also found a grocery bag that contained approximately one pound of methamphetamine on the floorboard where the female juvenile had been sitting, and a loaded firearm in the driver’s door pouch. When the four occupants got out of the vehicle for the search, Ayala and Anguis fled on foot. A manhunt ensued and both were apprehended a short time later. Pacheco told investigators that he arrived in the United States approximately two weeks earlier from Nogales Sonora, Mexico. Pacheco said he entered the United States illegally and paid $6,000 to cross the border. Pacheco said he was asked to travel from Kansas City, Kansas, to Omaha to pick up drugs by Anguis. Pacheco said he was promised to receive a significant amount of U.S. currency by Anguis for assisting with the transportation of the drugs from Omaha to the Kansas City area. Officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Pacheco had previously been found illegally in the United States by Border Patrol Agents near Nogalez, Az. on Aug. 22, 2024. Pacheco was removed from the United States to Mexico that same day. Co-defendants Ayala and Anguis have each pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and Anguis has also pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry after removal. Both await sentencing. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Jackson County Drug Task Force, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced To 180 Months’ Imprisonment For Production Of Child Pornography

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brayan Garcia-Vazquez, age 25, of Haverlock, North Carolina, was sentenced on April 1, 2026, to 180 months of imprisonment by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for production of child pornography. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, a minor victim disclosed during a forensic interview that there was a video of her having sex with Garcia-Vazquez, and that he knew she was 12 years old at the time they had sexual intercourse. The minor victim explained that she had met Garcia-Vazquez on Instagram about a year beforehand. Garcia-Vazquez came to the minor victim’s home on two separate days to have sexual intercourse. The second day he brought the minor victim a gold bracelet and they had intercourse again. Garcia-Vazquez recorded the sex act that day and shared the video with the minor victim, whose mother eventually found it and contacted law enforcement. Garcia-Vazquez was identified as the perpetrator through forensic analysis of the minor victim’s phone and matching Garcia-Vazquez with the male in the video. Garcia-Vazquez faces deportation following the completion of this sentence. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation Into Suicide During Police Pursuit

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against police officers in connection with the suicide of S.J., a 36-year-old District resident, that occurred during a February pursuit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement accounts, body-worn camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, and MPD reports. According to the evidence, on Feb. 11, 2026, officers with the Prince George's County Police Department and the MPD attempted to apprehend S.J. in connection with a homicide that occurred earlier in the day. S.J. led law enforcement on a long vehicular pursuit. The chase ended in the 1500 block of 30th Street, SE, where S.J. died of suicide, despite lifesaving efforts by law enforcement and an emergency medical team. An autopsy determined SJ. died from a gunshot wound to the head. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated the civilian’s rights. Investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia. #


title: New Kensington Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating a federal firearms law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. William Jermaine Rodgers III, 29, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab to a one-count Indictment charging Rodgers with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on July 1, 2025, law enforcement reported to a home in the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh after learning that Rodgers—who had been a fugitive since at least February 2025—may be staying there. Upon arriving at the home, law enforcement discovered Rodgers in a second-story master bedroom. After taking Rodgers into custody, law enforcement recovered a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition stowed between the mattress and box spring of the bed in the room in which Rodgers had been staying. Rodgers was previously convicted of numerous federal felony drug offenses in Indiana, Westmoreland, and Allegheny counties, and had also been previously convicted of a felony offense for issuing terroristic threats in Westmoreland County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Schwab scheduled Rodgers’ sentencing for July 30, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Rodgers. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Lexington Man Convicted of Conspiracies to Commit Healthcare Fraud and Violate the Anti-Kickback Statute at Sober Homes

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky.- A Lexington man, Dashawn Dawkins, 34, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Lexington for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to receive kickbacks. Dawkins was convicted of the charges following a 3-day trial. Dawkins was a peer support specialist at Serenity Keeper’s, LLC (“Serenity Keepers”), a sober home company based in Fayette County, Ky., that purported to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services and housing for individuals enrolled in its program. The evidence at trial showed that Mr. Dawkins received $62,750 in illegal kickbacks for the ordering of urine drug testing at Serenity Keepers that cost Kentucky Medicaid and Medicare a combined $2,569,946. The evidence further showed that the urine drug testing was fraudulent in that it was not ordered by a treating medical provider, nor were the results reviewed by a treating medical provider. Instead, more than 9,000 urine drug tests were ordered under the stolen identification number and forged signature of a Nurse Practitioner who was briefly associated with Serenity Keepers. The evidence also showed that Serenity Keepers billed for fraudulent peer support services that were not provided at all and were not supervised by licensed professionals, as required by Medicaid regulations. The company billed for 6 hours of peer support services a day for every patient in their care regardless of whether that was provided, including services purportedly provided by Dawkins. Medicaid paid Serenity Keepers $9,077,260 for behavior health claims that were not provided in accordance with Medicaid regulations, or were not provided at all. Dawkins was the fifth defendant convicted as part of the investigation into Serenity Keepers’ scheme. Delores Jordan, the owner of Serenity Keepers, and Jerome Davis, her boyfriend, both pled guilty to their role in the kickback conspiracy. Lily Bell, who paid the kickbacks to Dawkins, Jordan, and Davis, and who facilitated the abuse of the Nurse Practitioner’s stolen identifiers, pled guilty to aggravated identity theft. Ernest Williams, who ran several of the sober homes for Serenity Keepers, pled guilty to a health care fraud conspiracy involving fraudulent urine drug testing and fraudulent peer support services. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the conviction. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith. Dawkins will appear for sentencing on July 9. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and any restitution determined by the Court. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence. — END —


title: Trinitarios Gang Members Plead Guilty to Murder and Violent Carjackings

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Amaury Guzmán, a member of the Trinitarios street gang, pleaded guilty to multiple carjacking and firearm offenses, including the murder of the victim of an attempted carjacking committed in Queens, New York. The proceeding was held before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. Trinitarios gang member and co-defendant Jonathan Guzman previously pleaded guilty to some of the charges, including the murder, in July 2025. When sentenced, Guzmán faces a sentencing range of 35 to 40 years’ imprisonment. Rodríguez faces a sentencing range of 32 to 40 years’ imprisonment. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty pleas. “Guzmán and Rodríguez caused fear and chaos through armed carjackings, robberies, and ruthless shootings. Today’s outcome is the result of relentless work by our Office and law enforcement partners and further demonstrates the goals of the Administration’s Operation Take Back America to protect our communities from violent criminals,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. Mr. Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their work on the case. “Over the span of four months, these two gang members subjected our community to a series of carjackings, senseless shootings, and cold-blooded murder. Alongside our law enforcement partners, the FBI’s Metro Safe Streets Task Force has prioritized crushing violent crime by targeting gangs and their violence,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. According to court filings and the guilty plea proceeding, between November 2022 and February 2023, Guzmán and Rodríguez variously participated in a string of violent crimes. November 2022 Attempted Robbery and Shooting On November 19, 2022, Guzmán and others conspired to rob a marijuana dealer in Queens. Guzmán set up a fake marijuana deal and approached the dealer’s car after he arrived at an agreed-upon location. Guzmán approached the dealer’s car and as the dealer and his passenger tried to flee, Guzmán fired into the car, shooting the passenger in the shoulder. The passenger survived but underwent extensive surgery to remove a bullet from his neck. November 2022 Attempted Carjacking and Murder The next day, on November 20, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez, and a co-conspirator used a stolen Mercedes Benz to approach an individual’s BMW sports coupe parked on a sidewalk in Queens. Rodríguez approached the victim at gunpoint and fired in his direction as he attempted to flee. The victim was shot once in the back, quickly lost control of his car, which then flipped over onto a sidewalk. He died from the gunshot wound shortly thereafter. November 2022 Armed Carjacking Two days later, on November 22, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez, and others once again used the stolen Mercedes Benz to approach a victim who had recently parked his BMW X5 on a residential block in Queens. The crew attacked the victim at gunpoint and stole the keys to his BMW X5. They then fled in the stolen Mercedes Benz and in the victim’s BMW X5, only to crash into each other minutes later after speeding away from the carjacking. A ghost gun was recovered from the wrecked Mercedes Benz, which ballistically matched the earlier two shootings. December 2022 Attempted Carjacking and Shooting Several weeks later, on December 12, 2022, Guzmán and others approached the driver of a Range Rover who was parked on a residential block in Queens, intending to carjack him. As the victim attempted to flee the carjacking, a member of Guzmán’s crew fired a shot into the Range Rover, which lodged in the center console after narrowly missing the victim. February 2023 Armed Carjacking Less than two months later, on February 1, 2023, Guzmán and others used a stolen Dodge Charger to carjack the owner of a Ford Mustang who was parked on a residential block in Queens. Guzmán and a co-conspirator tackled the victim to the ground as he tried to run from them, stole his keys, and bashed the victim in the head with their guns. Lacerations to the victim’s head required hospitalization. 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. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andy Palacio is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : AMAURY GUZMÁN Age: 26 Brooklyn, New York JONATHAN RODRIGUEZ Age: 24 Queens, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-107 (S-3) (MKB)


title: Former Member of the Air Force Pleads Guilty to Multi-Year Bid Rigging Schemes and Conspiracy to Defraud U.S. Air Force

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – A former active-duty Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently inflating the cost of information technology (IT) contracts for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) by at least $37 million — and using the excess funds to enrich himself, enrich co-conspirators, and channel bribes to a federal public official in PACAF whom the conspirators nicknamed “Godfather.” The defendant, Alan Hayward James, 51, of Texas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy to rig bids. James also agreed to pay over $1.4 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of War. “Over thirty-seven million dollars — that’s how much the U.S. Air Force overpaid because of the scheme that the defendant admitted to, under oath and in open court,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Daniel Glad of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Criminals who rig bids and commit fraud on government contracts steal from taxpayers and threaten the public’s confidence in government institutions. The Antitrust Division’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force will detect and prosecute those who rig bids and defraud their government customers.” “Through this bid-rigging scheme, the defendant not only stole from American taxpayers and harmed companies seeking to compete honestly for government contracts, he also ultimately harmed essential military services designed to keep our nation safe by diverting resources away from other services,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson for the District of Hawaii. “Bid-rigging and anti-competitive behavior in government contracts erodes trust in our institutions, harms taxpayers, and will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and prosecute any and all who would seek to manipulate markets and undermine fair competition for their own personal gain.” “James’s guilty plea acknowledges his role in a long-running conspiracy to rig bids and defraud the U.S. government for personal financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Justice, will aggressively investigate those who seek to enrich themselves through fraudulent schemes targeting the U.S. Department of Defense and American taxpayers.” “This case highlights the capabilities and strength of joint investigative efforts to defend and protect sensitive Department of War (DoW) acquisition systems,” said Special Agent Nicole Vanourek of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud. “Ensuring companies adhere to robust contracting requirements is integral to maximizing the Air Force’s lethality and readiness to address evolving security challenges.” “Bribery, bid rigging, and wire fraud are not victimless crimes; they erode public trust, distort fair competition, and harm honest businesses who play by the rules,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bjornstad of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Western Investigations Division. “GSA OIG special agents and our law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing those who engage in procurement fraud.” According to a plea agreement and information filed in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu, Hawaii, from at least April 2016 until about April 2025, James and his coconspirators falsely inflated the cost of IT contracts serving U.S. Air Force installations across the Pacific. James and his coconspirators agreed to use the excess funds to pay James, James’ family members, the family of an Air Force civilian employee, and other co-conspirators. As part of this scheme, the conspirators diverted government funds to pay for an all-expenses-paid multi-day stay at a luxury resort on the North Shore of Oahu in 2023. Also, from at least May 2019 until about October 2022, the defendant directed co-conspirators — who were supposed to be competitively bidding against one another to win government contracts — on the amounts they should bid to circumvent the competitive bidding process. As a result of the defendant’s actions, the government overpaid for IT contracts by at least $37 million. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for bribery is 15 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or three times the monetary value of the bribe, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for a conspiracy to rig bids in violation of the Sherman Act for an individual is 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fines. James agreed to pay a restitution of at least $1,451,656.80 to the Department of War. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case, which was investigated with the assistance of DOD-OIG-DCIS, AFOSI, and GSA-OIG. Rebecca A. Bers, Don Daniel, Matthew Chou, and Albert B. Sambat of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, and Darren W.K. Ching of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii, are prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. Whistleblower awards can range from 15 to 30 percent of the money collected. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, including a link to submit reports, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards .


title: Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Wayne Vickers, 35, of Summersville, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2024, Vickers possessed a SCCY Industries model CPX-2 9mm pistol in the Summersville area. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Vickers knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for burglary and grand larceny on March 10, 2021, and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering on March 12, 2015, both in Nicholas County Circuit Court. Vickers is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-185. ###


title: Texas Doctor Charged with Illegally Distributing Millions of Opioid Pills

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging James Robles, 70, of Weslaco, Texas, with operating a cash-only clinic in Houston that he used to sell prescriptions for controlled substances. According to court documents, Robles, a medical doctor licensed to practice in Texas, conspired with others to illegally prescribe oxycodone, hydrocodone and carisoprodol – all controlled substances with substantial street value that were in high demand on Houston’s black market. Operating from his cash-only Houston clinic, Robles allegedly sold prescriptions to “crew leaders” who recruited others to pose as patients, filled Robles’ prescriptions at complicit pharmacies and resold the drugs on the black market. As alleged, Robles often did not see or examine his purported patients before prescribing them opioids and other controlled substances. In just over four years, Robles allegedly prescribed approximately 2.9 million pills of hydrocodone, 1.3 million pills of oxycodone and 1.1 million pills of carisoprodol. In less than three years of the conspiracy, more than $2 million in cash was deposited into bank accounts controlled by Robles. Robles is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances, one count of distributing and dispensing controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Leardo of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement. DEA is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Angela Benoit and Andrew Pennebaker of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of eight strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jamestown woman sentenced for her role in narcotics conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anabell Santiago, 53, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, maintaining a drug involved premises, and being a user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that in November 2023, a search warrant was executed at a Van Buren Street residence, during which law enforcement seized cash, a quantity of fentanyl, pills, and drug paraphernalia. As law enforcement was securing the apartment, Anabell Santiago’s husband and co-defendant Santos Santiago attempted to destroy his fentanyl causing a large amount of fentanyl to go airborne. Two officers inhaled the cloud with one experiencing physical effects requiring medical attention. In March 2024, investigators made a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Anabell Santiago. In April 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at the Santiago’s Whitley Avenue residence, seizing fentanyl, crack cocaine, oxycodone, two loaded pistols, ammunition, $30,369.00 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. The defendant admits the seized U.S. currency converts to at least 300 grams of fentanyl. Anabell Santiago admits that at the time of her possession of the firearms, she was an unlawful and habitual user of fentanyl. On January 15, 2025, Anabell Santiago pleaded guilty in Chautauqua County Court to possession of more than four ounces of fentanyl. Santos Santiago was convicted and sentenced to serve 132 months in prison. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Scott Forster. # # # #


title: Major Meth Supplier Linked to a Mexican Cartel Sentenced to Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – The final of 20 defendants, a Georgia man described as the second-in-command to a Mexican national leading an illegal drug pipeline in the state, was sentenced to prison for supplying kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin resulting from a multi-agency investigation into a drug trafficking ring centered in Milledgeville, Georgia. Noe Canela, 37, of Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on April 2, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Jan. 6, 2026. “Noe Canela is being held accountable for trafficking large quantities of dangerous drugs from a Mexican cartel into Georgia. This case proves that justice will prevail, no matter how long it takes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Thanks to the collective efforts of law enforcement agencies at every level, significant quantities of dangerous drugs have been kept off Georgia streets, and the offenders have been brought to justice.” “Those who distribute methamphetamine pose a grave danger to the community. These traffickers can no longer deliver dangerous drugs on the streets and must now face the consequences of their actions,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The dangers associated with methamphetamine remain one of the most significant drug threats facing our community,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Macon office. “With the help of our federal, state and local partners, this is a significant amount of poison that will not make it into our communities, driving crime and violence.” “Illegal drugs are dangerous and threaten the safety of Georgia communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI is committed to getting these drugs off the streets by bringing to justice all those that take part in the illegal drug trade, from the supplier down to the dealer.” "Noe Canela evaded justice while maintaining his criminal enterprises and ties to a Mexican cartel," said Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee. "We are grateful he has been taken into custody, brought before the court and held accountable for his crimes. Baldwin County and Georgia are safer as a result." The following co-defendants have been sentenced: Jarvis Havior, aka “J Bo,” 34, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 16, 2023; Nicholas Cuevas-Flores, 40, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023; Anrico Taylor, aka “Rico,” 38, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 160 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 11, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28, 2023; Matthew Cameron, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 150 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Oct. 31, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 5, 2022; Dawn Carey, 50, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 121 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on April 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 13, 2022; Bruce Harrison, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Nov. 2, 2022, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Aug. 31, 2022; Arturo Marshall, aka “Turo,” 44, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 100 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023; Tyrone Hitchcock, aka “TY,” 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 85 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 4, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Oct. 12, 2022; Paul Collins, 63, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 18, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 28, 2023; Annie Collins, 24, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 63 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on March 7, 2023; Paul Bentley aka “Old School,” 59, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Aug. 6, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to one count conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 20, 2025; Alicia Nugent, 41, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on Feb. 28, 2023; Lamont Jackson, 51, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on Feb. 28, 2023; Perry Miller, 43, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on July 13, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 28, 2023; Dwight Turner, aka “Wight,” 60, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release on Jan. 11, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Aug. 30, 2023; Ryan Rickard, 53, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 41 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release on Feb. 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communication facility on Feb. 16, 2023; Amber Vanclief, 35, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 3, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 9, 2023; Macarthur Reeves, aka “Mac,” 70, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve three years of probation on May 3, 2023, after he pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 16, 2023; and Paris Binion, 32, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to time served to be followed by one year of supervised release on Nov. 9, 2023, after she pleaded guilty to one count of the unlawful use of a communications facility on Feb. 28, 2023. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, agents with the DEA, the GBI and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force received credible information in June 2020 from multiple confidential sources that Havior was leading a multi-kilogram methamphetamine drug trafficking organization in the Milledgeville community. An investigation determined the location of his distribution “trap” houses and “stash” houses for bulk narcotics and cash that Havior and his criminal associates maintained. For more information about the Havior drug trafficking network, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/milledgeville-based-meth-distribution-leader-sentenced-30-years-prison. Investigators found that Canela was the source of supply for Havior and that Canela would often use Flores as a go-between, who would meet with Havior and his associates to deliver the drugs. Havior would obtain bulk amounts of methamphetamine from Canela and Flores and then sell the drugs to local dealers. On Oct. 28, 2021, Flores was stopped and arrested in Atlanta after a controlled delivery of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. State search warrants were immediately sought and executed for a Rockbridge Road residence in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Flores resided. When law enforcement entered the home, Canela was found inside wearing gloves, appearing as if he was cleaning out the house after learning of Flores’ arrest. Inside the home, agents found 67 pounds of methamphetamine (approximately 30.39 kilograms), one kilogram of heroin and a handgun. The same day, authorities executed a search warrant on Canela’s Lilburn, Georgia, residence on Bailey Drive. Multiple pounds of marijuana were seized, and evidence of a methamphetamine laboratory was discovered in the basement. Agents found Canela’s cell phone used to communicate with Havior about drug transactions along with his passport and several plane tickets showing his recent trips to Texas. On January 11, 2022, a 17-count federal indictment was issued in the Middle District of Georgia, charging the co-defendants with multiple offenses related to the Milledgeville drug trafficking ring investigation. An arrest warrant was issued for Canela, who remained a fugitive until the U.S. Marshals took him into custody on Aug. 5, 2025, in the Northern District of Georgia. Canela is being held account for supplying at least 17,069 grams of methamphetamine directly to the Havior drug trafficking organization, which was obtained in six controlled purchases conducted by law enforcement, as well as approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2,020 grams of heroin, multiple pounds of marijuana and a Polymer80 firearm with an extended magazine (also known as a “ghost gun”) that was seized at the Stone Mountain residence in October 2021. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the DEA, the FBI, the GBI, the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Milledgeville Community Supervision Office, the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlanta-Carolina’s HIDTA Office and the Gwinnett Metro Task Force with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Criminal Chief Leah McEwen prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Former Medicaid Provider Sentenced to Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) announced today that an Anniston, Alabama, man has been sentenced for health care fraud and identity theft offenses. On April 2, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 54-year-old Hasan Jermel Pulliam to 54 months in prison. The court also ordered Pulliam to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and to pay $718,967.20 in restitution to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. There is no parole in the federal system. “Health care fraud diverts limited resources away from the patients and families who depend on programs like Medicaid,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for abusing his position of trust and sending false claims to obtain money he was not entitled to receive. Our office will continue to work closely with our federal and state partners to protect taxpayer-funded health care programs from fraud and abuse.” “This sentence reflects our commitment to protecting taxpayer resources and upholding the rule of law in Alabama,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. “I commend our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their excellent work on this case, and I thank our federal partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office and HHS-OIG for their collaboration in holding Mr. Pulliam accountable for defrauding Alabama taxpayers of over $700,000. We will continue this collaborative effort to root out fraud and ensure justice is served.” “Health care providers who fraudulently bill Medicaid for services not rendered and exploit personal information for their own gain will be held accountable,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the integrity of Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs.” According to his plea agreement and other court records, Pulliam was a child and family therapist who enrolled as a provider with Alabama Medicaid in October 2018. After enrolling, Pulliam received referrals from other medical providers that included Medicaid beneficiaries’ names, dates of birth, Medicaid Recipient Identification Numbers, and other personally identifying information. The Alabama Medicaid Agency’s Program Integrity Unit identified questionable billing activity associated with Pulliam and referred the matter to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) in Montgomery and HHS-OIG in Birmingham for investigation. The subsequent investigation revealed that Pulliam submitted numerous fraudulent claims to the Alabama Medicaid Agency for counseling services that were never provided. In submitting those claims, Pulliam used Medicaid beneficiaries’ identifying information without their consent, or, in cases involving minor beneficiaries, without the consent of their families. This fraudulent conduct continued through November 2023. As a result of Pulliam’s fraudulent claims, the Alabama Medicaid Agency issued payments totaling $718,967.20, to which he was not entitled. On October 25, 2025, Pulliam pleaded guilty to health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. This case was investigated by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil prosecuted the case. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is a division of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and 75 percent of its funding is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. That amount was $1.14 million for fiscal year 2025.


title: Illegal Alien Facing State Murder Charge Now Charged in Federal Court With Illegally Possessing Firearm in Chicago

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

body_text: CHICAGO — An illegal alien unlawfully residing in the United States, who is charged in state court with murdering an 18-year-old Loyola University student, was charged today in federal court with illegally possessing a firearm in Chicago. JOSE MEDINA-MEDINA illegally possessed a handgun on March 20, 2026, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Chicago Police officers discovered the firearm during a court-authorized search of his residence in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, the complaint states. The search was conducted as part of a state investigation relating to a homicide that occurred in the neighborhood the day before, the complaint states. Chicago Police officers arrested Medina-Medina after the search, and he was subsequently charged in Cook County Circuit Court with murder and other offenses related to the homicide, the complaint states. Medina-Medina is a citizen of Venezuela and has no lawful status in the United States, the complaint states. As an illegal alien unlawfully residing in the United States, Medina-Medina was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The federal complaint charges Medina-Medina, also known as “Jose Gregorio Medina,” “Jose Gregorio Medina-Medina,” and “Jose Medina,” 25, with one count of illegal possession of a firearm, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison. Medina-Medina is currently detained in state custody without bond. His initial appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled. The federal complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill Bhalakia and William Dunne. “Given the senseless, cold-blooded nature of the murder of a young student with a bright future ahead of her, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will take no chances that this illegal alien perpetrator will be released back into our community,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office applauds the excellent work of the Chicago Police Department and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office to quickly identify, apprehend, and charge the culprit and hold him accountable for the murder in state court. Our Office will be ready to move forward with the federal charge as needed.” “ATF will pursue all applicable federal charges to ensure that those who commit acts of violence are held accountable, and I am grateful for the strong investigative work conducted by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office," said ATF SAC Amon. "The addition of federal charges in this case further ensures that the defendant is held fully accountable under the law.” The federal investigation is being conducted in coordination with ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement partnership that focuses exclusively on investigating and prosecuting violent offenders who utilize firearms in commission of their crimes in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois. Every firearm-related case in Chicago is processed through the CGIC on a daily basis. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. medina-medina_complaint.pdf


title: Former Census Bureau Program Manager Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A former supervisory official with the U.S. Census Bureau pled guilty in federal court today, to conspiring with a subcontractor to receive $790,000 in kickbacks. Camille T. Jones, 47, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud in connection with a procurement fraud scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, Department of Justice Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Eric Arcand, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General (DOC-OIG). According to court documents, as part of her guilty plea, Camille Jones admitted that she steered a large employee assistant program contract to a prime contractor and a subcontracting company, YMJ Consulting, which is owned by Camille Jones’s relative, Yolanda M. Jones. The contract was worth millions of dollars. In exchange for steering the contract and modifications, Jones received kickbacks from YMJ Consulting and Yolanda Jones. Additionally, Camille Jones attempted to obstruct the investigation by drafting a service agreement between YMJ Consulting and a mental health company that she owned to make the kickbacks appear like legitimate consulting payments between the two companies. Both Camille Jones and Yolanda Jones signed the agreement in 2024 but backdated it to 2020. Yolanda Jones then provided the document to law enforcement during the investigation. Camille Jones further admitted that she used her official position to share the Census Bureau’s confidential procurement information with another government contractor. While receiving preferential treatment, the contractor hired another one of Camille Jones’s relatives for a minimal-work job. Camille Jones largely performed the work but the relative received $83,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, at 10:30 a.m. Camille Jones faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Additionally, on August 14, 2025, Yolanda Jones pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services fraud. She is awaiting sentencing. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOC-OIG for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Acting Chief Edward P. Sullivan, DOJ Criminal Division Public Integrity Section, who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced  For Federal Weapons Violation

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –NOLAN LONG (“LONG”) , age 34, was sentenced on March 24, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Darryl J. Papillion to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, on January 10, 2023, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) detectives observed a group of individuals, including LONG , exhibiting signs that they were carrying concealed firearms. When marked NOPD units arrived in the area to investigate, LONG fled on foot and discarded a loaded Walther P22, .22 caliber pistol before being apprehended. LONG is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for simple robbery and a prior felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 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). The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Former Farmer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Lying to His Bank to Get a Line of Credit

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A former farmer who lied to a small-town Iowa bank to get a farm operating line of credit was sentenced April 1, 2026, to six months in federal prison. Mashon Van Mill, age 41, from Shell Rock, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 15, 2025, guilty plea to making a false statement to a financial institution. In a plea agreement, Van Mill admitted he lied to the bank he had been banking at for nearly two years. Van Mill applied for a $1,000,000 farm operating line of credit with the bank. To secure the loan, Van Mill provided the bank with a balance sheet purporting to show assets he owned to use as collateral for the loan. The balance sheet showed he possessed over $2,000,000 worth of corn in storage. Van Mill lied about the corn. He did not possess any corn in storage. An employee of the bank got suspicious and began checking whether Van Mill had lied. In doing so, he sent a letter to the owner of an elevator in which Van Mill had claimed to be storing corn. The bank employee received a letter back, which was purportedly signed by the elevator owner indicating Van Mill had corn in storage. When law enforcement officers later showed the letter to him, the elevator owner denied sending it and said he had never seen the letter from the bank. He also confirmed Van Mill had no corn in storage at the elevator at the time of the lie. Law enforcement officers determined Van Mill had also lied about money he was owed and farm equipment he owned. By the time his deceit was discovered, the bank had lent Van Mill $873,118.71 on the line of credit. Van Mill defaulted on the entire amount, as well as on several other loans from the bank. Van Mill was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Van Mill was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $873,118.71 in restitution to the victim bank. At the time of sentencing, the victim bank had recovered $258,110.17 from Van Mill by garnishing Van Mill’s wages and Van Mill’s sale of various pieces of property. Van Mill must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Van Mill was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on April 27, 2026. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-cr-76. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mason City Man Pleads Guilty to  Child Exploitation and Gun Crimes

body_text: A man who sexually exploited children, possessed child pornography, and possessed a stolen firearm pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Parker Jon Thompson, age 20, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography, and possession of a stolen firearm. Evidence at a prior court hearing demonstrated that in June 2025, Thompson helped his friends plan a burglary at a gun shop in Mason City. His friends stole several guns and gave at least two of the guns to Thompson. Law enforcement officers searched Thompson’s phone while investigating the burglary. Officers found child pornography on the phone. Additional investigation revealed that Thompson recorded multiple children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Thompson also asked a child to send him depictions of the child engaging in sex acts. At a plea hearing, Thompson admitted that between March 2024 and September 2025, he used, persuaded, induced, and enticed minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. Between June 2024 and April 2025, Thompson possessed depictions of child pornography. In June 2025, Thompson possessed a stolen firearm. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” 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. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Thompson remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Thompson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, $77,300 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Devra T. Hake and Kyndra Lundquist and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mason City Police Department, the Cerro Gordo Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file numbers are 25-CR-2054 and 26-CR-3011. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Aggravated felon headed to federal prison for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON - A 61-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally re-entering the United States after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Jose Antonio Villegas-Herrera pleaded guilty July 16, 2024. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge has imposed a 55-month-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard about Herrera’s criminal history which included a federal felony conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine for which he was ordered to serve 55 months in prison. In imposing this sentence, the court noted Herrera had cut off his ankle monitor and fled prior to the hearing. He was removed from the country in 2007. However, authorities discovered him in Houston July 28, 2022, with no authorization to be in the United States. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prison facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted Felon on Probation Charged with Firearms Offense Resulting in the Death of His Child

body_text: NASHVILLE – Steven Lamont Phillips, 56, of Nashville, Tennessee, was charged yesterday with possession of a weapon by a previously convicted felon for his role in the death of his son, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “The death of a child is every parent’s nightmare,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “The possession of firearms by convicted felons is inherently dangerous. This tragic outcome could have been avoided by simply following the law. Our office will hold felons accountable when they possess firearms, especially if they’ve been convicted of a violent crime.” On March 28, 2026, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to a shooting at a home in Nashville. Once there, the officers found Phillips’ six-year-old son, S.R., who was unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the head. The Nashville Fire Department transported S.R. to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wound and died. After being advised on his Miranda rights, Phillips told the police officers that he found the gun outside on the morning of the shooting. After finding the gun, he put the gun inside of his pocket and went back inside the house. Once he was back inside, Phillips started playing with S.R., before falling asleep on the living room floor. He woke up to the sound of a gunshot and saw a muzzle flash. At the time he possessed the weapon in this case, a Kel-Tec CNC Inc. model P3AT .380 auto caliber pistol, Phillips was a convicted felon. He has prior convictions in Davidson County Criminal Court for aggravated robbery, possession of a weapon of a previously convicted felon, and attempted theft over $10,000 but under $60,000. Phillips is currently on probation for attempted theft over $10,000 but under $60,000, a felony in the State of Tennessee If convicted, Phillips faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Cooper R. Byers is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law . # # # # #


title: Former Employee of National Industrial Company Pleads Guilty to Crimes Related to Hacking Computer Networks and Extorting Employees

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Missouri man has pleaded guilty to crimes related to his hacking of computer networks and extortion of employees, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Daniel Rhyne, 59, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with extortion in relation to a threat to cause damage to a protected computer and intentional damage to a protected computer. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Rhyne, then a New Jersey resident, worked as a core infrastructure engineer at a U.S.-based industrial company headquartered in New Jersey (“Victim-1”). In or around November 2023, Rhyne took steps to execute a scheme to hack Victim-1’s computer network and extort Victim-1 into paying a ransom. Specifically, and among other things, Rhyne initiated unauthorized remote desktop sessions and prepared for the attack by scheduling tasks that would trigger damage to Victim-1’s network. These tasks included deleting network administrator accounts, changing passwords to certain other Victim-1 accounts, and shutting down multiple Victim-1 servers. On November 25, 2023, Rhyne began deploying the scheduled tasks and, on the same date, sent an extortion email to Victim-1 employees in which he threatened to continue shutting down Victim-1 servers unless and until he received approximately 20 bitcoin, which, at the time, was valued at approximately $750,000. The extortion charge to which Rhyne pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and the intentional damage to a protected computer violation to which Rhyne pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each violation also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation. He also thanked the FBI Kansas City, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus, for its assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Taj Moore of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Jonathan F. Marshall, Esq.


title: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Roland Edward Bain, 40, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between March 6, 2024, and May 5, 2024, Bain engaged in a pattern of activity which included persuading a minor victim to create and send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Bain and the victim communicated via their smartphones, and the victim used her phone to create sexually explicit material at Bain’s request. As part of this conduct, Bain engaged in sex acts with the victim. Throughout the course of conduct, Bain was aware the victim was under the age of 18. Bain also engaged in a pattern of activity involving prohibited sexual conduct with other minors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Sheriff Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Harman is prosecuting the case. Bain is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on June 18, 2026. Bain faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Two Counts of Firearm Possession in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –TYRONE WHITTINGTON (“WHITTINGTON”) , age 40, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). According to court documents, WHITTINGTON was arrested by New Orleans Police officers on August 19, 2023, and by Louisiana State Police troopers on December 30, 2024. For each of those arrests, WHITTINGTON was in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine that he intended to distribute, as well as two handguns that furthered those drug-trafficking crimes. As to each conviction, WHITTINGTON faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, up to five years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 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). The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Federal Firearms Offense

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Cameron Treon Banks, 30 , of Trenton, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. In December 2021, Banks was found in possession of five firearms, 387 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of marijuana, and $1,282 in U.S. currency at a residence in Bradford, Tennessee. The investigation revealed that Banks is a convicted felon and was serving a 10-year period of supervised probation for committing two separate aggravated assault offenses in Gibson County in 2021. Banks was also previously convicted of another aggravated assault offense in Gibson County in 2016. Following his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of federal law, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen determined that Banks qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) offender based on Banks’s three prior aggravated assault convictions. Judge Breen ultimately sentenced Banks to 240 months in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Banks has devoted his adult life to a career of violent criminal conduct, and that prior history has finally caught up with him. ACC+guns+drugs = a federal sentence that will finally remove him from the community and make Gibson County and West Tennessee a safer place." This case was investigated by members of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### 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.