title: Federal Jury Finds Former Prenatal Care Coordinator Guilty of Healthcare Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Providing Unlawful Kickbacks, and Money Laundering

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 12, 2025, Precious Cruse, who was the owner and operator of a now-defunct Prenatal Care Coordination Company called Caring Through Love, was convicted of seventeen federal charges, including Healthcare Fraud, False Statements related to Healthcare Matters, Anti-Kickback Statute violations, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money Laundering. The evidence presented at trial established that Cruse exploited vulnerable pregnant women and young mothers by luring them into the company’s prenatal care coordination program with kickbacks in the form of free baby items such as car seats, pack ‘n plays, diapers, and baby wipes. Once enrolled, Cruse’s company used the women’s personal information to submit claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided. In reality, participants often received only occasional deliveries of diapers and baby wipes, and in some cases, nothing at all. The evidence also demonstrated that Cruse used her fraud proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury travel, designer clothing, and even an $18,000 custom diamond necklace and bracelet for her toddler. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper. Precious Cruse faces a mandatory minimum 2-year sentence on the aggravated identity theft charges, and a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment on each of the healthcare fraud charges. The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Three Men Charged with Gunpoint Robbery of Apple Products Delivery Truck, Related Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that JOSE MIGUEL MERCADO, 32, JEAN GONZALEZ PAULINO, 31, and DAURY RODRIGUEZ CONTRERAS, 22, each a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, have been charged with federal offenses related to their alleged involvement in the gunpoint robbery of a delivery truck containing Apple products in Manchester. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 7:00 a.m. on March 25, 2025, Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez, committed a gunpoint robbery of the driver of a delivery truck after he stopped at a commuter lot in Manchester before a scheduled delivery of a shipment of Apple products to an Apple store in South Windsor. Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez stole approximately $316,753 in Apple phones, tablets, and other accessories during the robbery, and approximately $1,000 in cash from the driver. After the theft, Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez traveled to a location in Wethersfield where they discarded clothing, a license plate, and other items into a dumpster. They then traveled to the Bronx, New York, where they unloaded items stolen during the robbery. Many of the stolen items were subsequently registered by New York residents and activated. It is further alleged that a vehicle used in the robbery had been rented by Gonzalez in Massachusetts through Turo, a peer-to-peer car sharing platform. After the vehicle was returned on March 26, 2025, and being cleaned, the vehicle’s owners found a box containing an Apple charging cable that appeared to be new. Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez were arrested on federal criminal complaints on August 21, 2025. On September 3, 2025, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging each defendant with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; Hobbs Act Robbery, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years; and interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Mercado, Gonzalez, and Rodriguez, who are lawful permanent residents of the U.S., have been detained since their arrests. Mercado is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Hartford federal court. Gonzalez and Rodriguez were arraigned and entered not guilty pleas on September 11, 2025. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This ongoing investigation is being led by the FBI’s Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of the Manchester Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department, the New York Police Department, the Lawrence (Mass.) Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Westchester County (N.Y.) Department of Public Safety’s Real Time Crime Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone. 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Three Orange County Men Sentenced To Federal Prison For Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Ronald E. Hubbard, Jr. (38, Apopka) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison and Douglas E. Arnett, Jr. (33, Orlando) to 9 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Bradley D. Burch (35, Apopka) was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the drug conspiracy and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. All three pleaded guilty in May 2025. According to the plea agreements and court documents, throughout 2023, undercover agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of powder fentanyl, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine from Burch. For at least some of those transactions, Hubbard, Arnett, or both supplied the drugs to Burch to sell to the undercover agents. Over the course of the conspiracy, the group distributed nearly 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 350 grams of fentanyl or fentanyl analog mixtures. Additionally, during some of these transactions, Burch had a firearm nearby or in his waistband. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Apopka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. 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: Brevard County Multi-Convicted Felon Charged With Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Tyriq Quentel Coger (26, Melbourne) with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Coger faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Coger that the United States intends to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. According to court documents, on August 27, 2025, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle driven by Coger for driving with no lights on. Coger then switched seats with the front seat passenger and was observed making stealthy movements. After a backseat passenger admitted to a firearm being in the glove compartment, a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search of the glove compartment, the backseat passenger’s firearm was located along with a loaded Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device. At the time, Coger had multiple prior felony convictions, including aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a delinquent, battery by person in prison or jail facility, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. As a previously convicted felon, Coger is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rockledge Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 260 Months in Prison for Recording His Sexual Abuse of a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a man who recorded his sexual activity with a 14-year-old to 260 months in prison. Todd Kelly, now 37, of Washington, Missouri, will be on supervised release for life after he is released from prison. Kelly admitted making the recordings on his cell phone in June and July of 2023. The investigation began in August of 2023 when the victim’s father learned about the relationship and discovered Snapchat communications between Kelly and his daughter. Investigators seized Kelly’s four cellular phones and found videos that he recorded. Kelly pleaded guilty in April to one count of producing child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory sentence of at least 15 years in prison. The Warren County Sheriff’s Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianne Edwards prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Texas Man Sentenced To Ten Years In Prison For Enticing A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity And Receiving Child Sex Abuse Material

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced James Anthony Davila (21, Texas) to 10 years in federal prison for enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and receiving child sex abuse material. Davila will also be required to register as a sex offender. Davila pleaded guilty on June 6, 2025. According to court documents, Davila met a 12-year-old girl online while playing a video game. The two continued to communicate and exchanged sexually explicit photos. Davila later drove from Texas to Florida to pick up the child and engage in sexual acts with her. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Midway (Florida) Police Department and Johnson County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for International Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Nigerian national was sentenced on September 11 to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. According to court documents, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, 41, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Akhimie and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Akhimie and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Akhimie admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. “Schemes like this steal not only money but dignity from our seniors,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida (SDFL). “Our Office stands with victims, ensures their voices are heard, and will relentlessly pursue those who prey on them.” “The Justice Department will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom, for their outstanding contributions to this case.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting American consumers from being defrauded by Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division. “We have long partnered with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to deliver justice and we will continue to do so.” “Defrauding the elderly and other vulnerable populations is a betrayal of not just trust but of humanity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede for HSI Arizona. “HSI and our law enforcement partners commitment to investigate criminals who steal money sends a clear message: justice will prevail, and those who exploit others for personal gain will be held accountable. We thank all our partners who assisted in this investigation.” Akhimie is the eighth defendant sentenced to prison in connection with the scheme. District Court Judge Kathleen M. Williams previously sentenced six additional defendants in a related case. On April 25, District Court Judge Roy K. Altman sentenced Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, who was extradited from Portugal, to 97 months in prison for his role in the scheme, describing the defendant’s offense conduct as “an incredibly serious crime” and stating that it merited a substantial sentence because it was important “to stand up for the most vulnerable, for the least protected members of our society who have done absolutely nothing wrong.” USPIS and HSI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance. Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20140. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Settlement with Chicago Pharmacy for Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CHICAGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office today announced a civil settlement with a Chicago pharmacy to resolve alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act. The alleged violations by Allcare Discount Pharmacy in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood enabled the diversion of opioids from the pharmacy over an extended period. An inspection and audit by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration found that Allcare failed to keep adequate records pertaining to the receipt and disposition of various controlled substances, including hydrocodone-acetaminophen and alprazolam. The DEA determined that Allcare also failed to provide effective controls and procedures to prevent theft and diversion of controlled substances. From 2015 to 2017, two Allcare pharmacy techs conspired to steal more than 56,000 pills of hydrocodone and sell them outside the pharmacy. One of the techs concealed the theft by falsifying the pharmacy’s inventory to make it look like the pills had either not been received from the distributor or had been dispensed to patients. The techs pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and were sentenced in 2019 to prison terms of five years and one year. Under the terms of the civil settlement, Allcare will pay a $250,000 penalty to the United States. Allcare also successfully fulfilled its obligations under a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA that required the pharmacy to maintain complete and accurate records pertaining to the receipt and sale of controlled substances. The settlement is not an admission of liability by Allcare, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded. The settlement was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Shane Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division. The civil case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie R. Raedy and the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Pharmacies must take their responsibilities under the Controlled Substances Act seriously and comply with security protocols and proper oversight to prevent diversion of controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to enforce full compliance with the Controlled Substances Act and protect our communities from the dangers of opioid diversion and abuse.” allcare_discount_pharmacy_settlement_agreement_fully_executed.final_-_readable_copy.pdf


title: Blue Hill Man Pleads Guilty to Making a  False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Blue Hill man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. According to court records, on June 8, 2023, Caleb Rhine , 22, was indicted in Hancock County Superior Court on one count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. On May 5, 2024, Rhine, while still under indictment, attempted to purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Ellsworth. To make the purchase, Rhine filled out a Form 4473 required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In response to the question, “Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year . . .?,” Rhine falsely checked the box “No.” Rhine was able to successfully buy the gun a few days later based, in part, on his representations on the ATF form. Rhine faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. ATF and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Old Town Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy  in Penobscot County

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: An Old Town man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, methamphetamine and cocaine. According to court records, between January and April 2021, Alan Dziob , 44, conspired with others to distribute the drugs in the Penobscot County area and elsewhere. As part of the conspiracy, Dziob regularly supplied drugs to a local dealer to sell for him. Dziob faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. He also faces a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. ###


title: Cape Elizabeth Man Enters Civil Settlement for Alleged Misuse of Pandemic Relief Funds

body_text: PORTLAND , Maine: Christopher Hooper, of Cape Elizabeth, has agreed to pay $1,240,500 to settle allegations that he individually and through his company, Hooper Consulting, LLC, received COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) funding but misused the loan proceeds. EIDL loans were low-interest, fixed-rate, long-term loans intended to help businesses overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by providing working capital to meet operating expenses, including payroll, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses. Under the EIDL program, borrowers could use loan proceeds solely as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As alleged by the government, Hooper used the COVID relief funds to make stock trades and personal investments. He also made a series of large transfers to his personal checking and savings account. Later, Hooper submitted a hardship application to reduce his monthly repayment obligations. The government further alleged that Hooper comingled EIDL and business funds, then made a series of large expenditures including tens of thousands of dollars to a high-end interior designer, over $10,000 to a Land Rover dealer, and tens of thousands of dollars on home improvements. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. This case is a result of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained or misused pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to 10 years. ###


title: Felon Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison in Firing Pistol Near Stadium Armory Metro Station

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Christopher Forbes, 30, a previously convicted felon residing in Suitland, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 66 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Forbes pleaded guilty June 6, 2025, to being a felon in unlawul possession of a firearm. In addition to the 66-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Forbes to serve three years of supervised release. This prosecution came as part of the Make D.C. Safe Again Initiative, which surged resources to reduce violent crime in the District of Columbia. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. According to court documents, on April 5, 2025, at 5:42 a.m., officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the 1800 block of A Street SE after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire near the Stadium Armory Metro Station. On arrival, officers observed a man, later identified as Forbes, nearby on Independence Ave. SE shouting into his cellphone. Officers approached Forbes and conducted a protective pat-down. One of the officers asked Forbes if he had anything on him. Forbes admitted that he had his “dog,” meaning a firearm, on his hip. Officers recovered a Smith & Wesson SD40 .40 caliber pistol loaded with two rounds of ammunition. Shell casings found near the scene matched the firearm’s caliber. Forbes was arrested on the scene. After tracing the firearm’s serial number, law enforcement determined the gun had been reported stolen in North Carolina. A review of law enforcement databases revealed that Forbes had a prior felony robbery conviction in Prince George’s County, Maryland, in 2024, and an active extraditable warrant for failure to appear related to that case. He also had a non-extraditable warrant out of Florida stemming from a prior conviction for discharging a firearm in public. Forbes was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to his felony conviction and his prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction. In his plea agreement, Forbes admitted to firing the pistol at least four times outside the Metro Station. This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall. 25cr117


title: Additional Charges Filed for Conspirator in North Charleston Public Corruption Scheme

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a 12-count superseding indictment against Rose Emily Lorenzo, 64, of North Carolina, including one count of making a false statement to the FBI and two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation. The additional charges in the superseding indictment allege that Lorenzo knowingly made a false statement to the FBI by telling them that she was not aware of funds from two non-profits being transferred to a member of the North Charleston City Council. Further, the additional charges allege that Lorenzo knowingly falsified records and documents with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the related federal investigations. Lorenzo was initially charged with conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud, theft with respect to programs receiving federal funds, bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering in February 2021. Lorenzo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and will be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Molly H. Cherry on Sept. 25 at 10:00 a.m. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case. All charges in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and Lorenzo is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in Connection with Covid-Related Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Roosevelt Gulley III, 41, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, from July through September 2020, Gulley participated in a Covid-fraud scheme targeting the Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit program administered by the California Employment Development Department (EDD). He collected personally identifiable information, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and other information, and electronically submitted fraudulent applications for UI benefits to the California EDD in those persons’ identities. He electronically submitted at least 79 of these fraudulent applications to California EDD, which resulted in UI benefits debit cards being mailed to addresses he listed in the fraudulent applications. Gulley then retrieved the debit cards and removed money from them at various ATMs. The government alleges that the actual loss attributed to this fraudulent scheme was more than $575,000, with an intended loss exceeding $1.5 million. “Roosevelt Gulley collected the personally identifiable information of individuals without their knowledge to fraudulently collect unemployment insurance benefits intended for American workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Quentin Heiden, Special-Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “I would like to thank the Eastern District of California and the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force for their continued efforts to hold accountable those who committed pandemic-related fraud.” This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and the California EDD’s Investigation Division, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case. Gulley is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 26, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Gulley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and a mandatory additional sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. 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 effort is part of a California COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force operation, one of five interagency COVID-19 fraud strike force teams established by the U.S. Department of Justice. The California Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources in the Eastern and Central Districts of California and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces use prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.


title: Former Defense Contractor Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Espionage

body_text: John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $25,000 fine for attempted espionage. The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in April of last year to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information. “The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding protected and classified information about military technology. Instead of honoring that trust and his legal responsibilities as a clearance holder, he chose to violate both – repeatedly and willfully attempting to disclose classified information to someone he believed was a foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience at the expense of our Nation’s security, including, as here, out of spite.” “Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.” “By attempting to disclose classified information on U.S. Air Force systems to the Russian government, John Rowe endangered American lives and compromised U.S. national security,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI and our partners will use every tool available to safeguard the homeland from internal and external threats. Anyone tempted to violate their oath to safeguard classified information should understand the severe consequences — and remember the FBI will never stop until we bring you to justice.” According to court documents, Rowe was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After several security violations and concerning inquiries and statements about Russia and sensitive information, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment. In March 2020, Rowe told an undercover FBI agent, who he believed to be an agent of the Russian government, that he was not loyal to the United States and that he was interested in helping Russia. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things. Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with a person he believed to be a Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States] then I’ll go work for the other team.” In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information. Rowe was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant on Dec. 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention, Rowe again disclosed the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to relatives and an associate during recorded prison calls. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case. Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (SD) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (SD) Resident Agency.


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Darrelle Davon Boynton, also known as “D,” 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Boynton sold approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a Huntington parking lot. As part of his guilty plea, Boynton admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand. Boynton also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. Boynton admitted that he sold approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine on April 29, 2025, and approximately 8.32 grams of heroin and fentanyl on May 8, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. Boynton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. At the time of this offense, Boynton was on supervised release after pleading guilty to distribution of heroin and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on August 24, 2020. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas. 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. 3:25-cr-126. ###


title: A Single Bullet Earns Three-Time Convicted Felon More Than Eight Years in Federal Prison

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Charles Harmon Porter, 54, of Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison plus three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. As described in court documents and at sentencing, on the night of May 29, 2023, Porter—a three-time convicted felon with prior convictions for offenses including terroristic threats, possession of cocaine, and obstruction of law enforcement—used a handgun to shoot his female roommate during a domestic dispute at their residence on Alma Street in Savannah. After the shooting, Porter fled the residence and discarded the handgun at an unknown location, ensuring that it would never be found. Officers with the Savannah Police Department responded immediately to the scene of the shooting and quickly identified Porter as the perpetrator. They obtained a warrant for his arrest, located him at another residence in Savannah, and took him into custody within hours of the shooting. While Porter was being booked at the Chatham County jail, a single round of ammunition was found in his pocket. An ammunition examiner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that the round had been manufactured outside of the state of Georgia, which made Porter’s possession of the round a federal crime. Porter was indicted in federal court for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year. At Porter’s September 4 sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence proving that Porter possessed the round in connection with the shooting, which the Court agreed amounted to attempted murder. “The sentencing of Charles Harmon Porter reaffirms that this office will vigorously prosecute violent criminals who illegally possess firearms or ammunition down to the very last bullet as part of our commitment to public safety. We wish the victim the best in her continued recovery,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. "Every bullet represents a potential threat to public safety; we will continue to work diligently to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands," said Acting ASAC Robert Davis. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy P. Dean. A related state charge of aggravated assault remains pending against Porter in Chatham County Superior Court.


body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf, the Justice Department, and the FBI announced that John Murray Rowe Jr., 67, of Lead, South Dakota, was sentenced today to 126 months in prison, three years’ supervised release, and a $25,000 fine by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for attempted espionage. The defendant was charged by indictment in December 2021 and pleaded guilty in April of last year to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information. According to court documents, Rowe was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After several security violations and concerning inquiries and statements about Russia and sensitive information, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment. In March 2020, Rowe told an undercover FBI agent, who he believed to be an agent of the Russian government, that he was not loyal to the United States and that he was interested in helping Russia. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things. Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with a person he believed to be a Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job [in the United States] then I’ll go work for the other team.” In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information. Rowe was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant on December 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention, Rowe again disclosed the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to relatives and an associate during recorded prison calls. “Despite his knowledge, training, experience, and decades of work as a military contractor, Rowe chose to betray the trust placed in him by his country,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “His repeated, willful efforts to harm the U.S. by divulging sensitive defense information to an adversary are inexcusable. My office and our partners will continue to hold fully accountable anyone seeking to compromise the national security of the United States.” “The defendant spent decades working on sensitive U.S. defense programs and was entrusted with safeguarding protected and classified information about military technology. Instead of honoring that trust and his legal responsibilities as a clearance holder, he chose to violate both – repeatedly and willfully attempting to disclose classified information to someone he believed was a foreign agent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who disregard country and conscience at the expense of our Nation’s security, including, as here, out of spite.” “Mr. Rowe's actions were not only dangerous but also reckless, as he sought to provide sensitive defense information to a foreign adversary. This sentencing serves as a powerful reminder of the FBI’s mission to protect the American people,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding our nation's security and holding those who threaten it accountable.” The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe and former DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Claffee, with assistance from Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial, of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section. Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (S.D.) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (S.D.) Resident Agency.


title: Brooklyn Man Arrested for Setting Church and Residential Building on Fire

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Bryan Oviedo with setting fire to a church and a residential apartment building on August 20, 2025. Oviedo was arrested in Brooklyn on Saturday, September 13, 2025, and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Robert M. Levy. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Robert S. Tucker, Commissioner, New York City Fire Department (FDNY), announced the arrest and charge. “As alleged in the complaint, Oviedo went on a pre-dawn spree in residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn during which he set fire to multiple buildings, including a church and a residential building, while families slept inside, endangering lives and causing first responders to race to the scenes of these arsons,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute this type of violent conduct, and work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our most sacred places, including homes and places of worship.” “This arrest marks a critical step in restoring safety and peace of mind to our community,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller. “The collaborative efforts between law enforcement, fire investigators, and the public were instrumental in bringing this individual to justice. We remain committed working with our Federal and State partners to hold accountable those who threaten lives and property through acts of deliberate destruction.” “While New Yorkers were asleep in the dead of night, Bryan Oviedo allegedly put them and their neighbors in grave danger by lighting their residences and a church on fire,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Our homes and houses of worship stand as walls of safety for every community, and I am thankful for the quick response of the police officers and firefighters who put their lives at risk to contain these flames. The NYPD will continue to work with our partners in the FDNY, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure this arsonist is held fully accountable.” “Arson is a reckless crime that places innocent New Yorkers and our first responders in harm’s way,” stated FDNY Commissioner Tucker. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our Fire Marshals, the NYPD, the ATF, and the U.S Attorney’s Office, this dangerous perpetrator has been removed from the City’s streets and will be brought to justice. This arrest demonstrates the strength of our public safety partnerships and how, together, we keep New Yorkers safe every day.” As set forth in the complaint, between approximately 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. on August 20, 2025, Oviedo was captured on surveillance video carrying a trash bag, wearing a distinctive skirt, riding the G train, and walking the streets setting fires to approximately 20 buildings across the Clinton Hill and Prospect Heights neighborhoods in Brooklyn, New York. One surveillance video shows him leaning over a trash can under the columns of a church, located at 520 Clinton Avenue, and lighting the trash can on fire, causing substantial damage to the church. Another surveillance video shows a porch area of a residential building located at 870 Pacific Street erupting in flames after Oviedo approaches in his distinct garb. The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Oviedo faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Reich and Andy Palacio are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : BRYAN OVIEDO Age: 32 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-268


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeremiah Telmon-Isaiah Hand, also known as “Joey,” 29, of Inkster, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 17, 2024, Hand sold approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $180 to a confidential informant near Ritter Park in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hand admitted to conducting the transaction, to arranging it beforehand, and that co-defendant Madison Grant Sergent was with him during the transaction. Hand also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. On July 22, 2024, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hand in Huntington. Hand admitted that he was driving the vehicle, that he possessed $1,465 in proceeds from distributing methamphetamine, and that co-defendant Rakai Travall Hawkins was a passenger in the vehicle. Hand is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Hawkins, also known as “G,” 31, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on July 29, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2025. The indictment against Sergent, 26, of Huntington, remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas. This case is also 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. 3:25-cr-51. ###


title: Groveton Man Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Federal Prison for Traveling Across State Lines to Engage in Sexual Abuse of a Minor

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Groveton man was sentenced to more than 4 years in federal prison for traveling from New Hampshire to Vermont to sexually abuse a minor victim, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Brandon Couture, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 51 months imprisonment and 7 years of supervised release. On May 22, 2025, Couture pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. “This defendant’s conduct was predatory and calculated. He crossed state lines with the sole purpose of abusing a child,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This 51-month sentence underscores our commitment to protecting children from those who aim to exploit them, and it sends a clear message: If you prey on minors, we will use every tool and resource at our disposal to investigate you, prosecute you, and ensure you are held accountable.” “It’s grimly ironic that Brandon Couture, a father himself, admitted to actively planning, and traveling across state lines to sexually abuse a 15-year-old girl. This predator victimized a vulnerable minor and with today’s sentence, he’ll pay a steep price for his atrocious behavior,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Those who sexually exploit children do serious lasting harm, and the FBI is committed to finding and bringing them to justice.” On June 13, 2024, Couture was arrested after a law enforcement investigation revealed that had he traveled from New Hampshire to Vermont to engage in criminal sexual activity with a minor victim. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Northumberland Police Department and the Essex County, Vermont Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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: Repeat Felon Convicted at Trial for Illegal Gun and Drug Sales

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —LaClarence Lamarcus Anderson, 42, of Columbia, has been convicted by a federal jury following two days of trial. Anderson was found guilty on 12 counts of gun and drug trafficking offenses. Evidence introduced at trial showed that on four separate occasions over about three weeks in 2024, Anderson sold drugs and guns he was not legally allowed to possess. On the first occasion, he sold a pistol, methamphetamine, and cocaine. On the second, he sold two pistols, cocaine, and crack cocaine. On the third, he sold a pistol, a rifle, and cocaine. And on the fourth, he sold three pistols, an AR-style-rifle, methamphetamine, and cocaine. He also sold a pistol with a switch on it. Switches convert semi-automatic firearms into automatic weapons. Evidence showed Anderson used the gun sales to further his drug trafficking. Federal law prohibits Anderson from possessing firearms based on previous convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, armed robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted person, resisting arrest, and an unlawful weapons sale. Anderson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life on his four convictions for carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years on four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a maximum sentence of 20 years on four counts of drug distribution. He also faces a fine of up to $1 million and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided over the trial and will sentence Anderson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Kathleen Stoughton are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Joshua Steven Hicks, 43, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 25, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Hicks in Hurricane. Hicks admitted that he possessed a Taurus model 709 Slim 9mm pistol that was seized during the traffic stop. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hicks knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of counterfeit obligations of the United States, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on November 29, 2018. Hicks is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 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. At the time of his current offense, Hicks was on supervised release for his November 29, 2018, convictions. On September 12, 2024, Hicks was sentenced to one year in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. 3:25-cr-54. ###


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Murdering His Girlfriend’s Husband

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Keyon Slaughter, 28, of Waldorf, Maryland, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the December 2022 murder of Dana Bailey, Jr., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Slaughter pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on June 20, 2025. Slaughter was sentenced on September 12, 2025, by the Honorable Danya Dayson. In addition to the prison term, Judge Dayson ordered Slaughter to serve five years of supervised release. According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on December 5, 2022, at approximately 10:15 a.m., Slaughter entered, the victim, Dana Bailey, Jr.’s, residence in Southeast D.C. Once inside the apartment, Slaughter confronted Mr. Bailey and shot him once in the chest with a .40 caliber handgun, causing his death. Slaughter fled the apartment. At the time of the murder, Slaughter was in a relationship with the wife of Mr. Bailey, who was indicted with Slaughter and pleaded guilty to obstructing justice. At the time of the offense, Slaughter was on supervised probation for a 2019 armed robbery conspiracy conviction in Charles County, Maryland. Slaughter was arrested in July 2023 and has been detained since. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from MPD’s Homicide Branch. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles R. Jones, who prosecuted the case.


title: Denver Man Convicted On Two Counts Of Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Simon Meza, 45, of Denver, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of bank robbery. Meza previously pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in the same matter. On September 20, 2023, Meza entered the Huntington Bank at 18520 E. Green Valley Ranch Blvd in Denver and robbed the bank by demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money and fled. Eight days later, on September 28, 2023, Meza robbed the PNC Bank on West 32 nd Avenue in Denver by, again, demanding money from the teller. Meza took the money, which contained a GPS tracker, and fled. Law enforcement officers were quickly able to track the GPS device to a rented truck traveling near the bank. Denver Police officers tried to arrest Meza in the truck, but Meza led officers on a high-speed chase that ended with Meza causing a four-car accident at 44 th Avenue and Harlan Street in Wheat Ridge. Meza then fled from the vehicle and was chased and arrested by Denver Police. Officers found the stolen money and a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber firearm in the truck. Mr. Meza will be sentenced in November. United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the trial. This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Field Office, the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Dunn and Thomas Minser handled the prosecution. Case Number: 1:23-cr-00446-RMR


title: Last Defendant Of Johnson City Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 262 Months For Methamphetamine And Cocaine Conspiracy, And Money Laundering

body_text: GREENEVILLE Tenn – On September 15, 2025, Spencer Allen Bradley, 33, of Atlanta, GA, was sentenced to over 21 years by the Honorable Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his imprisonment, Bradley will be on supervised release for five years. According to the filed plea agreement, Bradley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)A), and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). According to court filed documents, in July of 2020, the Johnson City Police Department (JCPD), along with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), initiated an investigation into the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Spencer Bradley, along with his brother, Camara Antonio Bradley, 25, Shannon Sherrell Bryant, 43, Montdail Maurice Brown, 41, Rachel Hunter Bowers, 33, Timothy Robert Malone, 37, Gabrielle Z’hane Greenlee, 28, Rashad Lorenzo Harrington, 27, James Earl Williams, 61, Dustin Matthew Wells, and Thomas James Dennis, Jr., 45, all of Johnson City, Tennessee, were involved in the distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Rachel Bowers and Spencer Bradley, who lived together, were digitally transferring large amounts of money into and from shared financial accounts to pay for and receive money from the drug sales, with suspicious transactions totaling $403,455. Spencer Bradley and Hunter Bowers used a business to launder the illegal monies received in the distribution of narcotics. During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Spencer Bradley and Shannon Bryant used the residence of James Williams as a base of operations for the drug trafficking organization. Spencer Bradley and Bryant would bring or have brought into the Johnson City area large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Using cooperators and confidential informants, law enforcement made several controlled purchases of narcotics from Spencer Bradley, his brother Camara Bradley, and James Williams. The FBI, using wire intercepts on Spencer Bradley’s phone, identified Rashad Harrington, James Williams, and Gabrielle Greenlee as persons who worked for Spencer Bradley in the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine. In September of 2023, Greenlee was stopped in Loudon County, TN, and found to be in possession of 4 pounds of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Judge Greer previously sentenced the other members of the drug trafficking organization as follows: Montdail Brown received a sentence of 228 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy, as well as his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Shannon Bryan received a sentence of 170 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. Gabrielle Greenlee received a sentence of 60 months for her involvement in the drug conspiracy. Camara Bradley received a sentence of 60 months imprisonment for her involvement in the drug conspiracy. Rachel Bowers received a sentence of 36 months imprisonment for her involvement in the drug conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Timothy Malone received a sentence of 168 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. Thomas Dennis, Jr., received a sentence of 167 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. Dustin Wells received a sentence of 66 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. James Williams received a sentence of 80 months imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. Rashad Harrington received a sentence of 78 months term of imprisonment for his involvement in the drug conspiracy. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by JCPD, TBI, DEA, FBI, and HSI. This investigation was led by DEA Special Agent Cullen Conerly and TBI Special Agent and FBI Task Force Officer, Thomas Garrison. Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Special Assistant United States Attorney AnCharlene Davis represented the United States. This case is part of the Take Back America Task Force, led by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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: Belleville man admits to starting a fire at a Lebanon gas station

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Belleville man appeared in federal court to admit to an arson charge for setting a fire in a Lebanon gas station bathroom. Carlos A. Rodriguez, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of arson of real property used in interstate commerce. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026. According to court documents, Rodriguez visited the CC Food Mart in Lebanon, Illinois, on the evening of Sept. 10, 2018. In the men’s bathroom, Rodriguez set fire to a plastic air freshener mounted to the wall, exited the room and left the store. Customer’s and employees detected smoke and found an active fire in the bathroom approximately seven minutes after Rodriguez’s departure. The ATF’s Fire Research Laboratory later constructed a mock-up of the restroom and conducted multiple experiments to time and assess the spread of such a fire, thereby ruling out other customers who used the restroom that evening. The fire and necessary firefighting efforts caused approximately $6,000 in damages. Convictions for arson of real property used in interstate commerce carry a mandatory minimum of five years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, fines up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. ATF led the investigation with the assistance of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lebanon Police Department. The Lebanon Fire Department responded to the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case.


title: Lakeland Man Sentenced To Two Years’ Imprisonment For Bank Fraud

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernadez Covington has sentenced Abraham Othman Yacoub (27, Lakeland) to two years in federal prison for bank fraud. The court ordered that this term of imprisonment must run consecutively to Yacoub ’s current federal prison sentence for bringing a firearm into Tampa International Airport. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $181,540.51, the total loss to the victim financial institutions. Yacoub pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025. According to court documents, from at least January 2021 until approximately February 2023, Yacoub defrauded several financial institutions in the Tampa area. Yacoub made dozens of fraudulent deposits and withdrawals on behalf of his companies, Visionary Auto Body LLC and Visionary Auto Care LLC. Yacoub deposited the same previously deposited checks into business banking accounts that he controlled at different financial institutions, knowing that the checks had previously been deposited and paid, causing the victim banks to credit his accounts for the amounts of the checks. Yacoub then withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited to his accounts from these previously deposited checks before the financial institution realized that the check had previously been deposited. Yacoub also drafted fraudulent business checks from closed business bank accounts in the name of Visionary Auto Body and Visionary Auto Care, knowing that those accounts had been closed and, therefore, that there were no funds remaining to cover the amount of the check he had drafted. Yacoub withdrew, transferred, or otherwise spent the funds credited by the bank based on these fraudulent checks, or attempted to do so, before the financial institution realized that the account on which the check had been drafted was closed and did not contain any funds to cover the amount of the check. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.


body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Derrick Deshawn Bailey, 44, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2025, Bailey sold approximately 120 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Huntington. Bailey is scheduled to be sentenced on January 12, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-124. ###


title: Baltimore County Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More Than a Half Million Dollars in COVID-19 Cares Act Loans

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Edward McCorkle, 37, of Baltimore County, Maryland, pled guilty today, to one count of wire fraud, in connection with submitting fraudulent CARES Act loan applications. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Robert O. McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations. According to his plea agreement, beginning in May 2020, and continuing through February 2021 in the District of Maryland, McCorkle engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions — including Cross River Bank, and the SBA — to obtain fraudulent loans for various purported businesses that he previously established under the PPP and EIDL program. McCorkle ultimately fraudulently obtained $523,700 as part of this scheme while attempting to obtain a total of $946,500. He used the fraudulently obtained funds for multiple impermissible purposes, including numerous personal expenses, large cash withdrawals, and to purchase and rehabilitate real estate in Baltimore City. Specifically, on May 26, 2020, McCorkle and a co-conspirator caused the submission of a fraudulent PPP loan application to Cross River Bank for Real Transitions LLC, a purported business McCorkle controlled. The PPP loan application contained multiple material misrepresentations, including that Real Transitions LLC employed 15 workers for an average monthly payroll of $98,600. This equated to approximately $1,183,000 in total payroll expenses in 2019. In support of the loan application, McCorkle included four fabricated 2019 IRS Form 941 Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns for each quarter of the year. The documents falsely indicated that Real Transitions LLC employed 15 workers and withheld more than $100,000 in federal income taxes in 2019. But the IRS Forms 941 were not legitimate, as the information within them was false. Real Transitions did not pay any wages to or withhold federal income tax from any employees during the 2019 tax year. Based on the false representations and fraudulent submissions on behalf of McCorkle, and the PPP loan funded, Cross River Bank distributed approximately $246,500 to a Municipal Employees Credit Union (MECU) account that McCorkle controlled. McCorkle agreed to pay his co-conspirator a kickback payment for helping submit the false application and obtaining the fraudulent PPP loan. After McCorkle received the PPP loan funds, he provided his co-conspirator with a check in the amount of $49,300, exactly 20 percent of the PPP loan amount. In addition to the $49,300 kickback he paid to the co-conspirator, McCorkle also used the fraudulently obtained PPP funds for multiple impermissible purposes under the PPP. McCorkle used the fraudulently obtained PPP funds to buy and rehabilitate real estate in Baltimore City, pay credit-card expenses, and to make large withdrawals for his own benefit. On June 5, more than $98,000 was withdrawn from the account in two transactions, including a bank check payable to McCorkle for $49,100. Then on June 15, two withdrawals totaling more than $28,000 were made from the account. On June 19, a withdrawal of $14,500 was made from the account. Then McCorkle accessed the remaining loan proceeds via cash withdrawals, debit-card purchases, and other electronic payments in June, July, August, and September. By October 1, the balance sat at approximately $3,400 in the account. According to his plea agreement, McCorkle also admitted that he obtained more than $227,000 in EIDL funds for a purported business and used those funds for multiple impermissible purposes under the EIDL program. He used loan proceeds to make mortgage payments for McCorkle’s primary residence, purchases at restaurants and retail stores, and payments to relatives, associates, and co-conspirators. McCorkle faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison followed by up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett scheduled sentencing for Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Paul E. Budlow, who are prosecuting the case, and recognized Paralegal Specialists Juliette Jarman and Joanna B.N. Huber, for their valuable assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Drug Dealers from Montana Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: POCATELLO – Carson Lee Maynard, 49, of Livingston, Montana, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison, and Amy Marie Tillman, 43, of Lewistown, Montana, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. The two were sentenced for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. They were also ordered to forfeit to the government a residence in Livingston Montana because they used it to commit the offense. According to court records, in the early morning hours an Idaho State Police Trooper stopped a vehicle that Maynard and Tillman were traveling in because of a window tint violation. When police searched the vehicle, they discovered 5 pounds of methamphetamine and 3,000 fentanyl pills in a spare tire in the trunk of the vehicle. Maynard and Tillman were travelling back to Montana from New Mexico and Las Vegas after receiving large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Maynard and Tillman admitted they conspired to return to Montana where they would sell the methamphetamine and fentanyl. Maynard was previously convicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the District of Montana. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Maynard to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Tillman was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charge in May 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Idaho State Police, the Missouri River Drug Task Force-HIDTA (Montana), and the Montana Highway Patrol. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted this case. This case was handled by the U.S. Attorney Office’s specially deputized Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA), funded by the Eastern Idaho Partnership (EIP) and the State of Idaho. The EIP is a coalition of local city and county officials in eastern Idaho as well as the Idaho Department of Correction. The EIP SAUSA program allows law enforcement to utilize the federal criminal justice system – through the EIP SAUSA – to prosecute, convict, and sentence violent, armed criminals and drug traffickers. These criminals often receive stiffer penalties than they might in state courts. This program was created in January 2016. Since that time, approximately 247 defendants have been indicted by the EIP SAUSA. Of these defendants, 185 have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. The defendants indicted under the program have been sentenced to 12,090 months (approximately 1,000.58 years) in federal prison, representing an average prison sentence of 83.38 months (6.95 years). Defendants indicted for drug trafficking offenses serve, on average, approximately 69.43 months (5.78 years) in federal prison. ###


title: Two Men in Utah Facing Federal Drug Charges After Law Enforcement Seize Approximately 100,000 Fentanyl Pills

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging two Utah residents, one of which is a Honduran national who lacks legal status in the United States. The defendants are charged with a federal drug crime after approximately 100,000 individual field-tested fentanyl pills were seized by law enforcement during an executed search warrant. Elvin Isaac Vega Zuniga, 19, an undocumented Honduran national, and Andrew Estefan Valle Acosta, 19, both living in West Valley City, Utah, were charged by complaint on September 4, 2025. According to court documents, since May 2025, agents with the FBI and the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force have been investigating a drug trafficking organization. During a controlled purchase of fentanyl, agents identified a residence in West Valley City that the organization was allegedly using to distribute fentanyl. On September 2, 2025, a search warrant was obtained and executed at the West Valley City residence and agents seized approximately 100,000 individual pills, which field-tested positive for fentanyl. Additionally, Vega Zuniga is in the United States illegally and was found by ICE in 2023. He was notified at that time of his illegal status and given a “notice to appear” in his immigration case. Despite being aware of his pending removal proceedings, Vega Zuniga engaged in the trafficking of fentanyl. Vega Zuniga and Valle Acosta are charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Their initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for September 19, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force. Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, Miss – A Colorado man was sentenced September 15, 2025, to 12 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Erick Moreno, 44, was found in possession of a firearm after a traffic stop in Warren County. Moreno has a previous conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and was on federal supervised release for that conviction at the time of this possession. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal and state law from possessing a firearm. Moreno was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2024, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pled guilty on June 10, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber Jones 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Vienna man convicted for travelling to Colombia  for commercial sex with a minor

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Vienna man on Sept. 12 on charges of sex trafficking of a child and engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 1, 2024, Michael Jamie Inofuentes, 45, a U.S. citizen with residences in Virginia and Colombia, flew into Miami International Airport on a return flight from Colombia, where he was flagged for secondary inspection based on suspicious payments he made to an individual suspected of engaging in child sex trafficking in Colombia. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a border search of Inofuentes and his belongings. During inspection of his two cellphones, agents identified messages between Inofuentes and a 15-year-old Colombian girl that indicated commercial sex. The victim informed Inofuentes that she was a minor, and they discussed meeting at a hotel in Medellin for sex and negotiated a price. Several months later, the victim informed Inofuentes that she was pregnant and they discussed the possibility of Inofuentes’ paternity. Inofuentes initially denied having sex with the victim but later admitted to a sexual relationship. Inofuentes also admitted that he has children in Colombia and the mother was a minor when he impregnated her. Inofuentes was allowed to return home after the interview. Three days later, on Nov. 4, 2024, Inofuentes attempted to board a flight at Dulles International Airport to travel to Colombia. He was stopped on the jet bridge and taken to secondary inspection. He admitted that he offered the victim money for sex at a hotel. Inofuentes faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, when sentenced on Jan. 15, 2026. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the verdict. The HSI Miami Field Office provided valuable and significant assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Laura D. Withers are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-5.


title: Indiana sex offender sentenced to 24+ years’ imprisonment on child pornography solicitation charges

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced an Indiana man to 293 months in federal prison after he admitted to soliciting child sexual abuse material. Bryan K. Atkins, 40, of Richmond, Indiana, pleaded guilty to two counts of solicitation of child pornography. Following imprisonment, he will serve supervised release for the rest of his life. “Targeting children online and solicitating sexually explicit images from them will earn you a federal prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with the FBI to protect children from sexual predators and will continue to pursue high penalties for offenders.” According to documents and evidence presented in court, Atkins initiated a conversation twice with an undercover FBI agent purporting to be a 13-year-old child. During the chats, the defendant asked for sexually explicit images of the minor. The charged conduct occurred on April 3 and June 16, 2024. “The subject sought to coerce children into providing sexually explicit images, and without our agent’s proactive work in this case, the subject's activities may have gone undetected until they advanced their desires,” said FBI Springfield’s Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. S. Johnson. “FBI Springfield continues to work tirelessly to protect our children from people like the defendant, and we will continue to prove it with actions like this.” Atkins had a prior conviction for sexual misconduct with a minor in Indiana state court. The FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.


title: Plant City Drug Dealer Who Imported Glock Switches From China Convicted Of Drug Distribution, Possessing Machinegun, And Other Firearms Offenses

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Phillip Michael Valeriani (42, Plant City) guilty of possessing cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute it. Valeriani was also adjudicated guilty prior to trial for possessing a machinegun, a silencer, and a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty on all counts of 75 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 10, 2025. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Valeriani used a fictitious name to order 63 Glock Switch components from China concealed inside a toy car box, which were seized at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. A search of Valeriani’s Plant City residence revealed a machinegun, a silencer, a rifle, and dozens of firearms components. Also found inside the house were distribution quantities of marijuana and crack cocaine as well as FBI and DEA raid jackets. Testimony at trial also revealed that Valeriani was a prolific marijuana and cocaine trafficker. In February 2024, at the same Plant City residence, drug traffickers robbed Valeriani and stole distribution quantities of marijuana, $4,000 in cash, and firearms. On May 12, 2024, Valeriani flew into the Tampa International Airport from Medford, Oregon with 64 pounds of marijuana inside three suitcases. Authorities also seized 112 grams of cocaine during a prior traffic stop for which Valeriani took responsibility. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Plant City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Tampa International Airport Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David W.A. Chee and Adam W. McCall. 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.