title: Activist Short Seller Convicted for $21M Stock Market Manipulation Scheme

body_text: Yesterday a federal jury in Los Angeles convicted an activist short seller of securities fraud for a long-running market manipulation scheme reaping profits of more than $21 million. “Andrew Left used his expertise to profit at the expense of retail investors, ordinary people who owned the stocks he targeted. He callously boasted that it was like ‘taking candy from a baby,’” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Egregious schemes like this strike at the heart of free, fair and open markets, and warrant prosecution when they involve criminal manipulation. Investors should have confidence that U.S. markets are safe and free from the type of deliberate manipulation that Left engaged in to enrich himself at the expense of American investors.” “Left used his TV appearances to disguise his intentions, manipulate the stock market, and pad his pockets,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “A fair and transparent securities market is a foundation of our nation’s financial system. We will continue to bring to justice individuals who abuse the public trust placed in financial advisors.” “Andrew Left abused his position and influence when he devised a scheme known as ‘Short-and-Distort,’ to manipulate the market for personal gain,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). “Now he’s facing the consequences. Postal inspectors and our federal counterparts continue to partner to ensure spreading misleading or false material to the investing public has only one result: jail time.” “Frauds such as the one perpetrated by Left can erode investor confidence which impacts our capital markets,” said Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “While this conviction cannot make up for the significant and emotional harm he inflicted upon his unwitting investors, it does send a message to those who may be looking to profit from similar schemes – think twice because the FBI has a proven track record of rooting out fraudsters who illegally tilt the playing field against honest investors and undermine confidence in our markets.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Andrew Left, 55, of Boca Raton, Florida, was a securities analyst, trader, and frequent guest commentator on cable news channels who manipulated the price of publicly traded securities so that he could profit off of investors who trusted him. As part of his scheme, Left made false and misleading statements — in the form of online posts and public reports — concerning publicly traded companies, asserting that the market incorrectly valued a company’s stock and advocating that the current price was too high or too low. Left knowingly exploited his ability to move stock prices by targeting stocks popular with retail investors and posting recommendations on social media to manipulate the market and make fast, easy money. In anticipation of his public commentary, Left established long or short positions in the public company on which he was commenting and prepared to quickly close those positions post-publication and take profits on the short-term price movement caused by his commentary. In advance of his tweets and reports, Left would enter limit orders to trade in the opposite direction of his public recommendations. Furthermore, Left used his advance knowledge and control over the timing of a market-moving event to build his positions using inexpensive, short-dated options contracts that expired from the same day that he published his commentary to within five days. To further the scheme, Left advanced the false pretense that his investment recommendations were credible because he was independent and free from any financial conflicts of interest. Left was convicted of one count of participating in a securities fraud scheme and 12 counts of securities fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 31. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. USPIS and the FBI investigated the case. The Justice Department appreciates the substantial assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)’s Criminal Prosecution Assistance Group. Acting Assistant Chief Matthew Reilly of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benedetto L. Balding and Andrew Roach for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. Paralegals Mika Gothard, Ellen Kiernan, and Lanie Kirby provided substantial assistance.


title: Lamar County Man Faces a Max of Life in Prison for Armed Drug Distribution

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Lamar County resident set for trial this week admitted that he possessed firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking at a plea hearing Monday and is facing up to life in prison for his crime. Gregory Alexander Twymon, 35, of Barnesville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge C Ashley Royal on June 1. Twymon faces a mandatory minimum of five years up to a maximum of life in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. “Armed drug traffickers will be brought to justice in the Middle District of Georgia," said U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes. "We thank the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office and ATF for helping us hold the defendant accountable and for their ongoing work to uphold the law and make our communities safer for everyone.” “Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for the illegal possession of firearms and that ATF and our law enforcement partners will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure criminals are brought to justice,” said ATF Resident Agent in Charge Robert Davis. “This conviction reflects the hard work and dedication of our investigators, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to hold this offender accountable,” said Lamar County Sheriff Brad White. “Illegal drug activity threatens the safety and well-being of our communities, and we remain committed to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those who choose to engage in the distribution of dangerous narcotics. We hope this outcome sends a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be brought to justice.” According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Lamar County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a lawful search of Twymon’s Barnesville apartment on June 5, 2024. Officers located two safes in his bedroom, two cell phones, cash, digital scales, and marijuana. Inside the safes, officers found approximately 49 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, 25 homemade methamphetamine pills, a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, a .25 ACP pistol, a loaded extended magazine that appeared to have been made from two magazines, and ammunition. On June 6, 2024, Twymon was being transported to another jail facility when he asked to speak to a detective before leaving. Twymon told the detective that the bulk of the methamphetamine he picks up from a supplier is gone as soon as he gets home, that he only keeps what he wants of the methamphetamine, and that he took the guns from a guy and put them in his safe to keep them off the streets. A review of Twymon’s cell phones contained proof that he was actively purchasing and distributing methamphetamine, detailed his purchase of the 9mm pistol with the obliterated serial number in January 2024, and contained text messages about repairing the .25 ACP pistol after it was damaged by a cousin of Twymon’s. Twymon now admits that the firearms were in his possession for personal protection and the protection of the methamphetamine. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The ATF and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julius Jefferson and Tamara Jarrett are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Role in HSTF  Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy Case

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal prison term, today, in connection with a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme. Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to engage in a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. Additionally, Judge Maddox ordered Boateng to pay $1,247,950 in restitution, and to forfeit $431,750. Boateng, who pled guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy on February 6, 2026, admitted that nearly $1.5 million in money laundering occurred pursuant to his direct participation in the conspiracy. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud as well as the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). According to court documents, beginning in 2020, and continuing into November 2023, Boateng conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud in connection with Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the conspiracy. The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others. As part of the scheme, Boateng and his co-conspirators worked together to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts and/or cause bank accounts to be opened in the name of shell entities; and receive and launder fraud proceeds. Specifically, Boateng received money from at least seven different EIDLs and used a shell entity to obtain the illegal proceeds. Additionally, he stole the identity of another individual to open business and personal bank accounts that were used to receive fraud proceeds and engage in other financial transactions. Boateng also used a fraudulent Maryland driver’s license bearing his photo with another person’s information. Court records show that Boateng has an extensive criminal history, with more than 20 criminal convictions and more than 40 arrests. Boateng’s criminal history consisted of a wide range of conduct, including theft, fraud, drugs, and violence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland previously charged 14 defendants in connection with the money laundering conspiracy – 13 already pled guilty. Faizou Gnora, 28, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice. The District Court previously sentenced: Victor Killen, 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $7,070,656.46, and a $3 million forfeiture order Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, Maryland, to 72 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, along with restitution of $2,938,424.65, and a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33, to 40 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $5,648,816.23 Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, and restitution of $8,306,930.95 Martin Ogisi, 37, of Severn, Maryland, to 33 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $11,077,044.17 Kevin Colon, 34, of Curtis Bay, Maryland, to 27 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and restitution of $2,515,159.63 Areal Harris, 27, of Hanover, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $3,159,482.83 Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Washington, DC, to 24 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $1,473,125.58 Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $733,941.48 On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. This prosecution is alsopart of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes praised the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi, Harry M. Gruber, and Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Medina Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison  For Manufacturing and Selling Drugs Out of His Home

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

body_text: AKRON, Ohio – A 29-year-old Medina County man who was possessing controlled substances and manufacturing illegal drugs out of his home, which he intended to distribute throughout Summit and Medina Counties, has been sentenced to prison. Andrew Meyers, of Medina, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison after pleading guilty to: Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior conviction in the state of Wyoming for Conspiracy to Manufacture, Possess, or Deliver Marijuana in 2019 Possession with Intent to Distribute 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Possession with Intent to Distribute Ketamine Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana Engaging in Money Laundering Transactions in Property Derived from Unlawful Activity He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and forfeit a property. U.S. District Court Judge Christopher A. Boyko imposed the sentence May 28. According to court documents and evidence presented before the judge, investigations into suspected drug trafficking activity in Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties led federal agents to identify the defendant. In August 2024, during a search warrant execution of Meyers’ residence on Saxon Avenue in Akron, agents discovered a laboratory, packaging materials, digital scales, a drug press, and a money counter. Agents also seized 882.1 grams of MDMA and 363 grams of Ketamine. Other substances found, which are used for the manufacture of THC products, included 2,010.1 grams of Tetrahydrocannabinol, and 900.4 grams of delta-9-Tretrahydrocannabinol. Law enforcement also discovered a Glock 19, semiautomatic firearm and ammunition in his bedroom. Additional items seized throughout the investigation include a BMW motorcycle, a Suzuki dirt bike, a motorhome, and more than $15,000 in cash. Investigators also found that Meyers was attempting to hide the profits from his drug activities through the purchase and improvement of two properties in Akron. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Akron Resident Agency. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Worden man pleads guilty to drug charges

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS – A Worden man who regularly sold methamphetamine out of his rural Yellowstone County home admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. The defendant, John Paul Schmieding, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Schmieding faces five to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine, four years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Schmieding will receive a date for his sentencing at a future appearance; he was released back to supervision pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that an investigation by local and federal law enforcement into bank fraud and stolen guns led officials to a meth trafficking operation run by Schmieding. On Aug. 6, 2025, Billings police officers arrested a man suspected of trying to cash fraudulent checks at a local bank. A search of his vehicle turned up more fraudulent documents and a stolen handgun. From jail, in an effort to raise bond money, the man directed his girlfriend to sell off stolen guns and other items to Schmieding, who had been identified by the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Taskforce as someone with a history of trafficking meth in the Billings area. Using a warrant, investigators began tracking the vehicles and cell phones used by the girlfriend and another woman, which led officers to the Billings home of Schmieding’s father and Schmieding’s residence in Worden. The two women later told investigators they had regularly purchased meth from Schmieding. On Sept. 17, 2025, investigators served a search warrant on both locations, where they discovered a “large cache of stolen firearms” in the Billings home and meth and drug paraphernalia in Schmieding’s Worden residence. Specifically in Worden, officers discovered in the sink a torn vacuum pack plastic bag filled with water and containing meth residue. Agents cut the P-trap out of the sink and collected the water inside, which also tested positive for meth. They also discovered glass pipes with meth residue, a digital scale and cash. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich is prosecuting the case. The Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Taskforce conducted the investigation.


title: FBI seeks information in case involving drug and firearms charges

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking the public to provide information for an investigation into a Kansas man facing drug trafficking and weapons violations. On May 27, 2026, a federal grand jury in Topeka returned a superseding indictment charging Danny Ray Stano, Jr, 44, of Topeka with two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In March 2021, Stano allegedly conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine. In 2023 and in 2025, Stano is accused of possessing numerous firearms after having been convicted of a previous felony. Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to call the Shawnee County Crime Stoppers Anonymous tipline at 785-234-0007 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. People can also report a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov/home . The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Topeka Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an agovllegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Trey Allan King (32, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. King pleaded guilty on January 31, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, during the summer of 2024, King was a member of a drug trafficking conspiracy that sold marijuana and methamphetamine at different trap house locations in Jacksonville. Between July 18 and August 14, 2024, a confidential source bought approximately 1,055 grams of methamphetamine from members of the drug trafficking organization. On August 7, 2024, King himself sold the confidential source approximately 238 grams of actual methamphetamine in exchange for $1,500. The investigation further revealed that King regularly sold and delivered drugs on behalf of the organization, including from a mobile camper. This case was investigated by The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel Lasry and Kelli A. Swaney. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Deltona Man Sentenced to Life for Coercing and Enticing an Autistic Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

body_text: Orlando, Florida – James Bernard Grover (63, Deltona) was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza to life in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. A federal jury found Grover guilty on February 27, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Grover was the founder and executive director of the Special Needs Advocacy Program, a nonprofit organization for the special needs community based in Sanford. Through his work, Grover met an autistic minor, provided the minor with counseling and therapy, and coerced and enticed the minor to engage in sexual activity. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sanford Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane S. Hu. 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: Gallup Man Charged for 2024 Assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man is facing federal charges for an assault that allegedly occurred in 2024. According to court documents, on November 9, 2024, Russell Lee Saunders, Sr. , 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted and seriously injured John Doe. Saunders is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in third party custody pending trial which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Saunders faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced in D.C. to 81 Months for His Role in Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Michael Augment, 38, of Lorton, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 81 months in prison in connection with conspiring to distribute fentanyl in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Augment repeatedly sold fentanyl in quantities large enough to kill hundreds of people, flooding a city already ravaged by an opioid crisis with one of the most lethal drugs on the market,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This sentence reflects the grave danger he posed to our community and our determination to hold fentanyl traffickers accountable.” Augment pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026, before Judge Timothy Kelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kelly ordered Augment to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested an 87-month prison term. According to court papers, between April 2024 and October 2024, Augment conspired with others to distribute fentanyl in Washington, D.C. During that period, he sold fentanyl to a law enforcement agent on multiple occasions. Those sales included about 157 grams for $4,000 and 278 grams for $8,750. In July 2024, Virginia State Police stopped Augment's vehicle after he left a co-conspirator's apartment in the District. Officers recovered fentanyl and about $12,473 in cash, along with a ledger containing money orders totaling about $32,478. A subsequent search of Augment's home turned up about $27,000 in cash, a heat sealer, and a handgun case. Augment admitted responsibility for between 400 grams and 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl. The investigation was conducted by the DEA Washington Division with valuable assistance provided by Virginia State Police. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Mohanty and Solomon Eppel. 24cr456 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Former Shelton Resident Pleads Guilty to Fraud Offense Stemming from Computer Intrusion Scheme

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 BILLIE CONLEY JR., 46, formerly of Shelton, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a fraud offense stemming from a computer intrusion scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, Conley owned and operated Ridgefield Tech, LLC, through which he offered information technology consulting services. In approximately September 2023, the owner (“Individual-A”) of a funeral services business (“Company-A”) hired Conley to assist her with setting up a computer network and video surveillance system for Company-A. When Conley installed Company-A’s computer network, he also installed, without authorization, software that permitted him to remotely access the network. Shortly after Conley installed the computer network, Company-A began experiencing a variety of service issues that required Individual-A to contract with Conley to resolve for a fee. Conley offered Individual-A an “IT Service Agreement” that would allow Ridgefield Tech to provide computer services to Company-A on a monthly basis beginning in February 2024 in lieu of a “pay per service call” type of service, but Individual-A declined the service contract. Between January and September 2024, Conley remotely disabled Company-A’s computer network on 21 separate days, which resulted in Company-A being unable to conduct business on those days. In August 2024, Individual-A hired another company (“Company-B”) to resolve Company-A’s computer network issues. Company-B was unable to regain control over much of the network infrastructure that Conley had installed, and Individual-A paid Company-B for labor and replacement equipment to recover the computer network. The investigation also revealed that, between June and August 2024, Conley unlawfully used Company-A’s bank account to make approximately $9,070 in payments to companies he and Ridgefield Tech owed money. Conley pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He also has agreed to pay restitution. Conley has been detained in state custody on unrelated charges since December 2, 2024. A sentencing date is not scheduled. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.


title: United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros Issues Rare Special Report Regarding Federal Grand Jury Appearances

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today issued a rare Special Report confirming what he has already stated publicly in response to intense press interest and inquiries: He has never appeared before any grand jury hearing or deliberating evidence on any matter since becoming U.S. Attorney on April 7, 2025. As addressed in the Special Report, U.S. Attorney Boutros’s only appearances in the federal grand juries of the Northern District of Illinois were to welcome grand jurors when first impaneled, and thereafter, his only other appearances were in his official capacity as the Chief Legal Advisor to federal grand juries where he addressed generally the role, function, and importance of the grand jury in our constitutional system of government and laws. In the latter context, U.S. Attorney Boutros appeared only after informing the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, who supervises all federal grand juries in the District, that he would be doing so. Then, his appearances as Chief Legal Advisor to the grand juries consisted of him providing brief general comments about the important role of the grand jury under the U.S. Constitution, and the need for grand jurors to be fair and impartial. His comments coincided with the reading of a letter from the Chief Judge to the various grand juries; U.S. Attorney Boutros has not seen, read, or heard the contents of the Chief Judge’s letter. As a condition to issuing today’s Special Report, U.S. Attorney Boutros obtained court-ordered authorization for the release of grand jury materials and minutes. Today’s Special Report is being made available to the public in the public interest as well as the interest of justice in light of wide-ranging speculation about U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros’s appearance in what some have dubbed the “Broadview 6” grand jury, which is the panel of grand jurors from the Special June 2024 Grand Jury hearing evidence on that specific matter. That speculation was created on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in open court, when counsel for the one of the defendants in United States v. Rabbitt, et al. , 25 CR 693 (Perry, J.) stated in relevant part in open court before going into closed session that: “We have a belief that the U.S. Attorney had personal contact with this grand jury. We have not been provided with that transcript. I believe there’s an update on that. If that did occur, we would like that as well.” Rabbitt, et al. , Transcript, 05/26/2026, p. 22, lns. 13-16. The Special Report conclusively shows that a transcription error by the court reporter transcribing the audio recording of the grand jury minutes from October 23, 2025, inadvertently and mistakenly stated “USA (inaudible),” instead of “AUSA Bond,” with the latter being a reference to Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Bond, the Chief of the Office’s Narcotics Section, who had appeared before the same grand jury on a different, unrelated matter on October 9, 2025. Thus, the grand jury minutes from October 23, 2025, reflect a classic case of mistaken identity, namely, that “USA (inaudible)” appeared before that grand jury on a matter when in fact, Chief of Narcotics Aaron Bond appeared before the same grand jury on a different matter on October 9, 2025. Steps are being taken to attempt to correct the relevant minutes. The full Special Report can be read here . # # # # Note: The Special Report consists of grand jury materials that would otherwise be subject to grand jury secrecy pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e), including highly secretive grand jury “minutes,” which are those portions of a grand jury session where an Assistant U.S. Attorney speaks to grand jurors about the law or sometimes the application of the law to the facts, without a witness present. Prior to publishing these materials in the Special Report, U.S. Attorney Boutros obtained court-ordered authorization from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. special_report.pdf


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Time Served For Reentry of Removed Alien Offense

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Bernardo Chagala-Cosme, 34 years old, of a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to felony Reentry of Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Chagala-Cosme was sentenced to time served. According to documents in the case, Chagala-Cosme is not a citizen of the United States. He was previously removed from the United States in September 2013, but he quickly reentered the United States. He was removed again in October 2013, and again in April 2015. Police found Chagala-Cosme in LaPorte in January 2026 after they responded to the scene of a car crash. Police followed a trail of leaking fluid, which led directly to the house where Chagala-Cosme was living. He had 0.5 grams of cocaine in his pocket, and his blood alcohol content tested at 0.35. Police discovered he was in the country illegally when they booked and fingerprinted him. “The Defendant was a drunk illegal alien with cocaine in his pocket and found at the end of fluid trail after a car crash. He has been removed after two previous violations of our nation’s borders, and does not seem to think the rules apply to him. He clearly does not respect our nation’s laws or its sovereignty,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the LaPorte Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.


title: Illegal Alien from Honduras Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced for Federal Immigration Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Pablo Dominguez, also known as “Pablo Dominguez Dominguez,” 40, a Honduran national living illegally in Nitro, pleaded guilty today to reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served. Dominguez will be subject to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer for his transfer to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 16, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant in Nitro and encountered Dominguez working there. ICE agents confirmed that Dominguez is a citizen of Honduras in the United States illegally and that he had previously been deported from the United States on August 25, 2017, after he was found in Dunbar, West Virginia, on July 18, 2017. Dominguez had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States. Dominguez never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States for either of the prior removals, nor did he seek to reenter the United States through other legal means. Dominguez is among six illegal aliens indicted following the execution of the January 16, 2026, search warrant, each on charges alleging they were working at the restaurant without legal status. Four of the other defendants pleaded guilty to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents and were sentenced to time served with ICE immigration detainers pending. Restaurant owner Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., 65, and his son, manager Miguel Angel Aguirre, 43, both of Nitro, were indicted on charges alleging each harbored aliens, while aiding and abetting each other, and aided and abetted fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. The indictments against Miguel Aguirre-Arello Sr., Miguel Angel Aguirre, and the remaining illegal alien defendant are 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. These cases are the result of Operation Country Roads . The operation was conducted by ICE with state and local law enforcement partners. According to ICE , the January 2026 immigration enforcement operation yielded over 650 arrests throughout West Virginia. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Nitro Police Department, and the St. Albans Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing and imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-13. ###


title: Feds charge foreign nationals working at the National Institutes of Health with smuggling monkeypox into the United States and lying about it

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe, both researchers with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory were charged today in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to smuggle monkeypox into the United States and giving false statements to federal law enforcement, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Office, Marty Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). According to the criminal complaint, Vincent Munster, a citizen of the Netherlands, 53, is the Chief of the Virus Ecology Section, Laboratory of Virology at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in Hamilton, Montana. Claude Kwe, a citizen of Cameroon, 38, is a research fellow in Munster’s section. The work of both men is focused on “emerging viral pathogens” and how those pathogens “cross the species barrier.” They work at a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory, which employs the highest level of biosafety precautions for scientific research of known and potential human pathogens. On January 25, 2026, Munster and Kwe arrived at the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport with travel originating from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, where an outbreak of monkeypox was occurring. Monkeypox is an infectious virus that can result in painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fevers and other ailments. Munster and Kwe were inspected and interviewed by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials upon their arrival. CBP officers observed Kwe and Munster traveling with a large black plastic case. Munster and Kwe falsely told CBP officers that the black case contained diagnostics and testing equipment. But subsequent investigation by CBP and FBI agents revealed that the case actually contained 113 vials in Styrofoam coolers. As of the date of the complaint, the FBI has tested 20 of the 113 vials. Seventeen of them contained deactivated monkeypox virus, one contained the Chickenpox virus, and two contained only human DNA. “These NIH experts apparently broke our laws by smuggling viral pathogens on a packed commercial airplane from an outbreak in the Republic of Congo. Let that sink in,” United States Attorney Gorgon stated. “No researchers should believe their positions, credentials, or professional status place them above the law,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The allegations in this case are serious. They involve the dangerous and unlawful smuggling of deactivated Mpox virus into the United States and alleged efforts to mislead our federal agents. I am grateful for the outstanding and diligent work of the FBI Detroit JTTF, FBI Billings’ Missoula Resident Agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection team at Detroit Metro Airport, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – OIG, for keeping our communities safe.” “The arrest of these individuals on serious federal charges sends a clear and unmistakable message that no one—including HHS employees who have an obligation to safeguard our federal programs—is above the law. Any deliberate effort to conceal and smuggle biological materials into the United States without proper authorization is a breach of the public’s trust and could have placed the public at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure that anyone who is entrusted with protecting the health and well-being of the public is held fully accountable.” “We have zero tolerance for anyone who attempts to exploit our research frameworks, circumvent our border enforcement processes, or deceive investigators,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we will remain fiercely vigilant in neutralizing biological threats—or otherwise— and continue to hold accountable those who jeopardize the safety and security of the American people.” Munster and Kwe face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The investigation is being conducted by the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Detroit and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It will be the government’s burden to prove guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Auburn, Washington, man sentenced to more than four years in prison for racially motivated attack on Metro bus passenger

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 25-year-old Auburn, Washington, man was sentenced today for a federal hate crime for violently assaulting and stabbing a Black female passenger because of her race, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Adan Hernandez-Mayoral was sentenced to 54 months in prison for an incident in which he used a dangerous weapon, a knife, to cause bodily injury to the Victim and he did so because of her race. “The facts of what happened on that bus are despicable,” said U.S. District Judge James L. Robart. “It was a prolonged intentional assault on a Black woman…. We need to protect the public from this defendant.” “Racially motivated attacks such as this one shock the conscience of our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This office will join with our state and local partners to ensure these crimes are investigated and those who commit them will be held accountable. Such hate has no place here.” “Today, we have delivered justice with the sentencing of Adan Hernandez-Mayoral for his brutal, racially motivated attack on the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Assaults like these destroy our communities by breeding fear and distrust of public places and facilities. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute such cases to restore safety and confidence in our cities’ streets and transit systems.” According to court documents, Adan C. Hernandez-Mayoral boarded a King County Metro bus on March 7, 2024, and immediately began making racist comments about Black people. Hernandez-Mayoral started antagonizing the Victim, a Black woman, and yelled, “I don’t like Black people, f***in’ hate ’em.” The defendant continued to yell racist remarks at the Victim referring to the woman as “Rosa Parks” and telling her to move to the back of the bus. When the woman attempted to move away from him, Hernandez-Mayoral followed her, while hiding a knife behind his back. When the bus doors opened at a stop, Hernandez-Mayoral grabbed the woman, pushing her off the bus and into a fence. He immediately began beating her all over her body and, after she fell to the ground, stomping on her. He then used the knife to repeatedly and violently stab the woman, whose thick coat spared her from suffering serious injuries from Hernandez-Mayoral’s attack. Hernandez-Mayoral fled the scene but was located and arrested by officers from the Kent Police Department later that evening. “This was a horrific and deeply disturbing racially motivated assault that targeted an innocent member of our community because of the color of her skin. I am pleased to have reached this conviction on her behalf. Hate-fueled violence has no place in Kent,” said Chief Rafael Padilla of the Kent Police Department. “I want to commend the Kent Police Officers and Detectives whose swift response, thorough investigation, and unwavering commitment to justice led to the arrest of the offender and laid the foundation for this successful prosecution. Their professionalism and dedication ensured that this case received the attention and resources it deserved. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the FBI, Seattle Office, the King County Prosecutor’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office, for their outstanding partnership throughout this case. This outcome reinforces the importance of strong partnerships between local and federal law enforcement in our shared mission of to protect our communities and hold violent offenders accountable.” “The victim in this case was minding her own business on a familiar public transit route when a stranger made offensive comments about her race, threw her off the stopped bus, and then brutally assaulted her with a knife,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Together with our partners such as the Kent Police Department, the FBI will hold accountable those like Mr. Hernandez-Mayoral who engage in violent hate crimes.” On December 23, 2025, Hernandez-Mayoral pleaded guilty to Hate Crime Causing Bodily Injury, admitting that he used a dangerous weapon, a knife, to cause bodily injury to the Victim and he did so because of her race and color. Restitution to the victim will be determined at a later date. The case was investigated by the Kent Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Manca for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, with valuable assistance from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.


title: New Jersey Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl on the Dark Net

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison last Friday for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. Mark T. Eager, 34, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. “This defendant showed a blatant disregard for human life by trafficking fentanyl across the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “My office will continue to pursue those who profit from poisoning our communities, and we will use every available resource and partnership to combat fentanyl trafficking and keep Oregonians safe.” “This investigation brought together law enforcement agencies from across the nation,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Homeland Security Investigations special agents from Portland, Newark, and Houston contributed to the case, along with the Portland Police Bureau and HIDTA HIT officers, who were instrumental in identifying Eager. His 11-year sentence sends a clear message: no matter where you are in the country or the world, if you attempt to sell narcotics online to Americans, we will find you.” “Fentanyl trafficking poses a grave threat to communities across the United States, and Homeland Security Investigations is committed to working with our partners to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks responsible,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. “This case demonstrates the power of interagency collaboration under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, leveraging resources from across the country to hold traffickers accountable and protect the American people. We will continue to pursue those who endanger lives through the distribution of dangerous synthetic opioids, and we remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard our communities from the violence and instability caused by transnational criminal organizations.” “By following this offender’s digital trail, Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners nationwide executed federal search warrants, dismantled an active dark web fentanyl packaging operation and recovered deadly amounts of fentanyl, thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency, and a trove of electronic devices and packaging materials,” said HSI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas. “This case is a powerful example of how coordinated, data-driven investigations can disrupt dangerous networks and help protect our communities from lethal synthetic opioids.” According to court documents, from November 2023 through June 2024, Eager and his co-conspirator sold fentanyl on the Dark Net and Telegram. Eager operated as the vendor WRSEH10 and marketed the fentanyl as “China White Synthetic Heroin.” In June 2024, HSI agents executed search warrants on two residences associated with Eager in Kearny, New Jersey, and seized over 360 grams of powdered fentanyl, counterfeit M30 pills, drug ledgers, cellular phones, two computers, and drug packaging consistent with three deliveries that were sent to Oregon. On September 4, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Eager with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl. On February 4, 2026, Eager pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. HSI Portland and HSI Houston investigated this case with assistance from HSI Newark, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey assisted the U.S. Attorney’s in Oregon in obtaining the search warrants that were executed in Kearny. The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.


title: Final Defendant Sentenced to Prison in Multimillion Dollar Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

body_text: A fourth family member was sentenced to 90 months in prison on May 28 following a jury trial that resulted in convictions of four men for a multimillion-dollar tax refund fraud scheme. Brandon Hunt was sentenced to 90 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme to file false tax returns in the names of purported trusts. Brandon Hunt’s father David Hunt, his twin brother Baylon Hunt, and his half-brother Corey Burt were previously sentenced to 92 months, 38 months, and 94 months in prison, respectively. According to statements made in court and evidence presented at trial, the Hunts, of Arlington, Texas, and Burt, formerly of Long Beach, Mississippi, executed a scheme to file false claims for tax refunds in the names of trusts they controlled. In total, they sought more than $8.5 million in tax refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Brandon Hunt also filed multiple false returns in his own name that sought tax refunds he was not entitled to receive. As part of their scheme, the family members also submitted additional fake documents to the IRS including falsified financial instruments and altered money orders. Even after receiving warning letters to discontinue their fraudulent submissions, they continued filing false returns and other documents with the IRS. As a result of the scheme, the co-conspirators received over $1.7 million in fraudulent proceeds from the IRS, which they shared and used to purchase luxury goods, furniture, cryptocurrency, a Cadillac Escalade and a house in Mississippi. All four defendants were convicted at trial of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Brandon Hunt, David Hunt, and Corey Burt were also convicted of multiple counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Baylon Hunt was acquitted of two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Brandon Hunt was ordered to pay $1,774,864 in restitution to the United States. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service rendered valuable assistance in apprehending Brandon, Baylon and David Hunt after they failed to appear for the second day of trial. Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McDonald of the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Illegal Alien, Co-Leader of nationwide drug trafficking ring, who plotted to kill Centralia, Washington Police Officer, sentenced to 15 years in prison

body_text: Seattle –A 35-year-old Mexican national who was illegally residing in California was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 15 years in prison for her leadership role of a massive drug distribution ring, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Iris Adrianna Amador-Garcia of Bellflower, California, arranged for the distribution of pound quantities of methamphetamine, hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills and large quantities of heroin. She also laundered drug proceeds, possessed firearms, and distributed drugs as far away as New York, southeastern states, and Fiji. After one large load of drugs was seized during a traffic stop, Amador-Garcia hatched a plan to locate and kill the Centralia police officer who made the stop. In ordering the 15-year sentence, U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour said, “Threats against law enforcement is a line in the sand that is completely unacceptable.” “This criminal organization was well-organized, well-sourced, and well-connected. This defendant was prepared to take drastic measures to protect what she had built. She and her criminal associates were intercepted openly discussing killing an officer after a large shipment of drugs was seized,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Floyd. “I am grateful for the diligent work of law enforcement to keep that officer safe, and to take these dangerous traffickers off the street and shut down their pipeline of devastating narcotics.” “This sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs into our communities, and those who threaten violence against law enforcement, will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Amador-Garcia led a far-reaching criminal organization that distributed dangerous narcotics across the country while sourcing drugs from Mexico and seeking to retaliate against an officer who disrupted the operation. Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, we are working every day to disrupt the fentanyl supply chain, reduce the availability of these deadly drugs, and save American lives.” According to records filed in the case, law enforcement identified the leaders of the drug trafficking ring as early as February 2020. Indictments were returned in the fall of 2021. The drug ring, headed by Amador-Garcia and Jose Alfredo Maldonado-Ramirez, distributed drugs widely: in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized 9 pounds of methamphetamine in a traffic stop on May 16, 2020. Another 30 pounds of meth were seized in a stop on April 2, 2021, and 57 pounds of methamphetamine and 20,000 fentanyl pills were seized in a traffic stop on September 28, 2021. Additionally, on August 17, 2021, law enforcement seized 19 pounds of methamphetamine that conspirators attempted to mail to Fiji. During a search of the residence where Iris Amador-Garcia was living with her brother and two co-conspirators, agents seized a kilogram of fentanyl, 80,000 fentanyl pills, and 2 firearms. Eight additional firearms were seized at other search locations in Washington and California. In asking for a 15-year sentence for Amador-Garcia, prosecutors noted that she was an equal leader of the ring along with Maldonado-Ramirez. “The nation-wide reach of this Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), led by Iris AMADOR-GARCIA and MALDONADO-RAMIREZ, sets it apart from most organizations prosecuted in this District. This DTO distributed dangerous drugs to all corners of the United States…. they distributed to several large redistributors in Washington, as well as others in the northeast (New York and Massachusetts), the southeast (Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, and Arkansas), and the Midwest (Illinois and Ohio). In addition, the DTO even expanded to distributing drugs internationally to Fiji. The majority of drugs they were selling, both in Washington and elsewhere, were coming from Iris AMADOR-GARCIA’s family in Mexico.” “Ms. Amador-Garcia and her organization distributed incredibly large amounts of deadly drugs to all corners of the country. Not only did she deal drugs, she also inflicted violence on our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carrie Nordyke, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Seattle Field Office. “IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to making our streets safer as we continue to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations like Ms. Amador-Garcia’s.” This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Seattle Field Division (SFD) Tacoma Resident Office (TRO) and Bremerton Police Department (BPD), with assistance from Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement (TNET); the Seattle, Puyallup, Auburn, Federal Way, Kent, Bonney Lake, Tacoma, and Lakewood Police Departments; the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office; Washington State Department of Corrections; Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET): Centralia and Chehalis Police Departments; Valley Narcotics Enforcement Team (VNET); and Washington State Patrol; Thurston Narcotics Team (TNT), Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, and Mason County Sheriff’s Office; United States Postal Inspections Service (USPIS), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) with support from Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas ( HIDTA).


title: Two Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Ship Methamphetamine and Fentanyl from California to Florida

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Clarence Black, Jr. (50, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to 20 years and 6 months years in federal prison for drug trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl while being on federal supervised release. Judge Chappell also sentenced Jarrek Fabrion Myrick (40, Fort Myers) to 15 years and 6 months in federal prison for drug trafficking conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. Black pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025, and Myrick pleaded guilty on January 27, 2026. According to court documents, between January 25, 2025, and February 4, 2025, Black and Myrick traveled to California and shipped methamphetamine and fentanyl to the Tampa and Southwest Florida areas. The drug-laden parcels were intercepted. The total quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl was approximately over 90 pounds. Black was on supervised release for a prior federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine at the time he committed the offenses. Myrick had a prior conviction for second-degree murder. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Tampa Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Sacramento Man Charged with Bringing Explosive Material into Sacramento International Airport

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A criminal complaint was filed today charging Kimani Osayande Jones, aka Kimani Osayande Jackson, 49, of Sacramento, with unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, at about 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Jones attempted to go through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at the Sacramento International Airport and board a flight. He was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves on his hands. In his carry-on bag, Jones had an M-type explosive device and a torch lighter capable of lighting the explosive, as well as a knife, scissors and scissor blades, an aerosol can, and zip ties. Jones also have five cellphones, one of which had a 15-minute timer ready to start, and another had a message from an unidentified number on the screen that stated, “we will be awaiting your call.” Jones was arrested, and the explosive device was safely removed by Sacramento County Sheriff Bomb Technicians and an FBI Special Agent Bomb Technician. The explosive device was subsequently examined and tested, and the powder and fuse were determined to be viable and energetic. The explosive device had the potential to cause injury and, if the explosive device had detonated next to a window on a pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet, it had the potential to damage the aircraft and cause a possible loss of cabin pressure. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Jones faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: 5-9 Brims Gang Member Pleads Guilty in Connection With August 17, 2025 Shooting in Crown Heights

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Timothy Spence pleaded guilty to assault in-aid-of racketeering and a firearms crime related to his involvement in the August 17, 2025 shooting at Taste of the City Lounge in Brooklyn, New York, during which thirteen individuals were shot and three died. Spence, a member of the 5-9 Brims gang, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with assault in-aid-of racketeering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1959(a)(3), and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Orelia E. Merchant. When sentenced, Spence faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea. “As part of a gang dispute, Spence and others opened fire in the middle of a crowded bar, leaving three people dead and ten other injured victims,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “As today’s guilty plea demonstrates, our Office is committed to prosecuting all gang-related gun violence and holding accountable those who perpetuate it.” “The defendant and other members of the 5-9 Brims turned a crowded Brooklyn bar into a war zone when they opened fire on rival gang members, killing three people and injuring 10 others,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Today’s guilty plea reflects the NYPD’s relentless pursuit of the violent gang members who wreak havoc in our communities and claim lives. Thank you to the tireless work of our NYPD investigators and our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for holding these dangerous criminals accountable." Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force and the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution. As set forth in court filings, in the early morning hours of August 17, 2025, Spence was at Taste of the City Lounge, a restaurant and hookah bar in Brooklyn, New York, with members and associates of the 5-9 Brims. Also present at the lounge were individuals associated with the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples (or “GD”), a rival of the 5-9 Brims. At approximately 3:00 a.m., members of the 5-9 Brims began shooting at associates of GD, who returned fire. Spence, who was armed when the shooting began, shot towards a group of individuals affiliated with GD. Within approximately six seconds, over 40 shots were discharged into the crowded bar, killing three and injuring ten. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Rehnquist, Daniel J. Marcus and Molly N. Delaney are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : TIMOTHY SPENCE Age: 21 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 26-CR-140 (OEM) 2026.05.05_u.s._v._spence_information_18_usc_1959a3_924c.pdf


title: Lancaster County Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Pandemic Broadband Assistance Program of More Than $741,000

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Krandon Wenger, 25, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. to two counts of wire fraud, arising from a pandemic program fraud scheme in which he defrauded the government of more than $741,000. The defendant was charged by information last month; with today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs. As detailed in court filings and statements, the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”) was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and provided financial support to eligible, low-income households, so those households could continue to receive broadband services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ACP authorized a monthly reimbursement of $30 per household, or $75 for households on tribal lands, to be paid to a household’s broadband access provider. In March of 2022, the defendant, who owned and controlled a company called K20 Wireless, LLC (“K20 Wireless”), submitted an application for K20 Wireless to become an ACP broadband provider. After K20 Wireless’s application was approved in April 2022, the company began to enroll subscribers and submitted monthly certifications for ACP reimbursements. Most of K20 Wireless’s reimbursement requests were for subscribers who purportedly lived on tribal lands and, therefore, received the higher reimbursements of $75 per month. However, these tribal ACP claims were false. In reality, the defendant had caused employees and agents of K20 Wireless to change the residential addresses of K20 Wireless ACP subscribers from non-tribal lands to tribal lands, before submitting the claims. Because K20 Wireless was entitled to receive only $30 per month for these subscriber households, not $75, the defendant’s fraud scheme caused the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) to overpay K20 Wireless by approximately $741,726. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28 and faces a maximum possible term of 20 years in prison on each wire fraud count. This case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis A. Weber.


title: Baltimore Men Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Roles in Deadly Carjacking

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Two Baltimore men received federal-prison terms for their roles in multiple carjackings, including one that resulted in a murder. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Jerritt Barron, 24, to 40 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and Jeremy Matheny, 27, to 24 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for an attempted carjacking that resulted in death. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentences with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to court documents, in June 2022, Barron and Matheny conspired with co-conspirators Nefertiti Moore, 23, and Antonio Purisima, 25, also from Baltimore, to commit several armed carjackings. Purisima, who is also charged with carjacking resulting in death, engaged in a carjacking scheme with multiple co-conspirators. On June 15, Barron, Matheny, and Purisima, followed a victim from Maryland Live! Casino, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, to her Glen Burnie residence. After the victim parked near her home, two co-conspirators approached her, as they brandished handguns, and demanded money and her car keys. The two masked suspects then drove away in the victim’s car which was recovered less than one hour later in Baltimore. Then on June 19, Barron, Matheny, and Purisima, along with Moore, who rode in a black pick-up truck, attempted to carjack a vehicle near an Interstate 95 ramp in Baltimore. Moore exited the truck and flagged down the victim. Then the co-conspirators blocked the victim’s vehicle with their car from entering the ramp to I-95. Barron and Purisima thereafter exited their vehicle and approached the victim. A co-conspirator then shot the victim who later died from the injuries. The co-conspirators fled the scene. Historical cell site data placed Matheny, Moore, and Purisima at or near the scene of the murder. As part of the investigation, law enforcement extracted latent fingerprints from the Glen Burnie victim’s carjacked vehicle that matched Matheny and Purisima. Additionally, historical cell-site data placed Matheny and Purisima at Maryland Live! Casino and at the scene of the carjacking. When law enforcement arrested Matheny on June 22, they confiscated a cellphone in Matheny’s possession. After searching the phone, law enforcement uncovered photos of Barron, Matheny, and Purisima posing with firearms while at Maryland Live! Casino. The casino’s video surveillance shows the co-conspirators entering a vehicle and then following the victim as she drove her car. Purisima pled guilty on April 15, and his sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, at 2 p.m. He is facing a maximum of life in federal prison for carjacking resulting in death. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr. who is prosecuting this federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Romanian National to be Sentenced for Participation in Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Romanian national who participated in a large-scale fraud scheme that used fake business websites to steal more than $1.8 million from consumers across the country is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on June 4, 2026, at 9:40 a.m. in Las Cruces. In his plea agreement, Claudiu Pesteleu , 44, a Romanian national illegally present in the United States, admitted that from May 2023 through June 2024, he participated in a nationwide fraud scheme that used fake websites impersonating legitimate businesses to trick victims into wiring money for various consumer products, including cars and equipment. Victims believed they were making legitimate purchases, but the funds were instead directed to bank accounts associated with shell companies created using fake passports and other fraudulent identity documents. Pesteleu , whose role in the scheme was to help conceal the fraudulently obtained money, obtained fake identity documents and used them to establish sham businesses. He then opened bank accounts for these shell companies using the fraudulent documents. These shell companies and aliases included Zammer Equipment LLC (Matthias Zammer), Super Exotic Deals LLC (Samuel Der Saar), Premier E. Liquidators LLC (Fred Laport), Adler Pre Owned LLC (Boris Adler), Bittman Motors LLC (Fritz Bittman), Nikkos Cargo LLC (Nikos Adonis), and Becker Automotive LLC (Karl Becker). Pesteleu also used the alias Thomas Muller. Consumers were directed to wire funds to accounts associated with these entities, believing they were purchasing legitimate goods. In total, approximately $1.8 million in fraudulently obtained funds was wired by victims to bank accounts controlled by Pesteleu . Pesteleu then conducted numerous financial transactions with the money to conceal the source of the funds and hinder law enforcement efforts to identify the scheme and seize the proceeds. At the June 4 hearing, the parties are expected to present a revised plea agreement that stipulates a sentence of 30 to 39 months of imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Robert C. Brack will determine whether to accept the agreement and sentence Pesteleu in accordance with its terms. If you believe you were a victim of Pesteleu , please contact the Homeland Security Investigations tip line at 866-347-2423. If you would like to attend the sentencing hearing, please contact Victim Specialist Jacquie Gutierrez at (575) 522-2304 before the hearing date for more information. Homeland Security Investigations Deming investigated this case with assistance from the Gainesville, Florida Police Department. Las Cruces Criminal Chief Richard Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Gardner are prosecuting the case.


title: Nurse Practitioner Convicted for Illegal Distribution of Controlled Substances

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A federal jury in the Middle District of Tennessee convicted a Tennessee woman yesterday for illegally distributing controlled substances. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Heather Marks, 43, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner who was licensed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to distribute controlled substances. Marks prescribed controlled substances to patients seeking pain treatment at Lifeforce Pain and Wellness (Lifeforce), a pain clinic located in Carthage, Tennessee. Lifeforce was a small, rural clinic that purported to provide pain treatment. From September 2016 through May 2018, Marks and others overprescribed highly addictive opioids, including oxycodone and oxymorphone, to Lifeforce patients. Marks herself prescribed nearly a million opioid pills to almost 1,000 Lifeforce patients over the course of the conspiracy. These patients were often addicted to illegal drugs and the opioids Marks and others prescribed to them at Lifeforce. Marks ignored obvious signs of Lifeforce patients taking illegal drugs at the time she prescribed them opioids, which put these patients in danger of overdosing. Marks further prescribed opioids to Lifeforce patients who she knew were likely selling the opioids on the street. Lifeforce patients would often travel hundreds of miles to obtain opioid prescriptions at Lifeforce because they knew Marks would prescribe the opioids they needed to either abuse or sell on the street. Lifeforce, the pain clinic in Carthage, Tennessee, where Marks illegally prescribed controlled substances. The jury convicted Marks of conspiracy to illegally distribute controlled substances and eight counts of illegally distributing controlled substances. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 1, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge Terrence G. Reilly of the FBI; Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Chris Ramage of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement. FBI, HHS-OIG, and TBI investigated the case. Assistant Chief Jim Hayes and Trial Attorneys Lauren Randell and Manu Sebastian of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs . The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 234 Months for Fentanyl Analogue Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracies

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man and one of the leaders of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues was sentenced today to 234 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. “Today’s sentence sends an important reminder: those who profit from trafficking deadly drugs and laundering the proceeds of their crimes will be held accountable. For years, Padovano helped lead an organization responsible for distributing massive quantities of fentanyl analogues and other dangerous controlled substances in New Jersey. This sentence—nearly twenty years in prison—reflects the devastating harm caused by that conduct and our Office’s unwavering commitment to dismantling the organizations that fuel the illegal drug trade.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “Mr. Padovano led a drug trafficking organization that imported and distributed massive amounts of dangerous opioids in New Jersey, and then he laundered the profits,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva. “These illegal narcotics destroy families and wreak havoc in the community. The Criminal Division will actively pursue offenders who distribute such poison in our neighborhoods.” “Padovano is behind bars for his direct role in unleashing the deadly scourge of fentanyl across America,” said HSI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas. “This decisive outcome underscores HSI Newark’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and our relentless pursuit of justice alongside our law enforcement partners.” Defendant Thomas Padovano, 52, of Newark, New Jersey previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to drug trafficking conspiracy and concealment money laundering conspiracy. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. A co-defendant, William Panzera, was previously convicted by a jury and sentenced to 144 months in prison. Seven other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From approximately January 2014 through September 2020, Thomas Padovano and other members of the drug trafficking organization agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methylone, and ketamine. Members of the conspiracy placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. They also sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using wire transfers and Bitcoin to pay for the drugs. Padovano, who was one of the two leaders of the conspiracy, additionally engaged in financial transactions aimed at concealing the origin and true ownership of more than $300,000 in drug proceeds. In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Padovano to 5 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Frazer and Assistant Attorney General A. Duva made the announcement. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with the investigation. He also thanked HSI in Philadelphia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Stephen Sola, Chief of the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture (MNF) Section. Financial Investigator Kathryn Montemorra of MNF supported the investigation. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Newark comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS and local law enforcement officers with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. ### Defense counsel: Michael Baldassare, Esq. for defendant Thomas Padovano; Christopher D. Adams, Esq. for defendant Bartholomew Padovano. padovanoetal.supersedingindictment.pdf


title: Justice Department Statement on Lighthiser Case in Montana

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court’s ruling to dismiss the case Lighthiser et al. v. Donald J. Trump et al. , a case where plaintiffs sought to challenge President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders to unleash American energy , declare a national energy emergency , and to reinvigorate America’s clean coal industry . “The appellate court unanimously affirmed what the district court said months ago — the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring this suit because they did not establish that the Executive Orders caused any injury or that any injury could be redressed by the courts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Working with our partner agencies, ENRD is on the front lines of advancing the President’s energy directives, using America’s abundant natural resources to our benefit including by having clean and healthy air and water.”


title: Former Staff Member Charged With Smuggling Contraband Into Juvenile Detention Center In Exchange For Bribes

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Nadia I. Shihata, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging JOSHUA SMITH with conspiracy to commit bribery. SMITH was arrested today and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. “For years, the defendant allegedly engaged in a scheme to smuggle contraband into a juvenile detention facility in the Bronx in exchange for cash bribes,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Rehabilitation of juvenile offenders is a challenge. It is only made more difficult when corrupt staff members supply contraband. This callous and hypocritical disregard for the rehabilitation mission calls for swift justice, including a message of deterrence.” “Joshua Smith allegedly exploited his position of employment by the Administration of Children’s Services to traffic contraband through the Horizon Juvenile Center,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners continue to apprehend those who undermine the law to enrich themselves while putting the youth community at risk.” “The duty of this City Youth Development Specialist at Horizon Juvenile Center was to safeguard the young people in his care,” said DOI Commissioner Nadia I. Shihata. “Instead, he allegedly used his access to traffic marijuana, pills, and other contraband to the young residents in exchange for thousands of dollars in bribes, according to the criminal complaint. Let me be clear, any City employee who misuses their position, exploits those in their care, or undercuts safety will be called to account. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the New York Field Office of the FBI for their continued commitment and partnership in exposing wrongdoing that endangers juveniles and corrupts New York City.” As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: SMITH was employed by the Administration for Children’s Services (“ACS”) as a “youth development specialist” at Horizon Juvenile Center (“Horizon”) in the Bronx, New York. Horizon is a secure detention facility (also known as a juvenile detention facility) for youth who are alleged or adjudicated juvenile delinquents, juvenile offenders, or adolescent offenders, and have been remanded to secure detention. From at least in or about April 2023 through at least in or about July 2025, SMITH received money in exchange for smuggling contraband into Horizon. As part of this course of conduct, SMITH met associates of Horizon residents in the Bronx, among other places, received contraband—including, but not limited to, marijuana, tobacco, and pills—from those associates, and then transported such contraband into Horizon and delivered it to Horizon residents. On at least some of these occasions, the Horizon residents or their associates provided SMITH with monetary bribes in exchange for SMITH agreeing to introduce contraband into Horizon. * * * SMITH, 34, of Yonkers, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and DOI. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Phillips and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution. The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.