title: Three Indicted for Conspiracy to Violate Asbestos-Related Laws at Barry County Long-Term Care Facility

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The former administrator, maintenance contractor, and company owner of a Monett, Mo., skilled nursing facility were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to impede the EPA, a related state agency, and OHSA, and violate the Clean Air Act regarding the removal of asbestos-containing materials. Juan Carlos Aguilar Gomez, 45, a citizen of Honduras, residing in Lawrence, N.Y., who was previously charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 1, 2025, with one count of violating the Clean Air Act, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency. Rebecca Massey, 46, of Granby, Mo., was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency. Goldner Capital Management, LLC (GCM), a limited liability company located in the state of New York, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, and six counts of violating the Clean Air Act. “The Department of Justice, working in partnership with the EPA, will seek to hold accountable those who violate environmental laws, as evidenced by the charges returned today,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Conspiring to violate our nation’s environmental laws to prevent exposure to the lethal dangers of asbestos is a betrayal of trust that puts the most defenseless members of our society at risk. By neglecting proper asbestos inspections and precautions, the defendants have not only violated laws but endangered the health of over 150 residents and staff,” said Cate Holston, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Missouri. According to today’s indictment, in Dec. 2018, Gomez’s company was contracted to do maintenance and renovation work at nursing homes within GCM’s investment portfolio, including a long-term care facility in Monett, Mo. The services in their signed agreement included planning and overseeing all construction, alteration, maintenance, and repair projects at the facilities. The facility provided senior and other assisted-living care to at least 67 residents and was staffed by approximately 80 employees between 2018 and 2021 and was owned and operated as part of an investment portfolio owned by GCM, which funded all capital improvements to facilities owned by the parent company. As early as July 2020 GCM agents and employees, including Massey, began plans to renovate the facility, including plans to remove the existing linoleum flooring and replace it with new flooring. This flooring contained at least 6-12% chrysotile asbestos, was in poor condition and crumbled easily, making the tile a regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) under EPA guidelines. The removal of RACM requires special handling and disposal precautions and procedures. GCM, Massey, and Gomez were advised during the bidding process by other construction contractors and maintenance employees that the floor needed to be tested for the presence of asbestos and that an asbestos certified contractor needed to remove any flooring containing asbestos. Despite receiving at least one bid from a reputable contracting company, which advised that the floors likely contained asbestos, no testing or asbestos abatement was conducted at the facility. Instead, GCM agents and employees engaged Gomez to conduct the proposed renovations. Neither Gomez, nor any of his employees were qualified asbestos abatement contractors, workers, or supervisors. Renovations began around Oct. 2020 and continued through Jan. 2021. During renovations, Gomez and his employees used an electrical/mechanical floor stripper, other scrapers, chippers, and other abrading or grinding machinery to remove the tile flooring. This process generated visible emissions throughout the facility’s hallways, dining areas, and residents’ rooms. Additionally, Gomez and his employees posted no signs regarding potential asbestos exposure, erected no containment, used no water to mitigate visible emissions, had no decontamination units constructed, did not use negative air machines, and disposed of RACM waste in an unlined, unsealed dumpster that was sent to a landfill not authorized to accept RACM. Massey, knowing that no asbestos analysis/inspection had occurred and that one was needed, permitted the work to continue even though as the Administrator she was empowered, and obligated, under law to shut down any operations that posed a health or safety hazard to the facility’s residents. On Jan. 20, 2021, officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) inspected the facility and obtained a bulk floor sample from the hallway. MDNR conveyed to Massey that they were concerned that the materials contained RACM and that, if they did, the owners of the facility would need to evacuate the residents. Gomez told MDNR inspectors that he had no knowledge of the presence of asbestos or permitting requirements prior to their inspection, both of which were false statements. The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2021, Massey falsely told OSHA inspectors that she was unaware of the renovation project involving the flooring prior to Gomez and his workers beginning work in Dec. 2020. She also claimed that she knew nothing about asbestos until MDNR arrived at the facility. Both were false statements. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark, who was significantly assisted by former Environmental Crimes Section Senior Litigation Counsel Todd W. Gleason. It was investigated by the EPA – Criminal Investigations Division and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.


title: Leader of Transnational Terrorist Group Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Soliciting Hate Crimes and Murder, and for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove — leader of the transnational terror group called the Terrorgram Collective — was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 years in prison and a lifetime period of supervised release for soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. “From the comfort of her suburban California home, Humber used online platforms to celebrate violence and solicit attacks that took the lives of innocent people and injured others around the world. Her incarceration makes the world a safer place,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “The Department of Justice has shown that it can and will find these criminals even in the darkest corners of the Internet.” “Today’s 30-year sentence sends an unmistakable message: if you plot acts of terror or use extremist networks to incite violence, you will be found, prosecuted, and incarcerated for decades,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case demonstrates that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will disrupt these threats and will pursue the maximum penalties the law provides.” “Humber actively encouraged violence against, and the murder of, individuals based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity,” U.S. Attorney Grant stated. “Our office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners and with other Department of Justice components to stop these hate-fueled crimes and to ensure the safety of all people and public officials.” “With today’s sentencing, Dallas Humber will pay the price for encouraging racially motivated violence, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the murder of federal officials,” said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Humber led the Terrorgram Collective which inspired and guided individuals to commit violent acts around the world. Keeping our communities safe is a top priority of the FBI. Let there be no doubt, we will remain steadfast in identifying and holding accountable those who commit or encourage terrorism and other heinous acts.” “Dallas Humber led the Terrorgram Collective as they conspired to murder federal officials and solicited individuals to commit hate crimes across the globe,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Through close collaboration with our domestic and international partners, we dismantled a dangerous network intent on inciting violence to advance its extremist ideology. Her 30-year sentence serves as a clear message that those who conspire to commit murder and solicit acts of terror in our communities will face justice.” According to court documents, between July 2022 and September 2024, Humber served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. To achieve their ends, she and other members of the Terrorgram Collective solicited individuals to commit hate crimes, terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure, and assassinations. They provided technical, inspirational, and operational guidance to equip those individuals to plan, prepare for, and successfully carry out those attacks. Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey, plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee, plotting to murder two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official, and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting 11 people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskişehir, Turkey. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.


title: Hammond Woman Sentenced for Laundering Drug Trafficking Proceeds

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson announced that LARIJERIA MARTIN , (“MARTIN”), age 34, of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced by the U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry to five years of probation on December 9, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h). According to the court documents, beginning at a time unknown and continuing to on or about December 13, 2023, in both the Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, MARTIN conspired with and assisted her boyfriend, Dequarius Hamler, by taking the cash proceeds of Hamler’s drug trafficking sales and depositing this cash in various banks around the Hammond area. MARTIN was fully aware this cash was drug money yet still deposited the money to disguise it as legitimate business profits. MARTIN helped Hamler launder at least $615,650.00 of drug trafficking proceeds. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Two Trinidadian Men Indicted for Violating Federal Transnational Drug Trafficking Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on September 19, 2025, DAVEANAN DEONARINE a/k/a “Dave,” (“ DEONARINE”) age 49, and MICHAEL SAMSONDAR a/k/a “Don,” a/k/a “Captain,” a/k/a “Fisherman,” (“SAMSONDAR”) age 48, both of Trinidad and Tobago, were charged in a recently unsealed two-count indictment for international cocaine distribution conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 959(a), 959(d), 960(a)(3), 960(b)(1)(B), and 963 and international cocaine distribution, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 959(a), 959(d), 960(a)(3), and 960(b)(1)(B). During a bilateral investigation, agents arrested both DEONARINE and SAMSONDAR stemming from a 2023 Drug Enforcement Administration investigation that yielded the seizure of approximately 168 kilograms of cocaine that was intended for distribution in the United States. If convicted, DEONARINE and SAMSONDAR each face a minimum term of ten years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000.00, and at least five (5) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment as to each charged count of, international cocaine distribution conspiracy, and international cocaine distribution. As to each charged count, DEONARINE and SAMSONDAR , individually, also face payment of a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Country Office, the Transnational Organized Crime Unit, the Strategic Services Agency, and the Special Investigative Unit of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn E. Schiffman and André Jones of the Narcotics Unit. * * *


title: Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 264 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Maurice Williams, 30 years old, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Williams was sentenced to 264 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, police in LaPorte County attempted to pull Williams over on the highway before he led police on a high-speed pursuit covering 13 miles until he crossed the Michigan border. Williams later drove back across the border into Indiana and crashed his car into the back of a semi-trailer. He ran away from the crash site but was caught. Police searched his car and found a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine, 52 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and 190 grams of methamphetamine. Williams’s criminal history included a felony drug trafficking conviction, which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. “While wanted on a warrant from a different state, Maurice Williams transported a full menu of harmful drugs—methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine—into the Northern District of Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “He then endangered the lives of numerous citizens on the highway while leading law enforcement on a multi-state high-speed chase that ended in a crash. The lengthy sentence imposed today makes clear that such disregard for the law and the safety of our community will not be tolerated. We should all thank the state, local, and federal partners who have brought this case to a just conclusion.” This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Gabrielse and Acting Criminal Division Chief Joseph P. Falvey. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by Felon

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JARRETT HALL (“HALL”), age 33, of New Orleans, was sentenced on December 17, 2025, by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, on December 8, 2023, following a traffic stop by the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office, HALL was found in possession of a .45 caliber Colt Commander handgun, after having previously been convicted of a felony. Judge Milazzo sentenced HALL to 60 months imprisonment, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Billings woman sentenced to 10 years in prison on methamphetamine and fentanyl charges

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings woman who distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Tori Lee Hutzenbieler, 46, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in May 2023, law enforcements officers learned from a source of information that Tori Hutzenbieler was selling drugs in the Billings area. The source said Hutzenbieler concealed drugs in a trap compartment inside her Toyota Camry. Law enforcement learned through electronic surveillance that Hutzenbieler, using the Camry, frequented a storage unit at odd hours and then drove around town making several stops. A search warrant was executed on Hutzenbieler’s residence where fentanyl pills were located under her mattress and $3,919 in cash was found in the bedroom. Four vehicles at Hutzenbieler’s residence were also searched and a trap compartment was located inside the Camry. Law enforcement searched a Buick used by Hutzenbieler and located and seized a bag of methamphetamine and several fentanyl pills from the trunk. Additionally, law enforcement executed a search of Hutzenbieler’s storage unit where methamphetamine and fentanyl pills were located inside a red cooler. Hutzenbieler’s cell phone had several text messages related to drug transactions and a photograph of her holding a plastic bag containing a large amount of methamphetamine. In total, Hutzenbieler was found in possession of 393.5 grams of methamphetamine and 1,007 fentanyl pills. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Patten prosecuted the case. The DEA and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Oregon Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud and Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—An Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison today for embezzling more than $250,000 from her employer and evading over $50,000 in federal taxes. Notja Michelle Brower, 53, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $310,106 in restitution to her victims. According to court documents, in July 2018, Victim Business 1 (VB1) hired Brower as a bookkeeper and office manager. Within one month of her hire, Ms. Brower began defrauding VB1 by issuing herself unauthorized company checks and pocketing thousands of dollars in cash payments. She then altered VB1’s business records to conceal her thefts as business expenses and payroll draws. Brower also fraudulently opened a credit card in the personal name of a VB1 owner and used that card to purchase over $20,000 in travel, casino, restaurant, and exotic car rental expenses. Brower then made payments to that credit card using VB1’s business checking account. Also, for tax years 2018 and 2019, Brower willfully failed to report the embezzled funds as income, resulting in over $250,000 in unreported income and a total tax due and owing of $57,705. On April 4, 2024, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a twelve-count indictment charging Brower with bank fraud, wire fraud, unauthorized use of an access device, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion. On March 10, 2025, Brower pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of tax evasion. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and Medford Police Department. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty December 16, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Cori Benson, 36, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea hearing, Benson admitted that from August 2024 through October 2024, she and others conspired to distribute at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. In October 2024, law enforcement stopped a vehicle Benson was driving and found over ½ pound of pure methamphetamine in Benson’s purse, and two firearms in the vehicle. Benson admitted that she and another transported about one kilogram of methamphetamine from Des Moines, Iowa, to Pierre, South Dakota, for distribution. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Benson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Benson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4080. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Kauai Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr., 52, of Kauai, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to a total of 210 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony. Abergas has been detained since his initial arrest in this case on April 10, 2024. According to court records, Abergas was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine on Kauai. In total, Abergas was held responsible for over 23 pounds of methamphetamine. Abergas is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, nine of whom have pled guilty with the remaining awaiting trial. The overall investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash. Abergas is the second defendant in a nine-defendant indictment to be sentenced. On December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 30, 2025, in one of the related cases charged by separate indictment, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.


title: South Dayton man pleads guilty to receipt of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Joseph A. Buelow, 31, of South Dayton, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2024, the West Seneca Police Department seized Buelow’s phone, based on communications he was having online. A search of the phone recovered six images of child pornography that were saved on the phone and received by Buelow between August 2022, and November 2023. Some of the images depicted prepubescent minors and violence against children. In addition, Buelow admits that he engaged in the sexual abuse, exploitation, or attempted sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor on two or more occasions. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Cosgrove and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger. Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Jamestown man pleads guilty to possession of methamphetamine

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andre Richards, 26, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $10,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey Jacovetti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Richards in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties in NY, and in Warren, PA. During the investigation, Richards was charged with several New York State felonies involving the possession and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl as well as criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Despite these pending felony charges, Richards continued to operate a significant drug trafficking organization. Richards utilized a North Main Street residence in Russell, PA, as well as a residence on South Work Street in Falconer, NY. In March 2023, after investigators conducted surveillance of Richards driving around Jamestown, NY, and observed him engaging in activity consistent with narcotics dealing, including a brief meeting with an individual that involved a hand-to-hand exchange, search warrants were executed on his vehicle and the residence in Falconer, NY. During the searches, law enforcement seized approximately 84 grams of crystal methamphetamine, approximately $6,600.00 of United States currency, a digital scale, a drug processing press, a 9mm magazine, and bullets. During a search of the Russell, PA, residence, law enforcement seized approximately 20 lbs. of crystal methamphetamine. The plea is the result of a joint investigation by the Jamestown Police Department Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone, the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric butler, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Warren County, PA, Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Brian Zeybel. Sentencing is scheduled for May 4, 2026, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Medina man going to prison for possession of child pornography

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kyle Stack, 40, of Medina, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, was sentenced to serve 84 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in July 2020, Stack possessed a cellular phone, which contained more than 4,000 images and videos of child pornography. The child pornography included prepubescent minors less than 12-years-old and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Stack possessed a laptop, which contained more than 9,000 images and videos of child pornography. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. # # # #


title: Rochester woman going to prison for robbing a postal carrier

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shyasia Kelis McCullough, 25, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of robbery of a postal worker, was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci. Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that in June 2023, McCullough, co-defendant Malik Shameer McCray and others, robbed a United States letter carrier to obtain a postal key on Lake Avenue in Rochester. McCray committed the robbery while McCullough and others waited nearby in a getaway car. McCullough sent McCray a text message encouraging him to do the robbery, “U gotta scare him and make sure he don't see u again bro jus get up on him when he least expected ... It 100,000 on the line take a deep breath and jus go for it ... He not stronger then you.” After the robbery, McCray fled to the getaway car and he and McCullough fled the area. Malik Shameer McCray was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Boston Division Acting Inspector-in-Charge Nicholas J. Bucciarelli, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Gates Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Long.


title: Jamestown man sentenced for selling heroin/fentanyl that led to overdose death and seriously bodily injury

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Brandow, 37, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin and fentanyl, was sentenced to time served (approximately 39 months) by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that between July 2020, and June 2021, Brandow conspired with others to sell heroin and fentanyl. Brandow utilized Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking activities including arranging deals with customers, associates, co-conspirators, and suppliers. On July 31, 2020, Brandow sold heroin and fentanyl which resulted in the death of an individual identified as K.T. and resulted in seriously bodily injury to an individual identified as B.F. The sentencing is result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division. # # # #


title: Former Subcontractor Supporting U.S. Army in Afghanistan Agrees to Forfeit Nearly $3.5 Million

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with FedSys, Inc. to resolve the Government’s lawsuit alleging the subcontractor committed fraud in its recruitment and training of linguists to translate languages native to Afghanistan. Pursuant to the settlement, FedSys agreed to forfeit $3,469,882.50 to the United States. In September 2007, Mission Essential Personnel, LLC was awarded a prime contract by the United States Army for translation and linguistic services to support military operations in Afghanistan. In December 2008, Mission Essential subcontracted with FedSys to recruit and train linguists in support of the prime contract. On Aug. 23, 2024, the United States filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia claiming that actions of FedSys, its chief executive officer, and its director of recruiting under the FedSys subcontract violated the False Claims Act ( United States v. FedSys, Inc ., et al., Civ. A. No. 24-2450). Specifically, the Government alleged that FedSys personnel created fictitious linguist candidates that did not meet the minimum language proficiency standards in Dari, Pashto, or English, and then engaged a third party to impersonate the candidate during the initial translation proficiency testing. The alleged goal of the scheme was to create candidates who would pass the initial proficiency test so that FedSys managers and recruiters could collect recruitment fees and bonuses through the subcontract. In all, fourteen FedSys recruiters, forty-three candidates, and two FedSys managing officials were identified as part of the fraudulent scheme. Five individuals later pled guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. “Properly trained linguists in a combat zone are vital to military operations, significantly reducing risks and safeguarding the lives of our Soldiers,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith Kelly, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fraud Field Office. “This settlement underscores the importance of businesses contracted by the U.S. Army honoring their commitments; no amount of money can ever justify putting a Soldier's life at risk.” “The professionals of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, along with our partner agencies, are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of U.S. defense procurement processes,” said Stanley A. Newell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Transnational Operations Field Office for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “Those who enrich themselves through fraud and deception at the expense of American taxpayers will be vigorously investigated and brought to justice.” The Government’s lawsuit further alleged that internal warnings of improper recruiting activity were effectively ignored by FedSys senior management until Mission Essential raised questions about the number of candidates who failed subsequent proficiency testing even though those candidates were presented as having passed the initial proficiency testing. The subcontract between Mission Essential and FedSys was terminated during the summer of 2012 and funds being processed by Mission Essential under the subcontract to pay FedSys were withheld. Pursuant to the settlement, those funds held by Mission Essential are forfeited by FedSys and will be paid to the United States. The civil settlement was completed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Tepe, based on the efforts of former AUSA Darrell Valdez and Auditor Timothy C. Hurley. The United States Attorney further wishes to commend the special agents of Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Army Criminal Investigation Division for their important assistance. The claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm With Obliterated Serial Number

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Caleb Colton Beauvais, age 31, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, punishable by a term of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The Indictment alleged that on May 9, 2025, Beauvais knowingly and unlawfully possessed a revolver from which the manufacturer’s serial number had been removed, obliterated, or altered, and Beauvais knew that the serial number had been removed, obliterated, or altered. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Beauvais will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.


title: Honolulu Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Tax and Mail Fraud and Ordered to Pay Over $1.6 Million in Restitution

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Hannah Heart, 67, of Honolulu, was sentenced today in federal court by Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to defraud the IRS by fraudulently obtaining a tax refund and then thwarting efforts to recoup it and for mail fraud against her mortgage lender. On May 22, 2025, Heart pled guilty to one count of attempting to defraud the IRS and one count of attempting to defraud her mortgage lender using the mails. According to court documents and statements made in court, Heart conspired with others to file a false 2014 individual income tax return in her name. As part of the conspiracy, Heart’s co-conspirators created a fake tax form purportedly issued by a mortgage lender to Heart, which Heart attached to her return. The form falsely reported that Heart had received income from a financial institution of more than $2.4 million, from which over $1.2 million in taxes had been withheld. The inclusion of this false income and withholding information on Heart’s 2014 filed tax return resulted in the IRS issuing Heart a fraudulent refund of $471,949.23. After filing the false tax return and submitting the fake tax form, Heart took steps to try and ensure that the IRS could not recover the fraudulently obtained refund. For example, Heart deposited the refund check into a bank account she had opened in the name of a trust and immediately transferred most of the balance to a separate bank account. She also sent numerous false, fraudulent, and frivolous letters to the IRS in response to IRS efforts to recover the fraudulently obtained tax refund. Following the receipt of her own refund, Heart assisted another co-conspirator, Sook Young Jung, in participating in the same scheme. Heart and Jung together deposited a second fraudulently obtained refund check from the IRS, payable to Jung, in the amount of $1,147,036.31. In total, Heart caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,618,985.54. Court documents and statements made in court also reveal that Heart attempted to defraud her mortgage lender. Heart took out a mortgage for her home but stopped making payments toward her mortgage. Heart’s mortgage lender then initiated foreclosure proceedings against her. In response, a co-conspirator of Heart’s sent the lender a false and fictitious document purporting to be a check for the full outstanding amount of Heart’s mortgage. The lender initially accepted the check but later rejected it as fraudulent. Afterward, Heart sent mail to the lender demanding that it accept the fraudulent check as full payment of her remaining balance. In pleading guilty, Heart admitted that she intended to defraud the mortgage lender of $2,066,522.22. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Seabright ordered $1,618,985.54 in restitution. Judge Seabright noted that a term of incarceration was called for because deterrence is particularly important in tax cases. IRS Criminal Investigation, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates of the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorneys Sarah Kiewlicz and Megan Jones of the Criminal Division, Tax Section prosecuted the case.


title: Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Paul Jeremiah Buckner, 37, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 7, 2024, a law enforcement officer in Glade Creek conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Buckner was a passenger. The officer found that Buckner possessed a Taurus TPC .380-caliber pistol during the traffic stop. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. As part of his guilty plea, Buckner admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possession the firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on January 14, 2014. Buckner is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24,2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, at up three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Park Service. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-58. ###


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry Charge

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Cesar Odilo Contreras-Lopez, 27, a Guatemalan national residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 days in federal prison for re-entry of an illegal alien after a prior removal. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to his guilty plea, Contreras-Lopez was illegally in the United States. Contreras-Lopez was previously removed from the U.S. following proceedings before an immigration judge. As part of his removal, Contreras-Lopez was advised that he is permanently excluded from re-entering the U.S. Following his removal, Contreras-Lopez voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the U.S. without inspection or permission. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for re-admission. According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Contreras-Lopez initially unlawfully entered the U.S. at a place other than a designated point of entry on an unknown date and at an unknown location. On November 5, 2016, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore assisted the Prince George’s County Police Department with a search warrant. Law enforcement encountered Contreras-Lopez during the search and determined that heentered the U.S. unlawfully. Additionally, Contreras-Lopez confirmed his Guatemalan nationality and his association with La Mara Salvatrucha, commonly referred to as MS-13. On January 9, 2017, an immigration judge ordered Contreras-Lopez’s removal which occurred on February 2. Then on July 10, USBP encountered Contreras-Lopez again, this time near Carrizo Springs, Texas. He pled guilty and received a 25-day sentence. Following the sentence, Contreras-Lopez was removed from the U.S. back to Guatemala. Then on an unknown date and at an unknown location, Contreras-Lopez unlawfully re-entered the U.S. again. On September 14, 2023, ERO Baltimore found Contreras-Lopez leaving a Hyattsville, Maryland residence. Law enforcement arrested Contreras-Lopez without incident, and he was removed to Guatemala on November 2. But Contreras-Lopez then unlawfully re-entered the U.S. again on an unknown date at an unknown location. In October 2025, USMS and ERO San Antonio officers teamed up on an enforcement operation in Washington, DC in connection with a joint-crime initiative. On October 13, USMS located Contreras-Lopez driving a vehicle. Law enforcement stopped the car, but Contreras-Lopez attempted to flee on foot before authorities apprehend him. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darren Gardner and William Moomau who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: RST-Sanexas, Inc. and Its Owners Agree to Pay $1.5 Million to Resolve Allegations That They Caused False Claims and Accepted and Paid Illegal Kickbacks

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that RST-Sanexas, Inc. (Sanexas), a Las Vegas, Nevada-based manufacturer and marketer of electric stimulation devices, and its principal owners, Richard Sorgnard, Lisa Sorgnard, and Morhea Sorgnard (“the Settling Defendants”), along with certain related entities, have jointly agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”), 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729-3733, by causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for electrical muscle stimulation, vitamin injections, and other related services that were not medically reasonable or necessary and for services that were tainted by impermissible kickbacks. The settlement amount is based on the Settling Defendants’ ability to pay. “Our office continues to lead the national charge to hold alleged fraudsters accountable for improper Sanexas billing,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “We will continue working closely with our partners at CMS’s Center for Program Integrity, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Justice Department’s Civil Division, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to hold accountable any other providers who inappropriately billed for these devices and caused false claims to be submitted.” “Accurately billing for services provided to Medicare enrollees is required of all health care providers participating in the program,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Alongside our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to evaluate and pursue allegedly inaccurate billings of Sanexas and similar devices.” Sanexas manufactures and markets a medical device called the “RST Sanexas neoGEN-Series,” which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for electrical nerve stimulation to treat neuropathy and other forms of chronic pain, in certain limited circumstances. The United States contends that between September 2017 and May 2022, the Settling Defendants improperly marketed the Sanexas device for indications that were outside its FDA clearance and not reasonable and necessary, including for treatment of acute pain, improving nerve health, regrowing nerves, and as a combination product with vitamin injections. Further, Medicare did not cover some Sanexas treatments, or vitamin injections used in conjunction with Sanexas treatments, as marketed by the Settling Defendants and performed by Sanexas customers. In particular, National Coverage Determination 160.7.1 states that “[e]lectrical nerve stimulation treatments furnished by a physician in his/her office, by a physical therapist or outpatient clinic are excluded from coverage...” Multiple local coverage determinations contain similar statements and further provide that vitamin injections are not medically reasonable and necessary when used to perform a nerve block function. The United States further contends that the Settling Defendants caused provider customers to submit false claims to Medicare for epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD) testing. ENFD testing involves performing a “punch biopsy” on patients to evaluate nerve damage that purportedly could be treated with the Sanexas device. Sanexas allegedly encouraged providers to conduct ENFD testing following treatment with the Sanexas device to evaluate any improvement in nerve health. However, the Sanexas device is not cleared for healing or regrowing nerves and procedures using the device for those purposes are not covered, and therefore it was not medically reasonable or necessary to conduct such additional testing. Finally, the United States alleges that the Settling Defendants violated the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b), by paying and accepting illegal inducements in exchange for customer referrals. The AKS prohibits anyone from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration — which includes money or any other thing of value — to induce referrals of items or services covered by federally funded healthcare programs. The United States alleges that the Settling Defendants violated AKS in two ways. First, the Settling Defendants offered volume-based discounts to distributorships owned and operated by medical providers who performed procedures using the Sanexas device, and paid commissions that were conditioned upon and directly tied to the value of business that the distributors generated on behalf of Sanexas. Second, the Settling Defendants received commissions from a diagnostic laboratory for referring medical providers to perform ENFD testing in conjunction with Sanexas treatment. This settlement resolves certain allegations in lawsuits filed in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Western District of Pennsylvania under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Those provisions allow private individuals known as “relators” to sue on behalf of the United States and to share in the proceeds of any settlement or judgment that may result. The relators in these cases will receive statutory awards from this recovery, and also may be entitled to shares of future recoveries from other defendants named in the lawsuits. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania and the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Investigative support and assistance were provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The matter was handled in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Wolfish and Civil Chief Gregory B. David, Eastern District of Wisconsin by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Yun and Michael Carter, and Western District of Pennsylvania by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Brown and Paul Skirtich, along with Civil Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel Kelley C. Hauser and Trial Attorney Evan J. Ballan. Prior DOJ press releases related to the Sanexas national initiative include: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/two-doctors-and-their-medical-practice-pay-more-181000-resolve-false-claims-act https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/us-attorney-announces-two-additional-civil-settlements-part-national-effort-combat https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/us-attorney-announces-additional-civil-settlement-chiropractor-and-his-practice-part In addition, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania recently entered a Consent Judgment to resolve the action that this Office filed against Joseph M. Childs, DC, Charles H. Durr, DC, and Active Integrated Medical Centers, PC, for breaching their payment obligations under the parties’ $1.9 million settlement agreement relating to Sanexas billing. The investigation and pursuit of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud, including in the healthcare technology arena. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims above are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Huntington Resident Pleads Guilty to Role in Huntington-Area  Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Yesterday, Erin Leigh Keeney, 41, of Huntington, pleaded guilty to distribution of carfentanil. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 24, 2025, Keeney sold approximately 1 gram of suspected fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $100. As part of her guilty plea, Keeney admitted to conducting the transaction and to telling the confidential informant about a gun for sale. Keeney, Earl Michael “Mike” Myers, Joe Sidney Cross, and Maurice Kelly Johnson, also known as “Reese,” all from Huntington, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they conspired to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area from at least in and around March 2025 to in and around August 2025. The indictment against Cross and Johnson remain pending. Two other individuals were indicted separately as a result of the same investigation including Donovan Dewayne Pauley, 20, of Huntington, who pleaded guilty on October 27, 2025, to possession of a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Pauley is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2026. 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. Keeney is scheduled to be sentenced on March 30, 2026. Keeney faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-161.


title: Minnesota Man Sentenced to 20 years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 9, 2025, Michael Williams (age: 44) received a sentence of 240 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances. The sentence, imposed by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper, came after a federal jury found Williams guilty of the charge on July 17, 2025, following a nine-day trial. After completing his prison sentence, Williams will be on supervised release for an additional 60 months. According to court documents, Williams manufactured and distributed kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, and he also distributed pound quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana. Williams was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy that had established distribution hubs throughout the Midwestern United States, including Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and St. Paul, the greater Chicago area, and Northern Indiana. Court documents further indicate that Williams operated the drug trafficking organization’s primary drug stash location in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here, he and others mixed, tested, and packaged controlled substances, including kilogram quantities of fentanyl. On November 29, 2022, when Williams’ stash location was searched, authorities located approximately 1,700 grams of fentanyl, over 700 grams of heroin, 650 grams of methamphetamine, 2,700 grams of cocaine, and 760 grams of marijuana. Williams’ residence was also searched the same day, at which time authorities located 2 loaded firearms and approximately $154,000. In pronouncing sentence, Judge Pepper noted the sheer volume of very dangerous drugs that the defendant was mixing and selling. She also noted Williams’ criminal history, which included multiple felonies, and his pattern of re-offending after serving time in custody. A co-defendant, Joathan Colula, was also found guilty on July 17, 2025, following the trial. Colula sourced the drug trafficking organization with kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine. He was based out of California. His sentencing is scheduled for February 10, 2026. “This is just one of many examples of the highly successful collaboration that occurs every day between local, state and federal authorities to identify, arrest and convict dangerous drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Our nation has never faced a greater public safety or public health crisis than the fentanyl epidemic that threatens our communities of all sizes. I am proud of the hard working and talented people who put this case together and took out these dangerous criminals.” "This 20-year sentence sends a clear message that those who traffic in fentanyl and other dangerous drugs will be held fully accountable,” said DEA Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Shane R. Catone. “Working alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we disrupted a multi-state trafficking operation that moved massive quantities of narcotics across the Midwest. DEA and our partners remain committed to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and protecting our communities.” "The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is proud of the role our officers played in this case and grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in this investigation. Drug traffickers bring great harm to our community and must be held accountable.” said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman. “MPD values our collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners in criminal cases like this to build a safer city for everyone to live, work and play.” The case was investigated by the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, comprised of officers and agents from the Milwaukee Police Department, West Allis Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice—Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The Internal Revenue Service and the Apple Valley Police Department also participated in the investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Monfils and Erica Lounsberry prosecuted the case. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: SHALIMAR FELON SENTENCED TO OVER SEVEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR POSSESSING NUMEROUS FIREARMS

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Zackery Chase Brunson, 33, of Shalimar, Florida, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in close collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners, this dangerous felon has been removed from our streets and he’ll spend several years behind bars. This successful prosecution is yet another step toward fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the violent criminals who threaten our communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute such offenders to deliver safe streets for the residents of the Northern District of Florida.” In January 2025, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Shalimar, Florida. During the search, law enforcement found two rifles, a shotgun, three pistols, and multiple types of ammunition. The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance. “We appreciate the strong partnership we share with the United States Attorney’s Office and the federal agencies who work alongside us to keep dangerous offenders off our streets,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “I am especially proud of the diligent efforts of our Multi-Agency Drug Task Force, whose professionalism and commitment were instrumental in this case. Removing illegally possessed firearms from the hands of convicted felons is critical to protecting our citizens and preventing future violence.” "This defendant was not just breaking the law—he was found in possession of multiple weapons and ammunition despite being legally barred from possessing a single firearm,” said Special Agent in Charge of DEA Miami Field Division Deanne Reuter. “That kind of disregard puts communities and lives at risk. The DEA Miami Field Division - working alongside our local, state, and federal partners - will continue to target armed offenders and dismantle the networks that fuel violent crime, keeping our citizens safe." The case involved a joint investigation by the Okaloosa County Sherriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Tharp. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Hunter Wesley Aultman, 24, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced last week to seven years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and receive child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Ending the cycle of victimization and sexual exploitation of children that is perpetuated by the distribution of child sexual abuse material remains a top priority for my office. I appreciate the excellent work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate these terrible crimes, and my office will continue to deploy the full force of the law to pursue, prosecute, and punish predators, like this defendant, who threaten the safety and innocence of our children.” According to court records, in January 2024 the Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrested the defendant for multiple burglaries and seized his cell phone as evidence. A search of the defendant’s cell phone revealed that it contained hundreds of child pornography videos. The phone also contained evidence of multiple online chats in which the defendant traded child pornography with other users. Investigators also discovered evidence that the defendant ran a chat group intended to facilitate the sharing child pornography among its members. “The deliberate distribution and facilitation of child sexual abuse material is an appalling violation that perpetuates the suffering of innocent children for a lifetime,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Those who engage in these heinous crimes not only exploit victims but also create networks that perpetually amplify harm and trauma. HSI will relentlessly pursue and prosecute anyone who seeks to profit from or enable the abuse of children.” Aultman’s sentence of imprisonment will be followed by a ten-year term of supervised release and a requirement to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Richmond felon sentenced to 12 years in prison for latest firearms conviction

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to 12 years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. According to court documents, on Sept. 6, 2024, law enforcement searched the residence of Javon Antonio Poag, 38, and recovered $7,604, 82.52 grams of cocaine, 8.41 grams of fentanyl, five bags of pills containing 34.85 grams of methamphetamine, two handguns, and a loaded high-capacity drum magazine. Poag had been convicted previously of, among other crimes, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, domestic violence, distribution of cocaine, resisting arrest, robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, assault, and carrying a concealed weapon. As a previously convicted felon, Poag cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. “Javon Poag has persistently returned to crime despite a multitude of opportunities to reform,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Today’s sentence makes clear that recidivist criminal conduct will not be tolerated.” “This violent criminal and his associates had a malicious agenda to harm our citizens. The quantity of fentanyl they possessed equated to 433 lethal doses," added Christopher Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division. “This operation and today’s sentencing demonstrate our shared dedication to working together to combat the cartels and local drug trafficking organizations that endanger our communities.” “The Richmond Police Department recognizes the critical public-safety benefits that come from strong collaboration among our partner agencies,” said RPD Chief Rick Edwards. “We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Richmond Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for their outstanding work in prosecuting weapons-law violations. Their efforts help ensure a safer Richmond for all.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Mastandrea and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-162.


title: Colombian National Extradited to U.S. Following 9-Defendant Cocaine Trafficking Indictment

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Colombian national made his initial appearance in a federal court in El Paso Monday after he was extradited to the United States on Friday. According to court documents, Luis Guillermo Peralta Pacheco, is allegedly a member of a Colombian drug trafficking organization identified as a major supplier of cocaine to the Caribbean and the United States. Through a joint investigation beginning in March 2018, agents seized an alleged 24 kilograms of cocaine and identified nine alleged members of the network. On March 16, 2022, Peralta Pacheco and eight alleged co-conspirators—Alvaro Luis Deluque Pallares, Angello Caicedo Atehortua, Juan Camilo Valderrama Taborda, Carlos Alfredo Becerra Castro, Lina Gisseth Barrera Sarmiento, Angel Julio Arroyo Calderon, Pedro Emilio Gallardo Hincapie, and Charle Salcedo Portilla—were indicted in the Western District of Texas on conspiracy charges to import and distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, with provisional arrest warrants approved in 2023. All nine defendants have now been successfully extradited to the U.S. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá worked with the Government of Colombia to secure the arrest and extradition from Colombia of all nine defendants. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian Rosales is prosecuting the case. 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 San Antonio comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Department of Treasury, the Department of State, the Department of War, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Department of Labor. with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Participating agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Diplomatic Security Service; the Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the U.S. Secret Service; along with state and local law enforcement. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 15, 2025, Joshua Hartness, 45, of Colebrook, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 25 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Hartness previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM, also known as child pornography). Hartness has been detained since March 28, 2025, when his conditions of release were revoked after he attempted to take possession of a firearm. According to court records, on September 11, 2022, Hartness was subjected to an inspection upon his return to the United States from abroad. A review of Hartness’s cellphone revealed suspected CSAM. A forensic review confirmed Hartness possessed a video of a child being sexually assaulted by an adult, and photos of a naked female child in sexual poses. Investigating agents also located on the cellphone multiple online communications between Hartness and minor girls consistent with “grooming,” including complimenting the girls on their beauty and sending the girls nude photographs of himself. The forensic review and subsequent investigation confirmed that Hartness possessed the CSAM on his phone while in the District of Vermont, and that Hartness did so while working as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General - Northeast Region, and Homeland Security Investigations. “Hartness was found to possess images of child exploitation, a heinous crime that was further compounded when he was shown to be in possession of these images while serving in a position of public trust. The conviction of Joshua Hartness reinforces the message that no one is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. Hartness was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defenders Carmen Brooks and Emily Kenyon. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Federal Jury Convicts Chicago Street Gang Leader of Participating in Racketeering Conspiracy Involving Multiple Murders

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a leader of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang of participating in a criminal organization that terrorized the West Side of Chicago for two decades by committing murders, robberies, extortions, witness tampering, and drug dealing. After a six-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on Monday convicted LABAR SPANN on all four counts against him, including racketeering conspiracy, two murders in aid of racketeering, and extortion. The jury found that Spann committed a total of four murders in a premediated manner as part of the racketeering conspiracy, including the killings of Willie Woods on April 17, 2003; Rudy Rangel on June 4, 2003; George King on April 8, 2003; and Maximillion McDaniel on July 25, 2000. Spann, 47, of Chicago, faces a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin set sentencing for April 20, 2026. The verdicts were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois Secretary of State Police Department, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois State Police, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Morrissey, Michelle J. Parthum, and Emily C.R. Vermylen. The Four Corner Hustlers operated primarily in the Chicago neighborhoods of West Garfield Park and North Lawndale on the city’s West Side, as well as in the former LeClaire Courts public housing development on the city’s Southwest Side. According to evidence presented at trial, the gang dealt drugs and robbed and extorted rival dealers, while using violence and intimidation to prevent victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement. The gang engaged in numerous acts of violence, including multiple murders and armed robberies. During the trial, the jury heard testimony from other members of the Four Corner Hustlers, eyewitnesses to numerous crimes, law enforcement officers who responded to crime scenes, and expert witnesses who analyzed forensic and other evidence. Spann was indicted in 2017 along with eight other members of the Four Corner Hustlers and two additional defendants. All the defendants have now been convicted.


title: Men indicted for crimes related to securities fraud

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging three men with a multitude of financial and securities fraud crimes resulting in a potential loss of tens of millions of dollars for victims. According to court documents, Steve Parish, 54, formerly of Derby, Kansas, Richard Dean, 66, of Plano, Texas, and Joshua Owen, 39, of Derby, Kansas, were all indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Parish is also charged with two counts of bank fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, 18 counts of securities fraud, and one count of wire fraud. Dean was also indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and 18 counts of securities fraud. A grand jury also indicted Owen on two counts of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud. Parish was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Premier Global Corp, a company that offered investments and promissory notes to purportedly purchase factored invoices. Owen was an employee. Dean was the owner of DDI Advisory Group LLC. Parish, Dean, and Owen allegedly orchestrated a scheme of falsifying records and misrepresenting payments to investors as profits but were making those payments using money that came from investors. Parish is accused of misappropriating investors’ deposits for his own personal expenses. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case with support from Kansas Department of Insurance, Securities Division and the Oklahoma Department of Securities. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Smith and Katie Andrusak are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Three Chinese-Owned Companies to Pay More Than $7.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loans

body_text: WASHINGTON – Greenland LA Metropolis Hotel Development LLC, Greenland US Management LLC, and Greenland LA Metropolis Development III (together, the Greenland USA Entities), have agreed to pay $7,312,283.36 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible. Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed. In January 2021, SBA announced that certain parties that had previously received PPP loans were eligible to apply for a second loan. In their loan applications for both PPP rounds, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate. The Greenland USA Entities own and develop real estate projects and are part of a large multinational corporation ultimately owned by the Greenland Holding Group Company Limited, a Chinese company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. In applying for their PPP loans, the Greenland USA Entities certified that they were eligible for the PPP. The United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their first- or second-round PPP loans because they were affiliated with other companies in the United States and China, and together with their affiliates across the globe, the Greenland USA Entities employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for their industry. Additionally, the United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their second-round PPP loans because they are more than 20 percent owned by entities created and organized in the People’s Republic of China. “Congress created the PPP to help American small businesses during the pandemic, not to fund large Chinese-owned corporations. Here, however, the defendants are alleged to have provided false information to the SBA to obtain government funds to which they were not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel. “This settlement demonstrates that the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes seriously its obligation to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. This settlement resolves claims in two related qui tam lawsuits filed by GNGH2 Inc. and Aidan Forsyth. In connection with the settlement, GNGH2 Inc. will receive $697,757.80 and Forsyth will receive $33,470.53. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General. Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Three Chinese-Owned Companies to Pay More Than $7.3M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: Civil Division

body_text: Greenland LA Metropolis Hotel Development LLC, Greenland US Management LLC, and Greenland LA Metropolis Development III (together, the Greenland USA Entities), have agreed to pay $7,312,283.36 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible. “Congress created the PPP to help American small businesses during the pandemic, not to fund large Chinese-owned corporations. Here, however, the defendants are alleged to have provided false information to the SBA to obtain government funds to which they were not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Brad D. Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “This settlement demonstrates that the U.S. Attorney’s Office takes seriously its obligation to combat fraud and protect American taxpayers.” Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed. In January 2021, SBA announced that certain parties that had previously received PPP loans were eligible to apply for a second loan. In their loan applications for both PPP rounds, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate. The Greenland USA Entities own and develop real estate projects and are part of a large multinational corporation ultimately owned by the Greenland Holding Group Company Limited, a Chinese company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide. In applying for their PPP loans, the Greenland USA Entities certified that they were eligible for the PPP. The United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their first- or second-round PPP loans because they were affiliated with other companies in the United States and China, and together with their affiliates across the globe, the Greenland USA Entities employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for their industry. Additionally, the United States alleges that the Greenland USA Entities were not eligible for their second-round PPP loans because they are more than 20 percent owned by entities created and organized in the People’s Republic of China. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. This settlement resolves claims in two related qui tam lawsuits filed by GNGH2 Inc. and Aidan Forsyth. In connection with the settlement, GNGH2 Inc. will receive $697,757.80 and Forsyth will receive $33,470.53. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General. Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: Dallas man sentenced to federal prison in ATM crime spree

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to federal prison in connection with a crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Dominique Marquis Childress, 29, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 15, 2025. According to court documents, Childress was involved in a crime spree aimed at forcibly removing ATMs from convenience stores in the DFW area. From May 16 to June 1, 2023, the defendants participated in a conspiracy that involved smashing the glass from a convenience storefront with a sledgehammer before using a stolen truck or SUV to drag an ATM from the store. Once the ATM was removed from the store, the defendants would load the machine into the vehicle and leave the scene. The ATM and vehicle would later be found abandoned after the money was removed and divided among the participants. 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. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Frisco Office, Plano Police Department, Irving Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, Carrolton Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Johnson. ###


title: Houston man sentenced to federal prison in ATM crime spree

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Justin Williams, 26, pleaded guilty to bank theft and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 15, 2025. Williams was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $112,212. According to court documents, from June 2020 to June 2024, Williams was involved in a crime spree referred to as “Hook and Chain” burglaries, which involved stealing a truck, attaching hooks and chains to the vehicle, and using it to drag the door off an ATM to retrieve the cash currency from the machine. This crime spree involved several burglaries in the DFW area, including the Texas Bank on South Preston Road in Prosper, the BB&T on Legacy Drive in Frisco, and the First United Bank in Pottsboro. The conspiracy resulted in the theft of approximately $363,000 and damages to ATMs and property of at least $250,000. 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. This case was investigated by the FBI, Fort Worth Police Department, and Pottsboro Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Johnson. ###


title: Justice Department Sues the Virgin Islands Police Department for Unconstitutional Practices Resulting in Effective Denials of Gun Permits

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department filed a complaint against the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) alleging that the territory’s unreasonable delays and conditions on lawful gun owners’ rights create an unconstitutional permitting process in violation of the Second Amendment. Numerous applicants complained that VIPD is unreasonably delaying their gun permit application decisions and added unreasonable conditions, including bolted-in gun safes, prior to issuing gun licenses. Finally, VIPD continues to enforce a proper cause regulation nearly identical to the law that the U.S. Supreme Court previously struck down in another case years ago. “This Civil Rights Division will protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The newly-established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to bring the Virgin Islands Police Department back into legal compliance by ensuring that applicants receive timely decisions without unconstitutional obstruction.” “The territory’s firearms licensing laws and practices are inconsistent with the Second Amendment,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This lawsuit seeks to uphold the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a regulation it labeled “proper cause,” which New York law enforcement used to deny gun permits if the applicant did not provide “proper cause” reasons for the gun permit. That case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen , is the established law of the land, including the territory of the Virgin Islands. Today, the Virgin Islands maintains and enforces a law nearly identical to the overturned law. Additionally, complaints have poured in from residents showing unconstitutional delays and requirements, including police conducting unconstitutionally unreasonable home searches — the very type of requirements the U.S. Supreme Court finds abusive in permitting schemes. The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands. The Civil Rights Division enforces the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), and Executive Order 14206. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe your gun permit application is subject to unconstitutional delays or practices, please submit a complaint through justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section .