title: Violent Felons in Indianapolis Receive Federal Sentences for Firearms Crimes

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Four violent felons have been removed from the streets of Indianapolis having been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. Each case stemmed from separate investigations and was prosecuted independently. Defendant Charge(s) Sentence Prior Felony Convictions Roscoe Nuckols, 39 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 15 years, 5 months Felony burglary (x3) Andres Espinosa, 37 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 5 years, 11 months Conspiracy to commit robbery; Unlawful possession of a syringe; Unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon Stephen Davis, 41 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 3 years Sexual misconduct with a minor; Failure to register as a sex offender; Possession of methamphetamine Jarvis Watson Jr., 57 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 5 years Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance As part of these investigations, the following firearms were seized and forfeited to law enforcement: FN 9 mm handgun RF-15 rifle Ruger 5.7 handgun Ruger Security 9 handgun Glock 44 .22 caliber firearm with extended magazine Smith & Wesson handgun Smith and Wesson 9mm caliber semiautomatic pistol Roscoe Nuckols: On October 5, 2023, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to 37th Street and Washington Boulevard after several 911 callers reported a man in jean shorts and a red shirt lying unconscious in the road. When the first officer arrived, they found the man, identified as Roscoe Nuckols, on the ground with a 9mm handgun tucked into his shorts. Further investigation indicated that Nuckols, a career criminal, was suspected to be under the influence of an illegal substance while unlawfully carrying the handgun. Andres Espinosa: On August 5, 2024, Marion County Community Corrections and IMPD officers conducted a home‑detention compliance check on Andres Espinosa. When they arrived, Espinosa opened the door while hiding a loaded handgun behind his back, then briefly shut the door to stash it under the couch. During the full check of the home, officers found a rifle under the same couch, along with ammunition, holsters, and multiple handgun and rifle magazines in his nightstand. They also found two additional handguns in the house. Stephen Davis: Around 1:00 a.m. on January 28, 2024, Fishers police officers pulled over Stephen Davis after noticing his Jeep had dark tinted windows and no license plate light. Davis told officers he did not have a valid driver’s license or insurance. He appeared jittery, was wearing a firearm sling, and admitted to having knives on him. After searching the Jeep, police found a loaded .22‑caliber Glock handgun under the front passenger seat. While being transported to jail, Davis also tried to hide a small baggie, later found to contain amphetamines, between the seat cushions of the police car. Jarvis Watson Jr.: On December 31, 2022, Carmel police officers approached Jarvis Watson Jr. after finding his vehicle stopped at a stop sign for several minutes, blocking traffic. When officers checked on him and searched the vehicle, they discovered a 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield pistol on his person. According to federal law, individuals with prior felony convictions are prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. “Convicted violent felons who continue to arm themselves pose a grave threat to our communities. These prosecutions demonstrate our commitment to working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to remove illegal firearms from the streets and hold offenders accountable. We will not tolerate individuals who repeatedly disregard the law and endanger public safety.,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The ATF is pleased with the outcomes in all these cases,” said Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. By leveraging our unique capabilities in coordination with our partner agencies, we work to suppress violent crime at its core and help create safer neighborhoods. Our foremost concern remains felons who continue to illegally possess firearms in furtherance of criminal activity, and we will continue to hold them accountable.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IMPD, Fishers and Carmel Police Departments investigated these cases. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judges Richard L. Young, Matthew P. Brookman, Tanya Walton Pratt, and Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany Preston, Carolyn Haney, Cristina Caraballo-Colon and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Nate Walter, who prosecuted these cases. These cases are 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: Luxury home builders and owners to pay $2.65 million to resolve loan fraud allegations

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Four companies and their three owners have agreed to pay millions to resolve allegations they allegedly submitted false claims for federally funded loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Carnegie Homes & Construction LLC and Signature Collection Inc. (also operating as Fifty Seventh & 7 TH Luxury Homes) design and build high-end residential luxury homes. Ram Gupta and Arpan Gupta own Carnegie and Signature, respectively. The Everstone Group provides consulting and construction services. Sapna Patel is the director and sole member of Everstone and also owns The Mosaic Group LLC. The civil settlement resolves claims brought under the False Claims Act following a whistleblower lawsuit a Houston-area realtor filed in October 2021. According to the allegations, the Guptas and Patel applied for and received PPP loans by falsely reporting payroll costs, misrepresenting the number of employees they employed and falsifying the purpose of the loans. This resulted in the submission of alleged ineligible and improper claims for payment to the United States. In addition, they allegedly submitted false information to justify loan forgiveness. “Those who misuse federal programs to falsely obtain public funds are stealing from the American people,” said Ganjei. “This settlement reflects our commitment to recovering ill-gotten gains and vindicating the interests of the taxpayer.” “The Small Business Administration’s pandemic relief programs were created to help legitimate small businesses keep employees on the payroll during an unprecedented crisis, not to be exploited through false claims,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michelle Blank of SBA-Office of Inspector General. “This $2.65 million settlement underscores that misuse of PPP funds will be pursued, and SBA-OIG will continue working with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer dollars and safeguard the integrity of SBA programs.” Under the False Claims Act, a private party (relator) can file a complaint on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. SBA-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: U.S. Attorney Heap Announces Over Three Million Dollars Disbursed in Equitable Sharing to Local Law Enforcement Partners and Federal Agencies

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that, based on joint criminal investigations conducted by federal, state, and local partners in the Southern District of Georgia, the federal government has disbursed $3,072,605 in equitable sharing of forfeited assets to over 50 local law enforcement partners and federal agencies for the 2025 fiscal year. “The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI, DEA, IRS, USPIS, and our local and state law enforcement partners, worked diligently to locate and forfeit these assets,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These ill-gotten gains included cash, money in bank accounts, and real estate, and were connected to a wide variety of criminal activity, including domestic and international drug trafficking, illegal pill mills, money laundering, and wildlife trafficking. Once taken from the hands of criminals, these funds will now be used to enhance South Georgia law enforcement departments and investigations.” The following local and state law enforcement partners received proceeds from forfeited assets, which were seized by the FBI and DEA: Appling County Sheriff’s Office Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office Baker County Sheriff’s Office Blackshear Police Department Burke County Sheriff’s Office Camden County Sheriff’s Office Chatham County Police Department Chatham County Sheriff’s Department City of Alpharetta Police Department City of Douglas Police Department City of Pooler Police Department City of San Jose Police Department Clay County Sheriff’s Office Coffee County Sheriff’s Department Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Dekalb County Police Department Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Fernandina Beach Police Department Florida Department of Law Enforcement Georgia Bureau of Investigation Georgia Department of Community Supervision Georgia National Guard Georgia Ports Authority Police Department Glynn County Police Department Glynn County Sheriff’s Office Green Cove Springs Police Department Greenwood Police Department Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Gwinnett County Police Department Heard County Sheriff’s Office Jacksonville Beach Police Department Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office Jonesboro Police Department Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Liberty County Sheriff’s Office McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office Mesa County Sheriff’s Office Metter Police Department Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Oconee District Attorney’s Office Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Redwood City Police Department Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Riverdale Police Department Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department Santa Clara Police Department Savannah Police Department Spalding County Sheriff’s Department Taliaferro County Sheriff’s Office Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office Ware County Sheriff’s Office; and Waycross Police Department “Asset forfeiture ensures that criminals do not profit from their crimes, while directly strengthening the law enforcement agencies that protect our communities,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Through close collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners, the FBI is committed to dismantling criminal enterprises and reinvesting seized assets into the tools, training, and resources needed to keep South Georgia safe.” The Department of Justice’s (Justice) Asset Forfeiture Program encompasses the seizure, forfeiture, and disposition of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to facilitate, federal crimes. The Attorney General exercises statutory authority to manage the Program. See 28 U.S.C. § 524(c)(1) (establishing the Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund (AFF), managed by the Attorney General). One of the ancillary benefits of asset forfeiture is the potential to share federal forfeiture proceeds in appropriate cases with cooperating state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies through equitable sharing. The Program enhances cooperation among federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement by providing valuable additional resources to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies assisting with investigations into violations of federal laws. However, the Program is designed to supplement and enhance, not supplant, appropriated agency resources. For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.


title: Kentucky man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for drug and gun crimes in Massac County

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A southern Illinois district judge sentenced a Kentucky man to 15 years in federal prison for possessing more than 150 grams of meth and a firearm as a felon. James W. Towery, 45, of Salem, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. “Armed drug dealers belong in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Southern Illinois communities are safer with this defendant locked up.” According to court documents, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Towery’s vehicle on March 11, 2024, in Massac County. He was found in possession of 150.4 grams of actual meth and a .38 caliber handgun. Towery had multiple prior felony convictions and therefore unable to legally possess a firearm. The Illinois State Police, Kentucky State Police, DEA, HSI, ATF and local law enforcement contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.


title: Texas Man and His Romantic Partner Sentenced to Prison for their Roles in Harming Elderly Victims Through A Romance Fraud Scam

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Texas man was sentenced on January 15, 2026, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in a romance fraud scam in which he received money from elderly victims, including from New Jersey, and then transferred the money abroad, primarily to Ghana, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. The man’s romantic partner was sentenced on January 7, 2026, to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release for her role in the scheme as an unlicensed money transmitter in accepting and transmitting some of the funds for profit. Felix Clark, a/k/a “Joseph Moore,” a/k/a “Stanley Smith,” 37, of Royse City, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release by Hon. Renée Marie Bumb, Chief, U.S. District Judge, in federal court in Camden. Clark previously pleaded guilty on May 6, 2025, to a two-count Information, charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in connection with the romance fraud scam. At the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Bumb remanded Clark to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to begin serving his sentence. On January 7, Chief Judge Bumb sentenced Clark’s romantic partner, Esther Amppiaw, 34, of Royse City, Texas, to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On May 23, 2025, Amppiaw pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging her with operating an unlicensed money transmitter business. Amppiaw will report to serve her sentence on a later date. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From at least as early as October 2021 through September 2022, while a resident of Delray Beach, Florida, Clark conspired and agreed to receive the proceeds of fraud perpetrated by a co-conspirator in Ghana and transfer proceeds overseas. During the conspiracy, one or more of Clark’s co-conspirators went onto online dating sites and, using fake names, pretended to be romantically interested in elderly victims, including stating that they wanted to marry them. Many of the victims had recently lost their spouses. The co-conspirators used electronic messages and emails to con victims into sending money—for instance, claiming that there was a large amount of gold in Ghana, but in order to get it, the victim had to pay taxes, fees, or other sums. The co-conspirators directed victims to send money to Clark and others acting at his direction, including Amppiaw. Clark used fake names, including “Joseph Moore” and “Stanley Smith”—as well as financial accounts in those fake names—to transfer the victims’ funds. During his guilty plea hearing, Clark admitted responsibility for $501,071 in victim losses. He also admitted that after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home, he attempted to obstruct justice by arranging for a falsified death certificate and funeral notice to be submitted to the United States, falsely claiming the death of a family member in order to obtain a passport that had been lawfully seized and to which he was not legally entitled. Amppiaw admitted that she operated an unlicensed money transmitting business from January 2022 through June 2023, while a resident of Delray Beach, Florida. Amppiaw also admitted that she knowingly received checks, money orders, and electronic payments totaling $317,290 from individuals she did not know, and that she knowingly transmitted most of the funds to other individuals, including at least one recipient in New Jersey and also to recipients overseas, including Ghana. During that time, Amppiaw lied in four separate conversations with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (in her interview for U.S. citizenship), federal law enforcement, and her bank about the nature and amounts of her financial transaction activity. Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited agents of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, with the investigation leading to the sentencings. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. ### Defense Counsel: Felix Clark: Jeremy McLymont, Esq., Miami, Florida Esther Amppiaw: James Maguire, Esq., AFPD, Camden, New Jersey


title: Sarasota Man Convicted of Producing, Distributing, Receiving, and Accessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Sean Anthony Christie (43, Sarasota) guilty of production, distribution, and receipt of child sex abuse material and access with intent to view child sex abuse material. Christie faces a maximum penalty of 80 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Christie used a social media application to solicit, receive, and distribute child sexual abuse material depicting minors under 12 years of age. Christie also used another social media application to meet minor girls, including a 12-year-old victim whom he used to produce child sex abuse material. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry. It is another case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National illegally residing in Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court today for Illegal Re-entry by an Alien. Gilberto Javana-Zuniga, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven Bough to one year and one day imprisonment in federal prison without parole followed by one year of supervised release. On July 8, 2025, North Kansas City Police Department officers saw the defendant rummaging through trash bins in a business area. Upon contacting the defendant, Officers determined he was driving a van which had been reported stolen. Javana-Zuniga gave officers a false name. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents identified Javana-Zuniga was illegally in the United States after having been removed three times before – once in 2011 and twice in 2013. Javana-Zuniga had been convicted of misdemeanor battery in 2011 and had six pending cases for theft, driving under the influence, driving without a license, and displaying license plates of another. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Mahoney. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: North Reading Man Indicted for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A North Reading man was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for possession of child sexual abuse material. Ralph Hannan III, 68, a Level 2 sex offender, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. According to the charging documents the defendant allegedly possessed child pornography involving a minor under the age of 12. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Zacks of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Senior Members of Stephen Crane Village Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – On January 13 and January 14, 2026, the last two defendants in the Stephen Crane Village drug trafficking case – the enforcer who murdered one of their own and the main drug supplier – were sentenced to 540- and 211-months’ imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the organization, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. In January 2025, following a three-week trial before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals in Newark federal court, Michael Mayse, 39, and Gary Shahid, 67, both of Newark, were convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy and related drug and firearms offenses. Mayse was also convicted of murder in relation to the drug trafficking conspiracy. “These sentences hold accountable two senior members of a violent drug trafficking organization that ruled Stephen Crane Village through fear, violence, and murder. They deliver justice for the family of a young man whose life was senselessly taken and underscore this Office’s commitment to attacking violent crime wherever it exists. We will continue to protect the people of New Jersey by aggressively pursuing violent criminals and removing them from our streets.” - Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello According to court documents and evidence presented at trial: Stephen Crane Village is a public housing complex near Branch Brook Park, on the border of Newark, New Jersey and Belleville, New Jersey. Stephen Crane Village was the site of an open-air drug market controlled by a violent drug trafficking organization (DTO) from at least February 2019 through February 2020. Through numerous controlled drug purchases, recorded telephone calls and text messages, physical surveillance, electronic surveillance, and analysis of telephone call detail records, law enforcement determined that the members of the DTO conspired to distribute narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base, at Stephen Crane Village. The DTO used a stash apartment to package and store drugs for distribution. The DTO sold significant quantities of drugs to confidential sources and an undercover agent. In the early morning of December 15, 2019, Mayse entered the DTO’s stash apartment and murdered a 21-year-old member of the DTO over a drug debt. On January 13, 2026, the Court sentenced Shahid to 151 months’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking conspiracy and drug trafficking offenses, to run concurrent to 60 months for his possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, and consecutive to an additional 60 months’ imprisonment for his possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking, for a cumulative sentence of 211 months in prison. On January 14, 2026, the Court sentenced Mayse to 480 months’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking conspiracy and the murder, to run concurrent to 240 months for his distribution and possession with intent to distribute drugs, to run concurrent to 120 months for his possession of two firearms as a previously convicted felon, and consecutive to an additional 60 months’ imprisonment for his possession of another firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking, for a cumulative sentence of 540 months in prison. Co-defendants Jose Lora, Dayquan Jordan, Ricky Terrell, Charles Mells, Raquan Rawls, Nasir Williams, Quadir Hatcher, Tyree Purkett, James Wicker, and Dayana Valderrama – all members or associates of the DTO – all previously pleaded guilty in federal court to crimes related to their respective roles. Special Counsel Lamparello credited special agents and task force officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James; the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Chief Mitchell G. McGuire; the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Emanuel Miranda; and the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their assistance with this case. The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the DHS/HSI, the USMS, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew of the Criminal Division in Trenton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Goldberg, Chief of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Thomas Ambrosio, Esq., for Gary Shahid Joel Silberman, Esq., and Keith Oliver, Esq., for Michael Mayse


title: Registered Sex Offender’s U.S. Citizenship Revoked After Fraudulent Naturalization

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Peruvian-born registered sex offender has had his U.S. citizenship revoked and his Certificate of Naturalization canceled after he obtained citizenship by fraud. U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith entered the order against Renzo William Alegre, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, and also sentenced him to 150 days of home detention and one year of probation after he pleaded guilty to unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. “United States citizenship is a privilege, not a shield for deception,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant lied to obtain citizenship while actively engaging in crimes that exploit children. When citizenship is procured by fraud, the law requires that it be revoked. Our Office will act decisively to protect children and to preserve the integrity of our immigration and naturalization system.” According to court records, on March 16, 2019, Alegre applied for U.S. citizenship. The application asked: “ Have you EVER committed, assisted in committing, or attempted to commit, a crime or offense for which you were NOT arrested?” Alegre answered “no . ” On Oct. 23, 2019, Alegre appeared for an immigration interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, where he again stated that he had never committed a crime or offense for which he had not been arrested. On Oct. 31, 2019, Alegre was granted U.S. citizenship. In September 2020, Alegre was arrested on child pornography charges. He was later convicted of possessing at least 600 images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised released. In his factual proffer, Alegre admitted that he had been using a computer to receive and download CSAM for approximately one year prior to his arrest—a period that predated his naturalization. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Fort Lauderdale investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya C. Brown prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-60161. ###


title: Manufacturing Company Settles Paycheck Protection Program Loan Fraud Allegations for $2.9 Million

body_text: NEWARK, NJ – A Delaware corporation with a place of business in Fairfield, New Jersey entered into a settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by applying for and receiving a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which the company was not eligible, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. According to the contentions of the United States in the settlement agreement: Protech Powder Coatings, Inc. (“Protech Powder”) is a Delaware corporation with a place of business in Fairfield, New Jersey. Protech Powder is a subsidiary of the Protech Group, a Canadian company that manufactures and distributes paints, powder coatings, and specialty materials. During the period of March 12, 2021 to January 14, 2022, Protech Powder applied for and received PPP loan and loan forgiveness totaling $2,016,888 (including interest). The United States contends that Protech Powder falsely certified eligibility to receive this second-draw PPP loan and loan forgiveness totaling $2,016,888 (including interest). The United States contends that Protech Powder knowingly made false statements, or caused false statements to be made, when it certified in its PPP loan application that it was eligible for a loan. At the time of its loan application, the United States contends that Protech Powder was not eligible to participate in the PPP because, inclusive of affiliates’ employees, Protech Powder exceeded applicable size standards. In addition, because of Protech Powder’s false statements on its loan application, the United States paid $60,000 in lender processing fees associated with the second-draw loan for which Protech Powder was ineligible. In accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement, Protech Powder paid the United States $2,907,643. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties, called relators, to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. In this matter, the relator is receiving $290,764 as the share in the recovery. 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 employees and revenue size limits. In their loan applications, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the SBA’s Office of General Counsel for their assistance in this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan J. Pappy of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark represents the government. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The qui tam case is captioned US ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v Protech Powder Coatings, Inc. , 24-cv-08805 (D.N.J.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ### Counsel for Protech Powder Coatings, Inc.: Mark A. Rush, K&L Gates LLP Relator’s counsel: David Abrams, Esq. protech.agreement.pdf


title: Meridian Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Drug Manufacturing and Drug Trafficking

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for drug manufacturing and drug trafficking. According to court documents, law enforcement recovered over 87 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 pounds of fentanyl, and 35 pounds of cocaine, 2 different pill press machines, 13 firearms, and 1 suppressor from a residence occupied by Jabreon Deshon Mosley, 35. From at least October of 2023 until January of 2024, Mosley was utilizing an illegal automatic pill press machine to manufacture thousands of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. These counterfeit pills were then distributed to the streets of Meridian, Mississippi and parts of Alabama. U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi; DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw; and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration Jackson and Birmingham District Offices, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Kabah S. Ealy prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama also provided assistance during the investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Duquesne Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to two years of imprisonment following his conviction for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Gerald Ford III, 25, on January 15, 2026. According to information presented to the Court, officers from the Munhall Police Department encountered Ford in a convenience store on July 19, 2024, at which time, Ford was the subject of an active arrest warrant on charges related to trafficking fentanyl. When officers took Ford into custody pursuant to that warrant, the officers discovered a Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine tucked into the waistband of Ford’s pants. Ford has previously been convicted of several felonies, including having pleaded guilty to possessing with the intent to distribute heroin in September of 2019, for which he was sentenced in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas to a term of probation. He also unlawfully possessed a firearm in that case. Additionally, on the same date, Ford pleaded guilty in a separate case to possessing heroin, fentanyl, and tramadol (an opioid analgesic), and similarly received a sentence of probation in that matter. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. During Ford’s sentencing hearing, the Court also was informed that the firearm that Ford unlawfully possessed on July 19, 2024, was test-fired by the Allegheny County Crime Lab and that ballistic examination established that the weapon had been used in a homicide that occurred on May 17, 2024. The Court also received evidence establishing that the defendant had been involved in a shooting on June 3, 2024, in which Ford again illegally possessed a gun and fired it while walking near Maple Street and 18th Avenue in Munhall. Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, and the Munhall Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ford.


title: Two Plead Guilty to Drug-Involved Murder

component: Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

body_text: Two individuals connected to a drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty last week to charges stemming from a 2022 murder in Miami. Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, Florida, and Jimmy Sanchez, 37, of Spring Valley, California, face up to life imprisonment for their crimes. “This case illustrates that drugs and violence go hand in hand,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As part of their drug operation, these defendants shipped large amounts of methamphetamine, and when they thought the victim stole their product, they killed him in cold blood. The Criminal Division will continue prosecuting serious drug crimes, with and without violence involved, to protect the public from the grave consequences that occur, like they did here.” “These guilty pleas lay bare the deadly reality of drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This was a cold-blooded murder driven by the drug trade, where intimidation and greed turned narcotics trafficking into violence and death. Our Office will use every federal tool available to dismantle these organizations and hold accountable anyone who chooses violence as a means of doing business.” “This transnational investigation is the result of law enforcement partners pulling resources and working together to bring these criminals to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division. “Illegal drug trafficking inherently results in violence which is inflicted by the criminal drug networks that distribute them,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The impact on our communities is real and devastating. The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners in our common goal of making our communities safe by combating drug-related violence.” “Postal Inspectors are committed to maintaining the safety of the community and employees of the U.S. Postal Service,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue anyone who uses the nation's mail system for illegal or dangerous use.” Court documents and statements made in court show that the defendants admitted to murdering a Miami man (the victim) in connection with a missing package containing about 11 pounds of methamphetamine, the street value of which totaled approximately $90,000. Kol and Sanchez believed that the victim stole the package of drugs. In retaliation, Kol and Sachez met the victim in a hotel room. Kol armed Sanchez with a firearm. While inside the room, the victim called 911 and attempted to provide his location, but the audio of the call portrayed a physical altercation ensuing and gunshots firing. Sanchez admitted that he shot and killed the victim in the hotel room and left his body, which was not discovered until the following morning. Hotel security footage revealed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the murder. As part of their plea agreements, the defendants admitted that they each committed the murder and that they distributed almost 11 pounds of methamphetamine. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled to take place later this year. The DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Miami Dade Sherriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monique Botero and Jacob Koffsky for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence.


title: Providence Resident Sentenced to 15 Years  in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Providence man has been sentenced in federal court for trafficking thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and more than 400 grams of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Carlos Molina, 35, was sentenced on January 15, 2026, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 15 years in federal prison. Molina pleaded guilty in August 2025 to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. “Trafficking counterfeit pills containing fentanyl puts lives at risk and fuels a public health crisis affecting communities across the country,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “The 15-year sentence imposed in this case holds the defendant accountable for conduct that endangered others and underscores the serious consequences of distributing drugs that pose a lethal threat to our communities.” According to court documents, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search of Molina’s residence in November 2022, where investigators seized 1,503 fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills weighing a total of 170.6 grams, and a mixture of powder containing fentanyl weighing 411.75 grams. The investigation further revealed that, while under surveillance by DEA agents and members of the DEA Drug Task Force, Molina made multiple sales of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills to another individual. A total of 2,416 pills were seized immediately following the transactions. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson. The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.


title: Four Hudson County Pharmacies Pay $4.3 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Billing for Drugs Not Dispensed

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Four pharmacies located in West New York, Bayonne, Union City, and Jersey City have agreed to pay $4,325,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly billing federal health care programs for medications never dispensed, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced today. According to the contentions of the United States in the settlement agreements, inventory records showed that the below pharmacies did not purchase enough medications from wholesalers to fill the prescriptions billed to the federal health care programs. Pan American Inc. agreed to pay $3,100,000 to resolve allegations that from January 2, 2015 through January 25, 2022, it caused the submission of claims for reimbursement to the Medicare Part D Program and the New Jersey Medicaid Program for drugs Pan American never dispensed to beneficiaries. St. Mina and St. Moses Pharmacy d/b/a Well Care Pharmacy agreed to pay $490,000 to resolve allegations that from May 31, 2016 through March 1, 2022, it caused the submission of claims for reimbursement to the Medicare Part D Program for drugs the pharmacies never dispensed to beneficiaries. Farmacia Latina Corp. agreed to pay $375,000 to resolve allegations that from January 2, 2015 through January 24, 2022, it caused the submission of claims for reimbursement to the Medicare Part D Program for drugs Farmacia Latina never dispensed to beneficiaries. Perfect Care Pharmacy LLC agreed to pay $360,000 to resolve allegations that from January 2, 2015 through January 25, 2022, it caused the submission of claims for reimbursement to the Medicare Part D Program for drugs Perfect Care never dispensed to beneficiaries. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kruti Dharia and Robert Toll of the Health Care Fraud & Opioids Enforcement Unit. The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ### farmacialatina.agreement.pdf panamerican.agreement.pdf perfectcare.agreement.pdf wellcare.agreement.pdf


title: Houston Man Indicted in Fayetteville for Selling Designer Drugs Around the World

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal grand jury indicted Miqual Antwan Dysheen Spivey for the crimes of selling the designer drug MDMB-4en-PINACA, conspiring with others to possess and sell the drug, and money laundering. According to the indictment, Spivey, 27, owned and operated Bummy Legion, a Texas company that sells liquids intended for use in electronic vaporizers (often called “vape juices”). The indictment alleges that Spivey sold Bummy Legion’s vape juices through the company’s website and shipped them from post offices in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Although Bummy Legion’s website marketed the vape juices as derived from “organic blue lotus and valerian root,” the indictment alleges that the true active ingredient was the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA. PINACA is a dangerous Schedule I controlled substance which, according to the DEA, “has been associated with numerous reports of emergency [room visits], severe intoxication, and death.” The indictment also charges Spivey with ten separate violations of the money-laundering statutes, each representing a separate transaction of over $10,000 with the proceeds of his allegedly illicit sales. As alleged in the indictment, those transactions ranged in value from $11,324.75 to $233,779.84. Other information presented in court indicates that Spivey made nearly $5 million through online sales of Bummy Legion vape juices in the two years since PINACA was placed on Schedule I. “This defendant took dangerous and unregulated vaping products and falsely marketed them as safe to use, putting children and unknowing vape users at risk of severe intoxication and death,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The distribution of illicit vaping products is a national security and public health issue that this Department of Justice will continue to prioritize, combat, and eradicate.” “Families need to know that a vape product is not safe just because strangers sell it online or in a store front,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “These products can effectively rot your lungs from the inside out. Unregulated manufacturers can sell dangerous vape products with zero quality control or regulation. Our office will continue to focus on preventing children from using dangerous products.” According to information presented at Spivey’s detention hearing, law enforcement executed five search warrants on January 13, 2026, three in Houston, Texas, and two in in Fayetteville, North Carolina. These search warrants resulted in the seizure of four guns, 715 gallons of suspected liquid PINACA, and approximately $40,000 US currency. “Illegal vape products frequently target young and vulnerable consumers through online sales and misleading marketing,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “As part of DEA Fentanyl Free America Initiative, this indictment reflects our commitment to protecting our communities and preventing unlawful products from reaching our communities.” The federal grand jury charged Spivey with conspiracy to sell and possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance, seven counts of selling a Schedule I controlled substance, and ten counts of engaging in monetary transactions of a value over $10,000 with the proceeds of a specified unlawful activity. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each drug offense and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each money-laundering offense. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of the Army, Criminal Investigation Division, Fayetteville Police Department, and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons supervised the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Cogburn is prosecuting the case. This is an ongoing investigation. If you have information regarding purchases from Bummy Legion, possible adverse side effects, or other useful information, please contact the DEA at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip or Army CID at www.cid.army.mil/tips. A copy of this press release is located on our website . An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: North Little Rock Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Troy Moseley, III will spend 27 years in federal prison for his production of child pornography. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky. On November 8, 2023, Moseley, 26, of North Little Rock, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. On July 22, 2025, Moseley pleaded guilty to production of child pornography. Judge Rudofsky also sentenced Moseley to 10 years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that on May 31, 2023, Special Agents with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office obtained a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children filed by Snapchat on January 28, 2023. The cybertip included information that two videos were uploaded to Snapchat on January 28 and 29, 2023. The videos depicted an adult male engaging in sexual acts with a minor female. After further investigation, the Special Agents identified Moseley as the individual who uploaded the videos to the social media platform. On September 27, 2023, Special Agents then obtained a search warrant for the residence where Moseley resided. During a search, it was learned that the password to the Wi-Fi at the residence was only available to those who lived in the residence. Officers went to Moseley’s place of employment where he fled out the back door and into the woods. Officers located Moseley later in the day and took him into custody. When he was arrested, Moseley had in his possession a backpack that contained three electronic devices, suspected marijuana, a can of beer, and women’s thongs and panties. On September 28, 2023, Special Agents obtained a search warrant for the devices found in Moseley’s possession. During the execution of the search warrant on September 29, 2023, Special Agents discovered on one device over 100 images and videos containing child pornography and pictures of women taken in public places. One of the videos depicted Moseley following a woman in a department store, who was not aware of Moseley following her, and in the video, he is observed masturbating. Another video discovered on the device showed a tablet that was resting on a table that showed a photograph of a 3 or 4-year-old girl with Moseley recording himself masturbating while focused on the minor victim’s photograph. Another video discovered by Special Agents, which formed the basis for the production of child pornography count, depicted Moseley with his pants pulled down to his knees and masturbating while next to a sleeping 2-year-old girl who was strapped in a car seat. In this video, Moseley showed his face and is observed placing his penis closely to the minor victim’s face and near her mouth. 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 . Parents are encouraged to always monitor your children’s online activity. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office and the North Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Former State Employee Sentenced for Providing K2-Laced Papers to a Federal Prison Inmate

body_text: BOSTON – A Bridgewater, Mass. woman was sentenced on Jan. 16, 2026 in federal court in Worcester for providing a controlled substance in the form of a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as “K2,” to an inmate at the federal prison FMC Devens. The inmate was granted clemency on Jan. 17, 2025, reducing his 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution. Tasha Hammock, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to three years of probation. The government recommended a sentence of 12 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2025 , Hammock pleaded guilty to providing contraband to a federal prison inmate, Raymond Gaines. In March 2025 , Hammock and Gaines were charged by criminal complaint. Gaines, an inmate at FMC Devens, was indicted by a federal grand jury with possessing contraband by a prison inmate. In February 2022 , Gaines was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in Boston to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. At the time Gaines committed the alleged offenses charged, he was on federal supervised release after serving a prison sentence resulting from a 2017 conviction for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. In both prior cases Gaines was alleged to be an associate of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a street gang in Boston. On Jan. 17, 2025, Gaines received an Executive Grant of Clemency, reducing his federal sentence to five years in prison. Hammock admitted that on Aug. 18, 2024, while visiting Gaines in prison, she surreptitiously passed K2-laced papers to Gaines, which he allegedly pocketed. At the time, Hammock was employed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. As described in court documents, K2 presents a health problem at FMC Devens, where inmates have become sick from smoking paper believed to contain K2, as well as prison staff who have been exposed to the secondary smoke. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston; and Ryan Geach, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Regional Office of DOJ-OIG, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Special Investigative Services Unit at FMC Devens. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Cambridge Man Charged with Sex Trafficking

body_text: BOSTON – A Cambridge man has been arrested on state charges and a federal complaint has issued, charging him with forcing a woman to engage in commercial sex throughout multiple states including Massachusetts, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine. Daniel Rodriguez, 36, is charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Rodriguez is currently held in state custody and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging document Rodriguez allegedly forced a 27-year-old female to engage in commercial sex throughout Massachusetts as well as in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maine. The charging document also alleges that Rodriguez has trafficked multiple women, including one minor, from 2017 until 2026. It is alleged that Rodriguez began trafficking the victim in 2025. When the victim attempted to leave Rodriguez in early January 2026, Rodriguez allegedly posed as a sex buyer in an attempt to locate her and then required her to return to Boston with him. On Jan. 13, 2026, Rodriguez was allegedly transporting the victim from one hotel to another to engage in commercial sex. After allegedly committing a traffic violation, Rodriguez’s car was stopped by law enforcement. It is alleged that as law enforcement approached the vehicle, Rodriguez sped away. He yelled at the victim, blaming her for the traffic stop and led police on a high-speed pursuit, travelling at over 100 mph. Rodriguez crashed the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving his victim behind and injured. Rodriguez is alleged to have sent an accomplice to pick the victim up from the hospital and advertised her for commercial sex within hours of her hospital discharge. Rodriguez was ultimately arrested in Middleboro, Mass. on a state arrest warrant issued out of the Quincy District Court on Jan. 14, 2026. The federal complaint alleges that Rodriguez trafficked at least three other women, one of them a minor, in 2017, 2018, and 2023. Rodriguez is alleged to have used violence and threats and made good on his promises to track his victims down if they attempted to leave him. The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion carries with it a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigations; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley and Craig Estes of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man arrested with weapons near airport now faces federal charges

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man arrested on Jan. 9 who allegedly had multiple loaded guns near the John Glenn Columbus International Airport has now been charged with a federal firearms crime as well. William T. Griffith III, 40, of Delaware, Ohio, is charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. According to charging documents, on Jan. 9, local law enforcement responded to a 911 call at approximately 4am regarding Griffith trespassing in a construction area at the airport. Law enforcement officers located four firearms, including an AK-style rifle, shortened shotgun and two handguns, as well as several rounds of ammunition. At the time of Griffith’s arrest, he was dressed in military-style fatigue trousers. Body armor with ceramic plates and a ballistic helmet with night vision were also located nearby. In 2011, Griffith was convicted of kidnapping. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Griffith appeared in federal court in Columbus today and his case was unsealed at that time. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz is representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: New Jersey Woman Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Bank Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kisha Sutton, 45, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was sentenced on January 15, 2026, to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $184,014.04 in restitution for aiding and abetting bank fraud and aiding and abetting money laundering. After a two-day trial, a federal jury found Sutton guilty of both counts on July 15, 2025. Evidence at trial proved that Sutton and co-defendant Shamiese Wright aided and abetted one another to obtain a fraudulent $15,625 Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan on behalf of Wright, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Sutton received $3,000 in fraudulent PPP loan proceeds from Wright as part of their scheme. On April 19, 2021, Sutton submitted the PPP loan application on Wright’s behalf, listing Wright as a self-employed individual who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. The application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, reflecting that Wright had earned $75,000 in 2020. Evidence at trial showed that Wright was not self-employed, had never earned $75,000 in any year, had received unemployment benefits in 2020, and that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with Wright’s application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan. A PPP lender in Florida approved Wright’s loan application, and $15,625 in fraudulent loan proceeds were electronically deposited in Wright’s personal bank account in Charleston on or about May 7, 2021. Wright transferred the $3,000 to Sutton from the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds using a digital wallet application between May 7 and May 21, 2021. Wright staggered her payments to Sutton and provided misleading transfer descriptions for them to conceal and disguise the nature and the source of the money. The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other eligible expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Sutton and Wright and are among several individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging Sutton led a conspiracy to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. Wright, 32, of Charleston, and three other defendants pleaded guilty in the case and were ordered to pay a total of $65,611.73 in restitution. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon and former Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson prosecuted the case. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192. ###


title: Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Arif Karicic, age 36, of Syracuse, New York, pled guilty on January 16, 2026, to distribution and possession of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement. As part of his plea, Karicic admitted that between November 2024 and February 2025, he sent child pornography files to other people through smartphone social networking applications. The FBI’s investigation also revealed that on February 12, 2025, Karicic possessed child pornography on two electronic devices at his Syracuse residence. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The evidence of this defendant’s illegal activity reveals a disturbing sexual interest in young children. In addition to the serious harm child pornography offenses do to the original victims portrayed in the files, there is a real risk such offenders turn to hands-on abuse of their own. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners, this defendant’s deviancy has been identified and he will be held accountable for his despicable actions.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Karicic’s offenses are heinous and the impact on his innocent victims is immeasurable. This plea ensures he will spend a substantial amount of time in federal prison where he can no longer exploit our children. FBI Albany’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to leverage our federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships to aggressively investigate and bring to justice these sick predators terrorizing our most vulnerable.” Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026, before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi. Karicic faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in federal prison on the distribution charges, a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison for each of the charged offenses, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. Karicic will also be required to register as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Albany County Felon Sentenced for Receiving Firearms Stolen from Hudson Falls Gun Store and Using the Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kwahpreme Mitchell, age 34, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced January 9, 2026, to 106 months in federal prison for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James; and Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea , Mitchell admitted to receiving firearms from Jonathon Combs and Martin Taft that they had stolen from Calamity Jane’s Firearms and Fine Shoes, a federally licensed firearms dealer, in Hudson Falls, New York, on October 21, 2022. In exchange for the stolen firearms, Mitchell agreed to provide Combs and Taft with 150 grams of cocaine, which they intended to distribute. Additionally, on or about October 15, 2022, Mitchell provided Combs with approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base in exchange for a shotgun. Mitchell could not legally possess firearms, as he had been previously convicted of a New York State felony drug charge. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Mitchell has now been held accountable for his poisoning of our communities with drugs and stolen guns. We again express our appreciation for the collaboration between ATF NY Albany, the NYSP, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and this Office in combating violent crime and keeping our communities safe.” Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, stated, “This sentence reflects the serious danger posed when stolen firearms are funneled into drug trafficking networks. Mitchell’s actions tied together two violent threats – stolen guns and illegal drugs – putting communities at risk. ATF NY, alongside our state and local partners, remains committed to disrupting firearms trafficking at every point, holding offenders accountable, and preventing stolen guns from being used to fuel further crime and violence.” New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James stated, “I applaud our law enforcement officials at all levels for their strong police work and dedication to intercepting the trafficking of cocaine and weapons within our communities. The sentencing of Mr. Mitchell sends a clear message that we will find the people responsible for putting illegal substances and firearms in the hands of others. We will remain vigilant alongside our law enforcement partners in keeping these criminals off our streets and to maintain the safety of all New Yorkers.” Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy stated, “This sentencing sends a clear message—those who target businesses in our county will be held accountable. Through strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners, justice was served, and our commitment to the victims remains unwavering.” United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release to begin after Mitchell is released from prison. NYSP, ATF and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with assistance provided by the Washington and Warren County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Shawano Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 20, 2026, Brandon M. Boogren (Age: 29) of Shawano, Wisconsin, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach to 180 months’ incarceration in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of Production of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a). According to court documents, in June of 2025, the FBI office in Green Bay was contacted by the FBI office in Houston alerting them that a search of a Texas suspect’s phone revealed videos of child pornography created and transferred by an individual in the Shawano, Wisconsin, area. The videos depicted a two-and-a-half-year-old child being sexually assaulted by Boogren at the request of an “online model” in Houston. The “online model” was, in fact, a man posing as a woman to “catfish” the defendant. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach described the defendant’s crime as “horrendous” and “extremely serious.” He further stated that Boogren’s criminal acts called for strong punishment. After his 15-year prison sentence, the defendant will serve 5 years on supervised release. He will further be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. This case was investigated by the Houston and Green Bay offices of the FBI with the assistance of the Shawano Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 170 Months in Prison on Drug, Gun Charges

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon caught twice with drugs to 170 months in prison. Quentin Simms, 54, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty in September to five counts: possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking crimes and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detectives conducting a court-approved search of a home in the 4000 block of Labadie Avenue on May 31, 2024, spotted Simms nearby, trying to hide in a red Dodge Ram. Officers saw a large baggie of capsules containing fentanyl, $3,668 in cash and a loaded Ruger 5.7 model 5.7x28mm caliber semi-automatic pistol in the truck. They found a bag containing heroin, cocaine and cocaine base and a stolen Smith & Wesson 10mm pistol in a subsequent search. After Simms was indicted on drug and gun charges, Deputy U.S. Marshals arrested him on Oct. 9, 2024, and found about $1,000 in cash and a baggie that contained 27.95 grams of cocaine base, Simms’ plea says. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Christian Goeke prosecuted the case.


title: Nurse Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 13, 2026, Troy Schaden (age: 43), a nurse from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Brett H. Ludwig. According to court records, Schaden was purchasing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) from an individual in the United Kingdom. After reviewing electronic devices seized during the execution of a search warrant at Schaden’s home, law enforcement discovered that Schaden also distributed images of CSAM to users on an application called Teleguard between February 2025 and March 2025. Some of those images depicted the abuse of infants and toddlers. At his sentencing hearing, Judge Ludwig described Schaden’s offense as very serious and one that perpetuated the abuse of children. Upon completion of his federal prison sentence, the defendant will spend five years on supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Thomas. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Missouri Man Admits Being Caught Again with Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Butler County, Missouri faces at least 10 years in prison after being caught with child sexual abuse material at a halfway house. Leslie Bryan Clark, 59, pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted being caught with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on June 13, 2025, the day he was to be released from a halfway house in Butler County. A Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had alerted investigators that Clark had uploaded CSAM via the Kik app. When confronted by a probation officer, Clark handed over his phone, which contained video clips of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In 2017, Clark pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release. Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20. The charge carries a penalty of at least 10 years in prison, due to his prior conviction, with a maximum of 20 years. Clark also admitted violating his supervised release in the prior case and faces sentencing for that. The U.S. Probation Office of the Eastern District of Missouri and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Family Hostage Taking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Guatemalan national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 360 months in prison for alien smuggling and hostage taking. According to court documents, Edwin Alfredo Barrientos-Mateo aka “Waches,” 23, was arrested, along with co-conspirator Nelson Abilio Castro-Zelaya, at an apartment in Austin where nine illegal aliens had been held as part of a human smuggling scheme. Three of the illegal aliens being held were a family consisting of a man, pregnant woman, and their seven-year-old child. The day prior to their discovery in Austin, the Eagle Pass Police Department received a report that the family was being held involuntarily and that an alien smuggling organization was demanding a $21,000 payment for the family’s release. Barrientos-Mateo was named in a six-count indictment on April 24, 2024, and was arrested on May 15, 2024. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking on Nov. 4, 2024. Castro-Zelaya was sentenced in November 2025 to 180 months in federal prison. All other co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses presides over the case. “Alien smuggling organizations care nothing about the hopes and dreams of those they smuggle,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “When they look at an illegal alien, all they see is a dollar sign. Do not trust them with your life because the only life they really care about is their own.” Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case with assistance from the Eagle Pass Police Department, Austin Police Department, Houston Police Department and the Comal County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner 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. ###


title: Beverly Hills man pleads guilty to over  $2 million in pandemic fraud scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A Beverly Hills man pleaded guilty today to an extensive pandemic fraud scheme, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr announced. Jabari Long, 45, entered a guilty plea before Judge Brandy McMillion to wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations-Detroit and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations Detroit Field Office. According to court records, Long submitted fraudulent loan applications to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses that did not exist. Specifically, Long received $2,187,000 in federal loans for Priceless Preservations Construction, a company that Long claimed had 50 employees and an average monthly payroll of $875,000. In truth, Priceless Preservations Construction had few, if any, employees and little to no payroll expenses. Long will be sentenced by Judge McMillion on July 28, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment. The case was investigated by HSI and IRS and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara D. Woodward.


title: Former Madera County Welfare Benefits Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Identities and Benefits in Years-Long Scheme

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Former Madera County benefits eligibility worker Leticia Mariscal, 55, of Madera, pleaded guilty today to aggravated identity theft for stealing identities and fraudulently obtaining CalFresh benefits in their names, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today. CalFresh, formerly known as a “food stamp” program, provides qualifying California residents with monetary benefits to help them purchase food. The benefits are funded by the federal government, while the administrative costs for running the program are shared among federal, state, and local governments. According to court records, between July 2022 and June 2025, Mariscal improperly used county databases to which she had access through her job to obtain identifying information for individuals who either were not United States citizens, were elderly, or were deceased. She then secretly approved these individuals to receive or continue receiving CalFresh benefits, printed EBT cards in their names with the benefits deposited thereon and spent the money on herself and her family members. For example, for the individuals who were not United States citizens, Mariscal would obtain their identifying information, contact them, and falsely inform them that they had to provide the county with certain immigration records to continue receiving benefits. She took these steps so that these individuals would fear suffering immigration consequences if they tried to continue receiving benefits and would stop using them. She would then take the benefits for herself. Altogether, Mariscal stole more than $40,000 from more than 15 people. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Madera County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Arelis Clemente are prosecuting the case. Mariscal is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Mariscal faces a statutorily required sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: School Superintendents Plead Guilty to Embezzlement

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD, MS – Earl Joe Nelson of Biloxi, Mississippi and Monekea Smith-Taylor of St. Louis, Missouri appeared in Federal Court before District Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen today and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit embezzlement. On a previous court date, in October 2025, Mario Willis of Southaven, Mississippi also pled guilty to the same conspiracy. According to court documents, from July 2019 to May 2022, Nelson was the superintendent of Clarksdale Municipal School District. In October 2022, Nelson became the superintendent of Leake County School District. Mario Willis was the superintendent of Hollandale School District. Monekea Smith-Taylor was a schoolteacher in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Nelson and Willis used their position as school superintendents to enter into reciprocal consulting contracts and generate reciprocal payments for consulting services at an inflated rate of payment and for consulting services that were not actually provided. From November 2021 to June 2023, at the direction of Mario Willis as superintendent, the Hollandale School District paid a total of approximately $94,400 to Ira Reed Consulting, Inc. and N17 Group, LLC for the personal benefit of Nelson. From November 2021 to May 2022, at the direction of Nelson as superintendent, the Clarksdale Municipal School District paid a total of approximately $25,400 to K&S Enterprises, LLC and ALM Brothers, LLC for the personal benefit of Mario Willis. From January 2023 to May 2023, at the direction of Nelson as superintendent, the Leake County School District paid a total of approximately $23,500 to K&S Enterprises, LLC for the personal benefit of Mario Willis. Many of the invoices used to justify these payments were identical with only the names changed. Nelson often used the same invoices generated by Willis, changed the names and sent them back to the Hollandale School District for payment to Nelson. In addition to the conspiracy with Nelson, Willis used his position as school superintendent to generate payments to Erudition Consulting Company, a company owned and controlled by Monekea Smith-Taylor, for consulting services at an inflated rate of payment and for consulting services that were not actually provided. After receiving payment, Smith-Taylor would meet Nelson in person and provide him with a cash payment, often exactly half of what she had been paid by the Hollandale School District. From June 2021 to May 2023, at the direction of Mario Willis as superintendent, the Hollandale School District paid approximately $250,902 to Erudition Consulting Company, LLC. Nelson, Willis and Smith-Taylor face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. District Judge Sharion Aycock will determine their sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “The protection and education of children goes to the very heart of who we are as a people,” said U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary. “Those that violate this sacred trust will face the consequences of their actions. Always remember those law enforcement officers who spend their careers protecting the public and especially the children of this great state.” “Today’s action shows that these former school leaders not only knowingly and willfully abused their positions of trust for personal gain but did so at the expense of the educational development of children. That is unacceptable," said Adam Shanedling, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office. “Deservedly, they will both be held accountable for cheating Mississippi students and taxpayers." “Thank you to the US Attorney’s Office for helping us bring this case to a close,” said State Auditor Shad White. “My office will continue to work with prosecutors to deliver record results for taxpayers.” The Mississippi Office of the State Auditor and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton A. Dabbs is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARQUES ISIAH LINDSAY, 37, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 17, 2023, Bridgeport Police attempted to stop a vehicle in which Lindsay was a passenger in the area of Washington Terrace in Bridgeport. When the vehicle pulled over, Lindsay exited from the back seat and attempted to flee on foot. Lindsay was quickly apprehended and a search of his person revealed a loaded Glock 26 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, another extended magazine, and $420 in cash. Lindsay’s criminal history spans approximately 20 years and includes felony convictions in state court for drug, robbery, larceny, and other offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Lindsay has been detained since his arrest. On October 1, 2025, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham.


title: Hickory Man Sentenced To More Than Eight Years For Armed Carjacking

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Hickory man was sentenced today in federal court after pleading guilty to carjacking and aiding and abetting, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso ordered Marcus Mayfield, 32, to serve 100 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Estella Patterson of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to filed documents and court proceedings, on January 11, 2023, Mayfield and his co-conspirator, Kaionta Dabney, were driving together when they began to follow a Dodge Hellcat driven by R.P., who owned the vehicle. When R.P. parked and exited his vehicle, Dabney and Mayfield approached the victim on foot. Mayfield brandished a firearm and held R.P. at gunpoint, while Dabney took the victim’s car key. While Mayfield continued to hold R.P. at gunpoint, Dabney got in the vehicle’s driver’s seat. Mayfield then got into the passenger seat and the two drove away. Court records show that Mayfield later recorded videos of himself posing with the stolen vehicle. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Orso ordered Mayfield’s federal sentence to be served in addition to a 14-year state term of imprisonment for Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the ATF and CMPD for the investigation of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution.