title: Child Predator Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Devonte Andrew Edwards, 26, of Kalamazoo, was sentenced to 360 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou emphasized the importance of protecting the public from Edwards, noting that Edwards himself had once told another person that he wanted to groom and assault children “for the rest of [his] life.” U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “Devonte Edwards enjoyed finding children to sexually assault, enjoyed making recordings of his sexual assaults, and enjoyed bragging about it to his friends. I doubt he will enjoy being in federal prison for the next 30 years, but that is exactly where he belongs. Sexual predators take note: Keep your hands off of our kids or you will be found, prosecuted and sent to prison for a very long time.” Authorities began investigating Edwards in the spring of 2025 when Child Protective Services learned that a 13-year-old minor had run away from home with an adult male. Police used forensic examination software to gather evidence from the minor’s phone. The information they gleaned showed the minor had been located near Edwards’s residence during the time of her disappearance. A judge issued a warrant to search his home, and police executed the warrant, seizing Edwards’s electronic devices. On Edwards’s phone, investigators found pictures and videos that showed him sexually assaulting the 13-year-old. They also recovered messages between Edwards and other people with a sexual interest in children. In these messages, Edwards bragged about the sexual assaults that he recorded, stating, “The 13-year-old really made me want to do this for the rest of my life.” Edwards was charged and detained in Kalamazoo County after the search of his dwelling. Later, a federal grand jury indicted Edwards, accusing him of sexually exploiting a child contrary to federal law. He pleaded guilty as charged on December 17, 2025. “Anyone who exploits a child should expect to spend decades behind bars, and this 30-year sentence sends that message loud and clear,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Devonte Edwards admitted to manipulating social media platforms to target underaged girls, a calculated and disturbing abuse of technology. I sincerely thank my team from the FBI Kalamazoo Resident Agency for their exhaustive investigative work, alongside our partners from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Parents should remain vigilant, as many apps allow interaction with strangers and can expose children to serious risks. FBI Detroit will continue to pursue those who prey on our children and work to safeguard our communities from predators.” “This conviction sends a clear message: when local and federal partners work together, we can hold offenders fully accountable,” said David Boysen, Chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. “These cases are complex and often cross jurisdictions, but our collaboration allowed us to build a strong case that led to a significant sentence. Protecting children is our highest priority, and we will continue to pursue these crimes relentlessly.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Roth and Austin Hakes prosecuted it. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Colorado Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Trafficking Fentanyl, Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Denver, Co., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms. Jason S. Thompson, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years in federal prison without parole for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms. Thompson was found guilty on Jan. 6, 2026, after a two-day jury trial. In the early morning hours of Aug. 30, 2024, officers with the Nixa, Mo., Police Department contacted Thompson, who was camping in a minivan in a Walmart parking lot. Thompson initially provided officers with false identification. When officers attempted to arrest him, Thompson fled on foot but was quickly apprehended. Once Thompson gave officers correct identifying information, they learned he had a federal probation and parole warrant for his arrest. Officers searched Thompson and found a small bag of cocaine and more than $1,000 cash. When officers searched the minivan they located drug paraphernalia, a large plastic bag containing nearly 140 grams of fentanyl pills, and two loaded firearms: a Glock model 19 and a HS Produkt Hellcat. According to court documents, Thompson has an extensive criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, conspiracy to distribute multiple controlled substances, and theft. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver, James J. Kelleher, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah R. Lucas. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nixa, Mo., Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Conspiring to Create and Distribute Animal Crush Videos Showing Violent Torture of Monkeys

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Catlin, Illinois, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos and then distributing those videos through online chat groups, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Amanda Leigh Fourez, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand. According to court documents and statements made in court during the change of plea hearing, Fourez and others conspired to pool their money to commission the creation of animal crush videos—that is, videos that show actual obscene conduct in which living non-human mammals, in this case, monkeys, were purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury—and then distributed those videos to other group members and chat groups via an instant messaging application. Fourez acknowledges sending at least 11 payments to others to commission animal crush videos, and then knowingly distributing animal crush videos on at least 10 occasions. Fourez archived and controlled the distribution of animal crush videos. Another member of these groups, Joseph Garrett Buckland of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos earlier this month (read the news release regarding Buckland’s plea here ). Judge Wiegand scheduled Fourez’s sentencing for August 27, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of up to seven years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Emily Stone of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans’ Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Fourez.


title: SantaCon Organizer Charged In Wire Fraud Scheme Targeting Attendees And Host Venues

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Jennifer L. Piovesan, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging STEFAN PILDES with wire fraud. PILDES was arrested today in Manhattan and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. “As alleged, Stefan Pildes promoted SantaCon as an event grounded in charitable giving, but instead of donating the millions of dollars he raised, he ran his own con game,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “He took advantage of New Yorkers’ generous holiday spirit to finance his lifestyle through personal expenses, big and small. No matter how you dress it up, fraud is fraud. We are committed to protecting New Yorkers from those who exploit their enthusiasm and generosity.” “Stefan Pildes, the president of SantaCon, allegedly pocketed over half of the proceeds generated by his nonprofit to make personal purchases,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Pildes allegedly stole Christmas from tens of thousands of victims and deprived local charities of more than one million dollars. The FBI continues to root out scrooges that greedily exploit the goodwill of New Yorkers.” “When individuals exploit charitable causes for personal gain, they undermine the trust our communities place in organizations meant to serve the public good,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Piovesan. “IRS-CI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to uncover deceptive financial schemes and ensure those who abuse their positions for personal enrichment are held accountable.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] From at least November 2019 through April 2026, PILDES defrauded tens of thousands of individuals and small business owners who participated in a popular, Christmas-themed event organized and promoted by PILDES, referred to as “SantaCon.” SantaCon is a ticketed bar crawl that takes place annually in December in New York City, during which over approximately 25,000 attendees dress as Santa Claus and other holiday characters and travel to participating bars and restaurants throughout the day. At all relevant times, PILDES served as the president of and controlled the nonprofit entity that organizes SantaCon called Participatory Safety, Inc. (“PSI”). SantaCon primarily generates proceeds through (i) sales of tickets to bar crawl attendees (“Attendees”) and (ii) sales commissions from bars and restaurants that serve as host venues along the bar crawl route (“Venues”). PILDES, through PSI and its representatives, represented to Attendees and Venues that SantaCon was an event to benefit charity. PILDES maintained a website for SantaCon (the “SantaCon Website”) that was used to promote and communicate information about SantaCon. The SantaCon Website advertised that Attendees who purchased a ticket to SantaCon would receive access to the Venues and that proceeds from ticket sales would be distributed to various charities. For example, in or about December 2024, PILDES promoted on the SantaCon Website that ticket money went “directly to Santa’s charity drive,” and that “[y]our money will be split between the various charities listed on this page as well as local neighborhood charities along Santa’s route.” Additionally, the SantaCon Website described SantaCon as a “charitable, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention.” PILDES also solicited bars and restaurants to participate in SantaCon through representations regarding the event’s charitable mission. Venues that were signed up as official stops on the SantaCon route agreed to give PSI a designated percentage of their food and beverage sales during the event. This contribution was characterized as a “charitable commission” or “donation” and was typically between 10% and 25% of sales. In exchange, PILDES, through PSI and its representatives, agreed to distribute the charitable commission to various charities. In reality, PILDES defrauded the Attendees and Venues. SantaCon events from 2019 to 2024 generated approximately $2.7 million in proceeds, including over $2 million in ticket sales and over $675,000 in charitable commissions from Venues. PILDES donated only a small fraction of the millions of dollars he raised for charity. Instead, PILDES siphoned off more than half of the charitable proceeds to an entity that PILDES controlled, Creative Opportunities Group, Inc. (“COG”), that had no public connection to SantaCon, where he used these funds freely to finance various personal ventures. PILDES also abused his control over PSI’s bank accounts to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars of the remaining proceeds for his own personal use. Among other things, PILDES spent SantaCon proceeds on extensive renovations to a lakefront property in New Jersey, concert tickets, luxury vacations, extravagant meals, and a luxury vehicle. PILDES did so despite claiming that he did not receive any compensation from SantaCon or PSI. PILDES told one representative of a potential Venue that “[n]o producer receives income from this event, this is a charity event.” If you have been victimized by STEFAN PILDES, as either an attendee or a venue that participated in SantaCon, please fill out the short form found here: https://www.fbi.gov/SantaConVictims . * * * PILDES, 50, of Hewitt, New Jersey, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton thanked the FBI and IRS-CI. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. This case is being supervised by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Varun A. Gumaste and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew N. Stahl are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Peoria Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $1.8 Million in Tax Refunds

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Leslie Victor Gentry, 54, of Peoria, Arizona, pleaded guilty on April 8 to Filing False Claims for Refund. Sentencing is scheduled for July 13, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich. According to the plea agreement, Gentry knowingly prepared and submitted 14 false Form 941 tax returns for tax years 2020 and 2021. Gentry filed the tax returns on behalf of two businesses that he and his wife owned, but that were not in operation during that time. The tax returns claimed false COVID-related tax credits based on fictitious wages paid to fictitious employees. Gentry admitted that, in reality, the companies did not have any employees and did not pay any of the reported wages. Through the false filings, Gentry fraudulently sought and received more than $1.8 million in COVID-related tax credits. A conviction for Filing False Claims for Refund carries a maximum term of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution to the IRS. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00263 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-061_Gentry # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Illegal alien from El Salvador sentenced to prison for reentering the United States following his removal as a convicted felon

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Salvadoran national Moises Osvaldo Sorto-Iraeta, 31, was sentenced today to a year and four months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed following his conviction for an aggravated felony. Sorto-Iraeta remains subject to the prior order of removal. According to court documents, on March 6, 2017, Moises Osvaldo Sorto-Iraeta, 31, was found guilty of unlawful bodily injury for participating in an assault outside a restaurant in Prince William County. Sorto-Iraeta was sentenced to five years in prison, but his sentence was suspended when he was removed from the United States on May 19, 2017, pursuant to a final order of removal. After illegally reentering the United States, Sorto-Iraeta was arrested in Loudoun County on Dec. 30, 2023, for assault and battery, brandishing a weapon, possession of a weapon by a violent felon, and gun possession by an unlawful alien. On Feb. 7, 2024, he was convicted of assault and battery and brandishing a firearm. Three months after his release from prison, Sorto-Iraeta was arrested in Loudoun County on April 29, 2025, for possession of cocaine. He was sentenced on Oct. 10, 2025, to 90 days in prison. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Washington, D.C., investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Miguel Ortiz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Roberts prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-319.


title: Bookkeeper for Nonprofit Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More Than $79,000 from Incapacitated Senior Citizens

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Brenda Denise Walters, 57, of Nappanee, Indiana, has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to ten counts of wire fraud. According to court documents, in August 2023, Walters was hired by Organization A, a nonprofit that provides programs and services for elderly adults, to serve as a part-time bookkeeper for its Guardianship Program. The Guardianship Program acts as a court‑appointed legal guardian for incapacitated adults and is responsible for managing the finances of individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs. As bookkeeper, Walters oversaw the financial accounts of approximately twenty‑three program clients. Her duties included taking control of client accounts, paying their bills, and responsibly managing their funds. For nearly a year, Walters carried out a scheme to defraud mentally incapacitated elderly adults by stealing money from their personal bank accounts for her own benefit. As part of the scheme, Walters transferred funds from client accounts into bank and credit card accounts she controlled, or used client accounts to pay her personal expenses, including paying her electric and insurance bills, buying clothes, hosting parties, and taking expensive vacations to New York City, Florida, and Pigeon Forge. To conceal her theft, Walters created falsified bank statements that hid transfers to her personal accounts and fabricated documents to support fraudulent charges. In one instance, she created a fake United Healthcare bill for a client to disguise a transfer she made to her Apple Card. In another, she wrote a check from a client’s account to her mother, falsely labeling it “plumbing,” then deposited the funds into an account she controlled and altered the bank statement to remove evidence of the check entirely. In total, Walters stole approximately $79,000 from at least six Guardianship Program clients. “Brenda Walters preyed exclusively on some of the most vulnerable members of our society—elderly Hoosiers who could no longer manage their own finances and entrusted her to safeguard their life savings,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Her conduct was not a momentary lapse in judgment but a calculated scheme to enrich herself at the expense of people who had no ability to defend themselves. This office will continue to pursue justice for victims who are targeted because of their age, incapacity, or dependence on others.” “Financial exploitation of vulnerable seniors is deeply reprehensible, and this case underscores the importance of vigilance and accountability - particularly when the offender is in a position of trust,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI remains committed to identifying and prosecuting those who exploit that trust for personal gain, and ensuring they are held fully accountable.” FBI Indianapolis’ Financial Crimes Task Force in collaboration with the Carmel Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcement’s efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available from the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website. ###


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 13, 2026. Elizeo Kalimba, 33, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Kalimba was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was convicted following a jury trial in federal court in October 2025. Kalimba worked with another individual to obtain thousands of fentanyl pills from Arizona that he then distributed in Sioux Falls. Members of the Sioux Falls Police Department used a confidential informant to conduct two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Kalimba and then executed a search warrant at his home that led to the discovery of approximately 3900 pills in his home. Investigators believe Kalimba was responsible for trafficking over 13,000 fentanyl pills in and around the city. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota DCI, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Kalimba was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 17½ Years in Prison for Violent Home Invasion Robberies Targeting Business Owners and Employees

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ali Chandler, 30, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 210 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $60,000 in restitution by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for two violent home invasion robberies targeting business owners and employees. Chandler and co-defendant Abdullah Hartage were charged by superseding indictment in October 2022. Both pleaded guilty in October 2024 to conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and two counts of committing or threatening physical violence in furtherance of a plan or purpose to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery. Hartage was sentenced in January to 18 years in prison. As detailed in court filings and statements, on November 13, 2021, Chandler, Hartage, and others met at their intended victims’ area business and waited outside until closing time, when the owners and their adult daughter left. The robbers, who had conducted prior surveillance to determine where the family lived, then drove to the residence, arriving before the victims. When the victims opened their garage and parked inside, the four perpetrators, armed with handguns, stormed in. One of the gunmen struck the 61-year-old male victim several times in the head, causing injuries, and forced him to the ground. Another gunman forced the business owners’ daughter to the ground at gunpoint, and yet another perpetrator forced the 65-year-old female victim from the garage into the home at gunpoint, striking her several times in the head and causing injuries. After the home’s security alarm sounded, the perpetrators fled, taking the daughter’s backpack, which contained her credit/debit cards and ID. In the next robbery, committed on December 4, 2021, Chandler, Hartage, and others targeted an employee of an area store. They had spent weeks casing the store, following the victim home and identifying her house. On the night of the robbery, the perpetrators again arrived ahead of the victim. Within minutes of the victim arriving home, three armed men broke in, one telling her “I know where you work.” The 68-year-old victim was zip-tied to a chair and pistol whipped in the face, causing head injuries, including a gash requiring stitches and a concussion. The perpetrators made off with a safe containing cash, coins, and jewelry. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Montgomery Township Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Doherty.


title: Sioux Falls Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine  and Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Courtney Richmond, age 49, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls. The verdict was returned on April 10, 2026. The charges for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance each carry a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a $10 million dollar fine, at least five years and up to life on supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The charge for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person carries a sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Richmond was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations started investigating Richmond late in 2022 and the DEA started looking into him in the Fall of 2023. Investigators discovered that Richmond was sourcing methamphetamine to at least one other person who was then reselling it to others. They observed text and Facebook messages between the two that confirmed their drug related dealings. Eventually, investigators obtained warrants for Richmond’s person, residences, and vehicles. On December 14, 2023, investigators stopped Richmond in a vehicle that had his company’s BBQ food truck logo on the side. They searched the vehicle and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded pistol. They then searched his home and found an additional 216 grams of methamphetamine and another loaded firearm. Richmond is not allowed to possess firearms due to four prior felony convictions from the state of Minnesota. The investigation into Richmond and his associates resulted in the seizure of approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brookings Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date will be set for a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Gun Store Owner Indicted for Aiding and Abetting Straw Purchasing and Failing to Report Cash Payments Over $10,000

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

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of Virtus Armament and The Armory, Virtus Armament, a federal firearms licensee (FFL), was indicted last week on charges related to aiding and abetting straw purchases of firearms and failing to report cash transactions over $10,000. On April 8, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned an 8-count indictment against Esteban Yanez, 34, of Gilbert, Arizona, for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, Straw Purchasing of Firearms, and Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business. Yanez was arraigned April 14. The indictment alleges that on three occasions, Yanez aided and abetted individuals who knowingly made false statements to Yanez’s FFL when submitting the ATF Form 4473, misrepresenting the actual purchaser of the firearms. In two instances, the firearms were being purchased for an individual convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms. Finally, Yanez is also alleged to have failed to file the IRS Form 8300, reporting the receipt of over $10,000 in a trade or business related to the sale of firearms. A conviction for False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Straw Purchasing of Firearms carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. A conviction for Failure to File Forms 8300 Relating to Cash Received in Trade or Business carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-00326 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-062_Yanez # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Indiana Man Charged with Robbery and Murder of Illinois Bar Owner

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury in the Central District of Illinois returned an indictment on April 8, 2026, charging Julius Burkes, 47, of Indiana, with obstruction of commerce by robbery, murder, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon. Burkes is alleged to have robbed and murdered the owner of The Line, a bar in Momence, Illinois, using a firearm, on February 2, 2026. The indictment was unsealed on April 13, 2026. Burkes was arrested in Hammond, Indiana, on February 3, 2026, by officers of the Hammond Police Department, who were working in coordination with the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office. Burkes has remained in law enforcement custody since that date. He was initially charged by the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office, which has been working in coordination with federal authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation and after Burkes’ arrest. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for obstruction of commerce by robbery are up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The maximum statutory penalties for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon are up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The maximum penalty for murder is up to life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. Agencies participating in the investigation include the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Tri-County Auto Theft Task Force (“TCAT”); the Illinois State Police; the Momence Police Department; the Bradley Police Department; the Grant Park Police Department; the Hammond Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force; and the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Freres is representing the United States in the prosecution. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Fleeing drug smuggler sent to federal prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has been ordered to prison for attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Eric Barclay pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now ordered Barclay to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence Barclay fled on foot from law enforcement following a high-speed vehicle pursuit. On July 25, 2024, Christopher Seabrook drove a silver Chrysler to the Javier Vega Jr. BP checkpoint near Sarita. Barclay was the passenger. At the initial inspection, Seabrook fled and led law enforcement on a chase reaching speeds up to 125 miles per hour. Authorities brought the vehicle to a stop by puncturing its tires, at which time Barclay tried to flee on foot. Following his apprehension and subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered 10 bundles of cocaine weighing 9.8 kilograms hidden in the rear panels. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $210,000. Barclay has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Seabrook, 51, Philadelphia, was previously ordered to serve 120 months in federal prison. BP and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Highway Patrol and the Philadelphia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Ashley Pruitt prosecuted the case.


body_text: Marlborough Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement from a Non-Profit CONCORD – A Marlborough woman pleaded guilty to embezzling from Monadnock Peer Support (MPS), a mental health non-profit based in Keene, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Christine Allen, a/k/a Christine Nowill, a/k/a Christine Yardley, 52, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2026. According to court documents and statements made in court, Allen was the Executive Director of MPS. As Executive Director, she had full access to MPS’s finances, including its accounting records, bank accounts, checkbook, and debit cards. Between January 2021 and May 2023, Allen embezzled from MPS. She used the stolen money on personal expenses, including bedding material, gaming equipment, hockey equipment, men’s clothing, and a meat cleaver. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigations led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.


title: Illegal alien sentenced 27 years in federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in the United States has been sentenced to 27 years in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Israel Sanchez Arciga, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on April 14, 2026. According to information presented in court, Arciga and others were importing liquid methamphetamine from Mexico, completing the manufacturing process in Texas and then distributing multi-kilogram quantities of highly pure methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Arciga, an illegal alien, was also in possession of a firearm when he was arrested on July 14, 2023, outside the methamphetamine conversion lab in Rice, Texas, where he was living. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Flower Mound Police Department, Garland Police Department, and Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, with additional assistance from the Texas Department of Public Service and Navarro County Sheriff’s Office. ###


title: Brockton Man Charged with Making False Statements to Law Enforcement About Firearms Recovered at Crime Scenes

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brockton man was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston for allegedly making false statements to law enforcement regarding his disposal of more than 20 firearms he purchased more than a dozen of which later surfaced at various crime scenes across the Northeast, including a Boston homicide. Klordenzsky Senecharles, 29, has been arrested and charged with making materially false statements. Senecharles was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. According to the charging documents, between March 2020 and May 2021, Senecharles purchased a total of 28 firearms and later sold four of them. Of the 24 firearms still registered to Senecharles, 13 firearms were allegedly recovered in connection with criminal activity, including a Feb. 26, 2024 homicide in Boston. According to the criminal complaint, when law enforcement questioned Senecharles about the whereabouts of the 24 firearms, Senecharles claimed that he had sold 21 of the 24 firearms to various Massachusetts registered firearms dealers. When law enforcement contacted the firearms dealers, they allegedly reported that they had no record of purchasing from Senecharles any of the 21 firearms he claimed to have sold them. The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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 Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Colin T. Missett of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Lexington County Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Derrick Jameel Joye, 24, and Jalen Shaprie Rutherford, 24, both of Lexington, have been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition. Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that on June 4, 2024, officers with the West Columbia Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle. During the stop, a front-seat passenger, identified as Joye, exited the vehicle and ran through a nearby apartment complex while carrying an AR-15–style pistol. Despite multiple commands from pursuing officers to stop, Joye failed to comply, continued running, and discarded the firearm before he was apprehended. Officers detained Joye and recovered a loaded semiautomatic pistol with a round in the chamber. Officers also detained the driver, identified as Rutherford, who admitted to possessing a firearm located in the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a loaded semiautomatic 9mm pistol from the glove compartment, along with an extended magazine and additional ammunition. Rutherford had prior felony convictions for involuntary manslaughter, unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree domestic violence, and receiving stolen goods. Joye had a prior felony conviction for second-degree assault and battery. At the time of the offense, Rutherford was out on bond, faces state charges for murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. As convicted felons, both Rutherford and Joye were prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. United States District Judge Mary Geiger-Lewis sentenced Joye to 33 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. Rutherford was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is a violent crime reduction strategy based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case. ###


title: United States Sues Illinois Doctor for Fraudulent Billing in Durable Medical Equipment Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed a lawsuit under the False Claims Act against an Illinois-based doctor for allegedly causing the submission of claims to Medicare for medically unreasonable and unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME). The complaint alleges that between December 2018 and April 2019, Dr. Alexandria Williams signed orders for medically unnecessary orthotic braces for Medicare beneficiaries she never examined and who often did not want or need the braces. The orders that Williams allegedly signed were pre-populated based on telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries and contained multiple false statements, including, for instance, that Williams had completed an evaluation of the patient, discussed the use of orthotics with the patient, and instructed the patient on medical follow-up care. It is alleged that Williams generally did not contact the beneficiaries herself and had no medical relationship with the beneficiaries. At the time of the alleged conduct, Williams was a licensed physician in Massachusetts and ordered the braces for Massachusetts-based beneficiaries. The complaint further alleges that Williams received payment for each order she reviewed through a staffing company that had connected her with Integrated Support Plus, Inc., a telemedicine company whose owner pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme in 2020. The orders she allegedly signed became the basis for DME suppliers to submit claims to Medicare for orthotics. As a result of Williams’ alleged participation in this scheme, the government contends that Medicare paid approximately $630,000 in false claims for DME that were medically unreasonable and unnecessary. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross of the Foley’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit. The claims are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Lawrence County Man Pleads Guilty to Water Pollution

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – A Martha, Ky., man, Josh Ferguson, 42, pleaded guilty on Tuesday before Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to knowingly discharging waste product into waters of the United States. According to his plea agreement, in the fall of 2025, the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection (“Kentucky DEP”) received a tip about the discharge of “brine water,” a waste product of oil production, into the Left Fork Blaine Creek in Lawrence County. On September 3, 2025, a Kentucky DEP inspector investigated the site where Ferguson owned two oil production wells. A hose connected to a metal brine tank ran through a field to the Left Fork Blaine Creek, where it was actively discharging waste product into the waterway. Downstream of the discharge, the water was orange with no signs of life, and water samples indicated extremely elevated chloride levels. When interviewed by the Kentucky DEP inspector, Ferguson admitted that he had been discharging brine water into the creek in order to save money, that he did not have a permit to do so, and that the conduct had been ongoing for two years. The Left Fork Blaine Creek is a water of the United States. “Dumping oil-production waste into Kentucky waterways to save money is both illegal and unacceptable,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This case reflects our commitment to protecting public health, enforcing the Clean Water Act against those who put profit over people, and safeguarding the natural resources that our communities rely on.” “These ongoing discharges threatened the public and aquatic life downstream—putting profits over people and the environment,” said Leslie Y. Carroll, Acting Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Kentucky. “Clean water is one of Kentucky’s most valuable resources, and it must be protected. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that EPA and our enforcement partners will investigate violations and hold polluters accountable to protect human health and the environment.” Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Anthony R. Hatton, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection, jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by EPA-CID and Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Ferguson is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10. He faces a maximum of three years in prison and a minimum fine of not less than $5,000 per day of violation. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. — END —


title: Orlando Man Sentenced to Over Six Years for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Involving COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Dexter Ray King (36, Orlando) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. to six years and three months in federal prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered King to forfeit $549,375.50 in proceeds from his bank fraud scheme. A restitution hearing is scheduled for June 29, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. King was convicted on January 9, 2026, following a jury trial. According to evidence presented at trial, during the COVID-19 pandemic, King filed dozens of fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits across several states. For many of the claims, King used stolen identities of other people and fake addresses. Once the claims were approved, King changed the addresses on the claims to his Orlando, Florida apartment, ensuring that the debit cards containing the fraudulently obtained government benefits were mailed to him. He then used the debit cards to withdraw the money from the bank. King also filed fraudulent claims using his own name, but Social Security numbers that did not belong to him and had the resulting benefits direct deposited into his bank account. In total, King received over half a million dollars in fraud proceeds, which he spent on a new $77,000 SUV, a trip to Las Vegas, expensive restaurants, and luxury fashion brands. This case was investigated by the Department Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Conspiring to Create and Distribute Animal Crush Videos Showing Violent Torture of Monkeys

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Amanda Leigh Fourez, of Catlin, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to charges of distributing and conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos through online chat groups. According to court documents and statements made in court during the change of plea hearing, Fourez paid thousands of dollars to commission bespoke sexual torture videos of monkeys, and later she distributed the obscene crush videos over the Internet. Fourez archived and controlled the distribution of animal crush videos. She was a member of several online chat groups and private payment groups dedicated to the creation, distribution, and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being tortured, including baby and adult monkeys being burned and their genitals mutilated. Fourez is the second individual to be charged in this animal crush conspiracy ring. Another member of these groups, Joseph Garrett Buckland, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos earlier this month. Fourez faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of seven years in prison for the distribution charge and a fine of up to $500,000. A judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans, and Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement. HSI New Orleans’ Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations and the FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Locher for the Western District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.


title: Crawford County Man Sentenced to 170 Months in Prison for Grooming, Sex with Minor

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man to 170 months in prison for grooming and engaging in illegal sexual contact with a minor. Nathaniel Rod Gibson, 34, gave the victim a phone and sent her via more than 18,996 text messages from March 10, 2023, to Sept. 6, 2023, while grooming her with romantic and flirtatious statements. Gibson also told the victim to delete the messages so that her mother would not find them. In June of 2023, Gibson drove the then-13-year-old victim from Missouri to a campground in Arkansas, where he engaged in an illegal sex act with her. He also did so at his home in Crawford County. Gibson pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Diamond City (Arkansas) Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice a 14-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Isaiah Jacob Jordan (26, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Jordan Emery Pratt to 10 years in federal prison for using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice a 14-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Jordan pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026. He was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender. According to court documents and information presented in open court, on January 18, 2025, an undercover Nassau County Sheriff’s Office detective (UC) was conducting an online undercover operation to identify adults who were seeking to contact and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as a 14-year-old child, the UC was asked by Jordan about his age and sexual preferences. Jordan engaged in multiple sexually explicit conversations with the UC, with Jordan asking the UC to meet for sexual activity in a Walmart parking lot. Once Jordan arrived, he was taken into custody. A search of the car revealed condoms and lubricant in the center console, along with the cellular phone Jordan used to communicate with the UC. A search of Jordan’s cellular phone revealed several images of children being sexually abused. This case was investigated by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 investigative resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Multiple Baltimore Men Charged in Drug Trafficking Organization Takedown

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Several Baltimore-area men are facing charges today, stemming from a joint-agency takedown of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in the 500 block of Sheridan Avenue in North Baltimore. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced it filed charges against the men in connection with the operation. Omar Gilliam, 43, Derrell Washington Coates, 42, Kevin Harris, 34, and Darren Farmer, 36, are each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base, commonly referred to as crack cocaine. Stephen Oliver, 38, is charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, Gilliam and Oliver are charged with firearm trafficking and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person due to each having a prior felony conviction. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the charges with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Ivan J. Bates, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City. “These charges underscore our continued commitment to making Baltimore and all of Maryland safer. This collaboration is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we work together with a shared commitment to public safety,” Hayes said. “We will continue working side by side with our partners to disrupt criminal activity and deliver justice for the communities we serve.” “This operation highlights the power of coordinated teamwork,” Doerrer said. “ATF remains firmly committed to holding the most violent individuals in our community accountable using every available tool to protect public safety.” “This takedown is a strong example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement at every level works together with a shared commitment to public safety,” Worley said. Through the dedication of our Northern District Action Team and the support of our federal, state, and local partners, we were able to dismantle a dangerous group responsible for trafficking drugs and contributing to violence in our communities. Our work continues, and together, we are making Baltimore and our region safer.” “Residents in every neighborhood of our city have concerns about the guns and drugs that fuel violence in their community. Today’s takedown once again reaffirms that we have made it our mission, as law enforcement, to find purveyors of violence and crime and hold them accountable. This investigation reflects the power of strong collaboration between our local and federal law enforcement partners,” Bates said. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Baltimore Police Department, ATF Baltimore, the U.S. Marshal’s Office, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their partnership and commitment to public safety. As our Firearm & Drug Trafficking Unit prepares to prosecute the defendants, we will continue working together to dismantle similar networks that put lives at risk and undermine the safety of Baltimore’s communities.” According to the criminal complaint, between August 2025 and March 2026, ATF and BPD partnered to investigate the North Baltimore DTO. During the investigation, law enforcement identified specific members and located potential stash locations through confidential informants. Beginning in August 2025, ATF used a confidential informant (CI-1) to buy narcotics from Gilliam, Harris, and Washington Coates. In October 2025, ATF then used a second confidential informant (CI-2) to buy narcotics from the same DTO members. Then in December 2025, CI-2 began purchasing narcotics and firearms from Oliver, and in March 2026, CI-2 purchased firearms from Gilliam. Farmer began distributing narcotics to CI-2 in January 2026. In total, law enforcement conducted 15 controlled purchases from Gilliam, two of which included firearms. Washington Coates participated in seven of those controlled purchases, and Harris participated in one. In addition, law enforcement conducted eight controlled purchases from Oliver, along with two separate controlled purchases of firearms, and law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases from Farmer, some of which also involved Gilliam and Harris. Law enforcement continued monitoring Gilliam, Oliver, Harris, Washington Coates, Farmer, and others participating in drug trafficking activities in different Baltimore-area locations. Then on April 8, authorities arrested four of the defendants on the federal charges, while also executing federal search warrants at three addresses in the 500 Block of Sheridan Avenue, along with another Baltimore City property, and a Baltimore County residence. Law enforcement arrested the fifth defendant, Farmer, today. During the arrest and search operation, officers recovered numerous firearms, along with nearly 400 grams of suspected narcotics. A complaint is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Maryland and Baltimore County Police Department for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Stanton Lawyer who is prosecuting this federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced to Nearly 14 Years in Prison for Role in $2 Million Fraud Scheme Against the Federal Government

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Atlanta Field Office, announced the sentencing of a York, Pennsylvania woman for her role in a scheme that defrauded the United States government of more than $2 million. On April 15, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 45-year-old Queen Naja, also known as Renata Winifred Ince and Naja Talibah Zahir, to 165 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. In addition to her term of imprisonment, the court ordered Naja to serve three years of supervised release following her release from prison. The court also ordered restitution in the amount of $2,065,797.26. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in April 2021, Naja contacted co-conspirator Quentin Diego Sturgeon of Montgomery, Alabama, through social media with a plan to fraudulently obtain funds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The scheme involved creating a legal trust, submitting false tax documents, and filing a fraudulent payment in order to generate a refund to which the conspirators were not entitled. As a result, the IRS issued a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $1,010,561.26. Sturgeon previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering and was sentenced on August 26, 2025, to 12 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,010,561 in restitution jointly with Naja. In addition to Queen Naja’s scheme with Sturgeon, the court determined that her criminal activity included filing false returns and fraudulent payments on behalf of herself and other individuals. Specifically, the court ordered her to pay restitution for $1,055,236.12 in refunds issued to Queen Naja’s mother as a result of Queen Naja’s fraudulent payments. With part of the refund checks that her mother received, Queen Naja bought a house, where she lived for several years while continuing to commit her fraudulent activity. Between trial and sentencing, she listed that house and all its furniture for sale. IRS-CI obtained a seizure warrant for the proceeds of that sale, securing $214,010.42 for the government. The court also determined that Queen Naja submitted numerous fraudulent payments to the IRS in an effort to obtain additional refunds. If Queen Naja’s efforts had been successful, she would have caused the IRS an additional $428,732,324.56 in losses. “This defendant orchestrated a complex fraud scheme designed to exploit the United States government and steal taxpayer funds,” said Acting United States Attorney Davidson. “Crimes like this strike at the heart of our nation’s tax system and undermine public trust. Those who engage in this type of criminal conduct must be held accountable and face serious consequences.” “With fabricated documents and a fraudulent refund request, Queen Naja sought to exploit the federal tax system for more than a million dollars.” said Special Agent in Charge Hardeman. “The special agents of IRS CI are committed to identifying and investigating individuals who deliberately attempt to misuse the tax system for personal gain.” Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated this case with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.


title: Orange County Man Charged with Enticing Multiple Minors to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity and Multiple Child Sexual Abuse Material Offenses

body_text: Orlando, FL – Aaron Starbird (44, Orlando) has been charged by indictment with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, one count of production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), four counts of receipt of CSAM, and one count of possession of CSAM. If convicted, Starbird faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, in 2025 Starbird became the target of an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation when he began chatting with an undercover officer and expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with minors. Starbird’s cellphone was seized as part of that investigation. A search of his device revealed that between 2021 and 2024, Starbird coerced and enticed two minor victims to engage in illegal sexual activity and attempted to entice another minor victim to do the same. For one of the minor victims, who was 14 years old at the time, Starbird made plans to meet with the minor, picked the minor up from the minor’s home, and took the minor back to Starbird’s residence, where they engaged in sexual acts. During this period, Starbird also induced another minor victim to produce CSAM, and Starbird received other CSAM on multiple occasions in connection with conversations Starbird had with others about engaging in sexual activity with minors. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: 6 Charged in Sumter and Lee County Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a multi-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging six individuals for their roles in trafficking cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. The following defendants were arraigned in federal court today: Lorenzo Blackwell, 35, of Bishopville Marquis Quintell Durant, 38, of Sumter Marcus Martenez McConico, 37, of Sumter Kalvin Clay Singletary, 36, of Sumter Perry Sherrod Taft, 65, of Sumter Nikennia Fatese Carter, 34, of Bishopville The indictment stems from a Homeland Security Task Force investigation targeting individuals involved in drug trafficking in the Sumter and Lee County areas. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered significant quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, and multiple firearms. This operation was also part of the FBI's Operation Spring Cleaning, a surge of law enforcement resources targeting violent gangs and drug activity. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Sumter Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, with assistance from the FBI Charlotte Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Clayton Chiropractor Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a chiropractor who committed healthcare fraud and issued fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substance to 100 months in prison and ordered him to repay $4.7 million to Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare. Jerry Dale Leech, 53, of Clayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in 2021 to one count of conspiracy, one count of obtaining controlled substances through fraud, one count of receiving illegal kickbacks for referrals and one count of health care fraud. Two of his co-conspirators, Dr. Stanley L. Librach, now 65, of Chesterfield, and Dr. Asim Muhammad Ali, 55, of Creve Coeur, pleaded guilty to similar charges. In court during Wednesday’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric called Leech “the ringmaster of the conspiracy.” All three men admitted that Dr. Ali and Dr. Librach wrote prescriptions for the powerful pain medication oxycodone and other controlled substances when there was no legitimate medical purpose and while acting outside the usual course of professional practice. As Leech knew, the doctors had not examined the patients, rarely looked at their charts and should have known via drug tests that they were not taking the drugs that they were prescribed or were taking non-prescribed or illegal drugs. Leech actively encouraged the doctors to prescribe controlled substances despite the aberrant drug test results. He also exchanged fraudulent prescriptions to other conspirators for cash or other items of value. The conspirators knew that pharmacies would seek reimbursement for the medications from Medicare and Medicaid. Leech admitted responsibility for at least 94,971 oxycodone pills that had been distributed with no legitimate medical purpose. In another scheme, they agreed to send urine samples for testing to a lab operated by Dr. Ali, Central Diagnostic Laboratory, in exchange for illegal kickbacks that went to business entities owned by Leech and another co-defendant, Denis J. Mikhlin. CDL then sought reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid for the testing. CDL paid Midwest Marketing, a company run by Leech, at least $150,795 in bribes for the reimbursement CDL received from federal health care programs, which was at least $861,600. “Jerry Leech and his co-conspirators exploited Medicare and Medicaid and put patients at risk solely for their own financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “Even as our nation continues to address the opioid crisis, these fraudsters executed their schemes by pushing opioid medications without a legitimate medical purpose, thus siphoning critical resources from Medicare and Medicaid and undermining federal health care programs designed to protect vulnerable individuals. HHS OIG, alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who defraud our health care system to ensure they are held fully accountable.” “Jerry Leech and the individuals he conspired with misled patients and in essence stole from the healthcare system,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “These acts are unacceptable. We hold practitioners to high standards for a reason and Mr. Leech took advantage of his title helping himself to profits while hurting others along the way. The DEA will not stand for these types of actions.” Eleven defendants were indicted in 2020, including three doctors, their staff and purported patients. A twelfth was added in 2022. All have pleaded guilty. Mikhlin, 47, of Chesterfield, was sentenced in 2021 to nine years in prison and ordered to repay $181,265. Dr. Librach was sentenced in June of 2025 to 60 months in prison and ordered to repay $2.87 million. Dr. Ali was sentenced in September to 70 months in prison and ordered to repay $1.8 million. The HHS-OIG, the DEA, the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Sestric, Derek Wiseman and Jonathan Clow prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Los Angeles, California Man Sentenced to Over 23 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Los Angeles, California, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026. Dejuan Croom, 43, was sentenced to 23 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Croom was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in October 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026. From late 2023 to September 2024, Croom was a member of a California and Nevada-based drug trafficking organization which transported large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota, ultimately distributing the drugs in the Sioux Falls area. The organization shipped packages of drugs through the U.S. mail and utilized rental vehicles to drive the drugs – typically stored in hidden compartments – to South Dakota. The organization started out using local hotels as bases for their distribution operations and later shifted to short-term rental properties. Croom served in a managerial role for the organization, under the direction of the group’s leader, Quantiae Harris. Croom drove drug-laden rental vehicles from California to Sioux Falls, assisted in selling the drugs to the group’s local sub-distributors, and deposited large quantities of the drug proceeds in Harris’ bank accounts at his behest. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. This case was investigated by the DEA, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Croom was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Guatemalan National Indicted for Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien and Illegal Entry into the United States

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan National has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and illegal entry into the United States. Edilberto Gonzalez-Barrera, 40, was charged in a two-count indictment on April 14, 2026. The indictment alleges Gonzalez-Barrera illegally entered the United States without being properly admitted to the country, and illegally possessed of a Sig-Sauer P365X, 9mm firearm. Under federal statutes, illegal possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924 (a)(8) is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Further, under federal statute, illegal entry in the United States without being properly admitted to the country, pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325, is subject to a sentence of up to 6 months imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Carthage, Missouri, Police Department. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. 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: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – James Tilford Bradley, 50, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2024, Bradley sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant for $100 in a business parking lot in Beckley. As part of his guilty plea, Bradley admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted to selling quantities of methamphetamine on February 14, 2024, February 28, 2024, and July 22, 2024, each time to a confidential informant. Bradley is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-117. ###


title: Warrant Issued for Permanent Resident from Nigeria for Failure to Report to Federal Prison

body_text: Georgia Department of Driver Services NEW ORLEANS – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Phillips Currault signed a complaint and issued an arrest warrant for EMUOBOSAN EMANUELLA HALL , age 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, for failure to report to the Bureau of Prisons to serve a sentence. HALL , a citizen of Nigeria and a U.S. permanent resident, had been sentenced to eight years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for her role in a romance scam. HALL is currently at large. According to the criminal complaint, HALL was charged in April 2024 by a federal grand jury in New Orleans with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, and was granted bond. HALL subsequently pleaded guilty. In January 2026, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced HALL to 96 months in prison. Judge Milazzo permitted HALL to remain on bond and ordered her to report to her designated Bureau of Prisons institution to serve her sentence by March 25, 2026. However, HALL did not report as ordered. According to GPS data from her monitoring device, HALL’s last known location was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, where the device ceased operating. HALL had provided her probation officer with her flight information to Minnesota, where she was designated to serve her sentence. According to airline records, HALL did not board that flight. Phone records suggest that HALL traveled to Dulles Airport outside of Washington, D.C. HALL had pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud mostly older women in a romance scam. Her codefendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, of Marietta, Georgia, was convicted after a four-day jury trial in July 2025 and was sentenced by Judge Milazzo to 25 years in prison. According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, members of this conspiracy falsely represented themselves to be generals, philanthropists, or entrepreneurs who lived outside the United States. Conspirators would meet victims on Facebook, Instagram, and similar social media platforms, gain trust from the victims, and then ask the victims to move their conversations to WhatsApp or another encrypted platform. Thereafter, the perpetrators would foster a romantic relationship with their victims and then ask the victims to send money for fraudulent reasons, such as to help with charitable work or to assist sick family members. According to court documents, Akpieyi and HALL organized a company, Le Beau Monde LLC, which they used in furtherance of romance scam. HALL would deposit victim funds into accounts held in the name of her company and then transfer those funds to accounts at other financial institutions, including foreign banks. HALL admitted responsibility for $851,207.00 in losses to victims of this scheme, while Akpieyi was found to be responsible for victim losses exceeding $3.5 million. Akpieyi was remanded into custody after trial, and he is currently serving his sentence in custody of the Bureau of Prisons. United States Attorney Courcelle stated, “Our office will vigorously enforce the law, particularly when a defendant fails to report to prison to serve her sentence. Her failure to report to prison reflects an utter lack of respect for the law. HALL was sentenced for her role in defrauding women, often of money that they had saved for their retirement. Our office will continue to prosecute fraud wherever it occurs, especially when criminals exploit vulnerable victims.” If convicted, HALL faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years of imprisonment to be served consecutively to her prior sentence, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 3146(a)(2) and (b)(1)(A)(i). She may be fined up to $250,000, and she may receive a term of supervised release of up to three years. She also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Field Office in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne, Senior Litigation Counsel, is in charge of the prosecution. We are asking for the public’s assistance. To provide tips call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or send information to www.tips.fbi.gov . On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. * * *


title: Court Orders Delaware Department of Labor to Comply with Lawfully Issued Federal Subpoena

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – On April 13, 2026, Chief Judge Colm F. Connolly granted the United States’s Petition to Enforce a Department of Homeland Security Administrative Subpoena issued to the Delaware Department of Labor. Last year, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) issued an administrative subpoena to the Delaware Department of Labor (“DDOL”) seeking documents for several specified Delaware businesses as part of an ongoing immigration-related worksite enforcement investigation being conducted by HSI. DDOL refused to provide the documents demanded by the subpoena. As a result, the United States filed suit seeking to enforce the subpoena. In his ruling, Chief Judge Connolly held that HSI’s investigation had a legitimate purpose, that the administrative subpoena sought information relevant to its investigation, and that the subpoena was not unreasonably broad or burdensome. As a result, Chief Judge Connolly held that HSI’s administrative subpoena was valid and enforceable. DDOL must now comply with the subpoena and produce the documents demanded therein. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, “Congress gave HSI the authority to issue administrative subpoenas within its area of responsibility. Delaware’s state agencies have historically complied with federal subpoenas, as they are required to do by law. But here, a state agency refused to comply—not for legal reasons, but for political ones. That could not stand, so we sued to enforce the subpoena. We are gratified that the Court recognized the simple truth at the core of this case: federal law applies to everyone, whether they are a state or private entity, and whether they agree or disagree with the federal government’s policy priorities.” Special Agent in Charge Eric McLoughlin stated, “HSI is committed to upholding the integrity of our nation’s labor laws and ensuring that investigations are conducted thoroughly and lawfully. The court’s decision affirms the legitimacy of our worksite enforcement investigations and the necessity of access to relevant records. We appreciate the support of our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and will continue to pursue all necessary avenues to protect the interests of American workers and businesses.” A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-mc-322-CFC. ###


title: Jury Convicts Minnesota Man of Illegally Possessing Machine Gun

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury in the District of Minnesota convicted a Minnesota man today of possessing a machine gun created by attaching an illegal machine gun conversion device to a semi-automatic firearm. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Amiir Mawlid Ali, 19, of Minneapolis, was arrested after officers found a machine gun in his possession during a routine traffic stop as he was on the way to a high school graduation. Mr. Ali tried to flee the scene during the traffic stop but officers apprehended him before he could get away. The firearm was equipped with a machine gun conversion device and an extended magazine, which was loaded with over 30 rounds of ammunition. A firearm expert testified at trial that the machine gun possessed by Ali test fired 15 bullets in 2 seconds. “This defendant possessed an extremely dangerous weapon – a machine gun created by the application of a device known as a switch that converts a legal firearm to an illegal one,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Illegal weapons like this are unduly dangerous and offer nothing legitimate in a law abiding society. The Criminal Division will continue to prosecute illegal firearms offenses like this one to keep communities safe.” “The verdict announced today makes clear that possession of a firearm modified to function as a machine gun will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “The FBI is proud of our work on this case, and we thank our Local, State and Federal law enforcement partners for their assistance. Together we will work to stop those who put innocent lives in our community at risk.” The jury convicted Ali on one count of possession of a machine gun. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Alexandra Swain of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Albania Concepción for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Deandre Jomar Harris, 32, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 10, 2024, Harris sold approximately 7.22 grams of a substance containing fentanyl to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, Harris admitted that he conducted the transaction and that it occurred in the confidential informant’s vehicle while it was parked near Harris’ residence in Beckley. Harris further admitted to selling quantities of a substance containing fentanyl totaling approximately 38.4 grams over the course of four transactions between September 11, 2024, and September 24, 2024. Harris sold the fentanyl substance each time to the confidential informant, and each transaction occurred in the confidential informant’s vehicle near Harris’ residence. Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-7. ###


body_text: Two Men Plead Guilty to Londonderry Robbery CONCORD – Two men pleaded guilty today in federal court for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Isaiah Ferro, 19, of Queens, New York, and Zaire Braddock, 21, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe. Ferro’s sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2026. Braddock’s sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2026. According to the court documents and statements made in court, Ferro and Braddock, along with three co-conspirators, traveled together from New York to Londonderry, New Hampshire, for the purpose of robbing a local business. Upon arriving at the business, the five individuals entered the premises, where they threatened the victim with what appeared to be a firearm and restrained the victim. Ferro, Braddock, and their co-conspirators then proceeded to steal merchandise and goods from the business, placing those items in a truck driven by a sixth co-conspirator. Afterwards, Ferro, Braddock, and three co-conspirators fled the scene in their vehicle and returned to New York. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and not more than 3 years of supervised release. 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. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led this investigation. The Londonderry Police Department, New Hampshire State Police, Massachusetts State Police, and New York Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.