title: Rafael Caro Quintero "Narco of Narcos" and Murderer of DEA Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, Former Leader of the Juarez Cartel, Expelled to the United States

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Rafael Caro Quintero (Caro Quintero) and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes (Carrillo Fuentes), both citizens of Mexico, were arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn today for crimes committed as leaders of Mexican drug cartels, which were responsible for significant drug trafficking into the United States and acts of extreme violence—including, with respect to Caro Quintero, the 1985 kidnapping, torture, and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena—over a period of decades. Caro Quintero was arraigned on a third superseding indictment charging him with four counts: one count of leading a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, which includes ten violations, including a murder conspiracy; two counts of international narcotics distribution conspiracy; and one count of unlawful use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Carrillo Fuentes was arraigned on a superseding indictment charging him with seven counts: one count of leading a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, which includes six violations, including a murder conspiracy; four counts of cocaine distribution conspiracy; one count of unlawful use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Both Caro Quintero and Carrillo Fuentes were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy after being expelled from Mexico to the Eastern District of New York. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, and Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations New York (HSI) announced the arraignments. “For decades, Rafael Caro Quintero and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes have flooded the United States and other countries with drugs, violence, and mayhem, killing so many in their quest for power and control, including in RCQ’s case the brutal torture and murder of DEA Special Agent Camarena,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Today the next step in the American legal proceedings against these two cartel leaders—Caro Quintero, the “Narco of Narcos,” and Carrillo Fuentes, the head of the Juarez Cartel—are finally underway, and we are one step closer to justice being served. My Office continues to be steadfastly focused on the vital work of protecting people of this district, and of all of those in the United States, from the destruction that cartels wreak on our communities.” “Today marks a day which will be remembered in the history of the DEA. For nearly four decades, the men and women of the DEA have pursued Rafael Caro Quintero, the man responsible for the kidnapping, torture, and death of fallen DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena, and the leader of one the most notorious and violent drug cartels. Today, Rafael Caro Quintero will finally face the consequences for the crimes he committed” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “No matter how long it takes, or where you hide, the DEA remains patient and committed in our global pursuit to targeting those individuals who have brought violence and destruction to our communities. The DEA will make sure justice is delivered.” “Make no mistake: the world is undoubtedly a safer place with these men in custody in the United States. Carrillo-Fuentes and Rafael Caro Quintero are merciless terrorists who used fear as a tactic to intimidate their rivals and the public. ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents and personnel with our El Dorado Task Force have dedicated years to investigating the alleged crimes and bloodshed at the hands of these defendants,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. Rafael Caro Quintero Caro Quintero was first indicted in the Eastern District of New York in 2015, and a third superseding indictment was returned against him in 2018. As alleged in the indictment and other public filings, Caro Quintero’s involvement in drug trafficking and violence is extensive, ruthless, and notorious. Known as the “Narco of Narcos,” Caro Quintero started cultivating marijuana as a teenager in Mexico in the 1960s and developed transportation and distribution networks and routes that enabled him to move that marijuana into the United States. Caro Quintero also manufactured and trafficked heroin and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States. Caro Quintero then joined with Colombian cocaine manufacturers to use his networks and routes to traffic cocaine from South America, through Central America and Mexico, into the United States. By the 1970s, Caro Quintero’s organization became known as the Guadalajara Cartel, which ultimately joined the syndicate known as the “Sinaloa Cartel” (or Mexican “Federation”), the largest drug trafficking organization in the world. In 1985, Caro Quintero ordered the kidnapping, torture, and murder of DEA Special Agent Camarena. Caro Quintero believed Camarena was responsible for leading the Mexican government to seize Caro Quintero’s largest ranch in Chihuahua, Rancho Buffalo. Caro Quintero’s men abducted Camarena and took him to a location where he was tortured and interrogated for approximately two days, after which Caro Quintero and his men killed Camarena. Later in 1985, Caro Quintero went to prison in Mexico. Nevertheless, from 1985 to 2013, while in prison, Caro Quintero continued operating his drug trafficking organization (the “Caro Quintero DTO”), using family members and associates on the outside to assist him. The Caro Quintero DTO trafficked large quantities of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin into the United States. After his release from prison in 2013, Caro Quintero went into hiding and continued running the Caro Quintero DTO from various locations in the mountains of Sinaloa. The Sinaloa Cartel provided Caro Quintero with protection during this time. Caro Quintero and the members and associates of his organization carried firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking activities, including pistols and AK-47s. Caro Quintero himself carried a Colt .38 Super pistol with a diamond encrusted handle and “R-1” written in gold. Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Carrillo Fuentes was first indicted in the Eastern District of New York in 2009, with superseding charges filed in 2019. As alleged in the indictment and other public filings, Carrillo Fuentes and his brother, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, led the infamous Juarez Cartel for more than two decades. Under the leadership of Carrillo Fuentes, the Juarez Cartel dominated and controlled drug trafficking through the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez corridor and used its control of the Texas-Mexico border to deliver multi-ton shipments of cocaine throughout the United States, including to locations in New York, Texas, California, and Illinois. Until approximately 2004, Carrillo Fuentes and the Juarez Cartel were aligned with the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the largest transnational criminal organizations in the world. The two organizations worked collectively, partnering in drug shipments and sharing infrastructure as they trafficked tons of cocaine into the United States. Throughout this partnership, Carrillo Fuentes and his associates corrupted public officials and taxed other drug-trafficking organizations as they asserted their control over the all-important El Paso-Ciudad Juarez corridor. When this partnership finally splintered—and Carrillo Fuentes and the Juarez Cartel split from the Sinaloa Cartel and realigned with the rival drug traffickers such as the Zetas—Mexico was plunged into a decade of war and bloodshed. Carrillo Fuentes was at the center of this chaos, initially as the commander of the Juarez Cartel’s sicarios (the Spanish term for contract killers) and soldiers, and then later as the leader of the entire Juarez Cartel. * * * * * The government’s cases against Caro Quintero and Carrillo Fuentes are part of the operations of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The charges in the indictments are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Both defendants face mandatory life sentences and, if convicted, could face the death penalty. The government’s cases against Caro Quintero and Carrillo Fuentes are being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Saritha Komatireddy, Francisco J. Navarro, Erin Reid, and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution of Caro Quintero, and Assistant United States Attorneys Erik D. Paulsen and Miranda Gonzalez are in charge of the prosecution of Carrillo Fuentes. Asset forfeiture matters for both cases are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brendan King. Paralegal Specialists Melissa Bennett and Huda Abouchaer provided assistance on both cases. The Defendants : RAFAEL CARO QUINTERO Age: 72 Sonora, Mexico E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 15-CR-208 (FB) VICENTE CARRILLO FUENTES Age: 62 Sinaloa, Mexico E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 09-CR-522 (JMA)


title: Cayce Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking Charge

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

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kayla Martin, 34, of Cayce, was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking. Evidence presented to the court showed that Martin and Michael Tart were arrested in April 2022 after Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department investigators seized over a kilogram of methamphetamine and a firearm from a vehicle Tart was driving on I-77 North in Richland County. Martin had previously arranged for Tart to pick up the methamphetamine from her home. A subsequent search of Martin’s home uncovered a .380 pistol along with drug residue and other drug paraphernalia. At the time, Martin was a convicted felon and on supervised release from a 2020 federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Martin’s conviction for the April 2022 incident was a violation of her supervised release. Martin also faces charges with the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office in another drug-related incident in 2020. Tart has pleaded guilty for his part in this incident and is awaiting sentencing. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Martin to 123 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, to be followed by a five-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. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Taylor and William K. Witherspoon are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Social Security Administration Employee Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Induce a Social Security Beneficiary for Prostitution

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former Social Security Administration (SSA) employee pleaded guilty yesterday to attempting to persuade a Social Security beneficiary to cross state lines to engage in prostitution. Dae Sung Kim, 36, of Auburn, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to induce a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2025. Kim was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in October 2024 and subsequently charged by Information in December 2024. In March 2024, Kim handled an in-person visit at the Gardner SSA field office from an individual seeking Social Security benefits after losing her job. After redirecting the individual to another SSA field office near her residence in another state, Kim called the individual, using the phone number he obtained from SSA’s computer system. Kim indicated that he understood she was in a difficult situation and stated that maybe they could “work something out” that would benefit them both. During a call monitored by law enforcement later that month, Kim again stated to the individual that they could “help each other out” and proposed giving the individual money in exchange for sex. In several subsequent text messages, Kim suggested that the individual travel to Massachusetts to meet him, offering to pay $100 to have sex in a car at a hotel parking lot. When Kim traveled to the hotel parking lot to meet the individual in October 2024, he was confronted by law enforcement. The charge of attempting to induce a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution provides for a sentence of up to 20 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 other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fitchburg and Gardner Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding His Elderly Client

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Ronald Diaz, age 41, of Tucson, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 22 months in prison. Diaz pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud on July 18, 2024. While working as a financial advisor, Diaz engaged in a scheme to defraud one of his elderly clients. To induce the victim into the scheme, Diaz falsely represented an investment opportunity in an “annuity” that “guaranteed” a 10% return. Between November 2020 and July 2022, to disguise his scheme, Diaz directed the victim to transfer $970,000 to Diaz’s family members. Diaz then instructed his family to distribute most of the victim’s funds back to Diaz. Diaz used large portions of the victim’s money for his own personal use including: (1) gambling at casinos; (2) a down payment for a 2021 Range Rover; (3) payments for credit card debt; (4) to remodel Diaz’s family pool; (5) mortgage payments; and (6) other personal expenses. Diaz made some “interest” payments to entice the victim into providing additional money throughout the scheme. None of the victim’s money was used towards any legitimate investment. During the investigation of the case, the victim passed away. As part of his sentence, Diaz was ordered to pay the victim’s next of kin $867,510.37 for the loss the victim suffered as a result of the scheme. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-04092-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-026_Diaz # # # 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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Newton Man Charged with Federal Firearm Offense

body_text: BOSTON – A Newton man has been charged in federal court in Boston with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. James Welch, 29, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Welch will appear in federal court at a later date. According to the charging documents, on Feb. 28, 2025, during a search of Newton’s residence, two firearms—a pistol and a rifle— and ammunition were recovered. Welch is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions. The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of a $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 Foley and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Newton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Alleged Member of Fraud Ring Targeting Elderly Arrested in Florida

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man indicted and accused of aiding a scam that cost at least four victims more than $550,000 was arrested Friday in Florida. Michael P. Garcia, 36, of the Miami area, was indicted on Dec. 18, 2024, in U.S. District Court in St. Louis with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The conspirators contacted victims and made various false claims to induce victims to hand over cash or valuables, the indictment says. In one instance, the conspirators claimed to be from a victim’s financial institution and told the victim that her accounts had been compromised and were being used for illegal activity and that the victim needed to give them money to stop that illegal activity. Couriers were then sent to pick up valuables from victims of the scam. Garcia is accused in the indictment of recruiting and paying a courier to pick up $20,000 in cash and gold bars from two victims in Brooklyn, New York on Oct. 30, 2023. The courier picked up another $30,000 in cash two days later, the indictment says. Garcia is also accused of sending that same courier to Summerfield, North Carolina in November of 2023 to pick up gold bars from a victim there. That same month, Garcia sent the courier to pick up about $200,000 in gold bars from a 76-year-old Fenton, Missouri victim who’d already supplied the conspirators with $20,000 in cryptocurrency, the indictment says. The courier has been arrested and charged. Garcia will be brought to St. Louis to face charges. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.


title: Johnson County Man Sentenced for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Debord, Ky., man, Dustin Newsome, 35, was sentenced on Friday to 35 years in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for production of child pornography. According to his plea agreement, in August 2023, the parent of the minor victim called law enforcement and reported that she had located THC vape cartridges in her child’s room. The minor victim stated that he received the cartridges and a cellphone from a mail carrier, later identified as Newsome, in exchange for nude images and sexually explicit videos. Law enforcement discovered nine minor victims that reported having produced sexually explicit images and videos at Newsome’s request. A search of Newsome’s residence revealed devices that contained numerous sexually explicit images, videos, and recordings of live chats between Newsome and at least four of the minor victims. In addition to the images and videos he produced, there were several hundred images and videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that Newsome had obtained from the internet and stored on his electronic devices. These images and videos were obtained over many years beginning in 2013. Under federal law, Newsome must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. Newsome was also ordered to pay $105,000 in restitution. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by FBI and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case 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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . – END –


title: Man Committing International Child Exploitation  Pleads Guilty in Miami Federal Court

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – An Italian national living in Miami who used social media and money to entice minors, including four United Kingdom girls ages 14 to 16, to make and send him sexually explicit images of themselves has pled guilty to producing child sexual abuse material and committing international promotional money laundering in furtherance of his child exploitation crimes. During a court hearing in the Southern District of Florida, Marco Pagano, 41, admitted the following: From about March 2023 to April 2024, Pagano engaged in illegal online exchanges with minors, including four girls living in the United Kingdom. As to those four minors, Pagano used his online payment system accounts more than 180 times to send thousands of dollars from the United States to the girls abroad. In exchange, Pagano demanded that the four minors produce illegal pornographic photographs and videos and send those to him through a social media application. These included images of the minor girls performing sexual acts on one another. Sentencing is set for June 9, at 9:00 a.m., in Miami before United States District Court Judge Robert N. Scola. Pagano faces up to life in prison. United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller is prosecuting 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 the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Anyone with information relating to child sexual exploitation or abuse is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20360. ###


title: Fitchburg Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Making  and Passing Counterfeit Currency

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cornelius Stewart, 30, Fitchburg, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 4 years in federal prison for making and passing counterfeit $100 bills. Stewart pleaded guilty to this charge on December 9, 2024. Stewart and co-defendant Alex Stubbs were charged with passing numerous counterfeit $100 bills in various cities throughout Wisconsin. The investigation showed that between July and November of 2023, Stewart provided Stubbs with dozens of fake $100 bills having the same serial number to present to merchants when making small purchases, thereby obtaining large amounts of change in legitimate U.S. currency. Stewart also passed some of the bills himself. In December 2023, a Dane County Sheriff’s deputy approached Stewart’s car to investigate attempts to pass the counterfeit money in Cross Plains, Wisconsin. Stewart sped off and dragged the deputy with the car, causing injuries. Stewart was convicted in Dane County for recklessly endangering the safety of the deputy and sentenced to five years in prison in May of 2024. At the time of this offense, Stewart was on federal supervision for a previous conviction for manufacturing and passing counterfeit $100 bills in 2019. In addition, Stewart had been convicted federally in 2017 for the same offense. In sentencing Stewart, Judge Conley gave considerable weight to Stewart’s repeated return to counterfeiting activity, observing that a significant prison sentence was necessary to deter Stewart’s choice to repeat it in the future. Judge Conley noted that Stewart’s conduct victimized small businesses who were impacted by the losses, as well as damaging the confidence in U.S. currency. Judge Conley ordered Stewart to pay $6800 in restitution to the businesses impacted. In addition to the 4-year prison sentence for the current offense, Judge Conley revoked Stewart’s federal supervision and sentenced him to an additional 15 months in prison, for a total sentence of 63 months. On December 12, 2024, Judge Conley sentenced codefendant Alex Stubbs to 14 months in prison for his role in passing the counterfeit bills. The charges against Stewart and Stubbs were the result of an investigation conducted by numerous local law enforcement agencies, including police departments in Madison, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Lake Mills, Marshall, Verona, Shorewood Hills, Tomah, Oconomowoc, as well as the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: Man alleged to have attempted to shatter plane window mid-flight faces charges

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 31-year-old Cuban national who was on a flight bound for Houston has been charged with destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Raul Ramos Tamayo is currently in custody on unrelated charges and is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m. March 3. On Feb. 4, Tamayo was aboard Frontier Airlines flight 4856 from Denver, Colorado, according to the charges. Approximately 30 minutes after departure, Tamayo allegedly began punching the seat in front of him. The charges allege that when flight crew members approached him, Tamayo then began striking the window in his row with his fists, causing damage to the window. The flight crew allegedly asked for assistance from any law enforcement officers or able-bodied passengers. Several responded, according to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case. They then allegedly placed him in flex cuffs the airline had on board. “When the public flies, they need to feel confident that they are doing so under safe conditions,” said Ganjei. “Given the fact that greater Houston has two major international airports, with tens of millions of travelers a year, the Southern District of Texas is always ready to prosecute those that endanger the safety of passengers.” If convicted, Tamayo faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammel is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Minneapolis Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis man has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. As alleged in the criminal complaint , in December 2024, Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan (“Hassan”) attempted to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions, neither of which was successful. Hassan attempted to disguise the purpose of his travel as visiting family despite having none in Somalia and was traveling with his birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and high school diploma. The FBI’s investigation established that Hassan publicly supported ISIS on social media through multiple posts and communicated with a Facebook account for the Manjaniq Media Center , which encouraged individuals to travel to join ISIS and touts itself as a media organization of the Islamic Caliphate. The investigation further revealed that Hassan praised Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the January 1, 2025, ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana. On February 21, 2025, Hassan also posted a video of himself driving while holding a small ISIS flag inside the vehicle, as well as another video of himself driving with an open knife on his lap. On February 26, 2025, FBI observed Hassan driving while again holding the ISIS flag. “As we have all seen in recent months, ISIS and its supporters pose the gravest of dangers to our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Those who support foreign terrorist organizations in our homeland—like Hassan—are a clear and present threat to our national security. They will be held to account.” “The FBI will continue to aggressively use all of our authorities to investigate and arrest anyone who assists foreign terrorist organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Hassan allegedly attempted to travel to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions and publicly shared support of ISIS on his social media accounts. Such acts are wholly unacceptable, and the FBI will work tirelessly with our partners to hold accountable those who attempt to support terrorists.” Hassan was arrested by authorities yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung and was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing which will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in St. Paul, before Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar, and National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorneys Ryan White and Charles Kovats, Jr., are prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 25-mj-104_complaint_packet.pdf


title: Two Brothers Indicted for Conspiracy to Prevent the Sale of Property Seized by the IRS for Unpaid Taxes

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Two brothers have been indicted by a federal grand jury for refusing to vacate properties seized by the IRS and for fraudulently attempting to prevent the sale of those properties to satisfy nearly $1.4 million in unpaid federal income taxes. William Phillip Jackson, 67, of Stark City, Mo., and his brother, Stephen Lee Jackson, 66, of Pierce City, Mo., were charged in a six-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of William and Stephen Jackson. William Jackson remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, March 5. According to the federal indictment, William Jackson had a longstanding history of non-compliance with the IRS, between 1998 and 2002, by failing to timely file federal income tax returns and failing to pay taxes due. In 2006, the IRS assessed William Jackson approximately $1,390,173 for unpaid income taxes (including penalties and interest) that he owed to the IRS. William Jackson refused to pay his federal tax liabilities, despite notice and demand, which led to federal tax liens being attached to four of his properties, including residential property in Stark City and business property in Granby, Mo. On Feb. 23, 2018, the court granted the government’s partial summary judgment motion for foreclosure and judicial sale of the four properties. Following a jury trial in July 2018, related to William Jackson’s income tax liability not addressed by that court order, the court issued an order and final judgment that William Jackson had $2,396,800 in total liability for his failure to pay federal income taxes for tax years 1998 to 2002. Despite the requirement to vacate the properties for sale, William Jackson and other family members remained on the properties for over four years. This caused the IRS to evict William Jackson on Jan. 24, 2024, so that the IRS could effectuate its legal right to sell the properties. William and Stephen Jackson took steps to intimidate an officer and employee of the United States, and impede the IRS’s seizure and sale of the Stark City and Granby properties. On Jan. 23, 2024, one day prior to the eviction and two days prior to the scheduled auction date for the properties, William Jackson filed a bankruptcy petition, which the bankruptcy court found was filed “in bad faith” for the purpose of defying his tax obligation. After being evicted, William Jackson forcibly removed locks and chains on the gate of the Stark City property, placed there by the IRS, and replaced them with his own lock and chain. William Jackson returned to the Stark City property on March 10 and March 12, 2024, and destroyed barbed wire fencing next to the gate so he could enter and trespass on the property. On May 10, 2024, Stephen Jackson sent a threatening text message to the IRS specialist working on this case. The federal indictment charges William and Stephen Jackson together in one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws. William Jackson is also charged with two counts of attempting the forcible rescue of property that had been seized by the United States under internal revenue laws, and one count of bankruptcy fraud. Stephen Jackson is also charged with one count of making a threatening communication to intimidate or impede an officer of the United States. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations, with assistance from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the IRS Property Appraisal and Liquidation Specialists, and the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.


title: 4 Plead Guilty in N. Charleston Public Corruption Scheme

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. —Following Wednesday’s announcement of eight people charged in a public corruption scheme, four have pleaded guilty. The four men, including two former city council members, were each granted release pending sentencing on unsecured bonds. These four defendants entered guilty pleas in federal court today: Jerome Sydney Heyward, 61, Former North Charleston City Councilmember; Sandino Savalas Moses, 50, Former North Charleston City Councilmember; Donavan Laval Moten, 46, founder of Core4Success Foundation; and Aaron Charles-Lee Hicks, 37, resident of North Charleston. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence Heyward, Moses, Moten, and Hicks after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Heyward and Moten each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $500,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. Hicks faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. Moses faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years, a fine of $250,000, and a maximum term of supervised release of one year. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case. ###


body_text: Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan was arrested yesterday and charged by criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. As alleged in the criminal complaint, in December 2024, Hassan attempted to travel from Minnesota to Somalia to join ISIS on two occasions, neither of which were successful. Hassan attempted to disguise the purpose of his travel as visiting family despite having none in Somalia and was traveling with his birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and high school diploma. The FBI’s investigation established that Hassan publicly supported ISIS on social media through multiple posts and communicated with a Facebook account for the Manjaniq Media Center , which encouraged individuals to travel to join ISIS and touts itself as a media organization of the Islamic Caliphate. The investigation further revealed that Hassan praised Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the perpetrator of the ISIS-inspired terrorist attack in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 1. On Feb. 21, Hassan also posted a video of himself driving while holding a small ISIS flag inside the vehicle, as well as another video of himself driving with an open knife on his lap. On Feb. 26, FBI observed Hassan driving while again holding the ISIS flag. Hassan was charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. He made his initial appearance in the District of Minnesota today and was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing which will take place at a later date. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorneys Ryan White and Charles Kovats Jr. of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law


title: Romance scheme fraudster admits to $3 million conspiracy

body_text: HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Houston man has entered a guilty plea to wire fraud and conspiracy for a romance scheme targeting citizens nationwide, many of whom were elderly, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Darlington Akporugo admitted to being a central figure in a long-running romance scheme based in Houston that victimized citizens from Chicago to Kentucky. Akporugo worked with others to lure victims through online romances and then induce them to send money to various bank accounts he controlled. To further the fraud, Akporugo and his co-conspirators used fake names to contact victims on social media, gain their confidence and then persuade them to invest in non-existent businesses or provide funds for invented personal circumstances. As part of his plea, Akporugo admitted to approaching potential victims, primarily on social media sites such as Facebook, and then directing them to send money to either his or his associates’ bank accounts. That money was often then directed overseas. In addition to collecting cash and wire transfers, Akpourgo also admitted to having victims open lines of credit in his name and, in one case, purchasing a luxury vehicle for his personal use. During the multi-year investigation, authorities were able to identify over 25 victims of the scheme, the majority either retired or of advanced age. Losses from the fraud ring’s operation total more than $3 million. “As we unfortunately have seen, victims of romance scams suffer tremendous financial loss, sometimes amounting to their entire life savings,” said Ganjei. “Those have fallen prey to such fraudsters are often too embarrassed to come forward and report the incident to law enforcement. Although this is an understandable reaction, we encourage victims to nonetheless come forward, as their story may help the future victimization of others.” U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge will impose sentencing June 6. At that time, Akporugo faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will remain in custody pending that hearing. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.


title: Campbell County Man Sentenced for  Attempted Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Newport, Ky., man, Raymond Hammond, Jr., 38, was sentenced on Friday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 15 years, for attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on March 1, 2024, law enforcement intercepted a package containing over 1300 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine that was addressed to a residence in Newport. Agents learned that someone inquired about the package’s status from a particular phone number. On March 5, 2024, agents conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the Newport residence, leaving it on the porch. Once the package was taken inside the residence, agents conducted a search of the residence and found Hammond’s co-defendant, Redrick Mincy, 26, and the package. Mincy admitted that he agreed to receive the package for Hammond. Hammond was later arrested by law enforcement, and admitted that he intended to possess the methamphetamine mixture with the intention of distributing it. Mincy was previously sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Under federal law, Hammond must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Hammond’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Lesley Allison, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pittsburgh Field Division, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Spievack is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Fleeing felon with machinegun conversion device lands more federal prison time

body_text: HOUSTON – A 33-year-old man has been ordered to prison after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through the streets of Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Evan Jones pleaded guilty July 3, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has now ordered Jones to serve 108 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court noted a substantial sentence was warranted based on the facts of the case and Jones’ criminal history which includes two convictions for possession with intent to distribute heroin and one for reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Authorities had tracked Jones to Houston where they attempted to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. As they approached him in a restaurant parking lot, Jones escaped and led the them on a high-speed chase through the streets of Houston. In the process, Jones drove on the wrong side of the road, ran a red light and collided with two vehicles. His airbags deployed, and Jones then fled on foot. A local law enforcement officer tackled him, at which time Jones pulled out a Glock pistol he was carrying in his waistband. The investigation revealed the gun was equipped with a machinegun conversion device. These are illegal and enable guns to be converted from semi-automatic to fully-automatic fire. Jones has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz prosecuted the case.


title: Chesapeake man pleads guilty after attempting to transport a child for sex

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Chesapeake man pled guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a child. According to court documents, on Feb. 16, 2024, Kyle Andrew Babiak, 31, began communicating through a social media app with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) whom Babiak believed to be a 14-year-old girl. During the messaging conversation between Babiak and the UC, Babiak directly acknowledged and expressed concern over the girl’s age, writing that he could “wind up in a court martial.” Babiak, and active duty sailor, sent a photograph of himself in what appeared to be a Navy uniform and asked for the girl to send a photograph in return. Babiak suggested things they could do together in person and again acknowledged that he believed the person with whom he was communicating was a minor. Babiak continued to escalate the sexual content of his messages to include explicitly describing sexual acts he desired with the girl and sent sexually explicit photos of himself. When the UC noted that the girl’s parents were not home, Babiak requested her address and made plans to pick up the girl and drive her back to his residence. Babiak specifically asked the UC if the girl’s parents tracked her location. During the drive to pick up the girl, Babiak continued sending sexually explicit messages that acknowledged that he believed the girl was a minor. When Babiak arrived at the address provided by the UC, he parked his car, approached the front door of the residence, and was arrested by NCIS agents and officers from the Hampton Police Department. Babiak is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; Emily Schmid, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office; and Jimmie Wideman, Chief of Hampton Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-76.


title: United States Files Civil Complaint To Forfeit 9,000 Boys’ Suits Imported From China That Contained Unsafe Levels Of Lead

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint today to forfeit more than 9,000 boys’ suits that were intercepted at the Port of New York/Newark after being imported from China, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. As alleged in the civil forfeiture complaint, the boys’ suits were seized by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in March 2020, after the buttons on the boys’ suits were tested by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and found to contain prohibited levels of lead. Further, and as alleged in the civil forfeiture complaint, this was at least the third instance in which the importer, Angels New York US, Inc., attempted to import children’s clothing that contained unsafe levels of lead. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of New York/Newark, under the direction of Port Director Jeffrey Greene, and members of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Laserna of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering and Recovery Unit. The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute only allegations. angelsnewyork.complaint.pdf


title: Northborough Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Embezzling Over $360,000 From Non-Profit

body_text: BOSTON – A Northborough man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for wire fraud and money laundering charges after embezzling approximately $366,477 from a non-profit organization in Sturbridge. Kyriakos Kapiris, a/k/a Rick Kapiris, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Kapiris was also ordered to pay $371, 088.97 in restitution. In June 2022, Kapiris pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. From April 2015 to May 2020, Kapiris worked as the Information Technology Manager at Venture Community Services (VCS), a non-profit organization in Sturbridge, Mass. that services developmentally disabled members of the community. As part of his responsibilities, the organization provided Kapiris access to two company credit cards to purchase equipment and services as needed. Beginning in 2016, Kapiris used the two company credit cards to purportedly purchase equipment from two vendor accounts on the web app Square and one account on Amazon. In reality, Kapiris created the three vendor accounts to embezzle the funds and fabricated sales invoices for purportedly purchased equipment to conceal the scheme. Kapiris used the names of legitimate Massachusetts companies for the two Square accounts and created the Amazon account in the name of a company that he controlled, “NetworkingPlus.” Kapiris linked the three vendor accounts to several of his own personal accounts at Bank of America into which he transferred the fraudulent proceeds. Kapiris then used the stolen funds for personal expenses, including to build a house. The house was forfeited by the government and sold. At sentencing, the Court noted that the defendant had been previously convicted of stealing from a prior employer and was on probation for that offense at the time of his theft from VCS. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Sturbridge and Northborough Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office announces 4 defendants charged with violating immigration crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced today new immigration charges in four cases in the District. Task force agents arrested Alberto Caiceros-Cruz, 40, after observing him leave his residence in Columbus and drive a vehicle with no registration displayed. Caiceros-Cruz is a Mexican national and was most recently removed from the United States in 2022. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury in Columbus indicted an El Salvadoran national with illegally reentering the United States after being convicted of sex offenses and a Honduran national with illegally possessing firearms. Carlos Gonzales-Hernandez, 55, was detained in January 2025 following a traffic stop in Madison County. He was then transferred into ICE custody. The defendant had been removed from the United States following a local prison sentence for sex offenses. Gonzales-Hernandez was previously convicted in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas of three counts of gross sexual imposition and received a prison sentence of six years. Elmer Edison Rodriguez-Guzman, 46, was in a vehicle that was stopped in Cambridge, Ohio, in July 2024 due to no taillights. Law enforcement officials discovered items including a handgun, a double-barrel shotgun and ammunition. Rodriguez-Guzman was arrested in Guernsey County and then transferred into federal custody. On Thursday, a federal grand jury in Columbus indicted Pedro Marquez, 34, who is also known as Peter Marquez, Pedro Ravas Rivas, Alex Rivas Vasquez and Alex Vasquez Rivas. In 2011, Marquez was convicted of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy and illegally reentering the United States and was sentenced to federal prison. Marquez had conspired with others in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Marquez transported, delivered and distributed the drugs on behalf of the conspiracy. He was removed from the United States again in 2016 following his term of imprisonment. Law enforcement found and arrested Marquez in Bloomingburg, Ohio, on Feb. 13. Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard, Sheila G. Lafferty and David J. Twombly are representing the United States in these cases. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. These cases are being prosecuted as part of the Southern District of Ohio Immigration Enforcement Task Force, which dedicates agents, attorneys and other staff to investigating and prosecuting immigration violations. # # #


title: Essex County Armed Career Criminal Charged With Weapons Possession And Trafficking Fentanyl, Heroin, And Methamphetamine

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County man was charged today with (i) being a felon in possession of a firearm, (ii) possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, and (iii) possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. Michael Weaver, 38, of Irvington, New Jersey was charged today by superseding indictment with the above-referenced charges, and his arraignment will be scheduled before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court. As a result of Weaver’s significant and violent criminal history, which includes numerous convictions in Essex County for robbery, aggravated assault, unlawful weapons possession, and drug trafficking, he was charged under the Armed Career Criminal Act. That charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. In total, as a result of all the charges in the Superseding Indictment, Weaver faces a total mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of imprisonment of life in prison. Each offense carries a maximum fine of $250,000. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and Chief Mitchell G. McGuire, and the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Director Emanuel Miranda, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Colorado Dentist Pleads Guilty to Multiple Tax Evasion Charges

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Colorado dentist pleaded guilty today to six counts of tax evasion related to his use of an illegal tax shelter. According to court documents and statements made in court, since 2014, Ryan Ulibarri owned and operated Ulibarri Family Dentistry in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2016, Ulibarri purchased an abusive-trust tax shelter for $50,000. The tax shelter involved concealing income and creating false tax deductions through the use of a so-called business trust, family trust, charitable trust and a private family foundation, all of which Ulibarri created and controlled. From 2017 through 2022, Ulibarri used this tax shelter to conceal from the IRS over $3.5 million in income he earned from his dental practice. To set up the tax shelter, Ulibarri, as the purported trustee, signed trust instruments purporting to create the three trusts and foundation, and he opened bank accounts in the name of each. He further recruited friends to falsely sign his trust instruments as the purported creators of the trusts. Ulibarri then transferred majority ownership of his dental practice to the business trust. Ulibarri did this despite having been warned by attorneys and CPAs that, in Colorado, a trust could not own a dental practice. He then transferred over $3 million he earned from his dental practice into the bank accounts of the various trusts and foundation to create the illusion that the funds belonged to those entities. In reality, Ulibarri retained complete control over the funds and used the funds to pay for personal expenses including his home mortgage, credit card bills, boats and professional baseball season tickets. Finally, he filed false tax returns for himself, his dental practice, the trusts and foundation that falsely reported the income he earned from his dental practice as income of the trusts. On those tax returns Ulibarri also claimed fraudulent deductions for his personal living expenses which he disguised as trust expenses and charitable donations. In total, Ulibarri is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $1 million. Ulibarri is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Special Agent in Charge Amanda Prestegard of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Denver Field Office made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Amanda R. Scott and Lauren K. Pope and Assistant Chief Andrew J. Kameros of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Upstate CEO Sentenced to Federal Prison After Defrauding Company to Build a $2.5M Beach House

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joseph Edward Gallagher, 67, of Greenville was sentenced to more than three years in federal for committing wire fraud after defrauding his company to build a beach house. Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing established that Gallagher served as the president and CEO of AFL Telecommunications, which is owned by Fujikura, Inc. Despite receiving yearly compensation in excess of $2 million, Gallagher devised a scheme to have AFL pay for the construction of a personal beach house. Gallagher created a false business documents indicating EPIC Development Group, LLC, was serving as a consultant for AFL Telecommunications in the field of government contracts and optical infrastructure. In truth, EPIC was a builder and was constructing Gallagher’s beach house on Kiawah Island. When EPIC submitted invoices for construction costs, Gallagher would alter them to indicate that the recipient of the services was AFL and that the services involved consulting rather than construction. Gallagher would further submit the altered invoices to AFL for payment. Gallagher succeeded, through fraud and deceit, in obtaining approximately $2.5 million from AFL for the construction of the beach house. EPIC had no knowledge that Gallagher was defrauding his employer. “Gallagher’s actions represent a serious breach of trust. He abused his position of authority diverting millions from his company to fund a personal luxury,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “This sentence underscores that such brazen acts of fraud, regardless of an individual's status, will be met with serious consequences." U.S. District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Gallagher to 41 months imprisonment. She also ordered Gallagher to pay a $34,000 fine. She will decide the issue of restitution at a later hearing. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. ###


title: Skilled Nursing Facility and Acute Care Hospital to Pay  $6.5 Million to Settle Civil False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Providence Park, Inc., doing business as Ascension Living Providence Village, and Ascension Providence, formerly known as Providence Health Services of Waco, have agreed to pay the United States and the State of Texas $6,526,851.64 to resolve allegations under the Federal False Claims Act and the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act. The United States alleged that Providence Park, which owns and operates a skilled nursing facility in Waco, submitted medically unnecessary Ultra-High Resource Utilization Group therapy claims to federal healthcare programs. The United States further alleged that Ascension Providence, which owns and operates an acute care hospital in Waco, submitted false claims to federal healthcare programs for individual outpatient therapy services at the Lacy Lakeview Clinic when group therapy was being provided, and for therapy services at Woodway, Providence Sports & Physical Therapy, and Lacy Lakeview when there was no plan of care signed by a physician. “My office will hold providers accountable when they submit inaccurate claims or seek reimbursement for medically unnecessary services,” said Acting United States Attorney Margaret F. Leachman of the Western District of Texas. “I encourage providers that identify instances of improper billing to work proactively to remedy the issue, as happened in this case.” Providence Park and Ascension Providence received cooperation credit under the terms of the settlement pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation, and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters. They cooperated with the United States’ investigation by, among other things, disclosing the results of an internal investigation at Ascension Providence that resulted in an overpayment refund to Medicare, voluntarily identifying overpayments for outpatient therapy services at Ascension Providence pursuant to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Healthcare Fraud Self-Disclosure Protocol, and identifying corrective actions to address the issues identified in the self-disclosure. The civil settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States and Texas ex rel. Bland and Ellison v. Ascension Health Senior Care, et al. , No. 5:21-CV-269 (W.D. Tex.). Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Parnham negotiated the settlement on behalf of the United States. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: St. Louis County Man Admits Pandemic-Related Unemployment Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Friday admitted possessing stolen identities and engaging in several schemes, including one in which he falsely obtained COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits. Daryl Jones Jr., 45, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to three felonies: conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. Between June 22, 2020, and July 15, 2020, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania deposited $84,592 in COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits on debit cards fraudulently issued in the identities of Jones and four others. Debit cards were issued in the stolen identities of four more people, but no deposits were made. Jones obtained some of the personal information to set up the accounts from Cheryl Johnson, his girlfriend, who had supervised the victims while employed at various St. Louis area businesses. On June 3, 2021, Jones submitted counterfeit pay stubs from a fake business associated with Johnson to obtain a $31,700 vehicle loan. He and Johnson submitted counterfeit insurance identification cards to accept delivery of the vehicle. On June 25, 2021, they arrived at the St. Louis County home of James Whitiker in that vehicle, as law enforcement was performing a court-approved search. Investigators found a notebook containing the names, Social Security numbers and birthdates of about 35 individuals, two more pieces of paper with the identifying information of 18 others, three stolen identification documents, nine Pennsylvania unemployment insurance benefit debit cards and stolen credit and debit cards. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29. Johnson, 44, pleaded guilty February 20 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced in May. Whitiker, 43, pleaded guilty in July to a conspiracy charge and was sentenced in October to three years of prison. He admitted using two debit cards during the conspiracy and knowing that Jones and Johnson were using his home to commit the unemployment fraud.


title: Eight Gang Members Arrested in Operation Targeting Area Known as "Dead End"

body_text: Eight gang members were arrested Tuesday in ATF-led “Operation Blue Laces,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham. Monday’s takedown, which occurred in the Wheatley Place Neighborhood in South Dallas, resulted in the apprehension of eight members of the 42 Oakland Crips street gang. They made their initial appearances Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee H. Toliver. Those charged in three separate indictments include: Kendrick Jamal Young, aka “Peanut,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm (a Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol, a Ruger 9mm pistol, and a FedArm AR-15 style pistol), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Christopher Jamiel Love, aka “Black,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm (a Springfield Hellcat 9mm pistol, a Ruger 9mm pistol, and a FedArm AR-style pistol) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Alex Jerome Bowman, aka “Big A,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances Victor Scott Wingham, aka “Johnny Joe,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances Joshua Jimond Wheatley, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances Travion Williams, aka “Traa Savage,” charged with carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence (a Taurus 9mm pistol and a Glock 9mm pistol) Jihadd Thies Gorree Thomas, charged with carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence (a Taurus 9mm pistol and a Glock 9mm pistol) Jamarian Augustus Hewitt, charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substances, felon in possession of a firearm (a Ruger 9mm pistol), possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime , and using a communication facility (cell phone) to facilitate a drug felony At a detention hearing on Friday, prosecutors said defendants had been dealing drugs on a daily basis on Dallas’ Casey Street, in an area known as the “Dead End.” Phone records introduced into evidence showed that several members of the conspiracy texted to warn one another about upcoming law enforcement raids, sent young people in to look for missing dope following the raids, and went right back to dealing drugs after the raids concluded. Many of the arrestees had extensive criminal histories, with rap sheets that included drug and gun crimes. During the takedown, agents seized 14 firearms, more than a kilogram’s worth of methamphetamine pills, as well as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, alprazolam, marijuana, TXC wax, hash, and more than $47,000 in cash. They also seized six vehicles, several pieces of Crips -themed jewelry, and a caiman alligator, which was transported to the Dallas Zoo. Indictments are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, some defendants face up to life in federal prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, the Dallas Police Department, Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS – Criminal Investigative Division, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Game Wardens. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assisted with care and transportation of the seized alligator. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.


title: Farmington Hills Man Convicted in a Racially Motivated Assault of a Postal Worker

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A Farmington Hills man was convicted by a federal jury yesterday on charges of assaulting a United States Postal Worker, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced today. Beck was joined in the announcement by Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S Postal Inspection Service's Detroit Division. Russell Valleau, 62, was convicted following a three-day jury trial before United States District Judge Nancy G. Edmunds. The jury also unanimously found that Valleau intentionally selected the letter carrier as the object of his offense because of her actual or perceived race or color. The jury deliberated approximately two hours before returning their verdict. Valleau was convicted of assaulting a federal employee but acquitted of using a dangerous weapon in the assault. Evidence presented at the trial established that Valleau, angered by receiving a black person’s mail in his mailbox, aggressively approached the passenger window of his letter carrier’s postal truck yelling racially charged insults at her. This letter carrier, a black woman herself, tried to diffuse the situation by directing him to leave the unwanted mail in his mailbox. Undeterred, Valleau continued his insults, now pointing the vitriol directly to the letter carrier. When she asked him to step away from her vehicle, he attempted to attack her through her open passenger window. Valleau was only thwarted when the letter carrier sprayed him in the face with her USPS-issued mace and drove away. Once apprehended, Valleau continued his offensive and profane language while in the custody of the officers – this included referring to his letter carrier as a “f**king smelly n**ger.” When officers admonished him for his language, he responded: “Oh, you like n**gers.” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck stated, “A letter carrier was simply trying to do her job, and this defendant physically attacked her while using racist and offensive language. This type of behavior has no place in our community and will not be tolerated.” “As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety and security of postal employees above all else,” said Detroit Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “Let this verdict be a warning to those who threaten, intimidate, or otherwise harm the dedicated men and women of USPS: We will arrest you, and we will seek to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” The Court scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Valleau faces up to twelve months incarceration. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Farmington Hills Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances Carlson and Darrin Crawford.


title: Cartel Boss Tied to Southlake Murder-for-Hire Among Defendants Expelled From Mexico

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Among the 29 cartel bosses expelled from Mexico and transferred to the custody of the United States on Thursday was Northern District of Texas defendant Jose Rodolfo Villarreal Hernandez, aka “El Gato,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham. Mr. Villarreal Hernandez, a Mexican national who held a high-level position in the Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) Drug Cartel, was charged in June 2018 with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in the brutal slaying of a 43-year-old Southlake, Texas lawyer in 2013. He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List in October 2020 and arrested by Mexican law enforcement agents in Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico in January 2023. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced his successful expulsion yesterday, pledging to prosecute all cartel bosses “to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers — and in some cases, given their lives — to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels.” Mr. Villarreal Hernandez will make his initial appearance in federal court next week. According to evidence presented at the trial of his coconspirators, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez allegedly directed and financed a multi-year effort to locate and assassinate his victim, an attorney with ties to a rival cartel. Testimony revealed that Mr. Villarreal Hernandez allegedly believed the attorney was involved with the death of Mr. Villarreal Hernandez’s father and wanted revenge. The victim was shot while sitting in the passenger seat of his vehicle outside an upscale shopping center in Southlake on May 22, 2013. His wife was standing near the driver’s side door when her husband was killed. Three men who, acting on orders from Mr. Villarreal Hernandez, tracked the victim prior to his death were convicted and sentenced in 2016: Jose Luis Cepeda-Cortes and Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Cepeda were convicted at trial of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; Mr. Cepeda-Cortez was also convicted of tampering with documents or proceedings. Both men received life sentences. Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Campano, son of Mr. Ledezma-Cepeda, pleaded guilty prior to trial to one count of interstate stalking and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. A fourth defendant, Ramon Villarreal-Hernandez, the brother of Jose Rodolfo, was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States in 2020. He pleaded guilty to interstate stalking in June 2022 and was sentenced to ten years in prison. According to the U.S. State Department, in addition to allegedly ordering the Southlake murder, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez is believed to have overseen the importation of large quantities of cocaine into the United States as well as committing violent acts within the Republic of Mexico and the United States to maintain his organization’s power and status. “After more than a decade, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez will have to answer for his alleged crimes in an American courtroom,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “Since the victim was gunned down in a public parking lot in 2013, law enforcement’s commitment to this case has never wavered. I extend my sincere thanks to the federal, state, local, and international partners who have pulled together to ensure this defendant will be brought to justice.” “FBI Dallas and the Southlake Police Department have been determined to bring this individual to justice since he orchestrated a brutal murder in one of the many communities we serve in North Texas,” said R. Joseph Rothrock, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Office. “We would like to thank the United States Marshals Service for ensuring that Villarreal-Hernandez arrived safely and is now in federal custody on U.S. soil.” “An investigative success such as this one does not come easily or through individual efforts. Policing is a team sport,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chávez. “We are proud to stand hand-in-hand with our colleagues from the FBI to secure Villarreal Hernández’ indictment, arrest, and transfer. Violence and drug trafficking are evil bedfellows, but together we will ensure communities remain safe and criminals face justice.” An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Villarreal Hernandez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The statutory maximum penalty for interstate stalking is life in prison; the statutory maximum for the murder-for-hire charge is life in prison or death. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, with assistance from the Southlake Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the Fort Worth Police Department, and the Grapevine Police Department. The Mexican Secretariat of the Navy, Fiscalía Generalde la República (FGR), Coordinación Nacional Antisecuestro (CONASE) coordinated in the arrest of Mr. Villarreal-Hernandez. The U.S. Marshal Service for the Northern District of Texas assisted in securing the defendant upon his arrival in Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Mexico City, and the U.S. Marshals Mexico City Foreign Field Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Burgess (fmr) and Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case against Mr. Luis Cepeda-Cortes, Mr. Ledezma-Cepeda, and Mr. Ledezma-Campano. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Smith and Laura Montes are prosecuting the case against Mr. Villarreal Hernandez.


title: St. Louis County Felon Who Shot at Police Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Friday sentenced a convicted felon who shot at St. Louis County Police Department officers in 2020 to 25 years in prison. On Sept. 1, 2020, Dexter McKinnies shot at police, including officers who were members of the FBI Violent Crime Safe Streets Task Force, as they were trying to arrest him. Police had been trying to locate Dexter McKinnies during an investigation of multiple violent crimes and learned that his brother, Lawton McKinnies, had an active felony arrest warrant for three counts of first-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action. Officers arranged a meeting as a ruse. The McKinnies went to the meeting believing that they would be performing maintenance work on a property. When Lawton McKinnies arrived, officers arrested him and discovered that he was armed with a 9mm pistol. Dexter McKinnies was across the street and fired multiple shots at officers with a 9mm pistol, striking an FBI truck. Officers returned fire and struck McKinnies. Both McKinnies are convicted felons and are thus barred from possessing a firearm. Dexter McKinnies, now 34, pleaded guilty in November to five felonies: one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts each of assault on a federal officer and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Lawton McKinnies, now 36, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to three years in prison. In March, he was sentenced to another year for violating his supervised release. The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald Boyce and Nichole Frankenberg prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Co-Leader of Transnational Drug Trafficking Organization Arrives in the U.S. to Face Federal Narcotics and Murder Charges

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An alleged leader of a transnational drug trafficking enterprise co-helmed by former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been sent to the United States from Mexico to face federal charges alleging that he ran a continuing criminal enterprise, committed murder and attempted murder, and conspired to possess, distribute, and export cocaine, the Justice Department announced today. Andrew Clark, 34, a Canadian citizen who was residing in Mexico, was arrested by Mexican authorities in October 2024 and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in United States District Court in Phoenix on charges contained in a 16-count superseding indictment out of the Central District of California. Alongside Wedding, Clark allegedly controlled a billion-dollar drug enterprise with supply routes that transported ton-quantities of cocaine from Colombia to Canada by way of Mexico and Southern California. From March to August 2024, Wedding and Clark allegedly conspired with others to export, possess, and distribute more than 1,800 kilograms of cocaine. In addition, using a network of virtual currency wallets, Wedding, Clark, and their co-conspirators transferred approximately a quarter of a billion dollars from April to September 2024. In one day, investigators seized more than $3 million dollars from one cryptocurrency wallet. “The defendant, as described in the superseding indictment, played a key role in running a violent, international drug trafficking organization that was responsible for multiple murders,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “We are grateful to have him in the United States where he will face justice. When law enforcement officials around the globe work together, there is nowhere criminals can hide.” The superseding indictment alleges that Wedding and Clark, whose aliases include “The Dictator,” directed the November 20, 2023, murders of two individuals and the attempted murder of a third victim in Ontario, Canada. Wedding and Clark also allegedly ordered the murder of a fourth individual on May 18, 2024. Clark and another co-defendant are also charged with the April 1, 2024, murder of a fifth individual in Ontario, Canada. Clark is the second-named defendant in the superseding indictment that charges a total of 16 defendants. With Clark’s expected court appearance, a total of eight defendants will have been arraigned in this case. Clark’s co-conspirators are scheduled to begin trial on May 6. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Clark would face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison on the continuing criminal enterprise charge. The murder and attempted murder charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The drug trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum penalties of 10 years in prison. The FBI investigated this matter with the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing. In addition, significant assistance was provided by U.S. law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations – Detroit and United States Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo; Canadian law enforcement partners, including Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, and Peel Regional Police; Mexican law enforcement partners, including the Attorney General’s Office ( Fiscalía General de la República ) and the Criminal Investigation Agency ( Agencia de Investigación Criminal ); and Colombian law enforcement partners, including Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, Special Interagency Investigation Group ( Policía Nacional de Colombia – Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol, Grupo Especial de Investigación Interagenciales ). This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Ryan Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Former State Official and State Representative Charged with Offenses Related to Cancelled State Audit of Medicaid Provider

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an 18-count indictment charging KONSTANTINOS “KOSTA” DIAMANTIS, 68, of Farmington, and CHRISTOPHER ZIOGAS, 73, of Bristol, with various offenses related to the cancelling of a state audit of a Medicaid provider who engaged in health care fraud. The indictment was returned on February 25, 2025. Diamantis and Ziogas each appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment, and were released on $500,000 bonds. As alleged in the indictment, between January and June 2020, Diamantis, while serving at Deputy Secretary of the State of Connecticut’s Office of Policy and Management (OPM), and Ziogas, who served as a State Representative for Connecticut’s 79 th Assembly District, engaged in a scheme in which Diamantis solicited and received corrupt payments and benefits from Helen Zervas, an optometrist and owner of Family Eye Care in Bristol, in exchange for official acts concerning a State of Connecticut audit of Zervas’s and Family Eye Care’s Medicaid overbilling. Diamantis and Ziogas then took steps to conceal their conduct. As part of the alleged scheme, in January 2020, an official with Connecticut’s Department of Social Services (DSS) provided notice that it would perform an audit of Zervas’s and Family Eye Care’s Medicaid billing. Zervas, who has been charged separately , knew that she had fraudulently overbilled Medicaid for medical services that she had not provided, or that were not medically necessary. Zervas sought assistance from Ziogas, who was her fiancée, to prevent the DSS audit from proceeding. Ziogas, in turn, sought help from Diamantis. In exchange for payments from Ziogas and Zervas, Diamantis undertook official acts, and pressured other state officials to undertake official acts, aimed at favorably resolving the DSS audit. As alleged in the indictment, on March 4, 2020, Ziogas made a bribe payment to Diamantis in the amount of $20,000. On that date, Zervas’s attorney emailed a DSS official with a settlement offer to resolve DSS’s audit. The next day, Zervas reimbursed Ziogas with a $25,000 check from Family Eye Care. On March 12, 2020, Ziogas made a $10,000 bribe payment to Diamantis, and was subsequently reimbursed by Zervas. After having been advised and pressured indirectly by Diamantis through officials at OPM and DSS, the DSS official cancelled the DSS audit and, on May 1, 2020, accepted Zervas’s settlement proposal. The indictment further alleges that, on May 12, 2020, Diamantis and Ziogas delivered a check from Family Eye Care in the amount of $599,810 to DSS. On May 15, 2020, Ziogas, through Zervas, made a final bribe payment of $65,000 to Diamantis. The indictment also alleges that Diamantis and Ziogas made multiple false statements when interviewed by the FBI during the investigation of this matter, and that Diamantis failed to include the $95,000 in corrupt payments on his 2020 federal tax return. Finally, the indictment alleges that Ziogas, an attorney, separately committed bank fraud. Ziogas was the trustee of a client trust, identified in the indictment as “Trust-1.” In November 2019, Ziogas prepared and caused to be negotiated a check from Trust-1 in the amount of $5,500 made out to “Kosta Diamantis.” The indictment charges Diamantis and Ziogas with extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; bribery, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years; conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. The indictment also charges Diamantis with seven counts, and Ziogas with two counts, of making false statements, which carries maximum term of imprisonment of five years on each count; Diamantis with one count of filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years; Ziogas with three counts of making illegal monetary transactions, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count; and Ziogas with one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick.