title: Leader of Sex Trafficking Ring Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Fall River woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to her role in a sex trafficking conspiracy that victimized two minors and one adult. Christy Parker, a/k/a “Lula,” 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and one count of sex trafficking a minor. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2026. Parker was arrested and charged in June 2024 along with five others in connection with the sex trafficking conspiracy. She has remained in federal custody since. Between January and August 2023, Parker used physical beatings, threats, intimidation, sleep deprivation, starvation and other means to coerce at least one adult victim and two minor victims to engage in repeated commercial sex acts in and around Fall River, Mass. Specifically, in early 2023, Parker coerced the adult victim to engage in repeated commercial sex acts by physically beating, threatening and verbally abusing the victim; imposing manufactured debts on the victim; supplying the victim with alcohol and subsequently withholding it; and threatening to have the authorities take the victim’s three-year-old child away from her. Parker later worked with a minor to recruit two minor victims for commercial sex with false promises of easy money. Parker and her co-defendants harbored the minor victims in a house and a Somerset, Mass., hotel and provided them for commercial sex over the course of two months in July and August 2023. Parker physically beat at least one minor victim and threatened both minor victims, prohibited them from sleeping so they could engage in more commercial sex, starved them and confiscated all of their earnings. Parker’s scheme ended in August 2023, when one of the minor victims called her social worker and asked for help. The social worker contacted law enforcement, and Parker was arrested at the Somerset, Mass., hotel where she was harboring the victims. Parker is the fifth defendant to be convicted in the case. In November 2025, Tyreik Reid and Cory Primo were each sentenced to 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in June 2025. Avvani Jeffers and Tre’sean Reid were sentenced in January 2026 after each pleading guilty to their roles in October 2025. Alexander Smalls has pleaded not guilty is pending trial. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $ 250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the Somerset Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case alongside Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Box Elder Woman Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Rapid City

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Box Elder woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026. Lindsey Fitzgerald, 37, was sentenced to 11 1/2 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Fitzgerald was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. She pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025. Between October 2021 and November 2024, Fitzgerald and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Rapid City, South Dakota, area. The trafficking organization routinely traveled to other states to purchase multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine destined for South Dakota. Fitzgerald made multiple trips out of state with a co-conspirator in order to transport large quantities of methamphetamine into South Dakota. Once here, Fitzgerald both personally and with a network of sub-distributors orchestrated the sale of at least 10 pounds of methamphetamine inside the state. Law enforcement seized over eight pounds of methamphetamine during the investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case. Fitzgerald was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: British Citizen Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that JOHN O’ROURKE, also known as JOHN CASEY, 27, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported. O’Rourke appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, O’Rourke has used several other aliases including “John O’Rouke,” “Michael Casey,” “John Joyce,” “Robert Davanzo,” “David Collins,” and “James McCormack.” On October 7, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended O’Rourke, under an alias, and four other individuals near Fort Covington, New York, close to Canadian border. An investigation revealed that O’Rourke did not have legal status in the U.S. and, on October 15, 2024, he was removed by foot from New York to Canada. It is further alleged that on February 18, 2025, O’Rourke was arrested under the name John Casey in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and charged with state offenses including evading responsibility and breach of peace. Continued investigation revealed that O’Rourke has pending cases stemming from arrests under various aliases in Suffolk County, New York, in November 2023; Everett, Washington, in September 2025; Linden, New Jersey, in December 2025; and Snohomish County, Washington, in January 2026. He also has a pending arrest warrant for a larceny offense issued by Connecticut Superior Court judge in Danbury, Connecticut, and is being sought by law enforcement in Surrey, England. O’Rourke was arrested on March 2, 2026, in Pleasonton, California, on an arrest warrant issued by a judge in Torrington, Connecticut, charging O’Rourke with larceny in the first degree, making home improvements without a valid home improvement certificate, and mispresenting or impersonating a registered contractor. O’Rourke has been detained since his arrest. If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, O’Rourke faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More than $1.5 Billion in Criminal and Civil Actions in Fiscal Year 2025, the Most in the Country

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced today that it collected $1,507,147,950.92 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025—the most of any U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country. Of this amount, $1,449,394,479.05 was collected in criminal actions and $57,753,471.87 was collected in civil actions. The District of New Jersey also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $154,991,037.56 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $63,222.72 was collected in criminal actions and $154,927,814.84 was collected in civil actions. In addition, the District of New Jersey, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $348,488,011 in asset forfeiture actions, the second most in the country. “In fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey outpaced the rest of the country, recovering more than $1.5 billion in criminal and civil actions. The District also recovered more than $348 million in asset forfeiture actions, as well as tens of millions more through other proceedings. As our fiscal year 2025 results demonstrate, the District of New Jersey is dedicated to holding defendants accountable for their wrongdoing, seizing ill-gotten gains from offenders, recovering debts owed to the United States in bankruptcy, and recovering funds for crime victims." - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer Significant recoveries include more than $1.43 billion in fines and more than $328 million in criminal forfeiture from TD Bank, N.A. and TD Bank US Holding Company in connection with the companies’ guilty pleas stemming from their pervasive, systemic anti-money laundering failures. TD Bank was the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures and the first US bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The District of New Jersey also had significant recoveries in civil forfeiture actions, including a civil forfeiture complaint to forfeit the proceeds of fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans. In that civil forfeiture action, the government forfeited nearly $7 million in funds, as well as a residential property with an estimated market value of over $2 million. With respect to the District of New Jersey’s affirmative civil enforcement practice, two Pennsylvania companies and one South Carolina company affiliated with Rema Tip Top of America, Inc. entered into a $13 million settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the companies violated the False Claims Act by taking a total of five Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to which the companies were not entitled. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Recoveries in bankruptcy are returned to the federal agencies that are creditors in the case. ###


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Rapid City

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026. Ezra Bald Eagle, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bald Eagle was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025. Between December 2024 and May 2025, Bald Eagle cultivated a network in the Rapid City area to facilitate the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Bald Eagle routinely traveled to Colorado to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and then transported the narcotics into Rapid City. Once back in South Dakota, Bald Eagle and his network of sub-distributors sold large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl within the Rapid City area. Bald Eagle’s operation ended on May 20, 2025, when law enforcement conducted a targeted traffic stop as Bald Eagle returned to South Dakota from purchasing narcotics in Colorado. During the stop, officers seized over 3,300 counterfeit M/30 fentanyl pills, 96 grams of fentanyl powder, and three quarters of a pound of methamphetamine. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case. Bald Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Petersburg felon sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal drug trafficking conviction

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a mixture of heroin and fentanyl and distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, from August to October 2024, law enforcement conducted a series of controlled transactions in which Jawara Tyrone Williams, 45, sold fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine at his residence in Petersburg. During one of those transactions, Williams possessed a handgun that had been reported stolen. Among other crimes, Williams previously was convicted for distributing cocaine. As a convicted felon, Williams cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-152.


title: Faith, South Dakota Man Found Guilty After Trial of First-Degree Burglary

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Dalton Hump, age 34, of Faith, South Dakota, of one count of First-Degree Burglary following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 2, 2026. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Hump was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. At trial, the evidence established that on the evening of July 10, 2024, Hump unlawfully entered a residence in Ziebach County, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. Hump assaulted two individuals inside the residence before being forced outside. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Hump was placed in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.


title: Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026. Amber Marie Gentapanan, 28, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gentapanan was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in August 2025. She pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026. The case arose on March 25, 2025, when Gentapanan possessed a semi-automatic pistol in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She fled from law enforcement and discarded a bag containing the pistol but was apprehended. She is prohibited from possessing any firearm due to her 2022 felony conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Gentapanan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Female duo sentenced for bank fraud and identity theft

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MISSOULA – A pair of women from Charlotte, North Carolina who stole identities to withdraw funds from bank accounts have been sentenced, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. April Lynn Turner-Gross, 39, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Yesterday, Turner-Gross was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Kimberly Gail Worden, 41, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. On March 17, 2026, Worden was sentenced to 29 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. The defendants were also ordered to pay $71,300 jointly in restitution. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that Turner-Gross and Worden stole identities and fraudulently withdrew funds from customer accounts at banks in Montana. The investigation has identified 18 fraudulent cash withdrawals from 18 customer accounts at ten different financial institutions for a total loss of $71,300.00. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Stack prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Utah Man Indicted for Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute 30 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging Enrique Chavez-Salas, 60, of Utah, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. According to court documents, in November 2025, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force Officers began investigating Chavez-Salas for his role in coordinating the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to Rhode Island. As part of the investigation, arrangements were made for the delivery of approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine. During a subsequent meeting related to the planned transaction, Chavez-Salas arrived driving a tractor trailer truck and carrying a large black duffel bag. He engaged in a conversation regarding payment for the narcotics before being taken into custody. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan. The matter was investigated by the DEA and the participating task force agencies. A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Navy Reservist Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Obtaining Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars Of Military Leave Pay From The Department Of Correction

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Christopher Ryan, announced that Leah Mathieu, a correction officer with the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) and a Sailor in the United States Navy Reserve and New York Naval Militia, pled guilty to defrauding the DOC by falsely claiming tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay. MATHIEU pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald. “As admitted, Leah Mathieu used forged documents to collect tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay she had not earned,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That money came from New Yorkers’ pockets. New Yorkers expect those who serve them to follow the rules on all pay—regular wages, overtime, leave pay, etc.—and when there is cheating, New Yorkers want justice.” “Falsifying military leave to obtain City pay is a crime and undermines the service members who rightfully earn those benefits,” said DOI Acting Commissioner Christopher Ryan. “As charged, this Correction Officer betrayed the trust granted in her by the City and the New York State Naval Militia. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued partnership and commitment to protect City funds.” According to the allegations in the Information: MATHIEU is a correction officer employed by the DOC and a member of the United States Navy Reserve. MATHIEU repeatedly made false representations and provided forged documentation, including purported military orders, to the DOC falsely claiming that she was on state active duty with the New York Naval Militia and therefore entitled to leave from her employment with the DOC. Based on MATHIEU’s false representations and forged documentation, MATHIEU fraudulently obtained military leave pay from the DOC from December 2022 through March 2024, totaling approximately $80,297.90. * * * MATHIEU, 34, of Freeport, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. MATHIEU will be sentenced by Judge Buchwald on August 27, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of DOI, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection – New York Field Office, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca T. Dell is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing “Molly”

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Eric Petrie, age 32, of Oswego County, pleaded guilty on April 8th to distribution of a controlled substance. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. As part of his plea, Petrie admitted that between January 2022 and February 2023, he knowingly and intentionally distributed the controlled substance N,N-Dimethylpentylone, commonly referred to as “molly,” to customers in and around Oswego County. The defendant further admitted that he obtained the molly from multiple sources, including by purchasing directly from other individuals and by delivery through a website. The defendant admitted that he then repackaged the molly and sold it to customers. First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “We will not tolerate those who poison our community for profit. Today’s guilty plea is a testament to the strong partnerships between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and both federal and local law enforcement agencies. While our state system may not treat these drug cases with the same urgency, we will step in to ensure accountability. If you choose to distribute dangerous drugs, know that we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you fully accountable.” “Dangerous drugs have no place in our communities. Homeland Security Investigations is working every day with our law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. Sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Petrie faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The case was investigated by HSI and the other members of the Oswego County Drug Task Force, which is comprised of members of HSI, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, Oswego City Police Department, Fulton Police Department, and United States Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.


title: Memphis Resident Sentenced for Federal Kidnapping

body_text: Oxford, MS – Elmer Smith, 39, of Memphis, Tennessee, pled guilty and was sentenced today to over 14 years in prison for kidnapping a victim as a result of domestic violence. According to court documents, on February 15, 2024, he left Memphis, TN searching for the victim, with whom he was involved in an intimate relationship, and found her at her employment in Southaven, MS. At that time, he physically assaulted the victim, abducting her by force into his vehicle and taking her to Memphis, TN without her consent. A short time later, Memphis Police Department located the victim and arrested Elmer Smith. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Smith today to 170 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Smith was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing. “In 2024, an individual felt entitled to travel from Memphis to the Northern District of Mississippi, kidnap a lady and return her to Memphis,” U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary emphasizes, “Such conduct is unconscionable and will not be tolerated in our district. Hopefully, criminals understand if you travel to Mississippi to commit a crime, you will be caught, prosecuted and jailed. A special thanks goes to the Southaven Police Department, the FBI and to the Memphis Police Department. You have the public’s back, and it is much appreciated.” Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: the violent and reprehensible acts committed by Elmer Smith will not be tolerated. There is no excuse for the abuse or the profound trauma inflicted on the victim. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement and community partners to ensure individuals who threaten public safety are held fully accountable for their actions. We commend the Southaven Police Department and the Memphis Police Department for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this investigation.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Levy and Robert Mims.


title: Billings bail bondsman pleads guilty to exchanging bond money for sex

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS - A Billings bail bondsman accused of paying bonds in exchange for sex admitted to charges yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. The defendant, Louis Christopher Ikeda, 46, pleaded guilty to 1 count of use of facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering. Ikeda faces 5 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set at a later time. Ikeda was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that Ikeda was a licensed surety producer and bail bond agent employed with Northwest Bail Bonds in Billings, Montana. In November 2024, Jane Doe was incarcerated at YCDF on several criminal cases pending before the State of Montana’s Thirteenth Judicial District Court. To be released from custody on those matters, Jane Doe was required, in pertinent part, to post $10,000.00 bail. On November 18, 2024, Ikeda initiated a text message conversation with Jane Doe that continued over the course of the following weeks. Their conversation quickly turned sexual, including whenever Jane Doe would bring up the topic of her bail. After initially telling Jane Doe that he could not post her bond because it would be illegal, Ikeda later began discussing different amounts he would accept as payment. These discussions would typically be interjected with sexually explicit messages. Ultimately, Ikeda told Jane Doe he would accept $300 (the amount Northwest Bail Bond would owe its surety company) to post her bail. The conversation then turned sexual in anticipation of her release. On December 2, 2024, Ikeda posted bail for Jane Doe. After the two left YCDF, Ikeda drove Jane Doe to an area by the river in Billings and they had sexual intercourse. Jane Doe later described feeling pressured into having sex with Ikeda because whenever she talked about being released from jail he would respond by expressing his desire to have sex with her. She also believed the sexual relationship was in exchange for Ikeda accepting a reduced amount to post bond for her release. Jane Doe reported that after she was released from custody, Ikeda instructed her that if anyone asked about their relationship, she should say it was strictly professional. In total, Ikeda accepted $200 from a third party to post bond for Jane Doe’s $10,000 bail. However, Ikeda deposited a total of $300 in Northwest Bail Bonds’ accounts used to pay its surety. He later admitted he used his own money to make up the difference. Subsequent to posting Jane Doe’s bond, Ikeda messaged two other female inmates at YCDF. He discussed bail with both inmates and both conversations quickly turned sexual. Ultimately, he posted bond for both inmates for less than the required minimum premium amount. Both women later reported they believed a sexual relationship with Ikeda was expected in exchange for his posting their bond, but both were able to evade him after their respective releases from YCDF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Vestal and Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Investigations, State of Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Probation and Parole conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Former DOE Employee Pleads Guilty to Stealing Dead Relative’s Pension

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Effie Mae Youmans, 71, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to theft of public money by collecting pension benefits that she was not entitled to collect. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed the Savannah River Nuclear Site learned one of its retirees had died, but the individual’s pension benefits were still being received. According to SRNS’s investigator, no one informed SRNS of the retiree’s death at the time, so SRNS continued to make pension payments to the individual’s account. SRNS made 18 months of payments after the death, at a rate of $3,025 per month, totaling $54,450. Investigators determined Youmans, a relative of the retiree, withdrew the overpayment funds from the bank account. As an SRNS pension recipient herself, Youmans knew she was not entitled to the relative’s pension funds. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The Fraud Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Youmans after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. As part of Youmans’ plea agreement, she will repay the stolen money. This case was investigated by Department of Energy Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former FBI Most Wanted Fugitive Admits Child Sex Trafficking

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man who was once on the FBI’s Most Wanted list pleaded guilty Thursday and admitted providing sexual access to a child in exchange for cash and other items of value. Donald Eugene Fields II, 61, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of child sex trafficking. He admitted accepting items of value from a friend and co-defendant, Theodore “Ted” John Sartori Sr., in exchange for access to the victim beginning when she was 14 years old. From the winter of 2013 through the summer of 2016, Sartori engaged in illegal sexual activity with the minor and provided Fields cash, a car, a motorcycle, Christmas presents and vacations. In the summer of 2016, Sartori financed a vacation to Florida and drove the victim there with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with her. Fields instructed the minor to engage in sexual activity with Satori. Fields was indicted on Dec. 7, 2022. He was arrested on Jan. 26, 2025, after a traffic stop by police in Lady Lake, Florida, when officers learned that he was on the Most Wanted list. Fields is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15. The crime carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years, with a maximum term of life. Sartori, now 65, is serving a 10-year prison term. He pleaded guilty in August of 2024 to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The case was investigated jointly by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Jefferson Parish Felon Indicted for Firearms Offenses and Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –DERRICK SERIGNET (“SERIGNET”) , age 44, was indicted on February 26, 2026, for possessing fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute those substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The indictment was unsealed on April 6, 2026. According to the indictment, on February 4, 2026, SERIGNET possessed fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute those substances and possessed a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. SERIGNET is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior convictions for attempted armed robbery in Jefferson Parish. As to the drug-trafficking charge, SERIGNET faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to the charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, SERIGNET faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, SERIGNET faces up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Florida CPA Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Florida Certified Public Accountant pleaded guilty today to evading payment of more than $2.2 million of income tax liabilities. According to court documents, Ronald St. Clair attempted to hide his assets from the IRS after accumulating tax debts for 2011 through 2017. In 2020, after the IRS notified St. Clair that it intended to levy his assets to collect his unpaid taxes, St. Clair sold real property he owned and transferred the proceeds into a bank account in a third party’s name. After transferring these funds out of his own name, St. Clair directed the money for his personal and business use and intentionally failed to disclose these funds and assets while he was seeking a payment plan with the IRS. St. Clair pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Marissa R. Brodney and Aaron I. Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Darcey of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, FL — A Florida Certified Public Accountant pleaded guilty today to evading payment of more than $2.2 million of income tax liabilities. According to court documents, Ronald St. Clair attempted to hide his assets from the IRS after accumulating tax debts for 2011 through 2017. In 2020, after the IRS notified St. Clair that it intended to levy his assets to collect his unpaid taxes, St. Clair sold real property he owned and transferred the proceeds into a bank account in a third party’s name. After transferring these funds out of his own name, St. Clair directed the money for his personal and business use and intentionally failed to disclose these funds and assets while he was seeking a payment plan with the IRS. St. Clair pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Darcey of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Marissa R. Brodney and Aaron I. Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Bowdoinham Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Bowdoinham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony offense. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Rodney Skipper , 46, to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Skipper pleaded guilty on September 11, 2025. According to court records, Brunswick police responded to a Walmart regarding a potential shoplifting incident. Upon arrival, officers were directed to Skipper, who had gone outside to his vehicle. Officers noticed Skipper had an empty pistol holster on his hip, and were told that Skipper had been seen with a firearm in the holster before their arrival. A subsequent search of Skipper’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a 9mm pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and a 10mm pistol. Skipper was prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of a prior felony conviction for assaultive conduct. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Brunswick Police Department. Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime ###


title: Former Ohio Senate Candidate Sentenced to Federal Prison for $4.5M Fraud Scheme

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 45-year-old man who embezzled millions from his employer and a local fraternal police organization—to fund a lavish lifestyle and his election campaign—has been sentenced to prison. Jonathan Leissler, of Stow, Ohio, has been sentenced to 48 months (four years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker, after pleading guilty in December 2025 to three counts of Wire Fraud. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,421,154.54 in restitution. According to court documents, in March 2022 Leissler was hired as the chief financial officer for an industrial supply company in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. In this role, he was entrusted to manage payroll, expenditures, accounts payable, and company credit cards. However, in his first month on the job—and despite already receiving a six-figure salary—he created fake payroll records to add unauthorized extra money to his paychecks in the form of bonuses, commissions, and other payments. Investigators determined that by November 2024 he stole $3.8 million across 70 pay periods. While Leissler continued to add unauthorized payments to his paychecks, he was also using the company’s credit cards to make donations to his own election campaign in his bid for a seat on the Ohio Senate during the November 2024 general election. He utilized an online fundraising platform to collect more than $700,000—charged on the company’s credit cards—toward his failed election campaign. When his employer confronted him about the credit card charges, Leissler processed refunds from the fundraising platform. However, the online platform was left on the hook for refund amounts because he had already changed the bank connected to the account to a different one that did not exist. Another source of funds Leissler accessed was through a local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) organization. While serving as their treasurer, he was issued a debit card and checkbook for the FOP account, which he then used to write checks to himself, withdraw cash, and pay his personal credit card bills. Ultimately, he stole more than $50,000 from the FOP on 69 separate occasions. The amount accounted for 80% of the organization’s funds which had been earmarked to provide scholarships for the children of police officers. Federal investigators learned that Leissler used the embezzled funds to live an extravagant lifestyle. He traveled by chartered private planes and bought a vacation property in South Carolina. He also used funds to pay for mortgage payments, credit cards, vehicles, cryptocurrency mining equipment, and start a business. This investigation was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.


title: Child Pornographer Sentenced to Over 16 Years in  Federal Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Kyle Kenneth Castino, 36, to over 16 years in federal prison followed by 8 years of supervised release, and $35,000 restitution for Distribution of Child Pornography. “This crime exhibits stunningly disgusting antisocial behavior. Anyone who would descend to such dark depths of depravity should never walk freely amongst our children and families, ever again. Thanks to the identification of this spider and robust investigation by our law enforcement partners, we have stomped out this spider for the next two decades, and in reality, forever.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. The State Bureau of Investigations, the Garner Police Department, and the Selma Police Department investigated Inmate Castino after Facebook and Google reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that one of their users had uploaded child sexual abuse to their platforms. The IP address linked back to Inmate Castino at his Garner home. When the Garner Police Department learned Inmate Castino had moved to Selma, Selma PD and SBI executed a search warrant on Inmate Castino’s house. The search led to the seizure of digital devices that contained child sexual abuse materials. Inmate Castino admitted he had perverted sexual interest in children, and they found child sexual abuse material on his phone and thumb drive and in various digital devices in a lockbox inside his house. Additionally, law enforcement discovered Inmate Castino had produced images with a child. He possessed almost 385,000 images and over 3,000 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentencing. U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan handed down the sentence. Garner Police Department, Selma Police Department, and the SBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-230-FL-BM.


title: St. Croix Man Sentenced to 16 months for Assaulting a U.S. Postal Carrier

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI –U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Omarion Webbe, 23, of St. Croix, was sentenced on April 6, 2026, by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy for assaulting a U.S. postal carrier. He was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. According to court documents, on or about October 15, 2024, postal employee L.L., dressed in her United States postal employee letter carrier uniform, was delivering mail at Harbor View Apartments. She saw a young man near her postal van. She had seen the same young man before on October 11th when she was delivering mail at Sugar Beach Condominiums. He said something to her, but she could not hear. She also saw him a short time later at Club St. Croix Condominiums when she was delivering the mail. After leaving Harbor View Apartments, L.L. went to Carib Villas and began delivering mail. She saw the same young man. The young man, later identified as the defendant, made a sexual comment to her. L.L. ignored him but was able to take a picture of the defendant with her phone. L.L. continued her route to Sugar Beach and saw the defendant as she was leaving. When L.L. arrived at Club St. Croix and began delivering mail, the defendant suddenly appeared from around a corner. He approached L.L. and was within a couple feet of her when he made another sexual comment to her. L.L. told him to back off, and the defendant hit her hard on the left side of her buttocks. She screamed and tried to back up. Two maintenance workers came to her aid, but the defendant had already left, jumping over a concrete wall. The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.


title: Spree of Carjackings in August 2022 Results in 29 Year Prison Sentence for D.C. Man

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jerome Israel, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced for three carjackings, which took place in August 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Israel pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025, to one count of armed carjacking and two counts of unarmed carjacking in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Today, Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld declined to sentence the defendant under the Youth Rehabilitation Act and affirmed her initial sentencing on March 4 th for the defendant to serve 29 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 8:27 p.m. on August 20, 2022, Israel and a co-conspirator approached a victim from the rear on the corner of 7 th and D Streets, SE. The victim, who was driving a 2021 grey Nissan Sentra, was unloading items from the vehicle when approached by the two men, who were wearing ski masks. As the co-conspirator brandished a firearm, the defendant reached into the victim’s pants’ pockets and took a cell phone, wallet, house key and the car keys to the Nissan. Both men got into the Nissan and drove off. Three days later, in the early morning hours of August 23, 2022, Israel and a co-conspirator drove the stolen Nissan to a gas station in the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, where they approached a second victim. The victim, who was driving a 2009 white BMW 328i, parked at a gas pump and exited the vehicle to purchase items at the gas station’s window. The victim was approached by the co-conspirator, who brandished a firearm and took the victim’s car keys while Israel searched the victim’s pants’ pockets and stole his wallet. Israel got the car keys from his co-conspirator and drove off in the victim’s vehicle. The co-conspirator drove off in the Nissan. Two days later, on August 25, 2022, at approximately 5:51 p.m., Israel and a co-conspirator approached a third victim at a Citgo gas station in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. They were driving the stolen BMW from two days earlier. The victim, who was driving a 2021 blue Dodge Challenger, was parked at a gas pump, and the two men drove up behind him. The defendant approached the victim, brandished a firearm, and demanded the car keys. The victim informed them that the keys were inside the vehicle. The two co-conspirators drove off in the victim’s Challenger and the stolen BMW. Israel was arrested on August 30, 2022, and has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll thanked those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Lee and Ella Gladman, who prosecuted the case. 2022 CF1 007472


title: Connecticut Woman Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship After Committing Torture and War Crimes in Bosnia

component: Criminal - Human Rights and Special Prosecution Section

body_text: A woman who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to 30 months in prison for naturalization fraud based on lies about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship. According to statements made in court and court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanić, 53, of West Virginia, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region. Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanić participated in the severe physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, including torture and inhuman treatment amounting to a war crime. When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanić, who resided in Hartford at the time, falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others. She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested — specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. Tomanić’s deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and was legally obligated to answer questions truthfully. Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct. “The defendant tortured and abused prisoners in Bosnia and then lied to U.S. immigration authorities to live in the U.S. and become a citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human rights violators are not welcome in the United States. Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the diligence and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for exploiting our immigration system and evading responsibility for her crimes.” “I sincerely appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia who have disregarded the passage of decades to ensure that justice is served,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. “There is no statute of limitations for human decency.” “This case has always been about more than lying on naturalization documents,” said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI New Haven Field Office. “Over the course of this investigation Tomanić’s violent history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion came to light, and we hope that yesterday’s sentencing gives some measure of justice to her victims. The FBI, along with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship.” Tomanić pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law. The FBI investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation. Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia King and Angel Krull for the District of Connecticut prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP historians. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/ , or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.


title: Three Crips Members Convicted Of Racketeering, Murder, and Other Gang-Related Crimes

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Akeem Chambers, also known as “Luca,” Jonathan Vazquez, also known as “Chulo” and “Clutch,” and Jerell Shaw, also known as “Rells” and “Rells Fargo,” on 52 counts of a third superseding indictment charging them variously with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, assault, murder conspiracy, kidnapping, robbery, robbery conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, mortgage fraud conspiracy, and money laundering. The defendants are members of Crips sets known as the “Insane Crip Gang,” or “ICG,” based on Long Island, and the “Rollin 60s,” based in Brooklyn. The verdicts followed an 11-week trial before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. When sentenced, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of life in prison. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Patrick Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), Anne Donnelly, District Attorney, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict. “With today’s convictions, a clear message has been sent to those who perpetuate the cycle of gang violence on Long Island, in Brooklyn, and throughout our district: you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable. Our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to eradicate the gang violence that terrorizes our communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants and their co-conspirators used force and violence against rivals, terrorized surrounding neighborhoods, stole from government programs intended to provide services to the public, and enriched themselves through the illicit proceeds of their criminal activity. Today’s verdict ensures that these individuals have been held responsible for their crimes. This outcome is the result of the outstanding work of law enforcement agents and detectives who, alongside our prosecutors, brought this comprehensive investigation to a successful conclusion. Our Office will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to advance the Administration’s mandate to Take Back America by dismantling and eradicating lawless, violent gangs like the Insane Crips and make our communities safer.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Long Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad and Gang Investigation Squad for their tireless efforts to bring these defendants to justice. Mr. Nocella also thanked the Hempstead Village Police Department for its efforts in the widespread investigation. “These three Crips gang members are responsible for a litany of crimes across Long Island. Their collective tyranny ranged from public gunfights and multiple murders to exploiting government relief programs – all to protect the gang’s reputation and increase its illicit revenue stream. Today’s guilty verdict marks a significant milestone in the FBI Long Island Safe Streets Task Force’s unwavering fight against criminal enterprises flooding our streets with violence,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “These gang members committed heinous acts of violence, including the attempted murder of two Nassau County Police Officers. This case highlights the risks that our officers face every single day, when they put on the uniform to protect the residents of Nassau County. These individuals committed dangerous crimes including robbery and murder, that they are finally being held accountable for. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will stop at nothing to pursue individuals who harm our communities. I commend our investigators and our partners for their dedication and efforts on this case,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder. “These convictions end a reign of terror across Nassau County,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “From targeted robberies and the senseless killings of innocent lives to the brazen attempted murder of two Nassau County police officers, these defendants showed a chilling disregard for human life. This verdict is a powerful message to the gangs that think they can operate with impunity across Long Island. We remain committed to working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to dismantle these violent enterprises and seek justice for the victims and their families.” “These Crips members committed a series of violent crimes – from murder and kidnapping to stealing federal relief meant for vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The NYPD is intensely focused on taking down gangs, removing guns from our streets, and keeping communities safe. Thanks to the work of our NYPD investigators, alongside our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these violent criminals have been convicted and will be held accountable.” Racketeering and Violent Crimes Chambers, Vazquez, and Shaw were each convicted of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy for their participation in the Crips criminal enterprise. In connection with the racketeering charges, they were also found guilty of participating in multiple acts of violence committed on behalf of the Crips, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and kidnapping. Chambers, who dubbed himself “Luca Da Shoota,” was convicted for his role in eleven shootings and three homicides between 2020 and 2022, including the August 2020 murder of Thiasia Williams in Hempstead, New York, the September 2021 murder of James Diamond in Freeport, New York, and the March 2022 murder of Malik Delima in Brooklyn, New York. In August 2020, Chambers, along with fellow Crips members and associates, carried out a drive-by shooting targeting a party on Martin Luther King Drive in Hempstead that was attended by members of a rival gang. Chambers and an associate each opened fire with 9mm handguns, discharging at least eight rounds into a crowd of partygoers. Their gunfire struck and killed Thiasia Williams, an innocent bystander who was seated in her car outside the party waiting to pick up a friend. Chambers was also convicted of assaulting another innocent female bystander, who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her leg. Chambers also was convicted of the January 3, 2021 attempted murder and assault of a victim in Rockville Centre, New York. Acting on a mistaken belief that he was a rival gang member, Chambers opened fire on the victim and his brother as they were driving home on Peninsula Boulevard. The victim was struck by gunfire and, as a result of the shooting, was left paralyzed. Chambers was also convicted for his role in the 2021 robbery and murder of James Diamond in Freeport, New York. On September 10, 2021, Chambers and his co-conspirators planned to rob Diamond and another individual of a large sum of cash. During the attempted robbery, Chambers and another individual, both armed with firearms, confronted Diamond at gunpoint. In the course of the robbery, Chambers’ co-conspirator shot and killed Diamond. Chambers and Shaw were convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder for their roles in the March 2022 killing of Malik Delima, a Rollin’ 60s gang member and rival of Shaw from Brooklyn. Shaw, who was involved in an internal gang power struggle with Delima, enlisted Chambers to shoot and kill Delima. On March 10, 2022, Chambers, using a car provided by Shaw, drove from Shaw’s residence and tracked Delima to his apartment in Brooklyn. When Delima exited his residence, Chambers shot Delima 11 times, killing him. Vazquez was convicted of murder for his role in the November 19, 2016 shooting death of 19 year-old Joecephus Vanable in Hempstead, New York. Vanable, a rival of ICG in Hempstead, was shot and killed outside his girlfriend’s residence while speaking with his girlfriend and sister. Vazquez provided the firearm used in the murder and accompanied the shooter to carry out the killing. In the wake of Vanable’s murder, members of ICG repeatedly glorified the killing, including by posting numerous videos depicting Vazquez, Chambers, and others desecrating Vanable’s grave and by posting rap songs that referenced Vanable’s death to taunt rivals. Vazquez was convicted of the attempted murder of two Nassau County police officers on March 1, 2022. When the officers attempted to stop a vehicle matching the description of one used in a robbery two weeks earlier, Vazquez opened fire at the officers’ vehicle, striking its hood. Vazquez then fled on foot and again attempted to fire at the officers. In addition, Vazquez was convicted of the February 16, 2022 gunpoint robbery of a woman in Levittown, New York, the same robbery that led officers to attempt the vehicle stop on March 1. Chambers was convicted of committing seven shootings, involving the attempted murder or assault of rival gang members in 2020 and 2022, as well as several counts of illegal possession, brandishing and discharge of firearms. Vazquez and Chambers were convicted of committing four shootings together, involving the attempted murder or assault of rival gang members in 2021 and 2022, as well as several counts of illegal possession, brandishing and discharge of firearms. Shaw was convicted for his role in orchestrating the December 1, 2021 kidnapping and robbery of a woman in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Shaw recruited fellow Rollin’ 60s member Delima, as well as two additional Crips members, to kidnap the victim in order to gain access to her apartment and steal luxury items, including Birkin handbags, watches, and jewelry. Shaw enlisted ICG Crips gang members to assist in re-selling the stolen goods. After Shaw failed to pay Delima and his associates their share of the proceeds, an internal power struggle developed between Shaw and Delima. As a result of that conflict, Shaw enlisted Chambers to murder Delima several weeks later, for which Shaw was also convicted. Government Program Fraud and Related Financial Crimes Chambers, Vazquez and Shaw were each convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their participation in a wide array of fraud schemes carried out by the Crips, targeting state and federal relief programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants and their fellow Crips used stolen identities to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in multiple states, including California and Arizona. They then used the proceeds to purchase high-value assets, including expensive jewelry and luxury goods. The evidence at trial established that Shaw, who referred to himself as “Rells Fargo,” alone defrauded the California Employment Development Department for over $2 million from 2020 to 2021. Shaw was convicted of laundering the proceeds of the fraud schemes by transferring thousands of dollars per day between various bank accounts and by wiring funds to his business account under the guise of legitimate business transactions. Shaw used these illicit proceeds to obtain a mortgage and purchase a $1.2 million home in New Jersey. * * * * * These convictions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Central Operations and Regional Enforcement (CORE) Region 28, located in New York, is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEAJ, US Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP), the US Marshals Service SDNY, the US Marshals Service EDNY, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), US Postal Inspection Service, US Coast Guard, US Federal Probation SDNY, US Federal Probation EDNY, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the United States Secret Service, the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Andrew P. Wenzel, Kaitlin C. McTague and Samantha S. Alessi prosecuted the case with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Michael Compitello and Lead Legal Administrative Specialist Kerry Ucci, as well as investigators and special agents from EDNY’s Criminal Investigations Unit. The Defendants: AKEEM CHAMBERS (also known as “Luca” and “Luca da Shoota”) Age: 24 Uniondale, New York JONATHAN VAZQUEZ (also known as “Clutch” and “Chulo”) Age: 24 Hempstead, New York JERELL SHAW (also known as “Rells” and “Rells Fargo”) Age: 34 Millstone Township, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 23-CR-157 (S-3) (JMA)


title: Louisville Woman Sentenced for  Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Louisville, Ky., woman, Sarah Morris, 33, was sentenced on Thursday to 80 months by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to her plea agreement, between December 2023 and January 2025, Morris developed relationships with suppliers that allowed her to regularly obtain pound quantities of methamphetamine from them. Morris then regularly supplied multiple customers, including those who Morris knew who were distributing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Kentucky. On some occasions, drug traffickers traveled to Louisville to obtain methamphetamine, and on other occasions, Morris traveled to Eastern Kentucky to deliver the methamphetamine. Specifically, on January 22, 2025, Morris traveled from Louisville to Eastern Kentucky to deliver three pounds of methamphetamine. Morris had distributed a portion of the methamphetamine when law enforcement approached a building where Morris and others were located. When law enforcement approached, an individual in that building threw the majority of the methamphetamine that Morris had brought into a fire. Morris admitted that the amount that was destroyed in the fire was about two pounds. Under federal law, Morris must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Lexington Man Sentenced for   Armed Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington man, Laurance Newby, 38, was sentenced on Wednesday to 180 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, between December 2024 until June 2025, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase fentanyl from Newby on three occasions. On June 25, 2025, a trained drug-detection dog gave a positive alert for Newby’s car. Law enforcement approached the vehicle and Newby fled on foot, eventually being arrested. A search of Newby’s vehicle resulted in the recovery of a backpack containing a loaded Glock 26 firearm and 996.4 grams of cocaine, as well as 439.8 grams of fentanyl in the trunk of the car. Newby admitted that he intended to distribute the drugs located in the vehicle and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. Under federal law, Newby 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 five years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); US Secret Service; FBI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Marshals Service; IRS- Criminal Investigations; U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky. – END –


title: Chicago Drug Trafficker Who Illegally Possessed 17 Firearms Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A man who trafficked fentanyl and cocaine and illegally possessed 17 firearms in his Chicago residence has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison. Law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of HUGO PINZON’s residence in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago in April 2024 and discovered distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as 17 firearms. As a previously convicted felon, Pinzon was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The search also turned up a money-counting machine, a digital scale for weighing narcotics, and $95,456 in cash, which constituted proceeds from narcotics transactions. Pinzon had sold drugs on three occasions earlier in 2024 to an individual who, unbeknownst to Pinzon, was cooperating with law enforcement. Pinzon, 36, pleaded guilty last year to federal drug and firearm charges. On April 2, 2026, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Pinzon to nine years in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by the Carpentersville, Ill. Police Department. “Distribution of narcotics, particularly cocaine and fentanyl, is a very serious offense,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Snell argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “These addictive drugs destroy lives and shatter families. In addition to the narcotics defendant kept in his house, he also kept an array of 17 firearms, knowing that he had previously been convicted of a felony and was not permitted to possess a firearm.”


title: Illegal alien and his associate charged with trafficking 85 kilograms of methamphetamine

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Alberto Ortiz-Osornio, an illegal alien from Mexico, and Marco Antonio Solano-Posadas face federal drug trafficking charges after law enforcement seized approximately 85 kilograms of methamphetamine in Norcross, Georgia. “The defendants allegedly sought to traffic nearly 200 pounds of deadly methamphetamine before a coordinated law enforcement effort caught them in the act,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office and our law enforcement partners will use every tool at our disposal to prevent foreign drug cartels from poisoning Georgians and to hold drug dealers accountable for their crimes.” “These arrests represent a significant step in dismantling a drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing dangerous amounts of methamphetamine into our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We will continue to pursue individuals involved in the distribution of methamphetamine with relentless focus. Those who engage in this criminal activity should understand that law enforcement is committed to bringing them to justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: on April 3, 2026, as part of an ongoing investigation, DEA agents allegedly saw Ortiz place two large 12-gallon bins in his car parked outside his residence in Norcross, drive a short distance to meet with Solano, and place those bins in Solano’s car. Shortly thereafter, sheriff’s deputies from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office stopped Solano’s car and located approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine inside the 12-gallon bins. Agents then searched Ortiz’s residence, where they allegedly found four more 12-gallon bins containing an additional 55 kilograms of methamphetamine. The investigation further revealed that Ortiz is a citizen of Mexico who is illegally present in the United States. On April 3, 2026, Ortiz and Solano were named in a criminal complaint charging them with a drug-trafficking conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Earlier today, a federal magistrate judge ordered Ortiz to be held in federal custody without bail pending further proceedings. Solano is currently in the custody of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office but is expected to appear in federal court within the next week. Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hwang is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: City of East St. Louis consents to Clean Water Act violations and agrees to implement actions to address unlawful discharges of untreated sewage

component: ENRD - Environmental Enforcement Section

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – The Justice Department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Illinois reached an interim agreement with the City of East St. Louis, Illinois to address the City’s Clean Water Act violations. In December 2024 , the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section filed a complaint against the City due to its failure to operate its sewer system in compliance with the Clean Water Act. According to the complaint, the failure led to hundreds of unlawful discharges of untreated sewage to various locations in the community, including the Mississippi River and Whispering Willow Lake in Frank Holten State Park. On March 11, 2026, the United States, the State of Illinois, and the City of East St. Louis entered a Stipulation of Judgment on Liability, Stay of Litigation, and Interim Relief. The stipulation was approved by United States District Judge David W. Dugan on March 19. In the stipulation, the City of East St. Louis consented to liability on Counts One through Nine in the Complaint. The parties further agreed to a stay of discovery and the court proceedings to allow for the preparation of a Long-Term Control Plan. According to their stipulation, the City will submit a revised Long-Term Control Plan no later than June 30, 2027. During the stay, the parties agreed to file bi-monthly status reports with the Court on the last business day of every other month. “This interim agreement shows a shared commitment between the parties to continue working towards the improvement of health and safety in the local community,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. EPA and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency investigated the case. Attorneys with the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section and Illinois Attorney General’s office are handling the case.


title: Three Admit Stealing Controlled Substances from Missouri, Kansas Pharmacies

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Three men from Texas have admitted stealing controlled substances from three pharmacies in Missouri and Kansas last year. Erik Dewayne Lyons Jr., 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substance and entering a pharmacy with the intent to steal controlled substances. Jonathan Fore, 30, and Anthony Ray Venwright, 33, pleaded guilty on March 30 to the same charges. All three admitted traveling from the Houston, Texas area to Lee’s Summit, Missouri on July 29, 2025. The next day, Lyons waited in a Toyota RAV4 nearby while Venwright and Fore broke into a pharmacy and stole drugs. They then broke into a pharmacy in Overland Park, Kansas. On July 31, 2025, they broke into a Maryland Heights pharmacy. Maryland Heights police identified the RAV4 and learned that it was in Arkansas. The Arkansas State Police stopped the RAV4 and a companion vehicle, and investigators later found two trash bags containing the drugs that the men had stolen from the third pharmacy and evidence linking them all of the burglaries. The men admitted stealing a total of 25,610 doses of various pain pills and other controlled substances. Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13. Both Fore and Venwright are scheduled to be sentenced on July 6. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, the Clark County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Department, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the Overland Park (Kansas) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Oklahoma City Man Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Investment Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has charged MATTHEW MCLAIN VEAZEY , 36, of Oklahoma City, with wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, from June 2021 through December 2025, Veazey held himself out as an experienced and successful financial investment professional and induced friends and family to send him money by claiming he had special access to favorable investment opportunities due to his connections and prior employment with investment companies. Despite promising to invest funds on behalf of his victims or to include them in his own claimed investments, Veazey allegedly kept the money for himself and used it for personal expenses. Court records allege that investors transferred at least $2,385,000 into Veazey’s personal checking accounts, funds that were never repaid. It is further alleged that Veazey fabricated text messages and email communications from real people to convince victims that his investment activities were real and legitimate. On April 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment charging Veazey with 21 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Veazey faces up to 20 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count of money laundering, and a mandatory 2 years in federal prison for each count of aggravated identity theft. The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that Veazey is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson D. Eldridge and Julia E. Barry are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Lancaster Man Pleads Guilty in Connection With Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew James Addy, 47, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, entered pleas of guilty today before United States District Judge John M. Gallagher on 13 counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, arising from schemes through which the defendant defrauded investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The defendant was charged by indictment in October of last year. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Addy held himself out as a wealthy and successful businessman, entrepreneur, and investor, to induce investors and potential investors to make investments and loans to him. From approximately January 2020 to July 2022, Addy made misrepresentations to investors and prospective investors about both his personal financial position, falsely claiming a significant net worth, and his business and entrepreneurial experience, mischaracterizing the financial results of the purported consulting business that he claimed to operate, “the Yarah Group.” As the defendant admitted, he induced one victim (“Victim 1”) to hire him to operate Victim l’s business (“Company 1”), and to make multiple loans to, and investments in, “the Yarah Group,” which Addy falsely claimed was based in Beverly Hills, California, and worth approximately $200 million. Further, Addy applied for and received loans in the name of Victim 1’s other business, without the knowledge or consent of Victim 1, giving the lenders Victim 1’s identifying information, signing in the name of Victim 1, and listing Victim 1 as the guarantor of the loans. Addy then failed to repay these loans. In all, Addy defrauded Victim 1 of approximately $722,496. As Addy also admitted, from about April 2023 to June 2023, he schemed to defraud a second victim (“Victim 2”), whom he had met and socialized with. Addy claimed to Victim 2 that he was a diamond dealer and had made his first million dollars by the time he turned 30 years old. Addy induced Victim 2 to make a short-term loan to a contractor through Addy’s purported company “Yarah Holdings PLC,” promising that if Victim 2 funded approximately $25,000 of a bridge loan, “Yarah Holdings PLC” would repay Victim 2 $30,000 a short time later. Instead of a bridge loan to a contractor, Addy spent Victim 2’s money, $25,000, for unauthorized purposes, including his own personal benefit, and, despite having signed a promissory note, did not repay Victim 2. Separately, Addy defrauded a federal credit union headquartered in Pennsylvania, depositing a check in the amount of approximately $8,500, drawn on Company 1’s bank account, into his own account. The same day, across two transactions, Addy withdrew the face value of the check in cash. A few days later, the credit union received notice that the check had been returned due to insufficient funds. When called by the credit union’s fraud investigator on a recorded line, Addy made false statements about the bounced check he had deposited. Addy never repaid the credit union for the approximately $8,500 that he had taken by fraud. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2026. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 294 years in prison; three years of supervised release; and restitution of $755,995. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Capital Area Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.


title: United States Reaches $2.2 Million Settlement over Pandemic Loan

body_text: ST. LOUIS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri has finalized a civil settlement to resolve allegations that a Missouri manufacturer was not eligible for a $2 million pandemic-era loan, U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus announced Thursday. As part of the settlement, VSM Abrasives Corp. will repay $2,022,250 to the United States. The amount represents a $2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan that VSM received in 2021. The loan, which was intended to save jobs and provide relief to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was later forgiven. The settlement resolves allegations brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Blockquote Inc. The qui tam action alleges that VSM was not eligible for the loan because although it certified that its headcount was under 300 employees, VSM and its affiliates, including its German parent company, Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG, employ more than 300. VSM disputes the allegations. The settlement contains no admission of liability. “We appreciate the efforts of Blockquote and other companies that are ferreting out problematic pandemic loans, as well as VSM’s cooperation,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “This settlement shows our commitment to ensure that government funds are spent appropriately.” This civil settlement was a result of the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Blockquote Inc. v. VSM Abrasives Corp., Case No. 4:24-cv-00805 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. Blockquote will receive $224,694 from the settlement and Blockchain’s attorneys will receive $20,000.