title: Ocean County Man Sentenced to 72 Months’ Imprisonment for Traveling Overseas to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a Minor

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County man was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment for traveling to Norway to engage in sexual conduct with a 14-year-old victim, Senior Counsel Philip W. Lamparello announced today. Jacob Bauer, 29, of Toms River, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court on September 9, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From December 1, 2023 through December 10, 2023, Bauer, then 27 years old, traveled from the United States to Norway to engage in sexual activity with a 14-year-old female in a hotel. After returning to the United States, Bauer communicated with the victim and bragged to others about his sexual activities, all while acknowledging the victim’s age and status as a minor. After learning of Bauer’s sexual activity, members of an online community that Bauer was active in “doxxed” him by publishing his information online. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kirsch sentenced Bauer to 10 years of supervised release following Bauer’s term of imprisonment and ordered forfeiture of Bauer’s property used to commit the offense. Bauer is also subject to registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentence. He also thanked the New Brunswick Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Vincent Sabo, the Manchester Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Antonio Ellis, the FBI Legal Attaché Office, U.S. Embassy, Copenhagen, Denmark, the FBI Legal Attaché Office, U.S. Embassy, Warsaw, Poland, the Jackson County, Georgia Sheriff's Office, INTERPOL, the Norwegian Politiet, Troms District, the Norwegian Politiet, NC3 KRIPOS, and the Poland Policja CBZC, Central Cybercrime Bureau for their assistance. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. ### Defense counsel: Andrea G. Aldana, Esq., Federal Public Defenders.


title: Bakersfield Defendants Plead Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced that Roy Richard Truitt III, 43, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a minor and being a registered sex offender committing a felony offense involving a minor; and Amber Louise Lowe, 48, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and receipt and distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, between Aug. 28, 2018, and Sept. 2, 2018, Truitt and Lowe conspired to and did sexually exploit a minor victim, producing photographs of the sexual exploitation, which Lowe distributed to Truitt. During the relevant time period, Truitt was required to register as a sex offender in California. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter is prosecuting the case. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Truitt faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, a maximum of 50 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for sexual exploitation of a minor. For committing a felony offense against a minor while a registered sex offender, he faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison. Lowe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum of up to 30 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for sexual exploitation of a minor. For receipt and distribution of child pornography, Lowe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of up to 20 years in prison. The actual sentences for each defendant, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Donovan Dewayne Pauley, 20, of Huntington, was sentenced today to four years of federal probation for possession of a short-barreled shotgun not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 22, 2025, Pauley sold a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun to a confidential informant in Huntington for $200. The shotgun has an approximate barrel length of 13 and 15/16 inches. This type of firearm is commonly referred to as a short-barreled shotgun and is required to be registered under the National Firearms Act. As part of his guilty plea, Pauley admitted that the firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-157. ###


title: Lehigh Acres Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possessing and Accessing with Intent to View Child Sexual Abuse Images and Videos

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Leon Mark Jewett (70, Lehigh Acres) was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to five years in federal prison for possessing and accessing with intent to view images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. He pleaded guilty on October 6, 2025. Jewett was also sentenced to a life term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, from April through December 2024, Jewett possessed and accessed with intent to view child sex abuse material that he searched for and downloaded from the internet. In December 2024, Jewett brought his laptops into a store in Port Charlotte for repair. During the repair of one of his laptops, the store technician observed child sex abuse material on Jewett’s laptop. Law enforcement was contacted. Pursuant to a search warrant, the FBI seized and conducted a forensic analysis on two of Jewett’s laptops, which revealed images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Milwaukee Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 29, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper sentenced Dametri G. Horton (age: 34) to 12 years’ imprisonment for his commission of an armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm. On May 7, 2025, after a two-day trial, a federal jury found Horton guilty of committing a commercial business armed robbery. The evidence established that on November 20, 2022, Horton entered a Walgreens in the City of Milwaukee, approached a cashier, brandished a firearm, and demanded money. When the cashier backed away in fear, Horton reached across the counter and stole $385.44 from the register drawer. The Milwaukee Police Department apprehended Horton approximately two weeks later after Horton led officers on a vehicle pursuit that lasted nearly 10 miles. As police sought to arrest Horton, he discarded a loaded, Taurus semi-automatic pistol. Horton has prior State of Wisconsin felony convictions for burglary, fleeing, recklessly endangering safety, and theft. As a convicted felon, he was federally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Prior to his armed robbery jury trial, Horton entered a guilty to plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. “This case demonstrates the power of strong partnerships between federal and local law enforcement, along with a dedicated prosecution team” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Working together with FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force and Milwaukee Police Department, we ensured that a dangerous, repeat offender was held fully accountable, and this sentence sends a clear message that armed robbery and illegal firearm possession will be aggressively prosecuted and met with serious consequences.” “Mr. Horton’s brazen and reckless conduct put Milwaukee residents at risk - from an armed robbery at a drug store to a vehicle pursuit,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI is committed to crushing violent crime and identifying criminals who threaten our communities. The FBI and our partners on the Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force will continue to aggressively pursue our mission to ensure public safety.” This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force and City of Milwaukee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Wesson and Robert Brady. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Des Moines Shooter Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on February 6, 2026, to 87 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Bryan Keith Rainey, Jr., 20, and two co-conspirators fired at least 36 rounds of ammunition at a Des Moines residence occupied by two children and their mother on December 16, 2024. At least 11 rounds hit the house. No one was injured. Three days later, officers located Rainey in a parking lot and attempted to arrest him. Rainey ran from the police. Once captured, law enforcement located a loaded AR-15 style pistol in Rainey’s pants, which ballistically matched casings from the shooting scene. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rainey’s house that same day and found ammunition and drug-related items. After completing his term of imprisonment, Rainey will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Rainey’s federal sentence was ordered to run partially consecutively to his state sentence related to the December 16, 2024, shooting. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin M. Herrera prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Enticing Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Maryland man was sentenced today to over 27 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release for producing and possessing child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, Juan Carlos Puente, 48, of Clinton, Maryland, used Facebook to entice a minor living in the Dominican Republic to perform sexual acts on herself and to send Puente videos of herself engaging in the requested acts in exchange for money. Records also reflected multiple money transfers from Puente to the victim, and he was explicit in directing her on what to do in the videos. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Puente’s residence in Maryland in January 2024 and discovered additional child sexual abuse material, including a video recording of two minors engaged in various sex acts in which one child appeared to be approximately six years old. The investigation also revealed that Puente had traveled repeatedly between the Dominican Republic and the United States, and that he had sexually abused children in both countries. On at least one occasion, he paid his victim through an intermediary, because she was too young to be able to receive funds virtually. Puente pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland made the announcement. This case was investigated by FBI Baltimore, with assistance from FBI Santo Domingo and the Dominican National Police. Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan McKoy for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Role in $73 Million Global Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

body_text: A dual national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis was sentenced in absentia today in the Central District of California to the statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in an international cryptocurrency investment conspiracy carried out from scam centers in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The defendant, Daren Li, 42, is a fugitive after cutting off his ankle electronic monitoring device and absconding in December 2025. “As part of an international cryptocurrency investment scam, Daren Li and his co-conspirators laundered over $73 million dollars stolen from American victims,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Court’s sentence reflects the gravity of Li’s conduct, which caused devastating losses to victims throughout our country. The Criminal Division will work with our law enforcement partners around the world to ensure that Li is returned to the United States to serve his full sentence.” “While technology has made it possible for people to quickly communicate with others who live oceans away, it also has made it easier for criminals to prey on innocent victims,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “I urge the investing public to use caution and to not talk to strangers…especially ones who solicit money online.” On Nov. 12, 2024, Li pleaded guilty in the Central District of California to conspiring with others to launder funds obtained from victims through cryptocurrency scams and related fraud. As part of his plea agreement, Li admitted that unindicted members of the conspiracy would contact victims directly through unsolicited social-media interactions, telephone calls and messages, and online dating services. The unindicted co-conspirators would gain the trust of victims by establishing either professional or romantic relationships with them, often communicating by electronic messages sent via end-to-end encrypted applications. These co-conspirators established spoofed domains and websites that resembled legitimate cryptocurrency trading platforms and promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investments to the victims after gaining the victims’ trust. In some instances, the co-conspirators would induce victims into investing in cryptocurrency through the fraudulent and spoofed investment platforms. In other iterations of the scam, Li’s unindicted co-conspirators misrepresented to victims that they were from a customer service or technology support company and induced victims to send funds via wire transfer or cryptocurrency trading platforms to purportedly remediate a non-existent virus or other false computer-related problem. As part of his plea agreement, Li admitted that he and his co-conspirators caused at least $73.6 million in victim funds be directly deposited into bank accounts associated with defendant and his co-conspirators, including at least $59.8 million from U.S. shell companies that laundered victim proceeds. Li further confessed that, to conceal or disguise the nature of the crime, location, source, ownership, and control of the victim funds, he would direct co-conspirators to open U.S. bank accounts established on behalf of shell companies and would monitor the receipt of interstate and international wire transfers of victim funds. Li and other co-conspirators would receive victim funds in financial accounts that they controlled and then monitor the conversion of victim funds to virtual currency, Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far. Li is the first defendant to be sentenced who was directly involved in the ultimate receipt of victim funds. The U.S Secret Service (USSS) Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Trial Attorney Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maxwell Coll, Alexander Gorin, and Nisha Chandran for the Central District of California, prosecuted the case. The sentencing is the latest outcome of the Criminal Division’s continuing work to investigate, disrupt, and bring to justice individuals facilitating scam center operations worldwide, in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. In combating scam centers, the Criminal Division draws on its expertise in countering cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime. By seizing and forfeiting crime-linked cryptocurrency, dismantling digital infrastructure used by the scammers to target U.S. citizens, and disrupting domestic and international money laundering networks, the Criminal Division and its partners will cut off access to victim proceeds and tools that enable the fraud. As international relationships are critical to address this growing threat, the Criminal Division will draw on its network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property prosecutors (ICHIPs) who are strategically posted throughout the world to coordinate with foreign law enforcement partners. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov .


title: McComb Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Wildlife Law

component: Department of Justice

body_text: JACKSON, MS – A McComb man was sentenced on January 8, 2026, to 1 year of federal probation and fined $3,000 for violating federal misdemeanor wildlife law. According to court documents, Jeffery Budziszewski, 66, possessed and sold three-toed box turtles in violation of Mississippi law and exported the turtles to the state of New York where the turtles were repackaged and exported to the country of China, in violation of federal law. The Lacey Act, a federal law, prohibits exporting, transporting, and purchasing in interstate or foreign commerce any wildlife taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law or regulation of any State or in violation of any foreign law. Three-toed box turtles are indigenous to the Mississippi River Valley and are susceptible to decline due to unlawful commercial exploitation, high nest mortality, delayed maturity and/or the illegal exotic pet trade. Under Mississippi law, three-toed box turtles are deemed to be in need of management, and it is unlawful to offer for sale, sell, ship, or transport three-toed box turtles for financial gain without a valid commercial captive propagation permit. Budziszewski propagated captive three-toed box turtles and sold them without the required State permit. Between June and July 2020, Budziszewski exported numerous three-toed box turtles from the state of Mississippi to an individual in the state of New York where the turtles were repackaged and shipped to Hong Kong. “My office is firmly committed to safeguarding America’s wildlife," said United States Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger. "The illegal trafficking of three-toed box turtles is precisely the kind of conduct the Lacey Act was designed to prevent. We will continue to enforce the Lacey Act and ensure that those who exploit protected wildlife, undermine conservation efforts, and place profit over the rule of law are held fully accountable.” "Three-toed box turtles are an important part of Mississippi’s natural heritage, and their removal for illegal trade puts the species at serious risk while undermining conservation efforts,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will continue to pursue every link in these trafficking networks to protect vulnerable species from further decline. We will not allow profiteering to jeopardize our native wildlife." U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent in Charge Preston Fant made the announcement. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.


title: Dual National of China and St. Kitts and Nevis Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Cryptocurrency Scam

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A dual national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis was sentenced in absentia today to the statutory maximum of 240 months in federal prison for his role in an international cryptocurrency investment conspiracy carried out from scam centers in Cambodia. Daren Li, 42, is a fugitive after cutting off his ankle electronic monitoring device and absconding in December 2025. He was sentenced by United States District Judge R. Gary Klausner, who will determine restitution at a later date. Li pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. “While technology has made it possible for people to quickly communicate with others who live oceans away, it also has made it easier for criminals to prey on innocent victims,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “I urge the investing public to use caution and to not talk to strangers…especially ones who solicit money online.” “As part of an international cryptocurrency investment scam, Daren Li and his co-conspirators laundered over $73 million dollars stolen from American victims,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Court’s sentence reflects the gravity of Li’s conduct, which caused devastating losses to victims throughout our country. The Criminal Division will work with our law enforcement partners around the world to ensure that Li is returned to the United States to serve his full sentence.” As part of his plea agreement, Li admitted that unindicted members of the conspiracy would contact victims directly through unsolicited social-media interactions, telephone calls and messages, and online dating services. The unindicted co-conspirators would gain the trust of victims by establishing either professional or romantic relationships with them, often communicating by electronic messages sent via end-to-end encrypted applications. These co-conspirators established spoofed domains and websites that resembled legitimate cryptocurrency trading platforms and promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investments to the victims after gaining the victims’ trust. In some instances, the co-conspirators would induce victims into investing in cryptocurrency through the fraudulent and spoofed investment platforms. In other iterations of the scam, Li’s unindicted co-conspirators misrepresented to victims that they were from a customer service or technology support company and induced victims to send funds via wire transfer or cryptocurrency trading platforms to purportedly remediate a non-existent virus or other false computer-related problem. As part of his plea agreement, Li admitted that he and his co-conspirators caused at least $73.6 million in victim funds be directly deposited into bank accounts associated with defendant and his co-conspirators, including at least $59.8 million from U.S. shell companies that laundered victim proceeds. Li further confessed that, to conceal or disguise the nature of the crime, location, source, ownership, and control of the victim funds, he would direct co-conspirators to open U.S. bank accounts established on behalf of shell companies and would monitor the receipt of interstate and international wire transfers of victim funds. Li and other co-conspirators would receive victim funds in financial accounts that they controlled and then monitor the conversion of victim funds to virtual currency. Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far. Li is the first defendant to be sentenced who was directly involved in the ultimate receipt of victim funds. The U.S Secret Service (USSS) Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Maxwell Coll and Alexander Gorin of the National Security Division, Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), Trial Attorney Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The sentencing is the latest outcome of the Criminal Division’s continuing work to investigate, disrupt, and bring to justice individuals facilitating scam center operations worldwide, in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. In combating scam centers, the Criminal Division draws on its expertise in countering cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime. By seizing and forfeiting crime-linked cryptocurrency, dismantling digital infrastructure used by the scammers to target U.S. citizens, and disrupting domestic and international money laundering networks, the Criminal Division and its partners will cut off access to victim proceeds and tools that enable the fraud. As international relationships are critical to address this growing threat, the Criminal Division will draw on its network of International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property prosecutors (ICHIPs) who are strategically posted throughout the world to coordinate with foreign law enforcement partners. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov .


title: Start spreading the news: New York-licensed attorney and accomplice sentenced in large-scale interstate email scam scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON - A man and woman have been ordered to federal prison for their respective roles in an identity theft and business email compromise (BEC) scam, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Bolaji Okunnu, 32, pleaded guilty Sept. 26, 2025, while Amber Bush, 30, admitted her guilt Sept. 25. U.S. District Judge George Hanks sentenced Okunnu to 39 months and Bush to 24 months in federal prison. Okunnu was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, while Bush received one year, following their terms of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard that from 2021 to 2022, Okunnu operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that received and transmitted funds from the BEC scheme. As part of his scheme, Okunnu, a New York-licensed attorney, recruited two others into the enterprise, collected proceeds, and acted as an intermediary for higher-level conspirators. The court also heard that Okunnu directed co-defendants to destroy evidence on their cell phones and fabricate explanations for large sums deposited into co-conspirators’ bank accounts. Okunnu and Bush were also ordered to pay restitution totaling $255,399.47 and $1,189,247.02, respectively, to victims nationwide. As part of his plea, Okunnu admitted moving money through bank accounts he and others controlled. The funds originated from fraudsters involved in a BEC wire fraud scheme involving at least four victims. Okunnu acknowledged receiving the funds and, for a fee, transmitting the fraud proceeds to others. The scheme also involved the theft of stolen checks from various companies. Bush created bank accounts to funnel money from stolen checks to Destini Godfrey, who is also charged in the BEC wire fraud scheme. As part of her plea, Bush admitted to using the name and personal identifying information of a real person, without that person’s knowledge or consent, to open a bank account. After receiving deposits into that account, which originated from a stolen check, Bush issued four checks totaling $165,000 to Godfrey. More than 45 people in multiple states, including Okunnu and eight others in the Southern District of Texas, have been charged in separate BEC schemes affecting numerous victims. Godfrey, 31, Houston, is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. He is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. The FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with valuable assistance from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Edison Police Department in New Jersey and other law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal alien admits to assaulting officer

body_text: HOUSTON – A 29-year-old Belize national illegally residing in Conroe has pleaded guilty to assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. On Sept. 23, 2025, authorities conducted a targeted enforcement operation in Houston to locate Sindi Vanessa Moreno-Flores. Law enforcement encountered Moreno-Flores as she was entering her vehicle. When authorities attempted to place her under arrest, Moreno-Flores pulled away and scratched an ICE agent’s upper left arm and hands. She also swung her arm in an attempt to strike the officer while wearing a handcuff on her wrist. Moreno-Flores then fled into a group of bystanders. Law enforcement eventually restrained Moreno-Flores and placed her under arrest. U.S. District Judge George Hanks will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Moreno-Flores faces up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. ICE - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin 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: Man Who Intentionally Set Fire To San Jose Post Office Pleads Guilty To Arson

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Richard Tillman, 44, pleaded guilty in federal court today to setting fire to the Almaden Valley U.S. Post Office located on Crown Boulevard in San Jose in the early hours of July 20, 2025. Tillman, who is originally from San Jose, was initially charged by a criminal complaint in July 2025, and indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 7, 2025, on one count of malicious destruction of government property. In pleading guilty, Tillman admitted that he intentionally set the fire in order to “make a point to the United States government.” In preparation for the fire, Tillman purchased firelogs and lighter fluid. He then drove to the Post Office with firelogs in the vehicle, backed the vehicle through the building’s front door, exited the vehicle, spread lighter fluid throughout the vehicle, threw a lit match into the vehicle, and exited the Post Office. The fire quickly spread from the vehicle to the Post Office, completely destroying its lobby, as depicted below. Prior to July 20, 2025, the lobby of the Post Office was open to the public during business hours for retail transactions and access to post office boxes. The fire rendered the lobby unusable, and it has not been available to the public since then. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge John Wester, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Tillman is currently in federal custody. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 27, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila. Tillman faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 for the charge of malicious destruction of government property by fire in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1). Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USPIS, ATF, FBI, and the San Jose Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.


title: Nine Members Of Oakland-Based “Ghost Town” Gang Sentenced To A Combined Total Of Nearly 60 Years For Armed Robberies In 2022

body_text: OAKLAND – Nine associates of the Oakland-based “Ghost Town” gang have been sentenced to a combined total of nearly 60 years in prison for a series of armed robberies targeting small Bay Area businesses. The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín, with the final defendant sentenced today. The nine defendants, Demarco Barnett, 36; Jakari Jenkins, 34; Danny Garcia, 41; Garland Rabon, 30; Aramiya Burrell, 35; Lester Garnett, 34; Darrin Hutchinson, 39; Ricky Joseph, 37; and Keanna Smith-Stewart, 33, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce. Based on their involvement, eight of the defendants also pleaded guilty to a varying number of substantive counts of robbery affecting interstate commerce. The robberies took place in 2022. On March 18, 2022, the co-conspirators engaged in the armed robbery of a coin and stamp store located on the tenth floor of a building in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. The co-conspirators entered the store, brandished firearms, and demanded money from the business and the two individuals who happened to be present at the time – the owner and his son. The robbers struck the head and zip-tied the hands of the owner’s son, and absconded with cash, jewelry, and coins. Defendants Jenkins, Barnett, and Joseph were charged with and pleaded guilty to this robbery count. The co-conspirators then struck a San Pablo jewelry store on Nov. 12, 2022. Five co-conspirators, at least three of whom were brandishing firearms, entered the store, while two others waited outside in the getaway cars. The co-conspirators stole bags of jewelry. Defendants Jenkins, Barnett, Rabon, Garcia, and Hutchinson were charged with and pleaded guilty to this robbery count. A third robbery occurred on Dec. 24, 2022, of a marijuana business in Oakland. The co-conspirators arrived at the business as an employee was leaving it. The robbers brandished weapons, directed the employee back into the building at gunpoint, demanding “budded weed” and “money.” One of the robbers struck the employee in the head with a firearm. The robbers searched through the employee’s pockets and stole his bank debit card. The robbers absconded with the victim’s debit card and a bag of marijuana plant trimmings. Defendants Jenkins, Barnett, Rabon, Burrell, Garnett, and Garcia were charged with and pleaded guilty to this robbery count. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. The following chart summarizes the number of counts each defendant pleaded guilty to and the sentence each defendant received: Defendant Number of Counts in Guilty Plea Sentence (months) Demarco Barnett Conspiracy + 3 substantive robberies 114 Jakari Jenkins Conspiracy + 3 substantive robberies 96 Danny Garcia Conspiracy + 2 substantive robberies 84 Garland Rabon Conspiracy + 2 substantive robberies 75 Aramiya Burrell Conspiracy + 1 substantive robbery 82 Lester Garnett Conspiracy + 1 substantive robbery 70 Darrin Hutchinson Conspiracy + 1 substantive robbery 70 Ricky Joseph Conspiracy + 1 substantive robbery 68 Keanna Smith-Stewart Conspiracy 50 Total 709 In addition to the custodial time, the Court also ordered restitution in the amount of $150,338.00. The Violent Crime Strike Force is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Oakland Police Department.


title: Former California State Correctional Lieutenant Arrested On Charges Of Smuggling Contraband Into Prison

body_text: SAN JOSE – A former California state correctional lieutenant was arrested today on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate. Matthew L. Madsen, 39, of Greenfield, Calif., made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose this afternoon. According to the criminal complaint filed Feb. 4, 2026, and unsealed today, Madsen was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2017 to 2025, during which time he primarily worked at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, Calif. Cellular devices are not permitted in California state prisons because they can be used to circumvent the mandatory screening of communications into and out of institutions, and have been used by inmates to plan violent attacks and the smuggling and trafficking of contraband, including narcotics. Accordingly, like all state correctional employees, Madsen was obligated to prevent the introduction of contraband into the prison, confiscate any contraband located in the prison, and report its presence. The complaint alleges that Madsen violated these obligations and smuggled items, including cellular devices and tobacco, into Salinas Valley State Prison at the request of an inmate and in exchange for payments totaling approximately $100,000. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Madsen was released on bond. He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Feb. 17, 2026, for a status hearing. A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the count of honest services fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 1349. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.


title: Oakland Man Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison For Robbing U.S. Mail Carrier

body_text: OAKLAND — An Oakland man was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for robbing a postal carrier. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence. Joseph Michael McBee, 30, was charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 28, 2024, and by information on July 1, 2025, with one count of robbery of a U.S. mail carrier. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2025. According to the plea agreement, early on the morning of Oct. 10, 2023, McBee stole a 2015 Kia Soul parked on a residential street in Oakland. Later that morning, he arrived in the stolen Kia at a Toyota dealership in Daly City and assisted two others, Ebony Reeves and Felix Wilson, as they stole a 2023 Toyota Camry. Reeves was separately charged with receipt of stolen mail and Wilson was charged with aiding and abetting mail robbery; both have pleaded guilty. All three then drove around San Francisco looking for a mail carrier to rob. At about 10:25 a.m., they spotted a U.S. mail truck and mail carrier. McBee exited the stolen Toyota and approached the victim mail carrier, demanding that the victim hand over his postal keys. When the victim refused, McBee pushed him to the ground and stole his wallet. The victim sustained bruising to both arms as a result of McBee’s assault. During the assault, mail trays containing over 500 pieces of mail were stolen. Afterwards, the three defendants drove to a gas station store in Oakland where McBee used the victim mail carrier’s credit card. McBee was not arrested until Oct. 31, 2023, after he took law enforcement on an extensive and dangerous car chase and subsequent foot chase. When McBee was finally apprehended, he had a firearm and ammunition in his possession. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood made the announcement. In addition to the prison term, Judge Martínez-Olguín also sentenced McBee to a three-year period of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ivana Djak is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessie Chelsea and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by USPIS.


title: Floyd County Man Sentenced to 192 Months  for Armed Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – A Martin, Ky., man, Justin Bryant, 35, was sentenced on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 192 months for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to his plea agreement, on December 11, 2023, law enforcement encountered Bryant during a traffic stop in which he possessed 22.76 grams of methamphetamine, 3.57 grams of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, and a loaded handgun, which he admitted he possessed to protect himself from the dangers of drug dealing. Based on multiple prior felony convictions, Bryant was not permitted to possess the firearm. Bryant was arrested but was subsequently released, and continued to engage in drug trafficking. On March 1, 2025, law enforcement encountered Bryant again, and he had in his possession 81.256 grams of methamphetamine. Under federal law, Bryant 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 3 years. Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff John Hunt, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, KSP, and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble. — END —


title: Omaha Jury Convicts Barndominium Builder of Three Counts of Wire Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bryce A. Nolde, 37, of Waverly, Nebraska, was convicted of three counts of wire fraud by a federal jury in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 4, 2026. Nolde operated BV Builders, which billed itself as a construction company specializing in barndominiums and shouses. The term barndominium or shouse (shed-house) typically refers to a large, open-concept building constructed with metal or wood framing and clad in metal siding and roofing. These structures are used for residential purposes and can incorporate a workshop, garage, or room for animals. Evidence at trial showed that between July 2022 through early 2024, BV Builders advertised that it could build customers the house of their dreams. The company would get a large downpayment or draw a large amount from a customer’s construction loan and then represent that the money was going to pay subcontractors and suppliers for their work on the customer’s build. Instead, the money went to fund Nolde’s personal interests or other purposes. The customers were left with no dream houses, and often with construction liens on their property, because the subcontractors and suppliers did not get paid for the work they provided. Dozens of victims testified at trial to the devastating financial crimes. The jury deliberated for slightly more than two hours before returning a guilty verdict for each of the three counts for which Nolde was charged. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher, who presides over the case, set Nolde’s sentencing on May 13, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Each of the wire fraud counts carry a possible penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Nolde could also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Inspector General Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Jordanian National Illegally in the U.S. Sentenced to Prison for Firearm Violation

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – A Jordanian man residing in Lucas County has been sentenced to prison for possessing a firearm, which he was prohibited from having due to his status as an unlawful alien. Husam Al Najjar, 43, was sentenced to 27 months in prison after a federal jury found him guilty in October of being an Unlawful Alien in Possession of a Firearm. The sentence was handed down Feb. 3 by U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary. Al Najjar was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release. Evidence introduced at trial showed that the defendant was admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor on Oct. 26, 2014. About four months later, he met a U.S. citizen whom he then married March 12, 2015, in Toledo. However, agents found that Al Najjar overstayed his visa entry conditions when it expired the following month, thus making him eligible for deportation. His wife later submitted forms to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) for Al Najjar to gain lawful status but those requests were never approved. According to the original criminal complaint and affidavit filed in the case, agents investigating Al Najjar discovered that he took multiple videos and photos of himself holding or using a variety of firearms that he posted on his social media accounts. While executing a search warrant at his residence, agents seized a Glock Model 45, 9mm pistol. Al Najjar is subject to a detainer from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and will be taken into administrative immigration custody for removal from the United States following the completion of his sentence. This case was investigated by the FBI Toledo Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Shepherd and Dexter L. Phillips for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.


title: Abilene Fentanyl Trafficker, 30 others, Sentenced as Part of “Operation Top Shelf”

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: A large-scale fentanyl trafficker in Abilene, Texas, was sentenced to life in federal prison this week, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Kurtney Bernard Jones, of Abilene, was convicted in August 2025 by a federal jury in Abilene of two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On February 5, 2026, United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix sentenced Jones to life imprisonment. “The scale of this drug trafficking organization and this defendant’s leadership of it warrants a life sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our law enforcement partners took down a massive fentanyl distribution ring over a 2-year operation. I applaud their collaborative efforts together with the prosecutors in my office in successfully removing these dangerous drugs and those peddling them from the Abilene community.” “The defendant’s role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed a large quantity of narcotics into Abilene and the surrounding area warrants the life sentence that was imposed in this case,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and protect our communities from the threat of dangerous drugs.” “This life sentence reflects the seriousness of fentanyl trafficking and our continued commitment to protecting communities from those who profit by distributing deadly drugs,” said DEA Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “This case highlights the strength of our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working together to hold dangerous traffickers accountable and keep our communities safe.” Evidence presented in court demonstrated that Kurtney Jones, also known as “KP,” was responsible for distributing large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the Abilene area. Court records show that in December 2023, Jones assumed control of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed drugs in Abilene and the surrounding counties. He formed a relationship with a drug supplier in Dallas, Texas. He organized the transport of a total of 42,000 fentanyl pills, 140 grams of heroin, 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, another 4,600 grams of fentanyl to the Abilene. While running the DTO, Jones threatened rival dealers and trafficked firearms. When arrested, he possessed 452 grams of fentanyl and $225,994.25 in cash. Agents also discovered that Jones possessed a pill press, capsules to make pills, and another 318.95 grams of heroin. Jones’s prosecution was part of “Operation Top Shelf.” This was a comprehensive narcotics investigation that involved seven separate local and federal law enforcement agencies. Agents performed two separate “takedowns.” The first takedown occurred in February of 2024 and involved more than 80 agents and officers from the 7 collaborating agencies. Court records reflect that over the course of the first takedown operation, agents seized 29 kilograms of methamphetamine, 721 grams of cocaine, 1,370 grams of fentanyl, and 60 firearms. Seventeen methamphetamine and cocaine traffickers were arrested and indicted. The second takedown occurred in September of 2024. Agents arrested and indicted 12 fentanyl traffickers, including Jones. After the takedowns, opioid overdose rates fell sharply in Abilene. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/after-takedown-opioid-overdose-rates-fall-abilene . With Jones’s sentencing this week, all 31 traffickers charged in “Operation Top Shelf” have been sentenced. In total and excluding Jones, the Court sentenced the defendants to 4,328 months, which amounts to over 360 years of federal prison time. Those sentences include: Kurtney Bernard Jones : sentenced to life imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute and distributing fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Rafael Perez : sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Diana Nichole Perez, aka Diana Santana : sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Eddie Ochoa Lomas : sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Tylik Ojur Johnson : sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Nathaniel Deal : sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Lisa Ann Beckham : sentenced to 204 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Angel Alvarez : sentenced to 200 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Orson Rolando Ortegon : sentenced to 188 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Joshua Gosson : sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Marquee Anthony Aboso, aka “OC” : sentenced to 175 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Hannah Rai Gongora, aka Hannah Alvarez : sentenced to 172 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Laura Trevino : sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Alexandrea Delgado : sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Petra Soliz : sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Juan Manuel Oliveros, Jr. : sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jeremiah Greene, aka “Lil Mexico” : sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Bradley Kirk Gutierrez : sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jimmy Rangel : sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gloria Santibanez : sentenced to 114 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jason Eugene DeLeon : sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Steven Lattimore, aka “PNut” : sentenced to 103 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Mckenzee Marie Lane : sentenced to 102 months’ imprisonment for distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Joseph Brassell : sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for possession to distribute fentanyl. Robert Lee Mason : sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Glen Edward Lee, Jr. : sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Maxine Gonzales : sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Christopher Thompson : sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Jacob Lee DeLeon : sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Paul Eli Snyder : sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Christopher Anthony Glaze : sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The operation involved agents and officers from DEA Fort Worth, FBI Dallas Field Office - Abilene Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, ATF Dallas, IRS – Criminal Investigations, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Abilene Police Department, and the Callahan County Sheriff’s Office. This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas handled the prosecution.


title: Repeat sex offender convicted at trial of child pornography crimes, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury found a Vinton County man guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography and AI-generated images of child sexual abuse. Cody L. Prater, 28, of McArthur, Ohio, was convicted on all four counts of crimes related to his receipt and possession of both child pornography and obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. The verdict was announced Thursday evening following a trial that began on Feb. 2 before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. According to evidence presented at trial, Prater received and possessed videos depicting the rape and sadistic sexual abuse of real minors, primarily babies and toddlers. He also used an artificial intelligence text-to-image program to convert his text prompts into photorealistic depictions of child sexual abuse, including nude prepubescent children being mutilated and tortured, bestiality, and children engaged in sexual acts with adults. “Prater collected vile videos of real babies and toddlers being sexually abused and created other AI-generated obscene material involving children,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “We will continue to crack down on those who victimize children through these horrific materials. I commend the investigators and trial team for their outstanding work.” “Following a prior conviction for a state child pornography offense, the defendant continued to demonstrate his depravity through his possession and trafficking of images depicting the brutal sexual abuse of both real and photorealistic AI-generated infants and toddlers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Child sexual abuse material, whether real or AI-generated, causes real harm to real children. As demonstrated by today’s verdict, the Department of Justice will continue to use all available tools to prosecute offenders who create, share, possess, or otherwise illegally engage with such material.” “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to protecting children from exploitation, whether that abuse is captured in traditional imagery or generated with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence,” said HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This verdict underscores that there is no distinction under the law between child sexual abuse material involving real victims and AI generated depictions of such horrific crimes. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to identify offenders, dismantle the networks that enable this abuse, and ensure that those who prey on children are brought to justice.” Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Tyler Aagard of the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are representing the United States in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . # # #


title: Former USPS Employee Faces Additional Charges  in Postal Contract Bribery Scheme

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: AKRON, Ohio – As a result of an ongoing investigation into the criminal activities of a former U.S. Postal Service (USPS) worker, a Summit County man now faces additional accusations in a highly coordinated conspiracy to award USPS contracts to specific business entities. In a superseding indictment filed Feb. 4, a federal grand jury charged Josef Ratcliff, 60, of Akron, with the following: Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Mail and Wire Fraud Conspiracy to Commit Extortion Under Color of Official Right Honest Services Mail and Wire Fraud Extortion Under Color of Official Right Receipt of Bribes by Federal Official Concealment Money Laundering Ratcliff was initially charged with receiving bribes in the original indictment filed in July 2025. According to the allegations, Ratcliff was employed as a purchasing and supply management specialist with USPS. As part of his official duties he solicited, received, and reviewed bids from contractors, focusing on logistics services for transporting the mail. Some of the contracts were worth more than $10 million. In performing his duty to review bids, Ratcliff had access to highly confidential information which was not to be shared outside the USPS. After reviewing bids, he provided the contracting officer with his recommendations—which they typically followed—and contracts were awarded to the companies Ratcliff had chosen. As described in the superseding indictment, Ratcliff conspired to provide confidential competing bid numbers, and other favorable treatment, to companies from across the country including Spokane, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Raeford, North Carolina; Bronx, New York; and Middletown, New York. Some of these entities were not previously in the trucking or logistics business before connecting with the defendant. Examples include one that was a chemical company, and another that provided cellphone related services. Another company was only formed after the owner connected with Ratcliff. Nonetheless, these businesses were awarded USPS trucking contracts. In return for his guidance, Ratcliff’s co-conspirators regularly paid him bribes worth thousands of dollars in the form of checks, electronic money transfers, and cash. Court documents further allege that the electronic transfers often included notes in attempts to conceal the true purpose of the payments. Note descriptions included “car oil leak,” “birthday present for big boy,” or “pop rocks for little daddy.” Other transfers were simply noted as “happy birthday” or “rent.” In less than a year, six of the bribes were designated for a birthday. One transfer in the amount of $3,500 was ostensibly for a “coffee maker and beans.” One co-conspirator alone sent 14 bribes totaling $38,900. Ratcliff is also alleged to have been explicit about the scheme in his phone calls with co-conspirators. He provided specific bid information, including the amounts of the lowest and second-lowest bids. Ratcliff also explained plans for spending the bribe money on his car and buying a new house. Part of the scheme involved the co-conspirators, with Ratcliff’s help, getting extensions of time to submit their bids, so Ratcliff could provide the full picture of the competitors’ bids to help co-conspirators craft winning bids. On calls, he discussed how a co-conspirator should obtain such an extension, including how the co-conspirator should first reach out to the contracting officer alone, who would then bring Ratcliff in, making it appear that the extension request process started with the contracting officer and not the defendant. Later in the scheme, he warned that he would soon be losing access to some of the contract information, saying, “what we doin’, this s--t is about to dry the f--k up” because the co-conspirator “won’t be able to get no information from me on” those contracts. The following co-conspirators were charged separately in connection with their roles in the conspiracy and have all previously pleaded guilty. Sentencing dates are: William Michael Clark, 50, of Las Vegas, Nevada: April 7. Zoma M. Shaikh, 43, of Bronx, New York: TBD. Vakar Maniar, 70, of Raeford, North Carolina: April 21. Jilani Ahad, 66, of Bronx, New York: April 20. Rafeh Ahad, 26, of Fort Myers, Florida: April 20 Eric Asante Wiredu, 57, of Middleton, New York: March 24 An indictment is merely an allegation. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. The United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General leads the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elliot Morrison for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Indian National Indicted for Smuggling Illegal Aliens Across Canadian Border into United States

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on January 28, 2026, charging an Indian national for his role in a scheme to smuggle Indian nationals from Canada across the northern border into the United States. According to court documents, Shivam Lnu, 22, directed smuggling operations from January 2025 through June 2025, coordinating the illegal transport of aliens across the U.S.-Canada border into Clinton County, New York. On Jan. 26, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop two vehicles traveling in tandem near the U.S-Canada border. Both vehicles accelerated to avoid agents, triggering a pursuit. One vehicle went off the road and became immobilized, while the other was later stopped in Mooers, New York. The vehicles contained a total of 12 undocumented aliens. WhatsApp messages between one of the drivers and a number connected to Shivam allegedly revealed coordination of smuggling illegal aliens into the U.S. from Canada on numerous occasions in and prior to January 2025, including exchanging proof of life photographs and directions to safe houses in upstate New York. Shivam is charged with one count of conspiracy to illegally bring aliens to the United States and four counts of illegally bringing aliens to the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. If convicted of all four counts of illegally bringing aliens to the United States, Shivam faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of fifteen years. Shivam was initially charged by criminal complaint on June 13, 2025, with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York, and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “As alleged, this defendant was a manager in an international smuggling operation that was responsible for sneaking an untold number of illegal aliens into our country. We will do everything we can to hold him and every member of his organization accountable under the law. No smuggler is safe in the Northern District of New York.” Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “Human smuggling across our northern border poses a serious threat to national security and public safety, and exposes vulnerable individuals to extreme risks as they endure harsh elements to illegally enter our country. The indictment underscores how an individual — who himself was unlawfully present in the United States — allegedly orchestrated this smuggling operation that escalated into a dangerous pursuit, compounding the risks and challenges faced by our communities. HSI Massena remains unwavering in our commitment to disrupt these networks and safeguard our communities, working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold those who profit from illegal smuggling accountable.” The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . The HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt of the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Richard Mathis, 30, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on Thursday, February 5, 2026, to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2024, Mathis possessed over 90 grams of methamphetamine and over 20 grams of fentanyl in or near Dunbar, West Virginia, that he intended to distribute. Mathis is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-87. ###


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte, has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on February 3, 2026. Garrett Heck, age 30, was sentenced to sixteen months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Heck was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2025. As a result of a prior conviction, Heck is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. On May 14, 2025, Heck updated his sex offender registration to reflect his new employment. On May 20, 2025, Heck was no longer working at his registered employment, but he did not update his registration. Heck further did not update his registration after being evicted from his residence on July 7, 2025. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and on July 29, 2025, Heck was arrested in Sioux Falls. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case. Heck was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Five Fentanyl Traffickers Sentenced to Combined 91 Years in Federal Prison

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

body_text: Two of five defendants in a Lubbock drug-trafficking ring were sentenced to 19 and 20 years in federal prison today for their roles in distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Adam Whitehead Baber, 45, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in October 2025. Jessica Clauson, 43, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in September 2025. Three others charged as part of the drug trafficking ring include: • Sean Burns, 43, of Lubbock, was sentenced in December 2025 to 204 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in August 2025. • Charles Srnek, also known as “Dreds,” 38, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison in December 2025 after pleading guilty in August 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). • Kiyle Jackson, 33, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison in December 2025 after pleading guilty in August 2025 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Court documents reflect that beginning in early 2024, the defendants conspired to travel out of state to purchase massive quantities of fentanyl to distribute in Lubbock. The investigation revealed that the defendants would purchase up to 10,000 fentanyl pills at a time, which they referred to as “yachts” of fentanyl. In total, the group was found responsible for distributing over 100,000 fentanyl pills and 20 pounds of methamphetamine in Lubbock. According to court records, in January 2024, Baber and Burns were arrested in New Mexico with 1,669 fentanyl pills (184.5 grams) destined for Lubbock. Later, in May 2024, agents executed a search warrant at the Lubbock home of defendants Clauson and Srnek and found 568 grams of fentanyl, 625 grams of methamphetamine, and four firearms. In July 2024, Jackson was caught with 140 fentanyl pills during a traffic stop. United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix sentenced each of the defendants. Agents with the Lubbock, Texas Anti-Gang (TAG), the Drug Enforcement Administration, Caprock High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Texas Department of Public Safety, Lubbock Police Department, and Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Rancourt prosecuted the case.


title: Defendant Sentenced to federal prison  for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County, Georgia woman was sentenced to federal prison for using stolen and counterfeit business checks to commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. Dechanta Benning, 35, was sentenced to 70 months in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term, said Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Randall Hall also ordered Benning to pay a $2,500 fine and $300 in special assessments. There is no parole in the federal system. As described in court documents and at sentencing, the Defendant obtained business checks stolen from the United States Postal Service, altered them, deposited the altered checks into the bank accounts of co-conspirators as well as her own accounts, then withdrew the money. The money was withdrawn before the banks were able to recognize the checks as fraudulent. The Defendant stole approximately $1,000,000 through this scheme. “There were hundreds of citizens and businesses in this District and nationwide, who were victimized by this Defendant. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting and defending the nation’s mail system from theft and aggressively pursuing those who would commit fraud in this district. With the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, fraudsters who use stolen mail to steal will be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Financial fraud schemes like this don’t just impact banks — they devastate small businesses, families, and entire communities,” said Matthew Ploskunak, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta's Augusta office. “By exploiting stolen mail and stolen identities, the defendant attempted to steal nearly $1 million and left hundreds of victims in her wake. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable anyone who uses deception and theft for personal gain.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is responsible for protecting the sanctity of the nation’s mail system. We remain resolute in our investigative efforts to bring those to justice who defraud the U.S. Postal Service, or those who fraudulently use the nation’s mail system in the furtherance of their deceptive schemes. Make no mistake, those who choose this path, will be held responsible for their actions in sentencing,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge, Atlanta Division. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigations and prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. For any questions, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.


title: Postal Employee Indicted for Unemployment Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey woman was charged by indictment with five counts of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in unemployment funds while working for the United States Postal Service, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Samantha Jenkins, 45, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, had her arraignment yesterday in Trenton before United States Magistrate Judge Justin T. Quinn. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, for more than a year Jenkins filed weekly certifications with the New Jersey Department of Labor in which she claimed she was not working, and was therefore eligible to receive unemployment benefits. But in reality, Jenkins worked for the USPS as a window/mail clerk. As a result, Jenkins received tens of thousands of dollars in employment benefits she was not entitled to. During the relevant period, Jenkins’s salary from the USPS and her unemployment benefits were deposited into one of her bank accounts. For 13 months, Jenkins used that bank account to receive both her salary from the USPS and unemployment benefits from the NJDOL. Oftentimes, deposits from both entities were made just days apart from one another. Each charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents with the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modofferi; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of the Special Prosecutions Division. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Saverio Viggiano, Esq., Newark, New Jersey


title: Glastonbury Men Charged with Using Thousands of Stolen Identities to Defraud FanDuel and Other Online Gambling Sites of $3 Million

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, and Bryan T. Cafferelli, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 45-count indictment charging AMITOJ KAPOOR, 29, and SIDDHARTH LILLANEY, 29, both of Glastonbury, with fraud, identity theft, and money laundering offenses stemming from a scheme to use stolen identities to defraud FanDuel and other online gambling companies of millions of dollars. The indictment was returned on February 3, 2026, and Kapoor and Lillaney were arrested yesterday. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and were each released on a $300,000 bond. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, Kapoor and Lillaney conspired to defraud online gambling companies, primarily FanDuel, by signing up for accounts using the personal identifying information (“PII”) of identity theft victims in Connecticut and elsewhere in order to take advantage of promotional “bonuses,” “credits,” or “bonus bets” that were offered when a user opened an account or made an initial bet. To open the gambling accounts, Kapoor and Lillaney purchased the PII of thousands of victims on the darknet and through the encrypted messaging service Telegram. They also maintained accounts at websites such as BeenVerified.com and TruthFinder.com to obtain additional background information on identity theft victims, and used the information to answer verification questions when signing up for the gambling accounts. If Kapoor and Lillaney won a bet using a bonus bet, the winnings were transferred to virtual stored value card, backed by an FDIC-insured financial institution, which FanDuel allowed account holders to use to make deposits to and withdrawals from their FanDuel account. They then transferred the proceeds from their scheme from the stored value cards to bank accounts and investments accounts they controlled. It is alleged that since 2021, Kapoor and Lillaney used the PII of approximately 3,000 identity theft victims to open FanDuel and other online gambling accounts, and generated approximately $3 million in profits during the scheme. “As alleged, these two men used thousands of stolen identities to open online gambling accounts and exploit new user incentives, which for several years allowed them to gamble with stolen money,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “Their winning streak is now over. I thank our partners with IRS-Criminal Investigation and Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection for their extraordinary investigative efforts, and for continuing to work diligently to identify all who have been victimized by this criminal conduct.” “Individuals who commit identity theft of this magnitude deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “It’s alleged those charged caused immeasurable hardship to the victims of their identity theft scheme. IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to unraveling complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes where criminals attempt to conceal the true source of their money.” “Although this started as a gaming-related investigation, the scope of the alleged identity theft and fraud, with thousands of potential victims across the country, quickly became the primary focus of this investigation,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “First and foremost, we are a consumer protection agency, and protecting the public by preventing and rooting out fraud is our top priority. If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.Gov to report the fraud and take steps to recover your identity. Thank you to our skilled team of DCP Gaming investigators as well as the IRS Criminal Investigation Division for their diligent work on this case. We look forward to working with the U.S. Attorney's office to see this case through to its conclusion.” The indictment charges Kapoor and Lillaney with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years; 23 counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; eight counts of identity fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years on each count; two counts of aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of two years; one count of money laundering conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and 10 counts of money laundering, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.


title: MEMPHIS MAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF GUN AFTER A HIGH-SPEED CHASE INTO MISSISSIPPI

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD, Miss. – Sharka Corbin of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday to over ten years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a prior convicted felon. Corbin was charged after he fled law enforcement from Tennessee into the Northern District of Mississippi. At the time of his arrest, the 34-year-old Corbin was wanted for several violent offenses in Shelby County, Tennessee. He was pursued by law enforcement in a high-speed chase wherein he wrecked his vehicle and was arrested. A pistol was recovered from the prior convicted felon by the Desoto County Sheriff’s Department. Corbin pled guilty to the charge on a prior date. Senior U.S. District Court Michael P. Mills sentenced Corbin to 125 months imprisonment followed by a 3 year term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary states, “Prosecuting habitual offenders is a top priority for the Northern District of Mississippi, especially offenders that violate firearm laws. This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that works with all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun violence. Our goal is, simply, to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone, which can only be accomplished by maintaining a strong working relationship with state and local law enforcement. Through this comprehensive approach, we hope to build trust in the communities we serve.” PSN brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, DOJ launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. “In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the Desoto County Sheriff’s Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted the case.


title: Springfield, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base in Central Vermont

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on February 4, 2026, Joseph Llano, 26, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release. Joseph Llano previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base in Central Vermont. According to court records, over the course of multiple years, Joseph Llano operated a drug distribution operation in cooperation with his brother, Justin Llano, his uncles, Tanashe Edwards and Edwin Davila, and numerous other co-conspirators, that trafficked cocaine base and fentanyl from Massachusetts to Central Vermont. The group distributed drugs to a large number of customers in Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties. The defendant recruited individuals in Vermont that would allow their homes to be used as distribution points for controlled substances by individuals from Massachusetts who would travel to Vermont to distribute drugs, and individuals to courier drugs and proceeds from the sale of drugs between Massachusetts and Vermont. During the course of the conspiracy, the courier that Joseph Llano had recruited made approximately 100 trips between the Springfield, Massachusetts area and Central Vermont. On each trip he brought between 50 and 60 grams of cocaine base to Vermont, and at times also brought wax folds of fentanyl. Joseph Llano also operated a social media page where he would interact with drug customers to facilitate the sale of cocaine base and/or fentanyl. On four occasions, law enforcement completed controlled purchases of cocaine base following communications with Joseph Llano’s social media account. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, Barre Town Police Department, Barre City Police Department, Berlin Police Department, and Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Joseph Llano was represented by David Silver, Esq. 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.