title: Two Former Postal Workers Sentenced for Theft of U.S. Treasury Checks Valued at More Than $4 Million from Kennedy Airport Mail Facility

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, Kevaughn Wellington and Ky-Mani Straker, each former United States Postal Service (USPS) employees, were sentenced by United States District Judge Diane Gujarati to prison for their participation in a fraudulent scheme through which they sold, for their own financial gain, United States Treasury checks issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. Wellington and others stole the Treasury checks from the USPS mail facility located at John F. Kennedy International Airport (the JFK Mail Facility), where the defendants were previously employed. Wellington was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit $100,000, and Straker was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to forfeit $57,945.56. The defendants were further ordered to pay $405,696.98 in restitution. The defendants each previously pleaded guilty to stealing government funds and conspiring to steal government funds. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS); Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge, United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office (USPS-OIG); Michael L.J. Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge, United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, New York Field Office (USSS), announced the sentences. “The former postal workers abused their positions of trust at the JFK Mail Facility to fraudulently obtain Treasury checks intended for the well-being of hard-working individuals to whom the funds were owed, and kept the proceeds for themselves,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office is committed to holding accountable individuals who use taxpayer funds to line their own pockets, and today they paid the price for their greed and disregard of the law.” “The defendants abused their position as USPS employees and turned their employment into a multimillion-dollar criminal enterprise to steal from innocent American taxpayers. Today’s sentence makes it very clear that postal inspectors will investigate and bring to justice anyone who takes advantage of the U.S. Mail,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity throughout the Postal Service and its workforce. The special agents of the USPS OIG will vigorously investigate those who choose to steal U.S Mail and defraud the American public. The sentence imposed on the defendants will serve as a reminder that there are severe consequences when individuals commit crimes targeting the U.S Mail. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat mail theft,” stated USPS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Modafferi. “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates individuals who attempt to exploit U.S Treasury refund checks meant for hard working taxpayers for their own private gain,” stated TIGTA Special Agent in Charge Carpenter. “TIGTA's mission is to protect the integrity of our nation's tax administration system. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who violate federal laws are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.” “These defendants undermined the public’s trust in our mail system by stealing more than $4 million in Treasury checks meant for people who were expecting those funds,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “We rely on the integrity of the postal network, and today’s sentencing holds these fraudsters accountable for their illegal and selfish acts. Because of the work of our investigators, law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, we have dismantled this fraudulent operation.” “The defendants' brazen selfishness not only violated the public trust, but directly harmed the citizens they were supposed to serve by illegally siphoning funds -- resources those people were relying on -- for their own personal gain,” stated USSS Special Agent in Charge McCool. “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to preserving this nation’s financial integrity and was proud to have had a role in holding these defendants accountable. I commend the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and our many other law enforcement partners for bringing justice in this case.” From approximately June 2021 through August 2023, the defendants engaged in a scheme to steal and sell Treasury checks mailed for distribution through the JFK Mail Facility. Wellington, who was employed at the facility as a mail clerk, worked with others to steal parcels containing Treasury checks. Then, together with Straker and others, Wellington sold the stolen Treasury checks for a portion of the face value of each check. As part of the scheme, Wellington stole—and conspired with Straker to sell—over 125 Treasury checks valued at more than $4 million, including checks intended to be individuals’ Social Security benefits, COVID relief and tax refunds. In addition to selling stolen Treasury checks, Straker falsely endorsed and deposited stolen Treasury checks into a bank account and withdrew the proceeds for his own financial gain. Law enforcement uncovered over 350 videos and images from Wellington’s phone depicting Treasury checks that were not addressed to him or Straker. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorney Elias Laris in in charge of the prosecution. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Defendants : KEVAUGHN WELLINGTON Age: 33 Jamaica, New York KY-MANI STRAKER Age: 26 Orange, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-275 (DG)


title: Fayette County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Braden Robertson, 30, of Oak Hill, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 6, 2024, Robertson possessed a Ruger model Wrangler .22-caliber revolver, a Colt model Buntline Scout .22-caliber revolver, a Ruger model Blackhawk .45-caliber revolver, a Sar Arms model SARB6P Hawk 9mm pistol, and an Excam model GT27 .25-caliber pistol. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Robertson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance on July 30, 2018, in Fayette County Circuit Court. Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Four of the firearms possessed by Robertson were stolen from a Fayette County pawn shop. On July 4, 2024, Jawuan Akil Watts and other individuals broke into the pawn shop on three occasions while the business was closed and stole 33 firearms, ammunition, coins, and a gaming console. Watts traded, sold, or gave many of the firearms to others in the Oak Hill community including individuals with felony convictions. On July 6, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Lesley Scott Watkins and found three firearms during the search, including two that were stolen from the pawn shop. Sixteen of the stolen firearms have not been recovered. On December 4, 2025, Watts, 32, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and Watkins, 50, of Oak Hill, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, each for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case. These cases are 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. 2:26-cr-23. ###


title: San Diego Couple Admit to Two-Year Mail Theft Spree

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – David Anthony Burge and Kyrsten Renee Bospflug pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that for two years, they stole mail from multiple post offices, apartment complexes and business complexes all over San Diego County – converting other peoples’ checks, credit cards and personal information into more than $150,000 in nefarious profit. According to their plea agreements, from July 2023 to July 2025, the husband-and-wife team worked as partners in crime, using stolen U.S. Postal Service keys and counterfeit keys manufactured by Burge to access and steal mail from the Bonita Post Office and apartment complexes all over San Diego - on Island Avenue, Georgia Court, Broadway Street, Ohio Street, 31 st Street, Riviera Drive, and Pacific Beach Drive. Burge and Bospflug admitted they altered stolen checks so they could cash them. They also impersonated victims at banks using the victim’s personally identifiable information – such as names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers and credit and debit card account numbers - obtained from the stolen mail. For example, Burge falsely presented himself to at least three different banks posing as one of his victims, using the victim’s actual birth date, Social Security number and other information to open bank accounts in the victim’s name. Burge then mobile deposited stolen checks that were altered to list the victim as the payee, and then he deposited the stolen checks into the bank accounts that he opened and controlled. Bospflug admitting doing the same at two other banks, posing as a different victim. The plea agreement details how Burge and Bospflug exchanged text messages detailing their crimes. For instance, in February 2024, Burge reported to Bospflug that “mail was scarce” but that “we have 2 amex” and “let’s see what we can do with these checks.” Burge and Bospflug understood “2 amex” to mean two American Express credit cards stolen from the mail, and the reference to “checks” to mean checks intended for others and stolen from the mail. On another occasion, Bospflug texted Burge to ask him to confirm a victim’s social security number. Burge texted back a photograph containing that victim’s PII. Bospflug texted back, “Nice, I remembered it,” to which Burge replied, “[N]ice job … hopefully it works.” The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on June 25 at 12:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Rogge and Eric Olah. If you believe you may have been a victim of this crime, please contact the United States Postal Inspection Service hotline at 877-876-2455. DEFENDANTS Case Number 26-cr-00726-BTM David Anthony Burge Age: 33 Chula Vista, CA Kyrsten Renee Bospflug Age: 36 Spring Valley, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Mail Theft Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCY United States Postal Inspection Service *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Jury finds Hamilton man guilty of illegal firearm possession

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

body_text: MISSOULA – A Hamilton man who illegally possessed several firearms and ammunition was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Following a one-day trial, Shawn Ryan Cowan, 28, was found guilty of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Cowan faces 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for August 26, 2026. Cowan was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that law enforcement officers received information that Cowan was in possession of a firearm. A search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence where law enforcement located the following: Ruger SR-22, .22 cal. pistol; Raven Arms P25, .25 cal. pistol; F.LLI Pietta Fabrica D'Armi, Big Bore Rough Rider, .357 cal. revolver; Derya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) TM22-A-18, .22 cal. rifle; Marlin Firearms Co. 20, .22 cal. rifle; High Standard Sentinel, .22 cal. revolver; North American Arms NAA22, .22 cal. revolver; Smith & Wesson 18, .22 cal. revolver; Derya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) VRPA40, .12 cal. shotgun; Heritage Mfg. Inc. Rough Rider, .22 cal. revolver. Agents also located various calibers of ammunition. Cowan was previously convicted of Aggravated Assault in Montana, which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Cowan also is required to register as a violent offender for life because he received another felony conviction while required to register. The defendant’s right to possess a firearm was never restored under Montana or federal law. The defendant admitted to law enforcement that he was “technically a felon,” but stated he owned guns because his conviction was fraudulently obtained by county officials. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office. XXX


title: Sacramento Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Pill Trafficking that Resulted in an Overdose Death

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sandro Escobedo, 37, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Monday for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Escobedo was a distributor of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone M-30 pills and cocaine for an organization that was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl pills and cocaine from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere between May 2019 and January 2021. In October 2019, a teenage victim died of fentanyl poisoning from fentanyl pills that Escobedo distributed. Fifteen other defendants have pleaded guilty, and 13 have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 19 months to 27 years. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET 5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Luis Lopez Zamora to the United States from Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.


title: New Hampshire Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Child Sexual Exploitation

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Londonderry, N.H. man was arrested today for allegedly cyberstalking a Massachusetts victim through social media, text messages and various online platforms. Among numerous other things, the defendant allegedly posted sexually provocative statements, including a post that indicated the victim wanted to be sexually assaulted. The defendant also allegedly directed others on social media to produce, post and repost sexually explicit material of the victim. Brad Cerullo, 46, was indicted on one count of cyberstalking and one count of sexual exploitation of children. Cerullo was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 25, 2026 and released by the Court on conditions, over the government’s objection. According to the charging documents , between March 2021 and May 2025, the victim received approximately 72 text messages on her cell phone from at least 26 unknown senders, many from VoIP numbers. Several of the text messages referenced her photos or personal information on impersonation Twitter accounts. It is alleged that two of the unknown VoIP numbers were traced to Cerullo. Over 340 of the victim’s images, including sexually explicit images and videos stolen from a secure device in the victim’s possession, and at least 10 accounts, including four accounts containing the victim’s name, were allegedly used to impersonate and/or further a campaign to shame, defame, harass, or otherwise cause the victim substantial emotional distress. It is further alleged that child sexual abuse material of an approximately 12-year-old minor victim, who was known to the defendant, was found in some of Cerullo’s online accounts. The charge of stalking by electronic means provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of no less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Wayne Tracy, Acting Chief of the Haverhill Police Department made the announcement today. The Andover and Londonderry (N.H.) Police Departments provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Three-Time Felon Sentenced in Robbery, Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Narcotics

body_text: WASHINGTON –Naquel Matao Henderson, 28, a three-time convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 56 months in federal prison in connection with a street robbery in Northeast when he crashed a scooter into a car stopped at a traffic light, demanded money from the victim motorist for a new pair of pants, grabbed the motorist’s satchel from around her neck, and then fled from police, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Following a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Henderson on April 8, 2025, of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, robbery, and unlawful possession of oxycodone. In addition to the 56-month prison term, District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Henderson to serve three years of supervised release. Government prosecutors had asked for a 72-month prison sentence. Henderson, aka “Marquel,” additionally is currently awaiting trial for a January 2019 murder. According to court documents, June 24, 2024, a police commander driving an unmarked cruiser requested backup at 2:15 p.m. at 15th and Benning Roads NE. He reported that he had just witnessed a potential robbery. A motorist had been traveling on the 1400 block of Maryland Ave. when she stopped her car at a traffic light. When the light turned to green, a motorized scooter ridden by Henderson collided with the front driver’s side of her car. The driver got out of her car to check on the damage and to see if the scooter rider was injured. Henderson claimed the crash had damaged his pants and demanded that she give him $100 to buy a new pair. The driver refused to give Henderson any money and pointed out that it was he who had crashed into her car. Henderson then pushed the driver with two hands and snatched the satchel that was around her body. As Henderson fled down the 700 block of 15 th Street, NE, tossing items out of the satchel, two police officers arrived and gave chase. During the foot pursuit, one of the officers observed Henderson crouching down near a backyard fence with a firearm in his hand. Officers eventually tackled Henderson and ordered him to release the firearm. Henderson fought and resisted while he struggled with an officer over a loaded firearm. Police eventually recovered a Glock 30, .45 caliber pistol with one round in the chamber, and an additional 14 bullets scattered nearby. Officers searched Henderson and recovered 50 oxycodone pills. The pills were manufactured by two different companies and were stored in two different pill bottles – neither of which listed Henderson as the prescribed user of the narcotic. At the time of his arrest, Henderson had two prior felony convictions also was on pretrial release in D.C. Superior Court, where he was charged with numerous violent offenses, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder while armed. Joining in the announcement were ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Office and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar and former U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson. Surveillance photo of Henderson riding his scooter directly into the front driver’s side of the motorist’s vehicle as she approaches the intersection of 15th and Maryland Ave, NE. Surveillance photo of Henderson snatching the driver’s satchel away. Police recovered a Glock 30, .45 caliber pistol with one round in the chamber, and an additional 14 bullets scattered nearby. 24cr309


title: Two Men Charged With Narcotics And Firearms Offenses For Running A Fentanyl Manufacturing Facility In A Residential Building

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Task Enforcement Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Farhana Islam, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, announced the arrests of KAREEM ANTOINE TURNER and ALEXANDER DARAVINA on narcotics and firearms charges for operating a fentanyl manufacturing facility in a Brooklyn residential apartment building. TURNER and DARAVINA were arrested on April 13, 2026 and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker, where they were ordered detained. “As alleged, Kareem Turner and Alexander Daravina ran an industrial-scale pill mill in a Brooklyn apartment, pumping deadly fentanyl pills onto the streets of New York in mass quantities,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fentanyl is poison. It kills New Yorkers every day. If you are dealing in fentanyl, you are dealing in death. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will use all resources available to give New Yorkers what they want and what they deserve: the destruction of these deadly factories and their operators in federal prison.” “These individuals allegedly transformed an apartment into a fentanyl processing plant: mixing, pressing, and packaging fentanyl alongside other deadly narcotics with absolutely no regard for the health and safety of their neighbors,” said DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “This was not just alleged drug trafficking; it was a potential death sentence to others living in the building. The magnitude of this alleged operation, which resulted in the seizure of two pill press machines, one capable of producing thousands of deadly pills per hour, as well as two kilo press machines, underscores the scale and lethality of the threat we face every day. Restoring safety to our neighborhoods is critical, but above all, saving lives remains our top priority.” “For years, HSI New York special agents and investigators have confronted the devastating impacts of fentanyl and other illicit narcotics, which fracture families, corrode neighborhoods, and turn ordinary apartments into covert pill mills that imperil entire communities,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “These arrests are a stark reminder that these crimes are not just numbers on a page, but direct threats to the public's safety and well-being. Through the disciplined collaboration of HSI New York, DEA New York, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and our Homeland Security Task Force partners, we are committed to safeguarding our city and dismantling the criminal enterprises that profit from poison in our neighborhoods.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint: [1] TURNER and DARAVINA converted a residential apartment in Brooklyn into a “Pill Mill” where they manufactured, stored, and sold kilograms of drugs, including fentanyl. The Pill Mill contained an industrial-scale pill-press machine capable of manufacturing approximately 4,800 tablets per hour, a hand-cranked pill-press machine, two kilogram presses, and other industrial-grade equipment. Electronic evidence gathered during the investigation revealed multiple pictures of the Pill Mill; messages in which TURNER and DARAVINA discussed the assembly of the pill-press machine; documents, including a troubleshooting guide and handwritten notes, relating to the manufacture of fentanyl; and FaceTime screenshots in which DARAVINA is seen examining drugs and guns. Some of these photographs are included below: Handwritten Summary of Fentanyl Ingredients DARAVINA Looking at Bags Containing Narcotics During a FaceTime Call On April 13, 2026, DEA and HSI agents searched the Pill Mill pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant and found kilograms of fentanyl and other narcotics in powder and pill form, along with kilograms of ingredients used in the manufacture of fentanyl. They also recovered two loaded guns hidden in a speaker inside the Pill Mill. One of the guns had an extended magazine. In ongoing testing, multiple kilograms of suspected narcotics found in the Pill Mill have tested positive for fentanyl. Photographs from inside the Pill Mill that law enforcement agents took while executing the search warrant are below: * * * TURNER, 47, of Brooklyn, New York, and DARAVINA, 45, of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with (i) conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and (ii) using a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, that drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any other prison term imposed, and a maximum term of life in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA and HSI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the New York State Police for its assistance in this case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger and Joseph H. Rosenberg are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Boat Captains Plead Guilty in Deadly Maritime Smuggling Events

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Two boat captains whose ill-fated maritime smuggling attempt resulted in the deaths of four migrants, including two children, pleaded guilty in federal court today. Jesus Ivan Rodriguez Leyva and Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna admitted to their participation in a wide-ranging conspiracy that involved coordinating with individuals in Mexico to smuggle aliens into the United States using maritime vessels. According to admissions in their plea agreements, the pair was working with a Mexico-based smuggling organization that provided the defendants with a 20-foot panga with a single motor. On the evening of May 4, 2025, the defendants piloted the vessel from Popotla, Mexico, with 19 aliens aboard, overloaded and ill-equipped for any emergencies that lay ahead. The captains expected that upon arrival into the United States, other individuals would meet them at shore, conceal the aliens in vehicles, and then further transport them to their intended destinations within the United States. But things went very wrong. As the vessel approached the United States shoreline near Del Mar, California, on May 5, 2025, the motor failed, causing the vessel to rotate and capsize approximately 200 yards from the coast and throwing all the migrants – many unable to swim - into the water. Many survivors said the captains told them to remove their life jackets as they approached shore so they could quickly transition to vehicles. Four migrants on the vessel died. Gorgonio Placido-Diaz, Marcos Lozada-Juarez, and 14-year-old minor P.B.P. drowned while attempting to reach shore safely. All three were found unresponsive near the shore and pronounced deceased. On or about May 21, 2025, a human foot was found on the shoreline near Torrey Pines State Beach. Based on a subsequent DNA analysis, the foot was found to belong to a 10-year-old minor, whose parents were also on board. Each of the aliens was paying about $13,500 for transportation into the U.S. Three other defendants were charged separately with Conspiring to Transport Aliens within the United States, in connection with the same May 5 fatalities. They have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced (25-cr-2056-BJC). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jill S. Streja, Edward Chang, and Sean Van Demark and Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman from the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr2057-BJC Julio Cesar Zuniga Luna Age: 31 Mexico Jesus Ivan Rodriguez Leyva Age: 37 Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Attempted Bringing in Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death and Aiding and Abetting – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(i), (v)(II), and (a)(1)(B)(iv) Maximum penalty: Death or life in prison and a $250,000 fine Bringing in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain – Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii), and Aiding and Abetting, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison with a three-year mandatory minimum and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations – Marine Task Force U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations U.S. Border Patrol United States Coast Guard San Diego Lifeguard Service San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. This case is a result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA is the Justice 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices 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 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.


title: First of two violent ATM bank robbers sentenced to ten years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 24-year-old Texas man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten years in prison for a string of violent bank robberies, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Seth Coles-Body, of Houston pleaded guilty in February 2026 to four counts of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery for his role in a scheme to steal from banks by assaulting and threatening ATM technicians. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, Coles-Body “was enjoying a criminal life… The conduct was driven by greed and an appetite for money without considering the overall community.” “This defendant targeted ordinary, hardworking citizens who were simply doing their job, and who now have to live with the fear and trauma that comes from being ambushed and beaten in their workplace,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Mr. Coles-Body used increasing violence as time went on. Even after several law enforcement encounters, he never slowed down, instead he celebrated his robberies on social media. This significant sentence is warranted.” “For months, Mr. Coles-Body and his co-defendant committed a series of increasingly brazen and violent robberies across the United States, including in multiple locations in the state of Washington,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “They badly injured repair technicians just trying to do their jobs and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars. I commend the hard work of the FBI Seattle, Phoenix, and Houston field offices, along with state law enforcement partners nationwide, in bringing these thieves to justice.” Coles-Body, 24, and Ahmon Hogg, 23, of Humble, Texas, were identified as part of a robbery ring operating across the country. The men would disable ATM machines, and when the technician showed up to fix the machine, they would threaten or assault the technician to steal the cash containers, called cassettes, from the ATM. In December 2024, the pair worked together to disable ATMs on December 23 and 24, when the machines would be loaded with cash for the Christmas holiday. The coconspirators disabled a Bank of America ATM in Renton, Washington. After the technician arrived and began repairing the machine, he was forcibly confronted by Hogg and Coles-Body who brandished a screwdriver and demanded he open the machine and provide them with the cash cassettes. The technician did not open the machine, and after a scuffle, the technician was able to escape. The next day in Vancouver, Washington, a technician was sent to repair a Bank of America ATM on SE Mill Plain Boulevard. As the technician started repairs, Hogg and Coles-Body ran up and intimidated the victim and grabbed five cash cassettes filled with currency. The men fled in a car that matched one seen the previous day in connection with the attempted robbery in Renton. The defendants also admitted they had disabled a Bank of America ATM in Battle Ground, Washington, that same day. While the investigations were ongoing in Washington, Hogg and Coles-Body were identified in connection with ATM tampering cases on January 3, 2025, in the Phoenix, Arizona area. ATMs for Bank of America and Wells Fargo had been tampered with like the Washington ATMs. Hogg and Coles-Body were stopped by Phoenix law enforcement while attempting to rob one of the ATMs they had disabled. On March 7, 2025, the defendants committed another robbery at Bank of America in Redmond, Washington. An ATM repair technician was working on the machine that had been disabled by Hogg and Coles-Body. Once the machine was open, two robbers ran up and stole cash canisters filled with money from the machine. Five of the canisters were later recovered, damaged, on the shoulder of highway 520. A few days later, Coles-Body was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol with approximately $209,000 in cash. The cash was seized, and Coles-Body was released. In May 2025, Hogg and Coles-Body were back in Houston, where they reside, and committed another robbery of a Wells Fargo. A repair technician had the machine open to make repairs, and Coles-Body rushed the technician and caused injuries. The men stole about $117,000 from the machine and abandoned their car a short distance away. In June 2025, the men traveled to Oregon and disabled ATMs in Tigard and Hillsboro. While in the area, the men robbed an ATM customer who had just used a different machine. Hogg and Coles-Body then drove from Oregon to Maine and on June 30, 2025, they disabled a Bank of America ATM in South Portland, Maine. While the technician was making repairs the men rushed and beat the technician, stealing $47,000 from the Bank of America. The men left Maine and drove across the country to Jackson, Mississippi where they were arrested in a traffic stop. They had stolen firearms and significant amounts of cash in the car. Both men have agreed to pay restitution to the victims currently determined to be $768,900. The sentencing resolves all the cases in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Maine, and Mississippi. Speaking in court today and asking for the high-end ten-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell said, “These were hands-on robberies carried out with violence and intimidation…. No place in the country was off limits, and this was fun for him. There was no remorse – this was a source of pride and celebration.” Coles-Body will be on three years of supervised release following his prison term. The case was investigated by the Vancouver, Phoenix, and Houston offices of the FBI and state law enforcement, the Columbia River Organized Crime Task Force, and state law enforcement partners in Hillsboro Oregon, Battleground, Washington, and Jackson, Mississippi. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Offices in Phoenix and Houston.


title: Illegal alien guilty in decades-long identity theft scheme

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: HOUSTON – A 62-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Houston has admitted to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Beginning in 1992, Ana Silvia Garcia used a Social Security number belonging to a U.S. citizen. Using that identity, she submitted immigration petitions on behalf of family members and obtained disability and Medicare benefits. As a result of the scheme, Garcia unlawfully received more than $278,000 in benefits from 2013 through February 2026. She was not entitled to those funds. Garcia later admitted her true identity following her arrest in February. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge will impose sentencing July 2. At that time, Garcia faces up to 10 years in federal prison for stealing government funds and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years for committing aggravated identity theft. Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General and Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation with assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman is prosecuting the case. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.


title: Two Honduran Nationals Sentenced for Their Roles in Years-Long Off-the-Books Payroll Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Two Honduran nationals were sentenced Tuesday to 204 months and 51 months in prison for their roles in operating a years-long off-the-books cash payroll scheme that facilitated the employment of undocumented aliens working illegally in the United States and caused a loss to the United States of more than $38 million. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 to 2022, Iris Villafranca and Osman Donaldo Zapata, both Honduran nationals, conspired together and with others to create a series of shell companies to run an unlicensed check cashing and cash courier service business. These shell companies cashed approximately $89 million in checks from subcontractors in the construction industry, charging them a percentage of the dollar amount of the checks they cashed as a fee for this service. Through this scheme, construction contractors and subcontractors paid their workers in cash without withholding and paying required payroll taxes, allowing them to operate without regard to the workers’ legal authority to work in the United States. The defendants also caused the filing of false tax documents with the IRS to conceal the off-the-books payroll scheme. In addition, the defendants defrauded workers’ compensation insurance companies by leasing their certificates of insurance to contractors and by providing false and fraudulent information to the insurers about, among other things, the number of workers covered by the insurance and the amount workers were paid. Villafranca and Zapata both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Villafranca also pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false individual income tax returns based on her 2019 through 2022 tax returns, which did not report all the income she earned from the scheme and rental income she earned from real estate she owned. Villafranca was sentenced to 204 months and Zapata was sentenced to 51 months. Villafranca was ordered to pay more than $38 million in restitution to the United States and forfeit $89 million of criminal proceeds from the scheme and Zapata was ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution to the United States. Francisco Alvarez, who conspired with Villafranca, Zapata and others, was previously sentenced to four years of probation and ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution. A fourth member of the conspiracy is scheduled to be sentenced in June. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. ICE ERO Miami (Orlando sub-office), Florida Highway Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, US Marshals Service, State Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement have assisted in arrest operations. Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorney Kavitha Bondada of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Hu of the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: San Francisco Caregiver Charged With Tax Evasion

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Elsie Eclevia Curameng on charges of tax evasion and filing false tax returns for calendar years 2019 through 2022. Curameng made an initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco this morning. According to the indictment filed April 7, 2026, and unsealed today, Curameng, 68, of San Francisco, is alleged to have evaded assessment of taxes on at least $1.5 million of unreported income. From at least 2008 through 2022, Curameng was an in-home caregiver for a client, G.C., whom she provided support in activities of daily living as well as managed her client’s finances. As part of her financial duties, Curameng paid herself and the client’s other caregivers. From 2019 through 2022, Curameng received hundreds of checks from G.C. totaling over $2.2 million – $1.5 million of those checks were noted as payments for nursing services and vacation pay. Curameng deposited substantially all of those paychecks into her personal bank accounts. For calendar years 2019 through 2022, Curameng filed tax returns but did not report any of the income from her services to G.C. on those tax returns. As a result, Curameng owed additional taxes that would have been assessed if she had filed accurate returns. Additionally, for tax years 2019 and 2020, Curameng filed not one but two false tax returns that omitted the income from her services to G.C. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) - Oakland Field Office, made the announcement. Curameng was released on bond. Curameng is next scheduled to appear in district court on May 20, 2026 for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer. An indictment 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 five years in prison and a fine of $100,000 for each count of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201, and three years in prison and a fine of $100,000 for each count of filing a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). 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 Sara E. Henderson is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.


title: Rochester man going to prison for his role in financial fraud scheme involving stolen checks

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Sheldon Marquis Adams, 26, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Between March and September 29, 2023, Adams conspired with others to obtain hundreds of checks that had been stolen from U.S. Postal Service mailboxes in the Rochester, NY, area. Adams and his co-conspirators would then forge or alter the checks with the intent to obtain money from the associated bank accounts. Adams used social media to recruit individuals to cash or deposit the checks into their own accounts and withdraw the money before the issuing bank detected the fraud. If the individuals successfully cashed the checks, they would give the money to the members of the conspiracy in return for a small payment. On September 29, 2023, in furtherance of the conspiracy, Adams was found in possession of 15 pages of blank check stock paper and approximately 335 checks that had been stolen between April and June 2023 from U.S. Postal Service blue collection boxes. Some of the checks had been altered by washing them with acetone. The scheme involved approximately 227 individual victims and 36 business victims, in addition to the victim financial institutions, and stolen and altered checks totaling approximately $516,912.17. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Postal Inspector-in-Charge Jason Buckley, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith. # # # #


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to his role in narcotics conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Steven Hoskins, 44, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000. According to the plea agreement, between December 2022 and November 2024, Hoskins conspired with others to coordinate the shipment of cocaine from California to Buffalo through the mail and through the use of secret compartments in vehicles that were transported across the country. Hoskins would obtain anywhere between five and 50 kilograms of cocaine a month, which he would sell and distribute in the Western District of New York. On three separate occasions in July, August and September 2023, Hoskins delivered drug proceeds totaling $439,840.00 to an individual he believed was a member of the drug trafficking organization but was in fact an individual working with law enforcement. Hoskins distributed over 450 kilograms of cocaine throughout this conspiracy. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS-CI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Fitzsimmons, Meghan E. Leydecker, and Elizabeth M. Palma. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis. Sentencing is scheduled for August 21, 2026, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Long-Time Fugitive Sentenced To 70 Months’ Incarceration For Multimillion Dollar Mail Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A German man who orchestrated a massive mail fraud scheme by mass mailing false and fraudulent psychic solicitations was sentenced to 70 months’ incarceration in Newark federal court, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Georg Ingenbleek, 59, a citizen of Germany, was indicted in 2020 and has been a long-time fugitive. He was apprehended in Bolzano, Italy in 2024 and extradited to the United States in May 2025 to face the indictment, which charged him with two counts of mail fraud. Ingenbleek previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to the two counts of mail fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From at least 2011 through 2016, Ingenbleek created numerous direct mail solicitations supposedly from world-renowned psychics, falsely and fraudulently offering recipients individual psychic services and objects that would result in great fortune. Many of the letters falsely promised that the psychic services being offered were free of charge. Ingenbleek then directed co-conspirators to send fraudulent billing notices to the same victims that stated that the victims owed money for psychic services and that failure to pay would be “prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” The fraudulent billing notices falsely represented that the victims owed fees and threatened to take legal action if the victim did not send a check, usually for $20 to $50. Through his fraudulent psychic mailing campaign, Ingenbleek obtained more than $13 million dollars from victims. In addition to the prison term, Judge Cecchi ordered forfeiture in the amount of $13,618,921.19 and imposed a three-year term of supervised release. U.S Attorney Frazer credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation leading to the charges, and HSI Rome and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for providing significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Italy. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Olta Bejleri of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Daniel Rashbaum, Esq., Miami, Florida.


title: United States Attorney Moore Capito and U.S. Marshals Service Announce Results of Operation Spring Sweep

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito joined with the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement partners today to announce the successful conclusion of Operation Spring Sweep. The nearly month-long operation targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, and violent fugitives and resulted in 72 felony arrests. The U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division (CUFFED) Task Force launched Operation Spring Sweep in partnership with the West Virginia State Police on March 9, 2026. While it officially concluded on April 4, 2026, the work of the task force continues as another of its targeted fugitives was captured in Ohio on April 14, 2026. “If we’re serious about the future of West Virginia, there is nothing more important than protecting it – so our children can live, work, and thrive here,” Capito said. “We are not followers. We are leaders. That’s the standard in this office, the commitment of our law enforcement partners every day, and the promise the people of West Virginia can expect from all of us moving forward.” The West Virginia State Police conducted 222 sex offender compliance checks as part of Operation Spring Sweep, and 19 of the resulting arrests were for alleged violations of registration and notification requirements. The arrested sex offenders include Johnathan Matthew Taylor, 30, who was indicted on March 17, 2026, by a federal grand jury on a charge alleging he violated the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The Southern District of West Virginia is a regional and national leader in the successful prosecution of SORNA violations. Part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, SORNA provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. “Operation Spring Sweep shows exactly who we are – West Virginia is leading this country in being tough on crime, especially crimes against the most vulnerable,” Capito said. “We are targeting violent offenders and sexual predators who refuse to register and think the rules don’t apply to them. They haven’t learned their lesson – but they will. We will find them, and we will bring them to justice. That’s what this operation is about.” 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. ### Video of the press conference is available on the office YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UoPHRZfc-s&t=3s


title: Woman Who Defrauded Four Federal Needs-Based Programs Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who lied to government agencies to receive benefit funds to which she was not entitled was sentenced to federal prison on April 13, 2026. Gladys Louise Stephenson, age 48, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after an October 27, 2025, guilty plea to theft of government property, supplemental security income benefits fraud, and false statement or representation. Information from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between March 2017 and April 2022, Stephenson made false statements to the Social Security Administration to receive Social Security benefits. Stephenson concealed her marital status and living arrangements, specifically that she was married to her spouse and that she lived with him. During this time, Stephenson made the same false representations to the Iowa Department of Human Services in connection with her receipt of food and family assistance benefits. Stephenson also committed fraud in connection with two types of federal benefits authorized during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, Congress authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses through a program called the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). In May 2021, Stephenson applied for a PPP loan and represented that she operated a sole proprietorship with nearly $100,000 in gross income. She received a PPP loan in the amount of $20,416 from the Small Business Administration based on those false representations. Stephenson spent that money on her personal expenses, including hotel rooms and casino visits. The CARES Act also authorized additional types of unemployment insurance benefits. In January 2021, Stephenson applied for unemployment benefits and falsely said that she had been employed as a housekeeper but could no longer work due to COVID-19. Based on these false statements, Stephenson received unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled. Stephenson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Stephenson was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $106,058.97 in restitution. Stephenson was ordered to pay $58,950.97 to the Social Security Administration; $15,123 to the Iowa Department of Human Services; $20,416 to the Small Business Administration; and $11,569 to Iowa Workforce Development. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Stephenson was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 11, 2026. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-0096. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Wewoka Resident Pleads Guilty To Theft In Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Megan Renee Burgess, age 47, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Theft in Indian Country, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that beginning in January 2017 and continuing on until about November 7, 2022, Burgess did take, and carry away with intent to steal and purloin, the personal property of another, specifically, United States currency exceeding $1,000 in value. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Burgess was released on bond pending sentencing.


title: Poteau Resident Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Child Sexual Exploitation Material

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Clifford Elmo Smith, age 41, of Poteau, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that beginning on or about April 20, 2025, and continuing until on or about January 13, 2026, Smith knowingly possessed one or more matters which contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, transported by, in, and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, which Smith accessed with the intent to view. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Smith will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.


title: Atoka Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearms

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Evert Linnel Eoff, age 63, of Atoka, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count Felon in Possession of a Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment charged Eoff with knowingly possessing one bolt action rifle and one semi-automatic rifle on January 10, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Atoka Police Department. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Eoff will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance Offense

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Clayton Morgan, 49 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Morgan was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Morgan sold about 512 grams of methamphetamine to another person on two occasions. Police obtained a search warrant for his home and recovered an additional 581 grams of methamphetamine. Morgan was serving a term of supervised release from a prior federal felony conviction for drug distribution. “Clayton Morgan was under federal supervision for a past felony drug conviction when he decided to reenter the illegal methamphetamine business,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “That was a mistake. He learned the hard way that federal law enforcement, working with our state and local partners, will hold a person accountable each and every time they violate the laws designed to protect citizens from dangerous narcotics. I commend our law enforcement partners for their excellent work on this matter, and the just outcome it produced.” “The sentence imposed in this case sends a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated and underscores the threat dangerous drugs pose to our communities. This case also reflects strength of our partnerships. ATF remains committed to working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the South Bend Police Department as well as our other federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to further reduce violent crime and protect the public,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “Today, DEA reports that methamphetamine seized and tested has reached the highest purity and potency ever recorded. Average purity levels reached nearly 97% in 2025. The Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, along with Mr. Morgan, should be ashamed of themselves for driving Hoosiers to addiction and death through methamphetamine. While on supervised release for a prior federal drug conviction, Mr. Morgan had an opportunity to be a productive member of society, which he threw away. His new stint in federal prison will give him plenty of time to consider the pain and agony he brought to his northern Indiana community. Law enforcement at every level in northern Indiana will never back down to the immorality of drug trafficking. Mr. Morgan’s arrest and conviction are proof of that,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.


title: Three Indicted for Wire Fraud Conspiracy Involving PPP Loans

component: Department of Justice

body_text: HAMMOND – On April 14, 2026, a federal Grand Jury in Hammond, Indiana, approved a two-count Indictment charging Charleasa Johnson and Micah Franklin of St. John, Indiana, and Ebony Star Wilson, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Indictment alleges that as part of the conspiracy, the defendants collectively assisted in submitting more than 80 fraudulent PPP loan applications, resulting in the distribution of fraudulent PPP loan funds in an amount over $2 million. The Indictment also charges Charleasa Johnson and Micah Franklin with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.


title: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty To Arson And Attempting To Provide Material Support To A Foreign Terrorist Organization

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On April 13, 2026, Regan Darby Prater, 28, currently of Tullahoma, TN, entered a guilty plea to one count of arson and one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prater pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Sentencing has been set before United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan for September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., in Knoxville. Prater faces up to 20 years in federal prison, along with related fines, restitution, and a term of supervised release to be served after he is released from custody. As part of his agreement, Prater waived indictment by a Federal Grand Jury and agreed to plead guilty to the aforementioned charges. Court documents establish that Prater used a so-called “sparkler bomb,” i.e., a napalm-based incendiary device ignited by a common sparkler, to destroy facilities maintained by the Highlander Center, a school for grassroots leaders and social movements in New Market, Tennessee. As part of his guilty plea, Prater admitted that he drove from his home in Tullahoma to the Highlander Center, ignited the sparkler bomb, and destroyed a building, ultimately causing over $1.2 million in damage. Before he detonated the bomb, Prater spray-painted the symbol of the Iron Guard, a 1930s-era paramilitary arm of the Romanian Nazi Party, in the Highlander Center parking lot. This same symbol was engraved on the rifle used in the terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, just two weeks prior to the arson. Prater acknowledged that he committed the arson at the Highland Center due to his white-supremacist ideology and as a response to the Highlander Center’s faith-based educational priorities and its association with the Civil Rights Movement. Separately, Prater also admitted that, in 2019, he attempted to provide material support to Hizballah, also known as “Hezbollah,” which the United States has recognized as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 1997. Specifically, Prater obtained a document purporting to contain personally identifiable information of over 35,000 individuals purportedly affiliated with the government of Israel. He then provided that document to an individual he believed to be associated with Hizballah, stating, among other things: “Start the hunt.” Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; John Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office made the announcement. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Casey T. Arrowood and Kyle J. Wilson of the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Katherine McCallister of the Civil Rights Division and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division. ###


title: Bangladeshi national extradited from Brazil to SDTX to face human smuggling charges

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old man from Bangladesh is set to make his initial appearance in U.S. federal court for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled numerous illegal aliens through Central America to the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Saiful Islam was extradited from Brazil April 10 and is scheduled to be in Laredo federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:30 a.m. The indictment alleges Islam assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of illegal aliens from San Paolo, Brazil, and other locations through South America, Central America and Mexico to reach the United States. According to the charges, they were taken to the southern border and instructed to enter the country by wading across the Rio Grande or jumping a border fence. Islam allegedly carried out the scheme for payment. If convicted, Islam faces up to 15 years in federal prison for human smuggling and up to 10 years for conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez is prosecuting the case along with Joint Task Force Alpha detailee/Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, Arizona, conducted the investigation along with HSI Laredo and assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., Customs and Border Protection’s Counter Network Division, HSI Mexico City, HSI Brasilia, HSI Calexico, HSI Monterrey, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service and Interpol. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Islam’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for making the extradition possible. The investigation and charges are a result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security which has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lebanon Man Sentenced To 65 Months’ Imprisonment For Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Beaumont, age 29, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 7, 2026, to 65 months of imprisonment by United Stated District Judge Keli M. Neary for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, state police in Lebanon County were dispatched for a report of a man slumped over the wheel of a car. When police arrived, they found Beaumont asleep in the driver’s seat of a black Nissan. Police saw loose heroin on the passenger seat and took him into custody. During a search of the vehicle, police found a loaded SCCY CPX-2 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat. They also found heroin, methamphetamine, and assorted drug paraphernalia. Beaumont had previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and related charges in 2020. He was therefore ineligible to possess a firearm. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Niceville Retired Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Involvement in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud and Federal Tax Crimes

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Sidney Marc Wilson, Jr., 48, of Niceville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Mail Fraud; Mail Fraud; Wire Fraud; Money Laundering; and Subscribing to Materially False Tax Returns. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Fraudsters like this defendant seek to enrich themselves by stealing the hard-earned monies of their unsuspecting victims. Our excellent federal law enforcement partners are hard at work to identify and dismantle those schemes, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute these crimes to hold scammers like this defendant fully accountable for the harm they have caused to those victims.” Court documents reflect that between 2018 – 2022, the defendant operated an online scheme falsely promising victims returns on investments into his purported sales affiliate programs. Victims invested anywhere between $3,000 - $21,000 to be a part of what the defendant claimed would be a way for the victims to make significant amounts of money. However, after the victims mailed or wired the defendant their investments, he simply kept the money for himself or distributed it to his conspirators. The victims did not receive a return on their purported investments, and he evaded calls from the victims when they attempted to confront him about their investments. Through this scheme, the defendant fraudulently obtained millions of dollars from the victims, a portion of which he laundered through real property and cryptocurrency transactions. In addition, the defendant filed false federal income tax returns significantly understating his income for multiple years. Wilson faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment on each of the fraud counts, up to ten years’ imprisonment on each of the money laundering counts, and up to three years’ imprisonment on each the tax crime counts. Wilson also faces the payment of restitution back to the victims. The case is being jointly investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 10:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If you believe you have been a victim of fraudulent behavior committed by Sidney Marc Wilson, Jr., please email the Federal Bureau of Investigation at psra.jk@fbi.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Panama City Beach Man Indicted for Attempting to Entice a Minor

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Amani Lawrence, 27, of Panama City Beach, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with attempted enticement of a minor. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Lawrence appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 26, 2026, before District Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Lawrence faces 10 years’ imprisonment up to life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Panama City Beach Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Naples Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Tax Returns Defrauding the IRS of more than $65,000

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Wilner Cenecharles has pleaded guilty to six counts of assisting in the preparation of false tax documents and two counts of filing false tax returns. Cenecharles faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison per count and has agreed to pay more than $65,000 in restitution. A sentencing date has not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Cenecharles was a tax preparer for Motivation Tax Financial Services, which operated out of the Excelsior Barber Shop in Naples, Florida. Cenecharles would meet with his clients at the barbershop and prepare their tax returns. On multiple occasions, Cenecharles added false profits or losses from fictitious businesses or included bogus educational credits to generate fraudulent refunds for his clients. Cenecharles also did not report accurate amounts of gross receipts on his own personal income tax returns and failed to report thousands of dollars in tax preparation fees to the Internal Revenue Service. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after Deportation

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Guatemalan man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026. Wilber Zetino-Alvarez, 29, was sentenced to time served. He was then immediately deported and has arrived back in Guatemala. Zetino-Alvarez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025. On October 21, 2025, Zetino-Alvarez was found in the United States in South Dakota by law enforcement. Law enforcement learned he is an alien unlawfully present in the United States. He had been deported from the United States twice before. Zetino-Alvarez did not receive permission to reenter the country. Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal felony. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced in Federal Court  for Illegal Reentry after Deportation

body_text: RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Guatemalan man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026. Mario Zetino-Alvarez, 25, was sentenced to time served. He was then immediately deported and has arrived back in Guatemala. Zetino-Alvarez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025. On October 21, 2025, law enforcement discovered Zetino-Alvarez in South Dakota. They learned he is an alien unlawfully present in the United States having been previously deported from the United States in 2024. Zetino-Alvarez did not receive permission to reenter the country. Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal felony. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.