title: Odessa Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearm Used in Shooting in KC

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Odessa, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing a firearm used in a shooting in Kansas City, Mo. Gary D. Holcomb II, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that he admitted he used in a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri. According to the written plea agreement, Holcomb admitted that during the early morning hours on Sept. 30, 2025, he was in an alley behind a residence in Kansas City, Missouri. Holcomb admitted that he possessed a semi-automatic AR style rifle with a large capacity magazine and shot at another individual in the alleyway, before fleeing the area in an SUV. Holcomb further admitted he had multiple felony convictions, to include a prior federal felony conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Under federal statutes, Holcomb is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Court Allows Alaska Energy Exploration to Proceed

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska rejected an attempt to halt a project exploring federal oil and gas resources in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. In November 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approved a permit application allowing ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. to conduct a one-year project involving seismic exploration and the drilling of multiple exploration wells in the National Petroleum Reserve. The plaintiffs sued, challenging the permit approval and seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the project. The court denied plaintiffs’ request, finding that they failed to raise even serious questions on the merits because BLM conducted a reasonably thorough analysis of the project’s impacts. “Developing Alaska’s extraordinary resource potential involves many challenges. Lawsuits like this shouldn’t be one of them,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We stand ready to advance President Trump’s objective of unleashing American energy.”


title: Felon Sentenced for Possessing Loaded Firearm

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

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A man previously convicted of armed robbery was sentenced today for possessing a loaded firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby sentenced Ramsey Nathaniel Hogan, 60, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Shelby ordered Hogan to serve 60 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Nine months after being released from federal prison, Hogan was arrested on an outstanding warrant. While he was being searched, United States Marshals found a loaded firearm in his waistband. Court records show that the arrest warrant was issued for failing to comply with the terms of his supervised release. From 2001 through 2005, Hogan was convicted of four felonies involving a firearm. He pleaded guilty in 2005 to brandishing a firearm while robbing an auto parts store and a video store. Hogan will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The U.S. Marshal Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Mike Flesher prosecuted the case.


title: Sharon Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Corey Adkins, 28, entered the guilty plea before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to (1) possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, and (2) possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for April 23, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2,250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Sharon Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Adkins.


title: KC Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegal Firearms

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegal firearms and distribution of marijuana. Nathan Caldwell, Jr., 34, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 12 years in federal prison without parole. Caldwell, Jr. was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions. His father and co-defendant, Nathan Caldwell, Sr., a/k/a “Prince Bossalinie”, 54, was sentenced on Aug. 7, 2025, to 21 years and 8 months in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 4, 2025, Caldwell, Jr. pleaded guilty to engaging in firearm sales without a license, three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms, and three counts of distribution of marijuana. Between Dec. 20, 2023, and April 17, 2024, a Confidential Informant purchased 19 firearms, one bulletproof vest, approximately 606.29 grams of methamphetamine, 3.4 grams of powder cocaine, 3.3 grams of crack cocaine, and 9.4 grams of marijuana from Caldwell, Sr. Between Dec. 20, 2023, and April 20, 2024, the Confidential Informant purchased three firearms and approximately 460 grams of marijuana from Caldwell, Jr. Each of the transactions occurred at Caldwell Sr.’s residence. On May 8, 2024, Caldwell, Sr. sold the Confidential Informant a Glock, Model 19x, 9mm pistol equipped with a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch”, on the slide of the pistol. The Confidential Informant also purchased three extra firearm magazines from Caldwell, Sr. The Confidential Informant left the residence, and investigators executed a search warrant on the residence. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators recovered the firearm and magazines the Confidential Informant purchased, along with approximately 14.2 grams of crack cocaine and 15.3 grams of cocaine from Caldwell Sr.’s dining room table. Investigators also recovered approximately 4 grams of cocaine from Caldwell, Jr.’s vehicle. Caldwell, Jr. has prior felony convictions for assault in the first degree, aggravated assault – use of a deadly weapon, and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Nowata Man Sentenced for Sexually Abusing  Two Teenage Girls

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Nowata man was sentenced today after being found guilty by a jury for sexually abusing two teenage girls, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell ordered Kaleb Scott Smith, 34, to serve 228 months imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Smith will also be required to register as a sex offender. In November 2025, jurors convicted Smith of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country. Court records show that Smith sexually abused two teenage girls, who were only 13 and 14 years old. In September 2024, the 14-year-old minor victim disclosed being sexually abused by Smith to a parent. The minor victim’s parents testified that they contacted law enforcement. During that conversation, they showed officers a photo of Smith with their daughter and handed over the cellphone to be searched. The photo presented to the jury showed Smith cuddling with the 14-year-old under a blanket. Smith’s arm is seen wrapped around the child, and his hand rests on her upper thigh. When the minor victim testified, she stayed overnight with Smith’s 14-year-old daughter while Smith was celebrating his birthday in July 2024. The minor victim said that Smith flipped the waistband of her clothing and touched her butt. The next morning, Smith showed the 14-year-old a photo of himself naked in front of a mirror. Witness testimony from Smith’s teenage daughter and the minor victim described a second incident. They stated that Smith rented a hotel room at a casino with two beds. While in the room, both witnesses described lying on a bed watching social media videos, and Smith lay with them. Both witnesses said that Smith was cuddling with the minor victim under a blanket. The minor victim described that Smith began rubbing his crotch on her back. She moved to the second bed, and Smith followed her. He continued to rub his crotch against her butt. During a third incident, Smith’s daughter, the minor victim, and their 14-year-old friend stayed the night at his house in September 2024. All three girls testified about the evening. Smith was with the minor victim in his bedroom with the door closed. The friend heard giggling and opened the bedroom door. She saw Smith on top of the minor victim in bed, felt uncomfortable, and closed the door. Later that night, the minor victim testified that Smith asked her to come back to his bedroom. After going back to the bedroom, evidence presented to the jury and trial testimony showed that Smith sexually abused the minor. A few days after the abuse, the minor victim told her friend what happened. A DNA expert confirmed that Smith’s bodily fluids and the minor victim’s DNA were found together on his bed. When law enforcement interviewed the friend about the incident in September, she further disclosed that Smith had been inappropriate with her on several occasions. When she was 13 years old, Smith would make comments about her body and slap her butt. After turning 14, Smith made comments about her while she was in a towel and touched her breast. Smith is a member of the Osage Nation and was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal Service at trial. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bartlesville Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Hockenbury and Matthew Cyran prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Former Palatka Housing Authority Employee Sentenced to Prison for  Theft of Federal Funds

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Thomas B. Hoffman (46, Florahome) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for theft of federal funds. The court also ordered Hoffman to forfeit $155,706, the proceeds of the offense, and pay restitution to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Hoffman was an employee of the Palatka Housing Authority (PHA) which received federal funds from HUD to administer public housing programs in Palatka and neighboring municipalities. Hoffman was responsible for information technology and accounts payable. During an audit of vendors in 2025, PHA identified an unapproved company called “Data Max,” which had received approximately 48 fraudulently issued payments from PHA’s general account between July 2023 and February 2025, totaling $155,706. A federal investigation determined that Hoffman owned and controlled Data Max and its corporate bank account, and that he had caused the fraudulent payments to be issued. Bank surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed Hoffman cashing PHA checks issued to Data Max on numerous occasions. The investigation revealed that Hoffman used the funds for his personal benefit. “Thomas Hoffman’s selfish actions caused harm to multiple potential victims. He engaged in a multi-faceted fraud scheme by stealing over $155,000 in federal funds that were intended to provide housing for vulnerable community members,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “He not only violated the public trust to oversee federal funds but also took away housing opportunities from our most vulnerable community members and job opportunities for other legitimate business owners. HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable individuals who take advantage of their positions of trust to defraud HUD programs and our low-income housing communities.” This case was investigated by HUD – Office of Inspector General and the Palatka Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Wimes to 12 months in federal custody for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Lisandro Garcia-Ramirez, 23, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. Garcia-Ramirez was arrested on Feb. 20, 2025, traveling on I-70 in Saline County, Mo. Garcia-Ramirez admitted to transporting individuals he knew were present in the United States illegally. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Union County Former Teacher Sentenced to 78 Months for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County man was sentenced to 78 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Jack Wilder, 27, of Somerville, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Judge Semper imposed the sentence on January 27, 2026. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In July 2024, when Wilder was a teacher at a school in Plainfield, New Jersey, law enforcement searched Wilder’s cell phone and found child pornography. Then, in May 2025, when law enforcement arrested Wilder, they found additional child pornography that Wilder received on a second cell phone. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited the work of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with the investigation leading up to this sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark. 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 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . ### Defense counsel: Michael Baldassare, Esq. Jeff Hawriluk, Esq.


title: Title Company Owner Sentenced for Embezzlement

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Jonathan Yasko (46, Winter Springs) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to 27 months in federal prison for wire fraud. Yasko pleaded guilty on May 22, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Yasko owned or controlled various title companies that conducted real estate settlement services and issued title insurance policies on behalf of title insurance underwriters. Each of Yasko’s title companies was required to deposit the funds it received from the lenders, buyers, and homeowners into an escrow account to segregate these monies from its own funds and were also legally required to disburse the lender’s funds in the manner specified in the instructions sent by the financial institutions. Yasko’s title companies also had a fiduciary duty to the financial institutions and were required to act in the best interests of the party providing the funds, rather than using these funds for its own self-interest. From January 2021 through August 2023, Yasko engaged in a scheme to defraud financial institutions through the use of interstate wires. As part of his scheme, Yasko promised to keep the financial institution’s funds segregated in escrow accounts prior to closing in according with Florida law; promised to disburse the financial institution’s funds that were sent via interstate wire transfers affecting interstate commerce in accordance with the financial institution’s closing instructions; initiated fraudulent interstate wire transfers of the lender funds from the segregated escrow accounts to other escrow accounts that had insufficient funds to conduct separate closings; and initiated fraudulent interstate wire transfers of lender funds from the segregated escrow accounts to Yasko’s title company operating accounts for illicit purposes and embezzled mortgage lenders funds, which prevented the real estate settlements from taking place. As a result, the title insurance underwriter paid out settlements to the victim financial institutions. Numerous botched real estate closings involved mortgage loans purchased or owned by Freddie Mac. In exchange for his role in the scheme to defraud, Yasko also received ill-gotten title insurance premiums. Yasko has agreed to forfeit $201,004.57, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.


title: Illinois Church Official Arrested, Accused of Producing Child Pornography

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A church official from Illinois was arrested on a child pornography charge Wednesday and appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Thursday. Michael William Mohr, 54, of Springfield, was charged by complaint Wednesday in St. Louis with one count of producing child pornography. He will be held in jail until trial after waiving his right to a detention hearing. The affidavit in support of the complaint alleges that a court-approved search of Mohr’s home in Springfield found storage devices that contained videos of three juveniles in the bathroom. A search of a residence used by Mohr in Vandalia uncovered a hidden camera disguised as a wall clock and one disguised as a Bluetooth speaker, the affidavit says. The investigation began after one of the juveniles told the Vandalia Police Department that he discovered a camera disguised as an electronic device charger in a hotel bathroom. The discovery happened the morning after the juvenile awoke to discover Mohr standing above him and masturbating, believing the victim was asleep, the affidavit says. The juvenile was in shock and acted like he was still asleep, the affidavit says. Mohr is the president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. A charge set forth in a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI. Submit information via tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). FBI St. Louis and St. Louis County Police investigated the case with assistance from FBI Springfield (Illinois) and the Vandalia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Florida Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $52M Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Genetic Tests

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Florida man pleaded guilty on Jan. 15 for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting over $52 million in false and fraudulent claims for genetic testing that Medicare beneficiaries did not need and that were based on prescriptions purchased through illegal kickbacks and bribes. According to court documents, Sean Alterman, 38, of Lake Worth, owned and operated two laboratories, Live Beyond Medical MGMT, LLC and Dynix Diagnostics LLC, through which he purchased doctors’ orders for expensive genetic testing from patient recruiters. The patient recruiters ran deceptive telemarketing campaigns that targeted Medicare beneficiaries and persuaded them to agree to take the tests to justify the fraudulent billing. “Healthcare fraud is not a paperwork crime, it is theft from patients and taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “By buying prescriptions, running deceptive telemarketing campaigns, and billing tens of millions for tests no one needed, this defendant treated Medicare like an ATM. That conduct will be met with aggressive prosecution, forfeiture, and prison time.” As part of the scheme, the patient recruiters used a tactic known as “doctor chasing” – faxing physicians false and misleading requests for prescriptions designed to trick them into signing off on tests their patients did not need. The faxes and accompanying materials falsely stated, among other things, that the prescription requests were made on behalf a mutual patient. But they were generated by call centers that deceived the Medicare beneficiaries to agree to the tests without being examined or treated by physicians for the diseases underlying the tests. Alterman’s laboratories billed approximately $52 million to Medicare for the false and fraudulent claims, of which Medicare paid approximately $36 million. Alterman made roughly $5.5 million from the scheme, much of which he received through shell companies he owned called Shivv LLC and Shank LLC. As part of his plea agreement, Alterman agreed to forfeit his Lake Worth estate and a 2022 Rolls Royce Ghost purchased with money traceable to the scheme: Alterman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to offer and pay kickbacks. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Reginald Cuyler Jr. and Aisha Schafer Hylton of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadya Cheatham for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-80105. ###


title: Firearms Violators Sentenced to Multiple Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four men were sentenced this week for various firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Tomez Faulkner, 39, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. Faulkner was stopped on Interstate 70 in Ohio County for erratic driving. A 9mm pistol was in plain view inside the vehicle. The firearm had been stolen from Corapolis, Pennsylvania. Faulkner is prohibited from having firearms because of an aggravated assault conviction in Pennsylvania. Steven Wayne Springer, 57, of Proctor, West Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. An off-duty officer observed Springer with a firearm and reported it to the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) because the Springer had a history of disregarding wildlife hunting regulations. A DNR officer, knowing Springer is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony drug conviction, visited with Springer, who admitted to having multiple firearms. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at Springer’s home and seized two rifles, a shotgun, and 96 rounds of various ammunition. Peter Alexander Ruskin, 52, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 18 months for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department responded to a domestic violence call at Ruskin’s home. Ruskin was hiding in the basement. As officers searched for Ruskin, they found a firearm hidden under a couch in the residence. During a later legal search of his home, officers located multiple rounds of ammunition. Ruskin is prohibited because of prior domestic battery convictions. Steven Wayne Tubby, 45, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. Tubby was convicted of the unlawful possession of a firearm after he threatened someone with a firearm at his residence. Officers executed a search warrant at Tubby’s residence and found a firearm and ammunition. Tubby is prohibited because of two prior felonies involving assault with a dangerous weapon and wanton endangerment involving a firearm. Investigative agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources; the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office; the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office; and the Moundsville Police Department. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: HARRIS COUNTY DETECTIVE FACES FEDERAL CHARGES  FOLLOWING TALLAHASSEE UNDERCOVER OPERATION TARGETING ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – John Frederick Black, 46, of Houston, Texas, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. The charge was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Court documents reflect that in January 2026, Leon County Sheriff’s Office detectives participated in an undercover operation in Tallahassee focused on identifying adults who used the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, the defendant allegedly contacted the undercover officer, who he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, and engaged in sexually explicit conversation. The defendant is also alleged to have sent obscene photographs and videos of himself. The investigation revealed that Black resided in Texas and was employed as a detective with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. If convicted, Black faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The case involves an investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. 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 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: Brazilian National Living in Bridgeport Charged with Firearm Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter today announced that JOAO VICTOR BORGES DE QUEIROZ, 33, a citizen of Brazil last residing in Bridgeport, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on December 23, 2025, a victim of domestic violence reported to Bridgeport Police that she had just been attacked by Borges de Queiroz while she was driving her car, and that Borges de Queiroz had fired a gun during the attack. The victim was able to take the gun away from Borges de Queiroz during the struggle and throw it out the car window. The victim jumped out of the moving car in the area of Orange Street and Central Avenue. Borges de Queiroz held onto her, fell on top of her and continue the assault, but assisted by intervening bystanders, she was able to escape. Responding officers located the handgun, a black Taurus 9mm Model G2C, on Orange Street. Investigators obtained videos from surveillance cameras, which confirmed details of the incident. As a result of the investigation, state authorities issued an arrest warrant charging Borges de Queiroz with criminal attempt to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree with a firearm, and stalking in the second degree. It is further alleged that on December 24, 2025, Borges de Queiroz was detained at the Highgate Springs, Vermont Port of Entry at the U.S. and Canadian border after he attempted to enter Canada, was denied entry, and attempted to reenter the U.S. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered an active armed and dangerous alert for Borges de Queiroz and detained him. It is alleged that Borges de Queiroz was first encountered by CBP in Arizona in May 2023 and the agency determined that he did not have lawful status in the U.S. Immigration records indicate that Borges de Queiroz missed a court date in April 2025 and has a final court hearing scheduled for November 30, 2026. Borges de Queiroz, who has been detained since his arrest, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas O. Farrish in Hartford. The charge of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the U.S. carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bridgeport Police Department, with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. The State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Fairfield is prosecuting the state case against Borges de Queiroz. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Southampton Investment Advisor Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Jeffrey Slothower was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 72 months in prison for wire fraud, investment adviser fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to misappropriate more than $1 million from clients. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Brown ordered Slothower to pay $1,160,936 in restitution and in forfeiture. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence. “Jeffrey Slothower used his position as an investment advisor to steal over a million dollars from an unsuspecting couple,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence sends a message to all those that would use their positions as financial professionals to line their own pockets – our Office will prosecute you to the full extent of the law.” “Jeffrey Slothower crafted fabrications of profitable returns to conceal his true intention of reaching into his clients’ wallets and personally pocketing their investments,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Slothower stole more than one million dollars from his investors to fund extravagant purchases and repay his own credit card bills. The FBI will continue to unravel any web of lies used to unlawfully solicit investments at the cost of trusting clients.” As proven at trial, Slothower orchestrated a scheme to misappropriate more than $1 million from current and prospective clients. Specifically, while operating Battery Private, a New York investment advisory firm, Slothower solicited business from Victim-1 and Victim-2, a couple from California whose money Slothower had managed at another financial services firm where he was previously employed. Slothower promised the victims he could beat any rate of return they were receiving and do so without market risk. In 2017, he offered to invest Victim-1’s money into what Slothower described as bonds backed by homeowner’s association fees (the “HOA Bonds”), which would pay an eight percent return. Based on Slothower’s representations, in January 2017, Victim-1 sent more than $500,000 to Slothower at Battery Private to be invested in the purported HOA Bonds. Instead of investing in HOA Bonds or holding the funds as promised, however, Slothower funneled the money into his personal bank accounts, and then used those funds to purchase a $125,000 Mercedes Benz SUV, and membership dues at Long Island National Golf Club, a private East End country club. To further the fraudulent scheme, Slothower made payments to Victim-1 that were falsely represented as quarterly distributions from Victim-1’s “investment.” Later, Slothower solicited Victim-1 to invest additional money, including funds controlled by Victim-2, who was then a Battery Private client. Enticed by the supposedly steady rate of return, Victim-2 agreed to invest in the same purported HOA Bonds, and in December 2017, Victim-2 sent more than $500,000 to Slothower at Battery Private. However, like Victim-1, Victim-2’s money was not invested in HOA Bonds. Instead, Slothower used that money to pay tens of thousands of dollars in personal credit card debt traced to an approximately $6,500 Chanel purse, an approximately $13,000 Rolex watch, and more than $11,000 in Ralph Lauren clothing, among other things. To further the fraudulent scheme, Slothower made payments to Victim-2 that were falsely represented as quarterly distributions from Victim-2’s investment. Slothower’s scheme continued through June 2018, when he defrauded Victim-1 out of another approximately $84,000. Slothower used Victim-1’s money to make purported quarterly payments to Victim-1 and Victim-2 that were falsely represented as their investment returns and to pay membership dues at the private golf club. During the same period that Slothower defrauded Victim-1 and Victim-2, he also engaged in mortgage fraud. While attempting to refinance a mortgage on a residence he owned, Slothower misrepresented to the mortgage lender, both orally and through the submission of false invoices, that the victims’ funds came from Slothower’s sale of a wine collection, a stamp collection, and a fine art collection. At his trial, Slothower lied under oath when he denied classifying the victims’ funds as the proceeds of an asset sale. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division and the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Toporovsky and Benjamin Weintraub are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson. The Defendant : JEFFREY SLOTHOWER Age: 47 Southampton, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-602 (GRB)


title: Yadkinville Woman Sentenced in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Medicaid Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: Greensboro, N.C. – A Yadkinville woman was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment, 13 months of home detention, and two years of supervised release in connection with a scheme to submit fraudulent claims for incontinence products to Medicaid, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). Kathy Briggs, 65, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud on October 8, 2025. The court also ordered Briggs to pay restitution totaling $2,483,855.72. According to court documents, Briggs co-owned Neveah & Company d/b/a Restorative Medical located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Restorative Medical had contracts with approximately 50 assisted living facilities across the state to supply incontinence supplies, such as adult diapers, and other products for the residents in those facilities. Between around 2018 and January 2024, Restorative Medical, at Briggs’s direction, consistently and fraudulently submitted claims to Medicaid for the maximum number of incontinence products per patient that Medicaid would reimburse. When employees of Restorative Medical went to assisted living facilities to deliver products, they would count supplies and restock inventory. For example, if there were already 100 diapers on the shelf, Restorative Medical would deliver 100 more diapers to reach 200 -- the maximum quantity Medicaid would reimburse per beneficiary each month. However, at Briggs’s direction, Restorative Medical would consistently submit claims to Medicaid for 200 diapers (or the maximum allowable amount), without regard to how many diapers Restorative Medical actually delivered to the facility. Over the course of the scheme, Medicaid reimbursed Restorative Medical approximately $2.4 million to which it was not entitled. The Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Investigations Division, the United States Department of Defense – Office of Inspector General, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid and Special Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Spillman. ###


title: Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison After Hiding a Gun at a Local Business

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Doron Guider, 27, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Jan. 9, 2025, Columbia Police officers responded to a complaint about a man with a handgun at an extended stay hotel on Forest Drive. Officers circled the area and went to a nearby store where the manager and an employee stated that the man, later determined to be Guider, had entered the business. With the help of the business’s employees, officers reviewed surveillance video and saw Guider enter the store. Officers searched the store and found Guider, who had changed into clothing marked for sale. Further review of the surveillance video revealed that Guider had hidden the handgun between two pallets in the store, along with his original clothing. Officers were able to recover the handgun and the clothing. Guider has prior convictions for strong arm robbery, breaking into a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm under federal law. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Guider to 46 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case. ###


title: Former Google Engineer Found Guilty Of Economic Espionage And Theft Of Confidential AI Technology

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury today convicted former Google software engineer Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, 38, on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets for stealing thousands of pages of confidential information containing Google’s trade secrets related to artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The jury’s verdict follows an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. “Silicon Valley is at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, pioneering transformative work that drives economic growth and strengthens our national security. The jury delivered a clear message today that the theft of this valuable technology will not go unpunished. We will vigorously protect American intellectual capital from foreign interests that seek to gain an unfair competitive advantage while putting our national security at risk,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “This conviction reinforces the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting American innovation and national security. The theft and misuse of advanced artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China threatens our technological edge and economic competitiveness,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The FBI San Francisco division serves Silicon Valley and the companies who lead the world in innovation, and we are committed to safeguarding their work. This case demonstrates the strength of collaboration between the FBI and the private sector, including leading companies like Google, whose partnership is critical to protecting sensitive U.S. technology. Today’s verdict affirms that federal law will be enforced to protect our nation’s most valuable technologies and hold those who steal them accountable.” Ding was originally indicted in March 2024. A superseding indictment returned in February 2025 described seven categories of trade secrets stolen by Ding and charged Ding with seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets. According to the evidence presented at trial, between approximately May 2022 and April 2023, while a Google employee, Ding stole more than two thousand pages of confidential information containing Google’s AI trade secrets from Google’s network and uploaded them to his personal Google Cloud account. Ding also secretly affiliated himself with two PRC-based technology companies while he was employed by Google: around June 2022, Ding was in discussions to be the Chief Technology Officer for an early-stage technology company based in the PRC; by early 2023, Ding was in the process of founding his own technology company in the PRC focused on AI and machine learning and was acting as the company’s CEO. In multiple statements to potential investors, Ding claimed that he could build an AI supercomputer by copying and modifying Google’s technology. In December 2023, less than two weeks before he resigned from Google, Ding downloaded the stolen Google trade secrets to his own personal computer. The jury found that Ding stole trade secrets relating to the hardware infrastructure and software platforms that allow Google’s supercomputing data center to train and serve large AI models. The trade secrets contained detailed information about the architecture and functionality of Google’s custom Tensor Processing Unit chips and systems and Google’s Graphics Processing Unit systems, the software that allows the chips to communicate and execute tasks, and the software that orchestrates thousands of chips into a supercomputer capable of training and executing cutting-edge AI workloads. The trade secrets also pertained to Google’s custom-designed SmartNIC, a type of network interface card used to facilitate high speed communication within Google’s AI supercomputers and cloud networking products. In presentations to investors, Ding called out the PRC’s national policies prioritizing AI development and innovation in the PRC, and in late 2023 Ding applied for a government sponsored “talent plan” in Shanghai, PRC. The jury heard evidence pertaining to the PRC government’s establishment of talent plans to encourage individuals to come to China to contribute to the PRC’s economic and technological growth. Ding’s application for this talent plan stated that he planned to “help China to have computing power infrastructure capabilities that are on par with the international level.” The evidence at trial also showed that Ding intended to benefit two entities controlled by the government of China by assisting with the development of an AI supercomputer and collaborating on the research and development of custom machine learning chips. Ding is next scheduled to appear at a status conference on Feb. 3, 2026. Ding faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of theft of trade secrets in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1832 and 15 years in prison for each count of economic espionage in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1831. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court only 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. Attorneys Casey Boome, Molly K. Priedeman, and Roland Chang are prosecuting this case, with assistance from Veronica Hernandez and the National Security Division. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.


title: Two Sentenced for Cocaine and Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Gerald Lee Young, 58, of Wintersville, Ohio, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for possessing cocaine base. Young was stopped in his vehicle for traveling the wrong way on a one-way street in Weirton, West Virginia. Young admitted to the officer that there might be controlled substances in the car. A K9 was deployed, and the officer found 49 grams of cocaine base and $1114 in cash in Young’s vehicle. Two residences Young was associated with were later searched. Officers found nearly 2 grams of fentanyl, 1.3 grams of cocaine base and nearly 9 grams of methamphetamine, along with $1,918 in cash and a firearm. Young has prior drug convictions. James Thomas Howard, 37, of Washington, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 77 months for distributing methamphetamine. Howard, also known as “Jim Tom,” sold 32 grams of meth to someone in Marshall County. He has multiple prior drug convictions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Hancock Brooke Weirton Drug Task Force and the Marshall County Drug Task Force, each a HIDTA-funded initiative. These cases are a part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Convicted Child Rapist Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material with Two Separate Victims, Faces 25-100 Years in Prison

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Andrew Edick, 39, a Level 2 registered sex offender of Mohawk, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Each count related to Edick’s exploitation of a separate victim. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. In pleading guilty, Edick admitted that in in the summer of 2022, he filmed the genitalia of a female child born in 2013 and knowingly transported the video between Facebook accounts he controlled. Edick also admitted that later that year, he filmed himself having sexual intercourse with a female child born in 2009. Edick later sent the video to the child and told her to delete it after viewing. In 2012, Edick was convicted after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual misconduct in Herkimer County Court. As part of his plea in that case, Edick admitted that he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female child without her consent. As a result of that conviction, Edick has been registered as a Level 2 sex offender in New York State, including when he committed the new offenses in 2022. Edick’s plea resolves an indictment on which he was scheduled for trial beginning February 2, 2026. Edick was originally charged in connection with these crimes by a complaint filed in May 2023, following an investigation by HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Edick was arrested when HSI executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered a cellular phone that contained, as Edick admitted in his plea, numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material. Edick has been detained ever since his initial arrest. “Andrew Edick is a relentless sexual predator, whose nightmarish crimes are over,” Acting United States Attorney Sarcone said. “I commend the work of our prosecutors and HSI in securing this conviction. Their work ensures that this dangerous predator will spend decades in prison, and our children are exponentially safer today.” "Andrew Edick’s actions represent the most egregious betrayal of trust and innocence imaginable. Edick, an already convicted child rapist, repeatedly abused vulnerable minors and deliberately documented and distributed images depicting their suffering. The trauma he inflicted is permanent, and his crimes are beyond reprehensible. HSI remains relentless in our pursuit of predators like Edick and our commitment to protecting children from such evil.” Edick is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino on May 29, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 100 years in prison, a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, a fine of up to $500,000, and will again be required to register as a sex offender. In addition, Edick is responsible for restitution to the victims of his crimes and forfeiture of the device used in connection with his crimes. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. HSI investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark and Michael J. Whalen are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican Nationals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Illegal Aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to multiple years in prison for conducting an illegal alien smuggling operation that resulted in death, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, on Jan. 16, 2025, Benjamin Guatzozon-Gonzalez, 24, and Alfredo Silva De La Cruz, 42, both of Ciudad Juarez, were located by U.S. Border Patrol agents north of the Rio Grande River. Guatzozon-Gonzalez and De La Cruz and at least one other individual had scaled the border fence approximately 12 miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry. Guatzozon-Gonzalez told the USBP agents that he and De La Cruz left the third subject behind after the subject collapsed from an alleged heart attack. Assisting agents located the third subject, who remained unresponsive despite rescue efforts. The individual was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Further investigation revealed that Guatzozon-Gonzalez was working with the La Empresa cartel and had agreed to serve as a foot guide for the alien smuggling scheme. Agents also learned Guatzozon-Gonzalez smuggled around 20 illegal aliens total on approximately 16 other occasions over about a one-month period. De La Cruz stated he also served as a foot guide and smuggled around 50 illegal aliens on approximately 27 occasions over a period of one and a half years. On Jan. 22, U.S. District Judge David Briones sentenced Guatzozon-Gonzalez to 36 months in federal prison, and De La Cruz to 45 months in federal prison. ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Stamford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SAMUEL ELIE, 49, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 108 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for distributing narcotics. According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2024, Stamford Police learned that Elie was selling fentanyl, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine from his house and his vehicles. Investigators made three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Elie in December 2024 and January 2025. Elie was arrested on related state charges on January 22, 2025. On that date, a search of his residence revealed approximately 152 grams of fentanyl, 215 grams of crack cocaine, 91 grams of powder cocaine, eight grams of methamphetamine, a gun magazine, and 50 rounds of assorted ammunition. Elie’s criminal history includes felony convictions for firearm, drug, robbery, and other offenses. Elie has been detained since his arrest. On September 29, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary G. Vitale. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Harlem man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Harlem man who sexually abused a minor on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Ivan Daniel Raining Bird, 35, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that John Doe was about 13 years old when he received a Facebook Message from a user who went by “Ivey” and appeared to be a woman. “Ivey” turned out to be the defendant, Ivan Raining Bird, who was in his late 20s at the time. Doe and Raining Bird continued to message, and Raining Bird eventually invited Doe over to his house. When Doe arrived at Raining Bird’s house, he realized Raining Bird was a man dressed as a woman. Doe and Raining Bird shared substances and Raining Bird performed oral sex on Doe. For several months, Raining Bird committed similar assaults on Doe. The FBI investigated Doe’s disclosure of the abuse and interviewed Raining Bird. Raining Bird admitted sharing drugs with teenagers in the past and specifically admitted he knew John Doe was a minor and sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Nearly $1.9 million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $1,859,147.53 in criminal and civil actions in fiscal year 2025. Of this amount, $1,722,362.25 was collected in criminal actions and $136,785.28 was collected in civil actions. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office works consistently with partner agencies and divisions to collect assets. In the District of Wyoming, collection efforts are conducted through the U.S. Attorney’s Office Financial Litigation Program (FLP) and Asset Forfeiture Unit. Forfeited assets are deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund and used to restore funds to crime victims and for various law enforcement purposes. “This component of the USAO is an essential part of the justice system,” said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “The FLP’s responsibility in collecting restitution under criminal judgments ensures timely payments to victims of crimes, including federal and state agencies. The FLP is also responsible for assuring timely payments are collected to satisfy civil judgments. I am extremely proud of the work our FLP has done in recovering nearly $2 million from criminal and civil actions last year.” The Civil and Criminal Divisions work together to pursue effective recovery for crime victims. For example, in October 2025, through the combined effort of the FLP and Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $469,796 against Defendant Shu Ping Chen, Case No. 1:25‑cr‑00102‑ABJ. Chen was convicted of one count of filing a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1). Chen was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment, $359,696 in restitution, $75,000 fine, and $35,000 for the costs of prosecution. As a result of the diligent efforts of the FLP and Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recovered the entire restitution amount prior to sentencing and the fine/costs amounts immediately after sentencing.


title: Boone County Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Sending Threatening Communications to United States Congressman And United States Senator

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, KY- A Florence, Ky., man, Benjamin Aaron Keebler, 55, was indicted on January 15 for cyberstalking and sending threatening communications to a United States Congressman and a United States Senator. The indictment alleges that from February 2023 to May 2025, Keebler used a cell phone to engage in a course of conduct with the intent of harassing and intimidating a United States Congressman. Specifically, the indictment alleges that on separate occasions Keebler called a phone system affiliated with the Congressman and threatened to injure the Congressman, including a threat to shoot him in the head at a town hall, and a threat to lynch the Congressman. In addition to those threats, the indictment alleges that Keebler used a cell phone to call a phone system affiliated with a United States Senator and threaten injury against that person as well, stating, among other things, “somebody needs to come to [the Senator’s] house and do a . . . hammer visit.” Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Chief Michael G. Sullivan, U.S. Capitol Police, announced the indictment. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Boone. Keebler’s initial appearance in court occurred on January 29, 2026. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. — END —


title: Georgia Residents Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Romance Scam

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – On January 28, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced KENNETH G. AKPIEYI , a/k/a “Phillip Anderson,” (“ AKPIEYI ”) age 45, of Marietta, Georgia, to 25 years in prison, and EMUOBOSAN EMMANUELLA HALL , (“ HALL ”), age 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 8 years in prison, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. The sentencings of AKPIEYI and HALL stemmed from their participation in a years-long romance scam that victimized more than 30 women across the country. AKPIEYI was convicted after a four-day jury trial in July 2025 for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. HALL previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the evidence presented at trial, AKPIEYI played a key role in a conspiratorial scheme where the conspirators represented themselves as romantic partners to their, mostly female, victims. The conspirators often claimed to be generals, philanthropists, or entrepreneurs who lived outside the United States and met their victims on Facebook, Instagram, and similar social media platforms. They began their scheme by gaining the trust of the victims. They then asked the victims to move their conversations to WhatsApp or another encrypted platform. Thereafter, the conspirators fostered a romantic relationship with their victims, who they then asked to send money for fraudulent reasons, such as charitable causes or assistance for sick family members Evidence at trial showed that AKPIEYI received victim funds at his residence in Marietta, using the alias “Phillip Anderson." AKPIEYI also used his company, KGA Autobrokers, LLC, to funnel money to other bank accounts, often using accounts at different banks to obscure the movement of victim money. On one occasion, AKPIEYI deposited two checks totaling $300,000 from the same victim at two different banks in the Marietta area on the same day, even though both checks were written to KGA Autobrokers. Frequently, victim funds landed in foreign bank accounts in countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. Nine women who were victimized by this scheme testified at trial to total losses of over $3 million. For conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, Judge Milazzo sentenced AKPIEYI to 100 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. For conspiracy to commit money laundering, AKPIEYI was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. For his conviction for mail fraud, AKPIEYI was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. The Court ordered AKPIEYI to serve each term of imprisonment consecutively, for a total sentence of 300 months in prison, in addition to payment of a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. In total, AKPIEYI was found to be responsible for victim losses in excess of $3.5 million. HALL pleaded guilty in February 2025. According to court documents, AKPIEYI and HALL were among the organizers of a company, Le Beau Monde LLC, which they used to further their romance scam. HALL would deposit victim funds into accounts held in the name of her company and then transfer those funds to accounts at other financial institutions, including foreign banks. HALL admitted to responsibility for $851,207.00 in losses to victims of this scheme. For conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, HALL was sentenced to 96 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For conspiracy to commit money laundering, HALL was sentenced to 96 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. HALL’s terms of imprisonment were ordered to be served concurrently. HALL was found to be responsible for losses to victims in the amount of $851,207.00. Judge Milazzo ordered AKPIEYI and HALL to pay victim restitution, which would be determined at a hearing within 90 days. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the FBI New Orleans Field Office in investigating this matter. U.S. Attorney Courcelle also extended his thanks to the FBI Atlanta Field Office and the Cobb County, GA, Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne of the Financial Crimes Unit handled the prosecution along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Sarver, now serving with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Honduran citizen who illegally reentered the United States and cut off an ankle monitor and fled after getting caught was sentenced today to a year in federal prison. Oscar Lopez-Martinez, age 46, from Honduras, received the prison term after a November 5, 2025, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry. Information at sentencing showed that Lopez-Martinez was arrested for OWI in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in December 2022. After he was in the Linn County jail, ICE officers arrested Lopez-Martinez for having reentered the country illegally. Lopez-Martinez had been removed from the country six times. He was also convicted of illegal entry in 2016 in federal court in Arizona. Lopez-Martinez was released pending his trial for illegal reentry. An ankle monitor was placed on him so that the probation office could monitor his location. Days after being released, Lopez-Martinez cut off the ankle monitor and fled. His whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested by the United States Marshals Service in September 2025. Lopez-Martinez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Lopez-Martinez was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Lopez-Martinez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations and the United States Marshals Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-cr-101. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Obtains Legal Title to $400 Million in Assets Tied to Helix Cryptocurrency Mixer

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: WASHINGTON — The United States last week obtained legal title to more than $400 million worth of seized cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets tied to the operation of the darknet mixing service Helix, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The assets were previously seized from Larry Dean Harmon, the operator of the Helix mixing service, which processed transactions involving over $300 million worth of cryptocurrency from 2014 to 2017. “This case demonstrates that those who think the darknet provides a safe harbor for crime are dead wrong. My office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold criminals accountable—whether they act in broad daylight or hide behind a computer screen. We will find them, we will prosecute them, and we will cut them down.” Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced in November 2024 to 36 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a forfeiture money judgment, and forfeiture of seized property. On Jan. 21, 2026—following the government’s settlement with a mortgage-holder on one of Harmon’s properties—Judge Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia entered a final order of forfeiture, declaring the assets forfeited to the government. According to court documents, Helix was one of the most popular mixing services on the darknet and was highly sought after by online drug dealers who needed to launder their illicit proceeds. Helix was connected to Grams, a darknet search engine also run by Harmon. Helix processed at least approximately 354,468 bitcoin — the equivalent of approximately $311,145,854 in U.S. dollars at the time of the transactions — on behalf of its customers. Much of those funds were coming from or going to darknet drug markets. Harmon retained a percentage of these transactions as his commissions and fees for operating Helix. Grams and Helix were designed to connect to or otherwise support all of the major darknet markets at the time. Helix’s Application Program Interface (API) enabled darknet markets to integrate Helix directly into their bitcoin withdrawal systems. Investigators traced tens of millions of dollars from darknet markets to Helix. Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Chief of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Guy Ficco, and FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. The IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit and FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance for the investigation and seizure of assets provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. The Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize and the Belize Police Department provided essential support for the investigation and seizure of assets, coordinated through U.S. Embassy Belmopan. The investigation was coordinated with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock, Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Trial Attorneys C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Christopher B. Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section (formerly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia). 19cr395


title: Poplar man sentenced to prison for assault on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who assaulted a female on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 23 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Lawrence George Fast Horse, 35, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on August 2, 2024, Lawrence George Fast Horse stabbed Jane Doe in Poplar. Responding officers observed a stab wound on Jane Doe’s upper back. An officer searched Fast Horse at the scene and located a knife with brass knuckles attached to it in his right-side shorts pocket. A witness told law enforcement Fast Horse and Jane Doe were arguing. She saw Fast Horse push Jane Doe from behind and then noticed him attempt to conceal a blade behind his back. Jane Doe was treated for three stab wounds and was admitted to the hospital for overnight observation. Fast Horse has been convicted of several prior domestic assaults, including on June 20, 2008, May 23, 2009, January 27, 2013, October 21, 2019, and October 26, 2020. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Brockton man pleads guilty to assault and sexual assault charges on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS - A Brockton man accused of assaulting a man and sexually assaulting a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Eithan Toby McKay, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. McKay faces a maximum imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. McKay was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in September 2024, law enforcement received information about a juvenile female, Jane Doe, being pregnant. Doe was subsequently interviewed and identified Eithan Toby McKay as the father. Doe and McKay met on social media and started hanging out. The two engaged in a sexual relationship and conceived a child. Based on the due date, it was determined that Doe was 13 years old at the time of conception. McKay was 19 at the time. DNA testing later determined that Doe and McKay are 5.7 billion times more likely to be the parents than if Doe and an unrelated randomly selected person are the parents. Additionally, shortly after 2:00 am on March 4, 2025, a person called 911 to report an assault at an address in Brockton. The person said an individual was struck over the head with a machete and was bleeding. When asked by the 911 operator if the perpetrator was still there the caller said, “He just walked in the living room - he’s drunk - it’s Eithan McKay.” Law enforcement arrived and found the victim, John Doe, with serious injuries to his head, arm, and shoulder. Doe was bleeding heavily. The responding officer could see Doe’s bones in multiple places and applied a tourniquet. Doe said Eithan McKay slashed him with a machete because Doe wanted to leave and McKay didn’t want him to leave. As they loaded Doe into an ambulance, McKay walked over with his hands in the air and said he did it. He continued by saying he stabbed Doe and then Doe took the machete from him. Doe was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with severe lacerations to the shoulder, arm, head, and back. He was provided fentanyl for pain management. He was air flighted to Billings for treatment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Seattle man convicted of carjackings and gun crimes following four-day jury trial

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 25-year-old Seattle man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle for multiple counts of carjacking and using a firearm in a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Maar Teng Rambang was convicted of three counts of carjacking and three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence for the November 7, 2022, King County-wide crime spree. The jury deliberated about an hour following a four-day jury trial. U.S. District Judge John C. Chun will schedule sentencing at a future date. According to records filed in the case, the carjacking spree stretched from Kent, to Bellevue, to Redmond, to Seattle and ultimately back to Renton. Just before noon on November 7, 2022, Rambang confronted a woman sitting in her car outside the Kent East Hill Post Office. Rambang ordered the woman out of her car at gunpoint. Rambang drove the stolen car to the Bellevue Square Mall garage and fired his gun as he threatened another woman and demanded her vehicle. He drove that stolen BMW to Redmond and attempted to rob Amazon employees working at a delivery locker at a Whole Foods Market. Rambang then drove the BMW to the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle where he shot a man in the leg and stole his Jeep SUV. Officers tracked the Jeep to Kent and attempted to stop and arrest Rambang, but he fled at speeds of 90-100 miles per hour in areas of heavy traffic. Rambang drove in center turn lanes, through gas station parking lots and ran red lights. Ultimately, law enforcement in Renton was able to block the car and arrest Rambang. In closing arguments Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg said, “The victims were everyday people trying to do everyday things…. The defendant’s crime spree turned these everyday things into nightmares for the victims.” Carjacking is punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Using a firearm in connection with a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. The case was investigated by the Kent, Bellevue, Redmond, and Seattle Police Departments with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco & Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Rachel Yemini.


title: Government Forfeits Over $400M in Assets Tied to  Helix Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Last week, the government obtained legal title over more than $400 million in seized cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets tied to the operation of the darknet mixing service, Helix. As a mixing service, Helix blended cryptocurrency from multiple users and routed the funds through a series of transactions designed to obscure the funds’ sources, destinations, and owners. The United States previously seized the assets from Larry Dean Harmon, the operator of Helix, which processed transactions involving over $300 million worth of cryptocurrency from 2014 to 2017. Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced in November 2024 to 36 months’ in prison, three years of supervised release, a forfeiture money judgment, and forfeiture of seized property. On Jan. 21, Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia entered a final order of forfeiture, declaring the assets forfeited to the government. According to court documents, Helix was one of the most popular mixing services on the darknet and was highly sought after by online drug dealers seeking to launder their illicit profits. Helix processed at least approximately 354,468 bitcoin — the equivalent of approximately $300 million in U.S. dollars at the time of the transactions — on behalf of its customers. Much of those cryptocurrency were coming from or going to darknet drug markets. Harmon retained a percentage of these transactions as his commissions and fees for operating Helix. Harmon designed Helix and darknet search engine, Grams, to connect to or otherwise support all of the major darknet markets at the time. Helix’s Application Program Interface (API) enabled darknet markets to integrate Helix directly into their bitcoin withdrawal systems. Investigators traced tens of millions of dollars from darknet markets to Helix. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia; Chief of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Guy Ficco; and Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division made the announcement. The IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit and FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. The Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize and the Belize Police Department provided essential support for the investigation, coordinated through U.S. Embassy Belmopan. The investigation was coordinated with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Trial Attorneys C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Christopher B. Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section (formerly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia handled the case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.


title: Illinois Woman Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison for Her Role in Iowa Drug Ring

body_text: Nichole Marie Schmidt, age 43, from Galesburg, Illinois, was sentenced today to over 25 years in federal prison. Schmidt received the prison term after a June 3, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and 50 grams of pure methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice.” Evidence at the sentencing showed that between February 2024 and September 2024, Schmidt received pound quantities of methamphetamine from her source in Chicago, Illinois. Schmidt then distributed the methamphetamine to others in Iowa, knowing they would redistribute the drugs throughout the state. In September 2024, Schmidt met her ex-husband in Davenport, Iowa, where Schmidt rented a car. Schmidt’s ex-husband drove the rental car to Chicago, where he picked up drugs and a gun for Schmidt and a co-conspirator. Schmidt’s ex-husband then returned to Davenport, where he gave the drugs and gun to Schmidt and the co-conspirator. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers stopped the car Schmidt was driving. Her co-conspirator was in the passenger seat. During a search of the car, officers found approximately 12 pounds of pure methamphetamine, oxycodone, LSD, MDMA, cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded gun. Schmidt admitted that she intended to distribute the drugs to people throughout Iowa. In total, the court found Schmidt’s role in the conspiracy involved over 9,000,000 kilograms of converted drug weight, which included over 450 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, an amount the judge described as “astronomical.” Schmidt has two prior felony drug convictions, including a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Schmidt was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Schmidt was sentenced to 304 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery, and investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dubuque Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1021. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Bostonian of the Year Sentenced for Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The founder and former Chief Executive Officer of a Boston-based nonprofit was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for using thousands of dollars in donations to Violence in Boston (VIB) to pay for personal expenses; defrauding the City of Boston out of COVID-19 relief funds and rental assistance money; defrauding the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office out of Community Reinvestment Grant funds; filing false tax returns; and failing to file tax returns for two years. Monica Cannon-Grant, 44, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to four years’ probation, with six months of home detention and 100 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay restitution of $106,003 as well as forfeiture in an amount to be decided at a later date. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months in prison. In September 2025 , Cannon-Grant pleaded guilty to 18 counts: three counts of wire fraud conspiracy; 10 counts of wire fraud; one count of mail fraud; two counts of filing false tax returns; and two counts of failing to file tax returns. In March 2023 , Cannon-Grant was charged along with her co-conspirator and late husband Clark Grant in a 27-count superseding indictment. Clark Grant’s charges were dismissed in May 2023 due to his death. Cannon-Grant and Clark Grant had previously been charged in an 18-count indictment in March 2022 . In 2020, Cannon-Grant was lauded as a Bostonian of the Year and social justice advocate, recognized for being a “voice for the community” and social justice advocate. “Monica Cannon-Grant’s crimes were not a momentary lapse in judgment — they were a calculated pattern of deception that spanned years. She repeatedly lied to donors, government agencies, and the public, even after being caught — all while presenting herself as a champion for others. Fraud disguised as activism or charity is still fraud. You don’t get partial credit for stealing,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case makes clear that exploiting public trust for personal enrichment is a serious federal crime, no matter how it is packaged.” “Ms. Cannon-Grant’s actions were crimes of greed and opportunity but will not go unpunished thanks to the law enforcement community, who have dedicated their mission to uncovering and putting an end to such devious schemes. This case illustrates that anyone who defrauds state programs and exploits their position in the community, will be held accountable for their actions. Postal inspectors are ever vigilant in bringing to justice individuals who use the U.S. Mail to defraud and otherwise take advantage of the financial circumstances of innocent consumers,” said Nicolas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Monica Cannon-Grant illegally enriched herself through a scheme that fraudulently diverted critical taxpayer resources from individuals who depended on unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. This case reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to safeguard vital U.S. Department of Labor programs and to ensure accountability for those who seek to exploit them.” “This case against Monica Cannon-Grant demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to protecting all American citizens, especially those who are in need of assistance, like those that Cannon-Grant claimed to care about,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Cannon-Grant not only stole from her own non-profit organization but did so at the expense of multiple public financial programs designed to help those truly in need. While Cannon-Grant personally profited from her own scheme, those in the communities seeking a lifeline from her organization had to go without.” Cannon-Grant was the founder and CEO of VIB, an anti-violence nonprofit formally established in 2017, the stated purpose of which was to reduce violence, raise social awareness and aid community causes in Greater Boston, among other purposes. From 2017 through at least 2020, Cannon-Grant represented herself as an uncompensated VIB director to donors and other charitable institutions when, in reality, she and her late husband agreed to utilize their control over VIB’s accounts and funds to pay for personal expenditures through cash withdrawals, cashed checks, wire transfers to personal bank accounts and debit purchases. Cannon-Grant also applied for, and certified the applications for, grants offered by public and private entities that included materially false representations. For example, Cannon-Grant conspired to use VIB to defraud the Boston Resiliency Fund (BRF), a charitable fund established by the City of Boston to provide aid to Boston residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. After receiving approximately $53,977 in pandemic relief funds, Cannon-Grant withdrew approximately $30,000 in cash from the VIB bank account, made deposits of $5,200 and $1,000 into her personal checking account, and made payments on her personal auto loan and car insurance policy. Cannon-Grant did not disclose any of these personal expenses to BRF and, instead, falsely reported to BRF that all of its grant funds had been appropriately expended. Cannon-Grant also conspired to defraud Boston’s Office of Housing Stability by concealing thousands of dollars of household income in order to obtain $12,600 in rental assistance from the City of Boston. Instead of truthfully reporting accurate information about the family’s earnings and benefits, Cannon-Grant and her late husband misrepresented their actual household income to obtain rent relief funds that were intended to aid Boston residents who were facing housing insecurity. Cannon-Grant and her late husband also conspired to defraud the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance by submitting fraudulent applications for pandemic unemployment assistance and certifying on a weekly basis that they were not working and did not receive over $89 in income during the prior week. In addition, Cannon-Grant filed false tax returns for 2017 and 2018 and failed to file tax returns for 2019 and 2020, omitting tens of thousands of dollars in income that Cannon-Grant received in salary from VIB and through work as a consultant. U.S. Attorney Foley; USPIS Acting INC Bucciarelli; DOL Inspector General D’Esposito; IRS-CI SAC Demeo; Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .