title: United States Attorney Sayler A. Fleming Departs from Post

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – United States Attorney Sayler A. Fleming announced Tuesday that she has resigned as the head prosecutor for the Eastern District of Missouri. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the last four and a half years,” Ms. Fleming said. “As a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Missouri, I have had the great fortune of working with some of the most dedicated law enforcement professionals in the country, and I am extremely grateful for the sacrifices they make every day for our safety. They are truly heroes, and it has been an honor to have worked alongside them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in St. Louis has for years had an excellent reputation within the Department of Justice, which is a testament to the integrity of the committed and hard-working staff. I think they are the best in the country. I would also like to thank our partners in the business community and among religious and community organizations, who were invaluable in our efforts, including the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative,” Ms. Fleming said. “I will dearly miss this job and the people with whom I have worked.” Ms. Fleming was appointed by then-Attorney General William P. Barr on December 11, 2020, during the first administration of President Donald J. Trump. She assumed office on December 31, 2020. The Eastern District of Missouri leads the nation in gun prosecutions, including cases involving carjackings, armed robberies and murders. Under Ms. Fleming’s leadership, St. Louis became one of a handful of cities in the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Initiative, which marshals resources to target the ‘worst of the worst’ violent offenders. After former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner resigned in May of 2023, Ms. Fleming signed an agreement that allowed assistant U.S. attorneys to prosecute murder cases in St. Louis and assist that office while they made hires to replace a depleted staff. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had long been handling many violent crimes that occurred in St. Louis. Ms. Fleming’s prosecutors also trained local and state law enforcement in the investigation of fatal drug overdoses and the possession and sale of machine gun conversion devices. Prosecutors also trained other U.S. Attorney’s offices on how to prosecute juveniles who commit murders during carjackings or robberies. Ms. Fleming, who co-chaired the Attorney General’s Child Exploitation Working Group, increased the number of prosecutors handling the child exploitation cases to help keep our children safer. “United States Attorney Sayler Fleming has been a tremendous law enforcement partner. Under her leadership over the years, our offices have been in lockstep in our efforts to protect our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “The FBI cannot effectively accomplish our mission without the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The people of Eastern Missouri are safer thanks to her proactive and aggressive approach to prioritizing fighting violent crime.” “U.S. Attorney Fleming made a definitive impact, for the betterment of our communities, in the Eastern District of Missouri,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “We’re grateful for her partnership over these past 15 years as we worked together to remove violent drug traffickers from our region. On behalf of the DEA St. Louis Division, I want to thank U.S. Attorney Fleming for her dedicated service and wish her continued success in the future.” “We extend our sincere gratitude to U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming for her steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Her dedication to combating violent crime and fostering strong partnerships with federal agencies like the ATF has made a lasting impact on public safety throughout the Eastern District of Missouri and beyond. Her service exemplifies integrity, diligence, and the highest standards of public duty.” “Sayler Fleming was instrumental in facilitating cooperation between law enforcement agencies and helping to fight crime,” said Mark A. Mossotti, Chief of the Bridgeton Police Department and Chairman of the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association. “We have many police departments in the St. Louis area and she was just phenomenal in working with every single one of them.” "U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming has been a dedicated partner to the St. Louis region and the law enforcement community," said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Tracy. "She has played a key role in SLMPD's mission to reduce violent crime through her office and leadership." "On behalf of the St. Louis County Police Department, I extend my deepest thanks to U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming for her unwavering commitment to justice. Your leadership has left a lasting mark, and we wish you all the best," said St. Louis County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory. Ms. Fleming joined the office in August of 2010 from the Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner law firm. She had extensive experience prosecuting and supervising violent crime cases and was the office’s Appellate Chief before becoming U.S. Attorney. Ms. Fleming grew up in Charleston, Missouri. She received her Bachelor of Accountancy from Mississippi State University and her law degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Ms. Fleming concluded her service at midnight on Friday to make way for the next U.S. Attorney. Former First Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake will now assume the role of Acting U.S. Attorney. U.S. Attorney Drake joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2002 in the National Security Unit. He earned his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Missouri. The Eastern District of Missouri includes 49 counties and is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.


title: Lowndes County Men Sentenced in OCDETF Drug Trafficking Case

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

body_text: Oxford, MS – Two Lowndes County men were sentenced yesterday for drug trafficking in Northern Mississippi. According to court documents, Charles Stephen Farrar, Jr., of Columbus, Mississippi, pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District to Mississippi to trafficking methamphetamine. Farrar was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson on Monday to over 11 years in prison for the charge. He was further sentenced to four years supervised release following his release from prison. William Lyon, of Columbus, Mississippi, also pled guilty in the drug trafficking scheme. Lyons was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson on Monday to five years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. He was further sentenced to four years supervised release following his release from prison. “The sentences imposed by Judge Davidson should provide notice to drug dealers that there are consequences to selfishly peddling poison within their communities,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are proud of the partnership with DEA, ATF, and our invaluable state and local allies at the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Lowndes County SO that has allowed us to remove illegal narcotics, and those who sell them, from our midst.” “Methamphetamine tears lives apart. This sentencing, a result of dedicated work by our special agents and law enforcement partners, ensures these traffickers are held accountable for the damage they inflicted on Mississippi,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “This sentencing is the result of outstanding work and coordination by our local, state and federal partners,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “I commend the efforts of all the agencies involved for their dedication to ensuring justice is served and for their continued commitment to keeping our communities safe.” “The ATF is working closely with local and state police agencies to combat the scourge of deadly illegal drugs in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a message that we will continue to focus efforts on repeat offenders so we can remove more violent criminals from our streets and keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case. This investigation and resulting case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case is also a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Chinese Nationals Charged with Conspiracy and Smuggling a Dangerous Biological Pathogen into the U.S. for their Work at a University of Michigan Laboratory

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, citizens of the People’s Republic of China, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, false statements, and visa fraud, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division and Marty C. Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The FBI arrested Jian in connection with allegations related to Jian’s and Liu’s smuggling into America a fungus called Fusarium graminearum, which scientific literature classifies as a potential agroterrorism weapon. This noxious fungus causes “head blight,” a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice, and is responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year. Fusarium graminearum’s toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock. According to the complaint, Jian received Chinese government funding for her work on this pathogen in China. The complaint also alleges that Jian’s electronics contain information describing her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. It is further alleged that Jian’s boyfriend, Liu, works at a Chinese university where he conducts research on the same pathogen and that he first lied but then admitted to smuggling Fusarium graminearum into America—through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport—so that he could conduct research on it at the laboratory at the University of Michigan where his girlfriend, Jian, worked. United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns. These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a ‘potential agroterrorism weapon’ into the heartland of America, where they apparently intended to use a University of Michigan laboratory to further their scheme.” “The federal charges announced today against Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu, both residents of the People’s Republic of China, signify a crucial advancement in our efforts to safeguard our communities and uphold national security,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety. Thanks to the exceptional investigative efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, in close cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations these dangerous activities have been effectively halted. The FBI remains resolutely committed to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to protect the residents of Michigan and defend the United States against such grave threats.” U.S. Custom and Border Protection, Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon stated, “Today’s criminal charges levied upon Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are indicative of CBP’s critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate our agricultural economy and cause harm to humans; especially when it involves a researcher from a major university attempting to clandestinely bring potentially harmful biological materials into the United States. This was a complex investigation involving CBP offices from across the country, alongside our federal partners. I’m grateful for their tireless efforts, ensuring our borders remain secure from all types of threats while safeguarding America’s national security interests.” Jian will be appearing this afternoon in federal court in Detroit for her initial appearance on the complaint. A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment. The FBI and CBP are investigating this case.


title: Fort Worth Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A 36-year-old Fort Worth man who produced child pornography was sentenced on May 30, 2025, to 50 years in federal prison, announced Nancy Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. Jamie Hackney pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with the production and transportation of child pornography in February 2025. He was sentenced on Friday to 600 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Reed O’Connor. According to court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued a Cybertip to the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) regarding images that were uploaded to Hackney’s Google account. Through their investigation, FWPD uncovered forensic evidence of Hackney using a minor to create and subsequently transport child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Worth Police Department conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte.


title: Former Police Officers Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in Connection With Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Two Prince George’s County men have pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with an auto-insurance fraud scheme. Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., 36, of Accokeek, Maryland pled guilty to falsification of records, and Jaron Earl Taylor, 31, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty pleas with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Malik Aziz, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to the guilty pleas, between August 2018 and February 2020, Owen and Taylor, who were PGPD and Anne Arundel County Policy Department officers, respectively, at the time, conspired with fellow police officers to engage in mail and wire fraud. Owen and Taylor, along with officers Candace Tyler, Conrad D’Haiti, and Davion Percy, and others, devised a scheme for insurance companies to pay out the remaining financing costs of unwanted vehicles. Members of the conspiracy reported fictitious losses to insurers to obtain money or avoid paying off vehicles that were now worth less than the amount owed on them. The co-conspirators used their statuses as police officers to assist each other’s claims by writing false police reports. Then co-conspirators submitted fictitious police reports to insurers to validate the claim. The false police reports were intended to impede, obstruct, or influence subsequent investigations of the false insurance claims. In August 2018, Owen and Taylor staged the theft of Taylor’s Chevrolet Tahoe. After Taylor filed a fraudulent police report, Owen and Taylor stripped the vehicle and drove it deep into the woods of a Maryland State Highway property near Largo, Maryland. Taylor then made a false claim to the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) for the loss, for which USAA paid out a total of $38,670. Then in January 2020, Owen assisted D’Haiti in avoiding payment on the loan balance of a Jaguar XKR. In cooperation with D’Haiti and Percy, Owen devised a scheme to fake the vehicle’s theft. On January 4, D’Haiti parked his Jaguar behind Marlow Heights Shopping Center where Percy worked as police chief. D’Haiti then paid Percy $350 to arrange for another co-conspirator to tow the vehicle and extensively vandalize it for the purpose of creating a total insurance loss. Tyler subsequently filed the fictitious police report which D’Haiti used to substantiate his claim against Liberty Mutual Insurance. In February 2020, Liberty Mutual paid the Jaguar’s lienholder, Navy Federal Credit Union, $17,585, on the false claim. Additionally, in January 2020, Owen and Taylor assisted with disposing of an Infiniti sedan to help a co-conspirator avoid making further payments on the vehicle while on extended overseas duty. The co-conspirator gave Taylor $1,000 via CashApp to stage the theft. Taylor then forwarded the money to Owen who filed a false police report with PGPD, stating the vehicle was stolen. In reality, Owen, Taylor, and others moved the car to the top floor of a Camp Springs, Maryland apartment-complex parking garage. The co-conspirators attempted to conceal the car’s identity by removing the vehicle’s license plates and replacing them with different ones registered to another vehicle. Then the owner and co-conspirator filed a claim with GEICO that was eventually denied on grounds of fraud. Owen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Taylor faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison if the court fully accepts the plea deal. Both sentencings are scheduled for Tuesday, September 23. Taylor’s sentencing is at 10:30 a.m., and Owen’s sentencing is at 2:30 p.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Baldwin and LaShanta Harris who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Appoints Kyle G. Bumgarner as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has appointed Kyle G. Bumgarner as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546. Bumgarner was formally sworn into the position yesterday by U.S. District Court Chief District Judge Greg N. Stivers. “It is the honor of a lifetime to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “I would like to thank President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for entrusting me with this great responsibility, particularly at such an important time for our Nation. Through the talented prosecutors in this Office, we stand committed to fighting the drug epidemic and violence that has ravaged our communities, combating the fraud that has been perpetrated against our institutions, and protecting vulnerable victims that are preyed upon by ruthless criminals. Our goals cannot be achieved without selfless and heroic work from our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers—particularly those on the front lines—who will receive unwavering support from our Office. I accept this role with great enthusiasm and a commitment to making the Western District of Kentucky a safer place for each of us to raise our families and earn a living.” Before his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Bumgarner practiced law in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at Kerrick Bachert, PSC, and served as law clerk to Judge David Bunning of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. U.S. Attorney Bumgarner is a graduate of Centre College and Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law. The U.S. Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement official in their district, representing the United States in all criminal and civil litigation. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky, headquartered in Louisville with staffed offices in Bowling Green and Paducah, and an unstaffed branch in Owensboro, serves 53 Kentucky counties and two military facilities: Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky has a mission to fairly and justly prosecute violations of federal criminal law and to represent the United States and its agencies in civil litigation; to educate and inform the public, including victims of crime, about the functions of the justice system and the rights of all citizens; to assume a leadership role in crime prevention through speaking engagements and community involvement; and to conduct federal and local law enforcement training and facilitate cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement agencies. ###


title: Pinedale Man Admits Guilt in Violent Knife Attack

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinedale man pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon after slashing a man’s throat during a confrontation. According to court records, on February 17, 2025, Laberto Curley , 25, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used a knife to slash John Doe’s throat during a physical altercation, resulting is serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Curley faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Curley will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Curley)_7.pdf


title: Illegal alien sent to federal prison for trafficking over $1 million in cocaine

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 41-year-old Mexican national illegally in the United States has been ordered to prison for possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei. Rolando Banda-Lucero pleaded guilty Oct. 31, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Banda-Lucero to serve 37 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence Banda-Lucero did not have status to be in the country and got involved in narcotics trafficking for money. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane noted the straightforward facts of the case and Banda-Lucero’s clear role as a courier. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. On Oct. 25, 2023, Banda-Lucero was to deliver narcotics in Pharr. Authorities conducted surveillance within a shopping center and observed a white work van pull into a parking spot. Banda-Lucero exited the passenger side of the van and provided a duffel bag over to who he thought was the purchaser. The bag contained 20 bundles which had an approximate weight of 22.5 kilograms and tested positive for cocaine. The drugs had an estimated street value of $1.2 million. Banda-Lucero will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.


title: Two West Covina Women Arrested on Indictment Alleging $4.8 Million Hospice Services Scheme to Defraud Medicare

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The owner and operator of two West Covina hospices was arrested today on a 14-count federal grand jury indictment alleging she filed more than $4.8 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare – which paid more than $3.8 million on those claims – for medically unnecessary services for people not terminally ill and for paying kickbacks to marketers to procure patients. Normita Sierra, 71, a.k.a. “Normie,” of West Covina, is charged with nine counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy, and four counts of illegal remuneration for health care referrals. Also arrested today was Rowena Elegado, 55, a.k.a. “Weng,” also of West Covina, who is charged with one count of conspiracy, and four counts of illegal remuneration for health care referrals. Both defendants are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. According to the indictment, Sierra owned and operated Golden Meadows Hospice Inc., and D’Alexandria Hospice Inc., which billed Medicare for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill during a scheme that lasted from September 2018 to October 2022. Sierra and Elegado allegedly worked together to pay marketers to recruit patients to the hospices, knowing that most of those patients had not been referred by their primary care physicians for such services. Those kickbacks, often referred to internally using the code words “girl scout cookies,” amounted to as much as $1,300 per patient, per month that the patient stayed on hospice service. Others involved in the scheme included Carl Bernardo, 53, of Chino, who pleaded guilty in September 2024 to one count of receiving kickbacks in connection with a federal health care program and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23. Relyndo Salcedo, 60, of Fontana, a nurse practitioner involved in the scheme, pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of health care fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on November 20. Salcedo, a nurse practitioner, conducted initial assessments for the hospice and found many of the patients ineligible for hospice. But, under pressure from Sierra, who made the ultimate enrollment decisions even though she wasn’t a medical professional, and marketers such as Bernardo, Salcedo exaggerated and falsified the patients’ conditions to make them seem terminally ill. Hospice physicians then relied on Salcedo’s records to certify the patients as hospice appropriate. Once enrolled, those patients – who were not in fact terminally ill – rarely died, and instead were often discharged at around six months at Sierra’s direction, sometimes to her home health company or the other hospice company. During the scheme, Golden Meadows submitted at least approximately $3,870,642 in fraudulent claims, on which Medicare paid approximately $2,912,187. D’Alexandria submitted approximately $945,647 in fraudulent claims, on which Medicare paid approximately $894,199. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of the charges, Sierra would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each health care fraud count. Sierra and Elegado would face up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy count and up to 10 years in federal prison for each illegal kickback count. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kristen A. Williams of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.


title: DACA recipient and another sentenced for scheme involving firearms destined for Mexico

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – Two men residing in Edinburg have been sentenced for their roles in the straw purchasing of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Mario Elier Leal, 22, and Rodolfo Benitez-Garza, 24, pleaded guilty in 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Leal to serve a total of 97 months in federal prison, while Benitez-Garza received 18 months. Benitez-Garza must serve three years of supervised release following the completion of his sentence. Lacking status in the United States, Leal is expected to face removal proceedings after serving his prison term. At the hearings, the court heard additional evidence that described how Benitez-Garza and Jesus Cristo Lopez purchased the firearms on behalf of Leal. Leal would provide the money and advise which firearms he wanted. The court noted Leal was aware the firearms were to be transported into Mexico, that he played a significant role in recruiting others to purchase firearms on his behalf and could be described as a coordinator. On July 12, 2024, authorities discovered a suspected straw purchasing attempt involving Benitez-Garza and Lopez who attempted to obtain three AK-47 variant rifles. Leal was circling the parking lot at that time and had previously visited the same location with Lopez. The investigation revealed Leal provided the money for the purchases and offered Benitez-Garza and Lopez approximately $300 for their assistance. Both falsely claimed the rifles were for personal use when they were actually intended for Leal. Evidence revealed Leal had recruited Lopez and directed him to find another individual. Surveillance captured Leal at multiple stores with others suspected of purchasing firearms on his behalf. Authorities have identified 13 other firearms suspected of being purchased for Leal. As a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient, Leal is prohibited from owning a firearm per federal law. Benitez-Garza was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future while Leal will remain in custody. Lopez, 21, is set for sentencing in August. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Mission Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.


title: United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Alleging Genetic Testing Medicare Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – The United States has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against AIMA Business and Medical Support, LLC (AIMA), a company that provides medical billing and compliance services, for allegedly submitting or causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic laboratory tests. AIMA is registered as a Florida limited liability company and offers medical billing and compliance services in the United States. AIMA’s CEO, Aaron Liston, was based in the United Kingdom, AIMA’s employees were based in India, and AIMA provided services to customers in the United States, including billing the Medicare Program on behalf of healthcare providers and suppliers. The United States’ claims arise from AIMA’s alleged conduct in offering Medicare billing advice and submitting bills to Medicare on behalf of a Miami-based diagnostic laboratory called Excellent Laboratories Inc., which did business as Selecta Laboratory (Selecta). The United States contends that from August 2018 through August 2019, AIMA billed Medicare Part B approximately $ 15,178,946.00 for genetic tests on behalf of Selecta, even though AIMA knew or should have known that the tests were not medically necessary and were not ordered by the beneficiary’s treating physician. Medicare does not cover the costs of genetic tests that are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness. To be covered by Medicare, a diagnostic laboratory test, including a genetic test, must be ordered by the physician who is treating the beneficiary for a specific medical problem and who uses the results in the management of that problem. As a result of AIMA’s conduct, Selecta received Medicare funds to which it was not entitled and, correspondingly, paid AIMA for its services. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clarissa Pinheiro is handling the matter, with the HHS-OIG conducting the investigation. The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims asserted in the government’s complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls . 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-cv-22507. ###


title: Felon Caught Twice with Guns and Drugs Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who was caught twice with guns and drugs to 14 years in prison. Evidence and testimony during the February trial of Antonio Dixson, 37, of St. Louis, showed that Dixson was caught with two guns and drugs on Dec. 1, 2020, in Wentzville, Missouri. Dixson was in the rear seat of a Honda SUV that had fled from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers two weeks earlier. When Dixson stepped out of the vehicle, a Glock pistol fell from his waist to the ground. A Taurus Judge revolver, loaded with two.45 caliber rounds and three .410 shotgun shells, was visibly protruding from his pocket. Police then found ammunition and drugs in his pockets. He had 31 tablets of clonazepam laced with PCP, 100 capsules containing a mixture of para-fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and morphine, eight tablets containing fentanyl, 0.5 grams of cocaine and 5.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a sentencing memorandum says. He also had six cellular phones and over $700 cash. Due to COVID-era restrictions, Dixson was booked and released from custody, the memo says. Dixson was undeterred by the arrest, and was arrested again on Feb. 25, 2021, by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers who spotted a Mercury Villager driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Officers found a .45 caliber Colt model 1911, a 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol, and drugs in Dixson’s pants pockets. Those drugs included tablets containing meth, 6.76 grams of crystal meth and 0.63 grams of cocaine base. Both the drugs and weapons Dixson possessed presented a great danger to the public, the memo says. Dixson has also repeatedly been convicted of various crimes and “remains unrepentant even now,” the memo says, adding that in the last 19 years, Dixson has spent more than 16 years either behind bars or under court supervision. In February, jurors found Dixson guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a defaced firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Wentzville Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Dunkel and Hal Goldsmith prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Illinois Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison And Ordered to Repay $352,300 in Restitution

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Valencia Franklin, age 52, of Lynwood, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to wire fraud, a federal felony offense, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Franklin was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release and ordered to pay $352,300 in restitution to the victim of the offense. According to documents in the case, in 2021, Company A, a not for profit organization located in Merrillville, Indiana, administered and distributed federal Emergency Rental Assistance funds to local residents adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Franklin worked for Company A and defrauded the company by preparing fraudulent applications for Emergency Rental Assistance which falsely claimed her family members were landlords for certain properties, when in reality they had no connection to these properties. As a result of her false representations, Franklin caused hundred of thousands of dollars in fraudulent payments to be issued to herself and others. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff.


title: Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Offense

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Justin Lee Payne, 31, of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Payne was arrested by York County sheriff’s deputies for trafficking fentanyl. During the arrest, investigators executed a search warrant on Payne’s home and located more than 280 grams of fentanyl and 4 grams of methamphetamine. United States District Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Payne to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston D. Holliday is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Executive at Masonry Contractor Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Prison for Conspiring to Bribe Amtrak Employee in Exchange for Over $50 Million in Extra Work on 30th Street Station Project

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Donald Seefeldt, 65, of Wilmette, Illinois, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone to 57 months' imprisonment, one year of probation, 59 hours of community service, and a $50,000 fine for conspiracy to commit federal program bribery. Seefeldt was charged by information with that offense in November 2024 and pleaded guilty in February. As presented in the information, on or about December 10, 2015, a masonry restoration contractor (the “Contractor”) was awarded a $58,473,000 contract by Amtrak to be the main contractor on a façade repair and restoration project at Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Federal funding supplied approximately 90 percent of the money Amtrak used to pay the Contractor for the repair and restoration of the 30th Street Station façade. Defendant Seefeldt was the Senior Executive Vice President of the Contractor with responsibility to provide executive oversight of the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project. Lee Maniatis and Khaled Dallo, both charged elsewhere, were Vice Presidents of the Contractor, with responsibility to supervise the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project. Mark Snedden, also charged elsewhere, was the sole owner and president of the Contractor. Amtrak Employee #1 was employed by Amtrak as the Project Manager on the repair and restoration project. In that capacity, Amtrak Employee #1 was responsible for communicating with the Contractor about the work being done on 30th Street Station. Amtrak Employee #1 was also responsible for reviewing the invoices, change orders, and requests for payment that the Contractor submitted to Amtrak. Amtrak Employee #1 had the power to approve or reject these invoices, change orders, and requests for payment. Although Amtrak Employee #1 did not have the singular authority to approve Amtrak payments to the Contractor, his approval was a critical step in that process. The contract between Amtrak and the Contractor prohibited the defendant and other Contractor officials from “offer[ing] to any Amtrak employee, agent, or representative any cash, gift, entertainment, commission, or kickback for the purpose of securing favorable treatment with regard to award or performance of any contract or agreement.” As detailed in the information and admitted to by the defendant, from in or about May 2016 through in or about November 2019, in Philadelphia, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, Seefeldt conspired, combined, and agreed with others, including Amtrak Employee #1, Maniatis, Dallo, and Snedden to commit an offense against the United States; that is, to knowingly and corruptly give, offer, and agree to give, a thing of value to Amtrak Employee #1, intending to influence and reward Amtrak Employee #1 in connection with any business, transaction and series of transactions involving a thing of value of $5,000 or more. Specifically, Seefeldt and the others, with the knowledge and agreement of Snedden, provided Amtrak Employee #1 with gifts and other things of value totaling approximately $323,686, including, among other things, paid vacations (including an approximately $19,000 trip to Ecuador and a $9,500 trip to India), jewelry (including an approximately $5,600 watch and later an approximately $11,000 watch), cash, dinners, a dog, entertainment, and transportation, to ensure that Amtrak Employee #1 used his power and influence to benefit the Contractor during the performance of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project. In return for these gifts and other things of value, Amtrak Employee #1 allegedly used his position at Amtrak to access internal agency information available only to Amtrak employees about the 30th Street Station Project and shared this internal information with the defendant and other officials with the Contractor. The information further alleges that Amtrak Employee #1 used his position at Amtrak to approve additional, more expensive changes to the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project, thereby increasing the amount and value of the work to be performed by the Contractor. These additional expenses were reflected in a series of change orders or contract modifications. In total, Amtrak Employee #1 approved over $52 million of additional payments from Amtrak to the Contractor. Amtrak Employee #1 and officials with the Contractor, including defendant Seefeldt, falsely inflated the true costs of some of the work to be performed by the Contractor under these change orders, causing Amtrak to be substantially overbilled by over $2 million for the completion of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project. “Seefeldt conspired to bribe an Amtrak employee, to benefit himself and his colleagues,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “In padding their pockets at the government’s expense, they were, in fact, victimizing U.S. taxpayers. Every dollar lost to federal program fraud means one less for a vital program or public priority.” “Stealing and misappropriating federal funds is not just a criminal act; it is a betrayal of the trust placed in us by the communities we serve, and it damages the integrity of the systems they depend on,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Bribery directly undermines our rule of law. In partnership with our colleagues, the FBI is unwavering in its commitment to eradicating public corruption and ensuring that those who abuse their positions for personal gain are held accountable.” “Our work on this case sends a strong message to all contractors about their obligation to operate legally and ethically,” said Michael J. Waters, Special Agent in Charge for the Amtrak Office of Inspector General Eastern Area Field Office. “We remain committed to investigating acts of bribery or other illegal or unethical conduct to ensure Amtrak’s funds are protected. We’re proud of our joint efforts with the FBI and DOT OIG who supported this investigation and appreciative of the support from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: if you defraud our nation’s infrastructure system, you will be caught and held accountable,” said Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region. “We’re committed to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the integrity of federally funded programs.” The case was investigated by the FBI, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grenell.


title: Wawa Assault in January 2022 Leads to Prison Term

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Charles Edwards, 49, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to eight years in prison yesterday for assaulting and pointing a gun at two individuals in a Wawa convenience store in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Edwards was found guilty by a jury on January 2, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and other related offenses. The Honorable Errol Arthur sentenced the defendant on June 2, 2025, to the prison term. Following his term of imprisonment, the defendant will serve a period of three years of supervised release. According to court documents, in the early morning hours on January 22, 2022, Edwards got into an argument with another man near the Wawa. That man ran into the store to escape Edwards, but Edwards followed him and again confronted him. A Special Police Officer (SPO) working at Wawa escorted Edwards out of the store. Minutes later, Edwards went back to the store and again chased the man around the store, and then pulled out a loaded handgun and pointed it at both that man and the Wawa’s cashier who was standing in front of him. Edwards eventually left the store, and threatened the SPO, who was on the phone with 911. Edwards was arrested on a warrant on August 17, 2022, and has been in custody since. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Toogun and Benjamin Helfand, who prosecuted the case.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon Violation

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Claude Michael Barrs, 45, of Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence presented in court showed that on September 29, 2023, Berkeley County sheriff’s deputies stopped Barrs after observing him driving erratically. During the stop, Barrs appeared extremely nervous and admitted that his license was suspended. When asked to exit the vehicle, he attempted to discreetly discard a bag on the ground. Deputies recovered the bag and found 6 grams of methamphetamine inside. A search of the vehicle uncovered an additional 0.85 grams of methamphetamine under the driver’s seat and a 9mm pistol in the trunk. Barrs admitted the drugs and firearm belonged to him. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He was also eligible for a sentencing enhancement based on prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. At the time of this arrest, Barrs was out on bond for state charges of armed robbery, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a weapon by a violent offender. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Barrs to 180 imprisonment as part of a negotiated agreement between the parties to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case. ###


title: California Inmate Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Scheme to Deliver Drugs into State Prison by Drone

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Michael Ray Acosta, 48, an inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana inside of the prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, from May 23 to Aug. 27, 2021, Acosta used a contraband cellphone to coordinate multiple drone deliveries of contraband into Pleasant Valley State Prison. Acosta’s co-conspirators Joshua Gonzalez, Jose Oropeza, Rosendo Ramirez, and David Ramirez Jr. flew drones over the prisons and dropped packages into the prisons. Acosta and his associates would then recover the contraband for further distribution throughout the prison population. The packages that Acosta helped to smuggle into the prisons included methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and various other items. Acosta was one of five people charged federally as a result of Operation Night Drop, a multi-agency investigation that sought to prevent a rising number of drone incursions over prison facilities. Jose Oropeza is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2025, and David Ramirez is scheduled to plead guilty on the same day. Joshua Gonzalez and Rosendo Ramirez are next scheduled to appear in court on June 11, 2025. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Federal Aviation Administration, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Romanian National Sentenced for Defrauding Banks and  Leaving Hundreds of Banking Customers as Victims in His Wake

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Romanian national illegally present in the United States who is described in court documents as being an “undeterred serial scammer” who left hundreds of victims in his wake after stealing and using their personal banking information has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison and will face deportation proceedings, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Mario Demarco, a/k/a Marius Lupu a/k/a David Adamec, 30, pleaded guilty in January to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 33 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Additionally, Demarco was ordered to pay restitution totaling $16,567.06. An immigration detainer has been lodged by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Court documents reflect that for more than two years, beginning in October 2022, Demarco traveled up and down the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic installing skimming devices on ATMs. These devices intercepted hundreds of customers’ debit card and banking information, which Demarco used to create fraudulent debit cards. The bogus cards were then used to make unauthorized cash withdrawals, attempted withdrawals, and purchases. Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Demarco installed skimming devices on at least ten ATMs and compromised at least 952 cards. Demarco owes restitution to fifteen different banks. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Ly T. Chin. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Warwick, RI, Police Department, Cranston, RI, Police Department, East Greenwich, RI, Police Department, North Kingstown, RI, Police Department, East Providence, RI, Police Department, Boston, MA, Police Department, New York City Police Department, and the Stratford, CT, Police Department. ###


title: Webster Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Role in Drug Organization That Trafficked Cocaine From Puerto Rico Via Mail

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Webster man has been sentenced for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed cocaine. Angel Delgado, 47, was sentenced on May 29, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to seven years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In January 2025, Delgado pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Delgado was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in April 2024. In the spring of 2023, an investigation began into the shipment of multiple kilogram-weight packages of suspected narcotics from Puerto Rico to Worcester County in Massachusetts. On at least eight occasions, Delgado was observed collecting suspicious packages believed to contain cocaine or other narcotics from addresses not associated with him and then delivering each package to another individual involved in the DTO. During the investigation, two kilograms of cocaine were seized from a package that was addressed to Delgado. On April 30, 2024, Delgado’s car was stopped after he was observed driving an individual who collected a package believed to contain cocaine. Once stopped, the package was opened and found to contain two kilograms of cocaine wrapped inside the box. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Southbridge Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Former Plaintiffs’ Lawyer Tom Girardi Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Prison for Swindling Tens of Millions of Dollars from Injured Clients

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Disbarred plaintiffs’ personal injury attorney Thomas Vincent Girardi was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for leading a years-long scheme in which he embezzled tens of millions of dollars of settlement money that belonged to his clients, some of whom awaited payment for treatment of severe physical injuries. Girardi, 86, formerly of Pasadena and who now resides in Seal Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton also ordered Girardi to pay a $35,000 fine and $2,310,247 in restitution. Judge Staton ordered Girardi to surrender to federal authorities no later than July 17. Girardi was found guilty by a jury in August 2024 of four counts of wire fraud. “This self-proclaimed ‘champion of justice’ was nothing more than a thief and a liar who conned his vulnerable clients out of the millions of dollars,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “My office will vigorously prosecute corrupt lawyers and those who assist them in criminal activities.” “This sentencing brings a level of recompense for countless victims of Mr. Girardi’s long-running scheme to enrich himself on the backs of clients who trusted him in some of their worst days,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Mr. Girardi thought he could outsmart his victims and investigators, but this sentencing demonstrates criminals cannot evade the unrivaled acumen of IRS-CI special agents in following the money, as well as the effectiveness of our partnerships with fellow law enforcement organizations like the FBI.” “Mr. Girardi, once a self-proclaimed ‘legal legend’ who purported to fight corporate greed, will now find himself on the opposite end of justice as he serves out his lengthy prison sentence,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “Years of hard work went into this case by agents and prosecutors motivated to pursue justice for the victims who were betrayed by Girardi after putting their trust in his corrupt law firm in their time of need and while enduring personal hardship.” A once-powerful figure in California’s legal community, Girardi ran the now-defunct downtown Los Angeles law firm Girardi Keese. For years, Girardi misappropriated and embezzled millions of dollars from client trust accounts at his law firm. The scheme involved defendant Girardi stealing millions of dollars in client settlement funds and failing to pay Girardi Keese clients – some of whom had suffered serious injuries in accidents – the money they were owed. In carrying out his criminal conduct, from October 2010 to late 2020, Girardi operated Girardi Keese like a Ponzi-scheme by providing a litany of lies for failure to pay clients and directing law firm employees, including co-defendant and former Girardi Keese CFO Christopher Kazuo Kamon, to make incremental payments of newly obtained settlement funds to previously defrauded clients or using the new funds to pay other unrelated expenditures. Girardi sent lulling communications to the defrauded clients that, among other things, falsely denied that the settlement proceeds had been paid and falsely claimed that Girardi Keese could not pay the settlement proceeds to clients until certain purported requirements had been met. These bogus requirements included addressing supposed tax obligations, settling bankruptcy claims, obtaining supposedly necessary authorizations from judges, and satisfying other debts. Girardi also diverted tens of millions of dollars from his law firm’s operating account to pay illegitimate expenses, including more than $25 million to pay the expenses of EJ Global, a company formed by his wife related to her entertainment career, as well as spent millions of dollars of Girardi Keese funds on private jet travel, jewelry, luxury cars, and exclusive golf and social clubs. At the end of 2020, as Girardi and his law firm faced mounting legal problems related to his years-long theft of client funds, Girardi Keese was forced into involuntary bankruptcy. The State Bar of California disbarred Girardi in July 2022. Relatedly, co-defendant Kamon, 51, formerly of Encino and Palos Verdes and who was residing in The Bahamas at the time of his November 2022 arrest on a federal criminal complaint, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to two counts of wire fraud. Kamon, the long-time head of the accounting department at Girardi Keese, aided and abetted Girardi’s fraud scheme and embezzled millions of dollars from Girardi Keese itself for his own benefit. On April 11, Kamon was sentenced to 121 months in custody and ordered to pay $8,903,324 in restitution. Kamon has been in federal custody since November 2022. Kamon has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud charges in Chicago where he is charged along with former Girardi Keese lawyer David R. Lira, Girardi’s son-in-law. Trial in that case is scheduled to start on July 14. Girardi was dismissed from the Chicago case because of his conviction and sentencing in this case. IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter. The Office of the United States Trustee provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Paetty of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 13 Months in Federal Prison Following Eighth Illegal Reentry and Seventh Deportation

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS— Manuel Vasquez-Mongia (a/k/a Manuel Vasquez-Mungia), 32, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. According to court documents, between 2011 and 2015, Vasquez-Mongia was found to be illegally in the United States on seven separate occasions. Each time, he was ordered removed to Mexico by an immigration judge and prohibited from entering the United States for a period of five to twenty years. On October 15, 2015, after illegally reentering the United States a seventh time, Vasquez-Mongia was found guilty of Transportation of Illegal Aliens and sentenced to six months in federal prison. Following release, he was again deported to Mexico and prohibited from entering the United States at any time. Nearly a decade later, on September 11, 2024, Vasquez-Mongia was located and arrested in Indianapolis after entering the country illegally for the eighth time. This is his fifth federal conviction for immigration offenses. “Vasquez-Mongia has repeatedly shown blatant disregard for the law,” said John E. Childress, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Despite multiple deportations and warnings not to return, he reentered almost immediately—even bringing others with him. He clearly thought he could evade justice, but today’s sentence proves otherwise. We will continue working with ICE and our partners to locate and remove individuals who illegally enter our country.” Immigration Customs and Enforcement and U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Wood prosecuted this 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) ###


title: Ohio Based Nonprofit and Affiliated Nursing Homes Agree to Pay $3.61M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability

component: Civil Division

body_text: American Health Foundation (AHF), its affiliate AHF Management Corporation, and three affiliated nursing homes — Cheltenham Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (Cheltenham), The Sanctuary at Wilmington Place (Wilmington Place), and Samaritan Care Center and Villa (Samaritan) — have agreed to pay $3.61 million to resolve claims related to billing Medicare and Medicaid for grossly substandard skilled nursing services between 2016 and 2018. AHF is a nonprofit corporation that is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, and owns and controls nursing homes in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Cheltenham is a 255-bed nursing home located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington Place is a 63-bed nursing home located in Dayton, Ohio; and Samaritan is a 56-bed nursing home located in Medina, Ohio. “Nursing homes are expected to provide their residents, which include some of our most vulnerable citizens, with quality care and to treat them with dignity and respect,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brenna Jenny of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “The Department will not tolerate nursing homes — or their owners or managing entities — abdicating these responsibilities and seeking taxpayer funds to which they are not entitled.” The United States’ complaint, filed in June 2022, alleged that the aforementioned three AHF nursing homes provided grossly substandard services that failed to meet required standards of care in various ways. For example, the United States alleged that each facility failed to follow appropriate infection control protocols and had problems maintaining adequate staffing levels. The United States also alleged that Cheltenham housed its residents in a dirty, pest-infested building; gave its residents unnecessary medications, including antibiotic, antipsychotic, antianxiety, and hypnotic drugs; deprived its residents of their dignity by subjecting them to verbal abuse, leaving them without meaningful activities or stimulation, and failing to safeguard their possessions, including money, clothing, and other personal items; and failed to provide needed psychiatric care. The United States similarly alleged that Wilmington Place had repeated failures relating to resident mediations, including the provision of unnecessary drugs, and persistently failed to create and maintain crucial resident care plans and assessments. Finally, the United States alleged that Samaritan had repeated failures related to resident care plans and assessments, and housed residents in a building and on grounds that often were not safe and sanitary. Contemporaneously with the settlement announced today, the AHF entities agreed to enter into a chain-wide, quality of care Corporate Integrity Agreement with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, which will remain in effect for five years and address quality of care and resident safety within the AHF entities’ skilled nursing facilities. The case is captioned United States v. American Health Foundation Inc.; AHF Management Corporation; AHF Montgomery Inc. doing business as Cheltenham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center; and AHF Ohio Inc. doing business as The Sanctuary at Wilmington Place and doing business as Samaritan Care Center and Villa , Case No. 2:22-cv-02344 (E.D. Pa.). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of an effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. This matter was handled by Fraud Section attorneys Ben Young and Susan Lynch. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Johnstown Man Sentenced for Role in Series of International Fraud Scams

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to a total of 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of conspiracy to commit money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on John M. Trabert, 55. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around January 2020 through March 2022 in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Trabert conspired with others to commit money laundering by acting as a “money mule”—a person who, at someone else’s direction, receives and moves money obtained from victims of fraud—in a variety of romance, real estate, and gold scams. The scheme consisted of a co-conspirator outside of the United States directing victims, who believed they were investing in real estate, gold, or financial support for a fictional love interest, to send funds to one of Trabert’s bank accounts. At the direction of and in concert with his co-conspirator, Trabert then conducted financial transactions using proceeds of the fraud scams, with Trabert retaining a portion of each transaction as personal profit. Trabert laundered more than $700,000 from victims through his role in the conspiracy. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Secret Service for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Trabert.


title: Iowa Man Sentenced to Prison for Threatening Gila River Detective

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Malachi Reed, 21, of Des Moines, Iowa, was sentenced on June 2, 2025, by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On March 12, 2025, Reed pleaded guilty to Use of Interstate Commerce to Transmit a Threat. On August 6, 2024, a juvenile was reported missing from the Gila River Indian Community. Through cooperation from the Gila River Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Des Moines Police Department, and the FBI, investigators learned that the juvenile had flown to Des Moines, Iowa, to meet Reed at the airport. A detective for the Gila River Police Department contacted Reed to ensure the juvenile’s safe return. Instead of assisting law enforcement, Reed threatened to kill the detective, his family, and other investigators involved in the case. Notwithstanding these threats, investigators continued their investigation and found the juvenile with Reed on August 16, 2024. The FBI and the Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raynette M. Logan, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-1408-PHX-SHD RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-088_Reed # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Yakima Man Who Used Snapchat and Instagram to Solicit Minors Sentenced to 22 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Bryan Christopher Stevenson, 43, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to soliciting minors to send him sexually explicit content. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Stevenson to 22 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, between October 2020 and August 2022, Stevenson used social media to communicate with at least eight minors, living in three different states, who law enforcement could identify. Stevenson offered to send money to some minors in exchange for pictures and videos of the minors performing sexual acts. In several instances, Stevenson used different personas on Snapchat and Instagram, including by pretending to be a minor female and teenage boy, to communicate with his victims and to encourage them to send him explicit pictures and videos. In one case, Stevenson contacted a minor, and claimed he had nude videos of the minor. Stevenson threatened to send the videos to the minor’s parents and members of their church unless they provided him with additional videos. Investigators reviewing Stevenson’s iPad found 172 images and 45 videos of minors, including one victim who was between 4 and 6 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct and being sexually abused. “Mr. Stevenson’s conduct was predatory, calculated, and devastating in its impact on vulnerable children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rich Barker. “He used the anonymity of social media to deceive, manipulate, and harm young victims across multiple states. His actions underscore the dangers children face online and the lasting trauma these crimes inflict. To those who use technology to target and exploit children, you will face serious consequences. I strongly urge parents, guardians, and community members to remain vigilant in monitoring their children’s social media activities and to engage in open conversations about online safety.” Acting U.S. Attorney Barker continued, “While Social media companies are posting record profits; far too many families are coping with the devastating impact of online exploitation. Social media companies like Snapchat and Instagram have the responsibility to do more to ensure their products do not endanger the most vulnerable members of our communities.” “Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder that those who exploit and terrorize children through threats and manipulation will be held fully accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy. “This subject’s deliberate actions inflicted lasting trauma on vulnerable victims. Today’s outcome reflects HSI’s relentless commitment to protecting children and ensuring that predators are identified, apprehended, and prosecuted – no matter where they operate or how they hide.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Yakima Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Murphy. 1:23-cr-02071-MKD


title: Twice Convicted Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island man who was previously convicted twice and incarcerated for drug trafficking admitted to a federal judge today that, after completing his second term of incarceration and while on federal supervised release, he arranged multiple times to have packages containing cocaine shipped to Rhode Island from Columbia, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Levys Tovar, 43, a former United Parcel Service (UPS) employee, used his position at UPS to attempt to locate and intercept one of the packages prior to it being sent out for a delivery to a non-existent address in Central Falls. Prior to attempting to intercept the package, Tovar tracked the package from his residence approximately 41 times. Unbeknownst to Tovar, the package had been intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol after it was found to contain slightly over 200 grams of cocaine secreted inside a piece of machinery. Further investigation determined that Tovar had other packages sent to various addresses in Rhode Island from Columbia, including one that was intercepted in Columbia that was found to contain approximately 850 grams of cocaine, and another that contained just over 300 grams of cocaine stashed inside an old television set. According to information presented to the court, Tovar arranged for others to ship to him more than two kilograms of cocaine. Tovar pleaded guilty today, as charged by indictment in February 2023, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court records, Tovar was convicted in federal court in 2004 of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin, and again in 2011on a charge of attempt to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. The current case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson, with the assistance of Christine D. Lowell. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Northeast Corridor Border Enforcement Team; Custom and Border Protection; and the Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence, and Warwick Police Departments. ###


title: Ohio Man Loses Nearly Half a Million Dollars in Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

body_text: CLEVELAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio (USAO) has filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against 679,981.22 Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency suspected of being fraudulently obtained as part of an investment scam. USDT are digital tokens that are circulated through the internet and tied to, or “tethered,” to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar. The USDT amount in the complaint is valued at $679,981.22, at a 1:1 ratio to the dollar. According to court documents, on July 22, 2024, a woman using the name “Kristina Tian” contacted a victim located in Solon, Ohio, through the LinkedIn online professional networking platform. The two began messaging and became friendly with one another. Tian then suggested to move their conversation to the WhatsApp messaging platform where they continued to communicate. She then steered the conversation toward her successes in cryptocurrency to gain the victim’s interest. Prior to being contacted by Tian, the victim already had a cryptocurrency account through the Kraken exchange. While corresponding with Tian, he sent her screenshots of his investment holdings to prove that he had a significant amount of funds to invest. In total, he transferred approximately $500,000 of his money to his Kraken account. Tian then instructed him to transfer his Kraken cryptocurrency to an investment platform that the victim did not know was fraudulent. Following his initial investment, the victim requested that a portion of the first deposit be returned. Once that transaction was successful, he felt comfortable to proceed with investing more money. However, around this time, the FBI intervened. FBI agents informed the Solon man that they were investigating investment fraud schemes, and they believed he was a victim. After learning about the scam, the victim confronted Tian through WhatsApp. She responded with a series of mocking messages such as, “I feel for you. But thank you for you giving me half of your savings,” and “Lol, I enjoyed it and thank you for the money so I can find more. Glad to use your life savings.” Investigators also identified a second victim of the underlying cryptocurrency fraud scam. The female victim was a resident of Arizona who met a man on a dating app, “Coffee Meets Bagel.” After some time spent messaging through the app and building trust, the man suggested that she invest in cryptocurrencies. The victim made an initial purchase of cryptocurrency through Crypto.com and then transferred the full amount to the fraudulent investment platform that the man recommended. Later, the victim was unable to retrieve her funds. The Arizona woman lost $63,000 to the investment fraud scheme. This included $15,000 that she cashed out from her 401(k) retirement account, and another $48,000 from a home equity loan that her daughter took out and had given to her to invest. Because many virtual currencies record their transactions on publicly accessible digital ledgers known as a blockchain, investigators were able to conduct analysis for signs of fraudulent activity. They ultimately traced a portion of the funds stolen from the two victims to two cryptocurrency addresses on the Tron blockchain. Further investigation revealed that the stolen currency had been converted to the USDT virtual currency. By the complaint in forfeiture filed on June 2, 2025, the United States seeks to forfeit the entire 679,981.22 in USDT cryptocurrency. In the complaint, the United States alleges that the funds contained in the two cryptocurrency addresses in excess of the victims’ traceable losses also are proceeds of fraud and, accordingly, are subject to forfeiture. Additionally, the complaint alleges that such other funds were involved in money laundering violations. The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. The United States must prove the claims by a preponderance of evidence. If successful in this forfeiture action, the United States would seek to return the stolen funds to the victims. This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James L. Morford for the Northern District of Ohio. The case is part of the FBI’s initiative against cryptocurrency fraud scams perpetrated on victims throughout the United States, including the Northern District of Ohio. To report fraudulent conduct involving older adults, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov to submit a report. complaint_in_forfeiture_6-2-25_0.pdf


title: Wareham Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Wareham man has been indicted for allegedly possessing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Brandon Bendall, 49, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. He was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on May 2, 2028 . According to court documents, Bendall was allegedly a member of an online chat group in which members viewed and posted CSAM. During a search of Bendall’s residence and cell phone, approximately 9,400 images and videos of CSAM, including images of children as young as infants being sexually assaulted, were allegedly located. The charges of receipt and possession of child pornography each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Wareham, Marion and East Bridgewater Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal alien sentenced for stealing U.S. citizen’s identity

body_text: HOUSTON – A 42-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for fraudulently using a passport and identification belonging to a U.S. citizen, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Carlos Bedolla Sanchez pleaded guilty March 18. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Sanchez to serve 16 months for fraudulently using a passport and 24 months for using the identification of a U.S. citizen. The sentences will run consecutively. At the hearing, the court heard additional information that Sanchez was previously convicted for two felony drug charges under the U.S. citizen’s identity and received 12 months for violating his term of supervised release to be served concurrently. Not a U.S. citizen, Sanchez is expected to face removal proceedings following his 40-month-term of imprisonment. In imposing the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the offense and that his previous penalties did not do enough good or make him repentant. On May 19, 2022, Sanchez attempted to renew a passport he received in 2009 using the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen born in Puerto Rico. As part of the scheme, he submitted passport applications using the victim’s name, Social Security number, date of birth and birthplace, and falsely certified that he was a U.S. citizen or non-citizen national. The investigation revealed Sanchez began using the victim’s identity in approximately March 2009 to obtain state driver’s licenses and other U.S. identification, including a passport. He later admitted to making a false statement in the application and use of passport and aggravated identity theft. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: Summerville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon Violation

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

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Mark Lee Frasier, 33, of Summerville, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a in possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction. Evidence presented in court showed that on Feb. 7, 2023, Charleston Police officers encountered Frasier while patrolling a high-crime area. He was parked in front of an abandoned building, and officers saw what appeared to be a bag of cocaine inside the vehicle. When Frasier noticed police, he fled in the car until he reached a dead-end street. Frasier ran but was quickly apprehended. A search of the vehicle uncovered 9.31 grams of cocaine in the center console, 3.62 grams of crack cocaine on the driver’s floorboard, 15 methamphetamine pills, and a marijuana blunt. Officers also recovered a stolen .40 caliber pistol from the driver’s seat where Frasier had been sitting. Because of prior felony convictions, Frasier is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He was also eligible for a sentencing enhancement due to prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. At the time of this arrest, Frasier was out on bond for state charges including murder, attempted murder, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a pistol. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Frasier to 20 years imprisonment as part of a negotiated agreement between the parties to be followed by five years of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after Deportation

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler, U.S. District Judge, has sentenced a Mexican man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on June 2, 2025. Anselmo Flores-Nava, 35, was sentenced to time served, which was approximately four months. Flores-Nava is a non-citizen of the United States and a Mexican national. Flores-Nava was deported from the United States to Mexico in 2016. Flores-Nava was found back in the United States in January of 2025. Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal felony crime. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Flores-Nava was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service as he awaits removal action.


title: Dark Web Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: Holly Adams, 35, of Palm Desert, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 12 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and to launder the resulting proceeds, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Adams and her co-conspirator Devlin Hosner generated hundreds of thousands of dollars selling counterfeit oxycodone pills pressed with fentanyl on the dark web. Adams and Hosner laundered the proceeds using cryptocurrency mixers, wallets, and other online tools. In September 2021, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at an address where Adams and Hosner were residing. After officers announced their presence, Hosner attempted to impede their entry while Adams destroyed pills by pouring them into a chemical solution. Adams and Hosner were arrested and subsequently released by state authorities and resumed selling fentanyl on the dark web a few months later while they were unknowingly under investigation by federal law enforcement agents. In March 2022, federal law enforcement executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Riverside County where Adams and Hosner were temporarily residing. Officers seized nearly a kilogram of fentanyl-pressed oxycodone pills and 60 grams of methamphetamine from this hotel room. This case is the product of an investigation by the Northern California Illicit Digital Economy (NCIDE) Task Force, which includes agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The NCIDE Task Force is a federal task force focused on targeting all forms of illicit dark web and cryptocurrency activity in the Eastern District of California and beyond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case. Hosner faces the same charges as Adams and remains detained pending trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 19, 2025, before Judge Mendez.


title: Leader of Drug Organization That Trafficked Narcotics Shaped Like Candy Sentenced to Nearly Two Decades in Prison

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced on May 30, 2025 in federal court in Boston for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) on the North Shore of Massachusetts. In November 2023, millions of doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder with street value estimated to be over $7 million, were seized from a stash location and clandestine laboratory used by organization. Emilo Garcia, a/k/a “Six,” 27, of Lynn, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 18 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In February 2025, Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Garcia was charged in November 2023 along with co-conspirators Sebastien Bejin and Deiby Felix. The defendants were later indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023. In July 2023, an investigation into an overdose death in Salem led investigators to a DTO led by Garcia, Felix and Bejin. On Nov. 1, 2023, searches were conducted at four locations in Lynn that were identified as locations frequented by Garcia and Bejin. The searches resulted in what is believed to be, one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and the region. The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy. Additional narcotics and five firearms were also seized. During the course of the investigation over 75 kilograms (198 pounds) of fentanyl and methamphetamine was seized, along with multiple additional kilograms of cocaine and dozens of kilograms of cutting agents, including xylazine, that is used to adulterate controlled substances. In total, an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder was seized. The street value is believed to be upwards of $8 million. A search of Felix’s residence resulted in the seizure of more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl and a firearm. A subsequent search of the residence also revealed a clandestine drug laboratory that had been built into a small room in the basement. Multiple industrial pill presses, mixing equipment and other manufacturing paraphernalia and equipment were also recovered. In May 2025 , Bejin was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Felix pleaded guilty in February 2025 and is awaiting sentencing. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and the Lynn, Lynnfield and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Managers of El Dorado Hills Company SweepsCoach Plead Guilty to Operating an Illegal Gambling Business

body_text: James Mecham, 57, of Orem, Utah; Kurt Stocks, 49, of El Dorado Hills; and Heidi Edwards, 58, of El Dorado Hills; pleaded guilty today to operating an illegal gambling business, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards managed a series of businesses, collectively known as SweepsCoach, that engaged in and facilitated illegal gambling at locations throughout the United States, including in California and Arizona. SweepsCoach was based in El Dorado Hills. Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards marketed the SweepsCoach gaming operation and entered into agreements with internet cafés for access to the SweepsCoach portal throughout the Eastern District of California and Arizona. The defendants helped the cafés set up gaming terminals in California and Arizona and provided technical service. Players used credits to play slot machine-style games on a video screen and could potentially win additional credits, which could be exchanged for money at the internet café. Internet gambling of this form is illegal under California and Arizona laws. SweepsCoach clients would directly deposit the cash owed from the illegal gaming into bank accounts controlled by the defendants. Undercover law enforcement operations at several internet cafés in California and Arizona confirmed the use and conduct of SweepsCoach games. Between Jan. 1, 2012, and Nov. 7, 2017, approximately $14 million in gaming proceeds was deposited into accounts controlled by Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards. The gross gaming receipts from California and Arizona totaled approximately $11 million. This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control, and the California Franchise Tax Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko Coppola is prosecuting the case. Mecham, Stocks, and Edwards are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Oct. 21, 2025. Each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.