title: TALLAHASSEE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TRANSPORTING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Charles Eric Love, 56, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting child pornography using a means or facility of interstate commerce. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who tracked down this disgusting criminal so my office could bring him to justice on behalf of the innocent children who were exploited and sexually abused in the thousand of image and videos of child sexual abuse material that he possessed. These crimes are truly abhorrent and my office will continue to prosecute the predators like this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.” Court documents reflect that on March 19, 2025, detectives with the Tallahassee Police Department received seven cyber tips by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. On March 28, 2025, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s Dropbox account, and on April 4, 2025, search warrants were executed at Love’s apartment, house, and office. Multiple electronic devices were seized. A subsequent forensic analysis of the seized devices and online accounts identified over 1,000 of images and video files containing child pornography. Love faces a mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment and up to twenty years’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervision upon release. The case involved a joint investigation by Tallahassee Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: CHIPLEY-BASED PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE PAYS OVER $750,000 TO RESOLVE FALSE CLAIMS ACT LITIGATION

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, LLC; Chipley Physical Therapy, LLC; Ruben Laurel; and Lorrie Laurel have agreed to pay $754,722.88 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”) by knowingly causing the submission of false claims for physical therapy services allegedly performed by Lorrie Laurel, a physical therapist, while she was outside the United States, announced U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “I am incredibly proud of the great work by my office to recover these U.S. taxpayer monies that were improperly paid out for false claims submitted by this physical therapy practice. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have made the elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs a top priority, and my office will continue to zealously pursue any person or business who tries to rip off the U.S. Government and steal from the U.S. taxpayer.” Defendant Chipley Physical Therapy, LLC provides outpatient physical and aquatic therapy services in Chipley, Marianna, and Bonifay, and is owned and operated by Defendants Ruben and Lorrie Laurel. Defendant Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy is a physical/occupational therapy group in private practice owned and operated in part by Defendant Ruben Laurel. The United States alleged that Defendants knowingly submitted false claims for payment in violation of the False Claims Act by billing the government for services while Defendant Lorrie Laurel was out of the country and on cruises in Mexico, Jamaica, Aruba, and the Bahamas between July 2019 and March 2024. Specifically, Defendants submitted 503 claims for payment to the United States for services Defendant Lorrie Laurel allegedly performed while she was abroad. The FCA provides for the award of treble damages and civil penalties for, among other things, knowingly presenting or causing the presentment of false or fraudulent claims to the United States for payment or approval. 31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1)(A). To resolve the pending litigation, Defendants agreed to pay treble damages and penalties, in the amount of $754,722.88, of which $19,988.34 is restitution. As part of the resolution, Defendants also agreed to: (1) appoint and maintain an external Compliance Officer for a period of three years who will submit periodic reports to the United States; (2) develop and implement policies and procedures regarding appropriate billing and medical record documentation for compliance with Federal health care program requirements; (3) require quarterly training for all employees on Federal health care program billing, coding and claim submission, and medical record documentation requirements; and (4) the imposition of additional stipulated penalties for failure to comply with any of the aforementioned non-monetary terms. “Submitting claims for services that could not have been performed is a blatant abuse of federal health care programs and undermines the trust patients place in the system,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ricardo M. Carcas of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Today’s resolution reflects our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer funds and ensure accountability for those who knowingly submit false claims.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Ariel Bowen, a former employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is United States ex rel. Ariel Bowen v. Absolute Physical & Aquatic Therapy, LLC, et al. , Case No. 5:21-cv-236-TKW-MJF (N.D. Fla.). Ms. Bowen will receive $150,944.58 in connection with the settlement. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided substantial assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on January 20, 2026. Louis Leroy Butcher, 58, was sentenced to one year and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Butcher was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 14, 2025. Butcher was previously convicted of a federal sex offense. Because of his prior conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Butcher was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current with officials within the county in which he resided. Nonetheless, from late July through August 2025, Butcher knowingly failed to register and update his registration. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case. Butcher was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Investiture Ceremony for United States Attorney Moore Capito

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The investiture ceremony for Moore Capito, United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Capito will be joined by United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito, United States Senator James Conley Justice II, members of the Judiciary, and distinguished guests and family to celebrate his appointment. He will also outline his visions and goals for the Southern District of West Virginia and the importance of serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District. This is the formal, public swearing-in ceremony for U.S. Attorney Capito, who was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on June 30, 2025. The United States Senate confirmed Capito on October 7, 2025. WHAT: Investiture Ceremony for Moore Capito as United States Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia WHEN: Friday, January 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. WHERE: Seventh Floor Ceremonial Courtroom, Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, 300 Virginia Street, East, Charleston NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (Such as a driver’s license) and valid media credentials. Media are to enter the courthouse via the Goshorn Street loading dock, across the street from the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. Media may begin arriving at 2 p.m. and must have cameras set by 2:30 p.m. Media should RSVP to USAWVS.Ceremony@usdoj.gov . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: El Paso Doctor Enters $200,000 Settlement Following State and Federal Fraud Allegations

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – Dr. Brian August, located in El Paso, has agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act, the False Claims Act, and the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act. The allegations involved the issuance of 255 controlled substance prescriptions to 15 individuals between Dec. 23, 2017, and May 22, 2021. These included various prescriptions for the Schedule II controlled substances morphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydromorphone extended release; oxycodone hydrochloride extended release, tapentadol, oxymorphone; and the Schedule IV controlled substances carisoprodol, zolpidem, clonazepam, alprazolam, and tramadol. The United States alleged Dr. August issued individual and concurrent prescriptions for these controlled substances to 15 individuals without complying with the minimum requirements imposed on Texas physicians in treating patients for pain or chronic pain conditions; documenting a legitimate medical purpose; demonstrating medical necessity for such prescriptions; and demonstrating the prescriptions were issued in the usual course of professional practice. The United States and Texas further contended August violated the False Claims Act and the Texas Health Care Fraud Prevention Act as the 15 individuals referenced above were beneficiaries of the Medicare Part D and/or Texas Medicaid programs. As these prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose, they were not eligible for reimbursement by either program. The $200,000 being paid by August includes $994.22 in restitution to the Texas Medicaid Program and $44,380.55 in restitution to the Medicare Part D program. The remainder constitutes civil damages under the FCA, the THCFPA, and civil penalties under the CSA. August previously surrendered his DEA registration and will not seek a new registration. Further, August has affirmatively surrendered his license to practice medicine in the State of Texas as a condition of settlement; his license was previously suspended by the Texas Medical Board during the pendency of this matter. The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the Texas Office of the Attorney General. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eduardo Castillo investigated the matter, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Van De Walle settling it. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Hampton felon sentenced to three years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm

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

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 8, 2025, Newport News Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jermain Antonio Bernard, 41, for driving at night without using headlights. An officer smelled alcohol as he approached the vehicle and observed that Bernard’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and the officer called for backup to administer a field-sobriety test. During the traffic stop, the officer observed a firearm near Bernard. When the officer told Bernard he could see the firearm, Bernard fled in his vehicle. Bernard eventually stopped his vehicle and fled on foot. After a brief chase, police found Bernard knocking on a door to an apartment and arrested him. Officers then recovered the loaded handgun from Bernard’s vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Bernard had approximately 24 previous convictions, including for firearms charges. As a convicted felon, Bernard cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Newport News Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Coleman 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 protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-47.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tracy Don Jackson Jr., 23, of St. Albans, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to one year and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Charleston residence where they encountered Jackson sleeping on a couch in the living room. Officers found a quantity of a heroin-fentanyl mix and a Glock model G48 9mm pistol between the arm of the couch and the couch cushion underneath Jackson. As part of his guilty plea, Jackson admitted that he possessed the drugs and intended to distribute them within the Southern District of West Virginia. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-98. ###


title: Guatemalan national pleads guilty to illegally reentering United States

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Guatemalan man who was twice convicted in Warren County of sex crimes involving minors pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally reentering the United States. Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) agents learned of a warrant from Guatemala for the arrest of William Noe Cuellar Montufa for homicide. Cuellar Montufa, 39, was illegally residing in Cincinnati and was arrested in Colerain Township, Ohio, on Oct. 29. “This defendant illegally reentered the country after being deported following his convictions for sex crimes and is now wanted for murder in Guatemala,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The identification, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal illegal aliens like Cuellar Montufa is essential to protect our communities, and my office will continue aggressively to pursue these cases.” Court documents detail that U.S. Border Patrol intelligence agents alerted the Cincinnati HSTF to Cuellar Montufa’s potential presence in the area and described vehicles possibly associated with the defendant. Further investigation by the HSTF agents led them to surveil Cuellar Montufa’s residence, where one of the associated vehicles was located. He was subsequently apprehended. The defendant was convicted in Warren County in January 2006 for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and in September 2007 for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Cuellar Montufa was deported in 2008 following his terms of incarceration. 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. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the guilty plea entered on Jan. 21 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Fifth Defendant in Sports Betting Fraud Ring Sentenced

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – The last of five Mid-South men, LaVonte Holmes , who executed a sports betting fraud scheme between 2022 and 2024, was sentenced to prison on January 20, 2026. According to information presented in Court, the defendants purchased both stolen personal identifying information—including dates of birth and social security numbers—and bank account information off the internet to create and fund fraudulent sports betting accounts on multiple sports betting smartphone applications in order to earn account opening incentives multiple times over. In addition to conducting the scheme in the Western District of Tennessee, the ring would travel to other states to perpetrate the fraud as well. All five defendants pled guilty to aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A and unauthorized use of an access device in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2) and were sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Lucas Gilliam , 25 , was sentenced to 36 months. LaVonte Holmes , 24 , was sentenced to 30 months. Lawrence Williams , 22 , was sentenced to 15 months. Nathan Penaflor , 23 , was sentenced to 6 months. Joshua Penaflor , 22 , was sentenced to 6 months. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "With new and ever-changing technology, applications, and platforms, criminals are using more creative and disturbing ways to commit fraud against vulnerable victims, including identity theft. For these thieves, their bets did not pay off, and were instead parlayed into prison sentences.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency and the United States Secret Service, Memphis Field Office. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Owner of Defunct Prenatal Care Coordination Company Sentenced to 111 Months’ Imprisonment for Healthcare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 20, 2026, Precious Cruse (32), was sentenced to 111 months’ incarceration for committing a Healthcare Fraud Scheme through which she stole $780,600.07 from a Medicaid benefit meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young children. On September 22, 2025, a federal jury convicted Cruse of nine counts of healthcare fraud, two counts of false statements related to healthcare matters, two counts of violating the anti-kickback statute, one count of money laundering, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. In announcing the sentence, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper focused on the “significant and extensive” evidence of Cruse’s guilt. Chief Judge Pepper described the evidence as “overwhelming” and noted the significant impact that Cruse’s scheme had on both the taxpayers and the people she was supposed to help. Chief Judge Pepper explained that the significant sentence of incarceration was necessary to account for the seriousness of Cruse’s conduct and to send a message of deterrence to others considering engaging in fraud against hard-working taxpayers. In addition to the 111-month period of incarceration, Chief Judge Pepper issued a money judgment of forfeiture in the amount of $780,600.07 and ordered Cruse to pay restitution to Medicaid in the same amount. “The lengthy prison sentence and immediate remand of the defendant into custody are clear messages to anyone who steals from social service programs designed to help our most vulnerable neighbors: we are coming after you and you will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Brad Schimel. “The investigators from the FBI and prosecutors from the Office of the United States Attorney did amazing work to bring this defendant to justice.” "Healthcare fraud schemes that exploit federal programs erode public trust and steal from the American people. Precious Cruse defrauded taxpayers and diverted resources that were meant to provide assistance to those who need it most, pregnant women and children,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI will continue to work aggressively with our partners to combat and prevent healthcare fraud.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kate M. Biebel prosecuted the case. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Criminal Division’s Fraud Section Announces Historic Year of Accomplishments

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Fraud Section today released its 2025 Year in Review (YIR) detailing the Section’s record-setting accomplishments, cutting-edge initiatives, and successes in priority areas. “The outstanding results reflected in this year’s Year in Review are a testament to the extraordinary skill, dedication, hard work, and professionalism of our prosectors and staff in the Fraud Section,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The importance of this work cannot be overstated. The cases brought by this Section secured punishment for criminals who swindled from businesses, exploited and abused government-funded programs, engaged in corrupt conduct, put the health and safety of Americans at risk, evaded tariffs, and preyed on private citizens – often robbing some of our most vulnerable of their life savings. Equally important, the tireless efforts of these dedicated public servants secured justice and restitution for victims and, ultimately, returned significant funds to the tax-paying public. As we start 2026, the achievements of the past year motivate us to continue the Section’s long and storied history of investigating and prosecuting the most sophisticated and most harmful economic crimes.” The YIR provides a comprehensive overview of the Section and its units’ roles in combatting new and emerging threats and re-affirms its position as the leader in the fight against white-collar crime. As detailed in the YIR, the Fraud Section had a record-setting 2025, including the largest ever Health Care Fraud Takedown in Department of Justice history, charging defendants with a record amount of intended loss of more than $14.6 billion. The Section also continued to lead the Department’s corporate enforcement efforts with 15 corporate enforcement actions, including indictments against three companies, marking the Section’s first corporate indictments in over 15 years and the most corporate indictments in a single year. Furthermore, through its innovative and proactive use of data analytics, the Section secured key achievements in priority areas, such as fraud associated with foreign issuers listed on U.S. exchanges, including variable interest entities and trade and tariff fraud . The Section prosecuted impactful Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases against companies and individuals, consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s June 2025 Guidelines for Investigations and Enforcement of the FCPA . In total, the Section charged over 260 defendants for various economic crime schemes, conducted 25 trials, and had 15 corporate enforcement actions — including four involving health care fraud, a record — with a total global monetary amount of over $1 billion. The YIR also highlights the Fraud Section’s historic expansion through the integration of the Consumer Protection Branch. Now, with more than 200 attorneys, the Section has strengthened its capacity to prosecute serious, sophisticated white-collar offenses across multiple priority areas, including those impacting health and safety. The Fraud Section remains laser-focused on its ongoing efforts to prosecute fraud in every form, from customs and tariff fraud, bribery and corruption, health care fraud, procurement fraud, and other crimes impacting the interests of the United States. Seventy years after the Fraud Section’s creation, the YIR illustrates the many ways in which the Section continues to meet the challenges of the moment and innovate to successfully investigate and prosecute the ever-changing landscape of white-collar crime. The YIR can be accessed here: https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1425226/dl .


title: Unhoused Woman Faces Federal Charges in Albuquerque Warehouse Arson

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An unhoused woman is facing federal charges in connection with the arson of a commercial storage warehouse in Albuquerque. According to court records, on October 14, 2024, Samantha Lee , 41, allegedly set fire to a storage warehouse used by the Crowne Plaza Hotel and The Querque Hotel on Menaul Blvd NE in Albuquerque. Lee is charged with one count of arson. She will remain in custody pending trial, which is currently scheduled for February 10, 2026. If convicted of the current charges, Lee faces no less than five and up to 20 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Shawn Stallo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler is prosecuting the case. If you have any information relating to this matter or other crimes committed by Lee , please contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or ATFTips@atf.gov . View the Indictment (Lee).pdf An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Newport News pair sentenced to prison for firearms conspiracy

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A mother and son were sentenced to prison on Jan. 20 for their roles in a conspiracy to deal firearms without a license. According to court documents, Devonte Jermaine Kelley, 24, and Lalita Jane Owens, 45, both of Newport News, used Armslist, an online marketplace for arranging private firearms sales, and other avenues to facilitate and negotiate illegal firearms transactions. During the conspiracy, Kelley was involved in the dealing of 23 firearms with a value of at least $12,117.24. Owens purchased 16 of the 23 firearms before Kelley’s 21st birthday when he could not legally purchase handguns. Kelley and Owens made false statements on federal forms attesting to being the actual transferees and buyers of the firearms during purchases from licensed firearms dealers. Law enforcement agencies connected several firearms purchased by Kelley and Owens that were seized or used in crimes involving associates of Kelley, some of whom are affiliated with the Walk Down Gang, formerly known as Warwick Lawnz. Kelley pled guilty on Aug. 21, 2025, and was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. Owens pled guilty on Aug. 26, 2025, and was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Podlesni and Peter Osyf 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 protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-34.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to More than 13 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Justin Saunders, 28, of Charleston, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to 13 years and nine months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 3, 2024, Saunders sold approximately 896 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential source. Saunders admitted to the transaction and that it occurred at his residence on the 1400 block of Quarrier Street in Charleston. On February 4, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Saunders’ residence and additionally seized over 14 pounds of methamphetamine, a kilogram of substances containing fentanyl, two pistols, and $35,258. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh prosecuted the case. Co-defendant Jardan Donaldson, 37, of Mount Clemens, Michigan, was sentenced on December 9, 2025, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-70. ###


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARCOS ISMALEJ IXPANCOC, also known as Marcos Hernandez Lopez and Jose Ernandez, 39, a citizen of Guatemala recently residing in Stamford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 30 days of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2006, Ixpancoc was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He identified himself to U.S. Border Patrol as Marcos Hernandez Lopez, claimed to be a citizen of Mexico, and was issued a voluntary return to Mexico. In August 2012, Ixpancoc was again apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He identified himself as Jose Ernandez and claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala. He was removed to Guatemala in September 2012. In June 2023, Ixpancoc submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) an application for legal permanent residency and work authorization under his true name and listed a home address in Stamford. The fingerprints that USCIS collected in connection with those applications matched those collected when he was apprehended and removed under the names Marcos Hernandez Lopez and Jose Ernandez in 2006 and 2012. These applications, which Ixpancoc signed under penalty of perjury, contained several false statements. On November 1, 2025, Ixpancoc was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations. He pleaded guilty to illegal reentry on December 4. Ixpancoc, who has been detained since his arrest, will be removed to Guatemala when he completes his prison term. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Illegal alien sentenced for gun trafficking in Eastern District of Texas

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Abigael Colin Saldana, 28, pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on January 21, 2026. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2021, Saldana, who is a Mexican national illegally living in Royse City, was part of a firearms trafficking conspiracy responsible for trafficking firearms from Texas to Mexico. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ##


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office collects more than $8.1 million in civil and criminal actions in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Southern District of Illinois collected $8,125,957.90 in criminal and civil actions in FY 25, announced U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. Of this amount, $3,937,603 was collected in criminal actions and $4,188,354.34 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the Southern District of Illinois worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $367,003.26 in jointly pursued cases. Of this amount, $267,714.26 was collected in criminal actions and $87,289 was collected in civil actions. “Collecting restitution and other debts is a vital component of the Department of Justice’s mission,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Thanks to efforts by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the Financial Litigation Unit and the asset recovery team in southern Illinois, we have prioritized collections on debts owed to crime victims and the U.S.” In the largest civil settlement in FY 25, the Southern District of Illinois finalized a deal to recover $3.5 million to resolve allegations from an Alaskan-based transportation company Denali Group, Inc. regarding violations to the False Claims Act. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the Southern District of Illinois, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $520,888 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 25. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.


title: Passaic County Man Sentenced to 144 Months for Fentanyl Analogue Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracies

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County man was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment for his role as a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Defendant William Panzera, 53, of North Haledon, New Jersey was previously convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy by a jury in Newark, New Jersey. U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. Eight other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in the case and are awaiting sentencing. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From approximately January 2014 through September 2020, William Panzera and other members of the drug trafficking organization agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine. Members of the conspiracy placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl analogues. In total, they imported over a metric ton of fentanyl related substances and other drugs into the United States. They also sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using wire transfers and Bitcoin to pay for the drugs. In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Panzera to 5 years of supervised release. Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello of the New Jersey U.S. Attorney’s Office and Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) – Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New Jersey, New York, and Kentucky, HSI in Philadelphia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra of the Criminal Division in Newark and Trial Attorney Stephen Sola, Chief of the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Financial Investigator Kathryn Montemorra of the MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit supported the investigation. The case is being prosecuted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) of the United States Department of Justice. ### Defense counsel: Jeffrey G. Garrigan, Esq.


title: Florida Nursing Assistant Convicted in $11.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, convicted a nursing assistant today for his role in an $11.4 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries were sent thousands of orthotic braces they did not need. “Defendant Chris Cruz blatantly lied to Medicare in order to steal over $11 million from hard-working taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty verdict demonstrates that the Criminal Division remains committed to holding criminals accountable who steal from their fellow citizens to fuel their own greed.” “Nursing Assistant Chris Cruz devised a scheme to enrich himself by defrauding Medicare to the tune of millions of dollars,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not relent in the pursuit of Medicare fraudsters - including greedy nurses.” “Healthcare fraud is not a paperwork offense—it is a crime that steals from seniors and undermines confidence in our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant was a licensed nurse who chose greed over duty, exploiting Medicare beneficiaries through a deliberate $11.4 million fraud scheme. The jury’s verdict makes clear that medical professionals who abuse their positions of trust for personal gain will face serious consequences.” “This brazen scheme stole $11.4 million from Medicare and betrayed taxpayer trust,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG is steadfastly committed to ensuring that medical decisions are driven by patient need rather than financial gain. We will relentlessly pursue those who put greed over patient care and hold them accountable.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, owned and operated a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier based in Florida through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces. Cruz and his co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and then claim payment from Medicare, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor required the braces. Cruz lied to Medicare, claiming that he was the sole owner and operator of the company when in fact he shared ownership in the company with his co-conspirator, a convicted felon. Medicare would not have allowed the company to enroll with Medicare if it had known about Cruz’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator has been charged but remains at large. Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars to his personal bank account from the fraudulent scheme that he frequently withdrew in cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the bank reporting threshold of $10,000. Cruz was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 and faces a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Paulson of the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Cleveland Man Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Prison After Feds Seized Fentanyl and Cocaine in His “Nana’s” Basement

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fentanyl and cocaine drug trafficking ring which he helped operate out of his grandmother’s basement. Darnell Kief Beckham Bell, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 190 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a jury convicted him in September of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began to probe suspected narcotics trafficking—specifically fentanyl— in Northeast Ohio in 2024. On a number of occasions during the investigation, several individuals were observed coming and going from a house on West 137 th Street. During a federal search warrant executed at the residence, Bell was taken into custody after agents found evidence of suspected drug activities in the basement of the home, which belonged to his grandmother. Among the items seized were: Two digital scales with fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine residue A loaded HK .45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition (firearm was later found to be stolen) A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber magazine with ammunition 16 bags of narcotics that contained a total of 403.25 grams of cocaine base, “crack” Two plastic bags that contained 139.31 grams of fentanyl 124.29 grams of a mixture of Xylazine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl 81.76 grams of fentanyl 2.14 grams of cocaine Two credit cards with white powder residue During the trial, evidence presented to the jury included a comment Bell made in jail in which he stated that “no one knew about Nana’s basement.” Two co-conspirators also charged in the superseding indictment—Loundon Hardy, 30, and Kobe Bell- Beckham, 27, both of Cleveland—previously pleaded guilty to related drug conspiracy, distribution and possession charges and are currently awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Marc D. Bullard and Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Amtrak Employees Admit Participating in $11 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Four Amtrak employees admitted participating in a health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Yesterday, Timothy Bogen, 60, of Hamden, Connecticut, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an Indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Between June 2025 and October 2025, Quinton Johnson, 54, of Irvington, New Jersey; Gregory Richardson, 36, of Roosevelt, New York; and Dion Jacob, 51, of Brooklyn, New York also pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo in Newark federal court to the same Indictment. The Indictment also charged six other co-conspirators who previously pleaded guilty to the Indictment between January 2025 and May 2025: Kevin Frink, 54, of Willingboro, New Jersey; Michael Toal, 35, of Hazlet, New Jersey; David McBrien, 37, of Levittown, Pennsylvania; Damany Walker, 42, of Irvington, New Jersey; David Lonergan, 65, of Rockaway Park, New York; and Rodolfo Rivera, 42, of Clayton, Delaware. McBrien, Walker, Frink, and Richardson have each been sentenced to two years’ federal probation, all others are pending sentencing. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From January 2019 through June 2022, Bogen, Johnson, Richardson, Jacob, and their co-conspirators—who were also Amtrak employees—engaged in a scheme to obtain cash kickbacks from health care providers in return for their agreement to allow their health insurance plan to be billed for services that were never provided and were not medically necessary. In total, as a result of the conspiracy, the Amtrak health care plan paid over $11 million in fraudulent claims associated with providers connected to the scheme. Each defendant received thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks from health care providers in return for their participation in the scheme, including from Punson Figueroa, an acupuncturist, and Michael DeNicola, a podiatrist. Figueroa previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced on September 24, 2024 to 34 months in prison. DeNicola previously pleaded guilty on June 29, 2022 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, among other offenses. His sentencing remains pending. The health care fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Bogen’s sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2026, Jacob’s sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2026, and Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2026. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Waters, the Amtrak Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Sam Dotson, and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III in New York, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Ecker, of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit. ### Defense counsel: Michael Rubas, Esq. (for Timothy Bogen) John McMahon, Esq. (for Quinton Johnson) Julian Wilsey, Esq. (for Dion Jacob) Christopher Adams, Esq. (for Gregory Richardson) bogenetal.indictment.pdf


title: Memphis Woman Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs of Over $560,000

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding two federal programs intended to help people survive the COVID-19 pandemic out of over $560,000. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. Deashley Tabor, 37 , was sentenced on January 16, 2026, to 41 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false claims against the U.S. Government. According to information presented in court, Tabor and her co-conspirator defrauded the U.S. Government out of over $560,000 by filing fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits in over 27 different states during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tabor and her co-conspirator also defrauded the federally funded Tennessee Emergency Cash Assistance (ECA) program of approximately $20,000 by creating fake employment termination notices for themselves and others. The ECA program was intended to provide financial assistance to families that had been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because of lost employment. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fraudulent schemes and crimes of dishonesty will be exposed and punished. This case represents our commitment to expose COVID-19 benefit fraud well beyond the pandemic, protect the integrity of the employment assistance system, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victimized agencies." “Deashley Tabor defrauded the U.S. Government and taxpayers in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme that targeted multiple State Workforce agencies, enriching themselves when millions of Americans desperately needed the money,” stated Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “The Office of Inspector General is committed to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program by vigorously pursuing those who commit this type of fraud.” “These individuals exploited a public health emergency to steal money and resources intended for families in need,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This sentencing underscores HHS-OIG’s unwavering commitment, alongside our law enforcement partners, to protect taxpayer dollars and hold accountable those who defraud programs designed to help during times of crisis.” The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Arvin. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Bookkeeper Sentenced To Federal Prison For Embezzlment Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A former bookkeeper from Topton, N.C., was sentenced today to 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for orchestrating an embezzlement scheme that stole $1 million from three businesses, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jeraldine Agnes Geldner, 73, was also ordered to pay $1,131,293.94 in restitution. She previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return. Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office (IRS-CI), and Sheriff Chuck Owenby of the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. According to court records and the sentencing hearing, Geldner worked as a contracted bookkeeper for three small businesses. As part of her duties, Geldner was responsible for handling the businesses’ accounts payable, payroll, and filing of tax returns. From 2019 through 2024, Geldner engaged in a scheme to defraud and embezzle from the businesses, by making unauthorized wire transfers from the companies’ bank accounts to her own personal bank accounts. To conceal the fraud, Geldner created phony vendors and falsified accounting entries in the victim companies’ ledgers. The scheme resulted in a total loss of $975,670.94. Geldner used much of the stolen money to gamble at casinos. According to filed court documents in addition to the embezzlement scheme, Geldner filed false tax returns for tax years 2019 through 2022, that grossly underrepresented the income she received from the embezzlement scheme. The total estimated tax due and owing relative to the unreported income was approximately $155,623. Geldner will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The IRS-CI and the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution.


title: Atlanta heroin kingpin sentenced to federal prison after record-setting seizures

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Antonio DaShawn Daniels, a/k/a “Freckleface Shawn,” a/k/a “Pecas,” who was convicted at trial in June of 2025, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, and for possessing 40 firearms in his Atlanta stash house. “Supplied by the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Daniels’s drug trafficking organization devastated hundred, if not thousands, of lives through its large-scale distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Daniels was one of the largest heroin and fentanyl distributors to ever operate in Georgia, and his conviction and sentencing are the direct result of the tireless efforts of skilled prosecutors, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and our local law enforcement partners.” “This investigation tore apart a drug trafficking network responsible for dealing drugs in communities across the region,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This operation shows what can be accomplished when there is collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies.” “This drug trafficking organization is part of a ruthless criminal network that profits from drugs, guns, and bloodshed,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Daniels was the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that operated from at least August of 2018 until Daniels’s arrest on July 27, 2020. The investigation began in 2019, when federal agents discovered a drug ledger that showed that Daniels had received over 1,000 kilograms of cocaine in an 18-month span, and that Daniels paid over $31 million for it. Agents secured several court-approved wiretaps on Daniels’s phones, enabling them to identify key members of the Daniels organization and discern its large-scale reach. The investigation culminated in a July 27, 2020 takedown that resulted in record-setting drug seizures. Specifically, agents seized approximately 28 kilograms of heroin (17 of which were mixed with fentanyl), six kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of marijuana, and more than $2.1 million in cash inside the apartment in Atlanta where Daniels was arrested. Forty firearms were stashed throughout the apartment, along with kilo-presses, scales, strainers with white powder residue, and a money counter. Agents also searched a residence in Atlanta that served as another stash location for the organization. Inside that home, agents seized over 142 kilograms of heroin, nearly all of which was mixed with fentanyl. At the time of the takedown, this was the largest seizure of heroin in Georgia’s history. Several members of Daniels’s organization have already been sentenced to federal prison. They are as follows: Darryl McCrary, Jr., 52, was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment on August 27, 2025. After a trial by jury, McCrary was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. William Daniels, 41, was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment on June 6, 2024. After pleading guilty, Daniels was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Quinton Oliver, 46, was sentenced to ten years and one month of imprisonment on December 4, 2023. After pleading guilty, Oliver was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Michael Peeker, 57, was sentenced to a year and a half of imprisonment on October 24, 2023. After pleading guilty, Peeker was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Lorene Reeves, 53, was sentenced to four years and nine months of imprisonment on March 16, 2023. After pleading guilty, Reeves was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Niteria Patterson, 37, was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment on October 4, 2022. After pleading guilty, Patterson was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. sentenced Antonio DaShawn Daniels, a/k/a “Freckleface Shawn,” a/k/a “Pecas,” 51, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 40 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On June 13, 2025, a jury convicted Daniels of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance provided by the Doraville Police Department and the DeKalb County Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric White, Sandy Strippoli, and Laurel Milam, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Hartigan and Alison Prout. 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. These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Edwardsville man facing a federal arson charge for igniting an Alton business

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An Edwardsville man is facing a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to an insurance office building in Alton. A federal grand jury charged Jason Dawson, 38, with one count of arson. According to charging documents, Dawson is accused of setting fire to an insurance office building on East Delmar Avenue in Alton on Nov. 22, 2025. The complaint alleges Dawson was upset about the amount for a life insurance policy cashout after a meeting with employees on Nov. 21 and returned to the office the following day to set the building on fire. “The ATF has a responsibility to protect our communities. We also have a responsibility to hold those accountable who endanger lives and property through acts of arson. Our partnership with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Southern District of Illinois did just that. This indictment is a result of diligent investigative work and close collaborations among the ATF, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Attorney’s Office; and we will continue to work together to pursue justice for other cases like this,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Arson convictions are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000. ATF is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson is prosecuting the case.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Guatemalan national has been sentenced for illegally returning to the United States after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. United States District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Lucas Lucas-De Lucas, 36, to 60 months in prison for illegal reentry of a previously deported alien. According to court documents, Lucas has two prior felony convictions for illegal reentry. He was first removed from the United States in May 2012. He was removed again in December 2019, February 2021, and April 2023. 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. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Albertville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Judah prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Inmate Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Edwin Tollinchi-Rodriguez (40, Indiana) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Tollinchi pleaded guilty on September 22, 2025. According to court records, Tollinchi was an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) in Sumter County. On September 5, 2024, a correctional officer conducted a pat-down search of Tollinchi’s person and discovered a package containing a white substance. A DEA laboratory subsequently analyzed the substance and determined it was methamphetamine hydrochloride with a weight of approximately 236.6 grams. When interviewed, Tollinchi told DEA agents that he was asked to collect some prohibited items from a shower at the prison and provide them to others in exchange for $500. Tollinchi also described how the amount of methamphetamine that ordinarily would fit in the lid of a lip balm container would typically sell for $400 inside the prison. This case was investigated by the DEA and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.


title: Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing a Bank with a Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for robbing a local bank with the use of a firearm. Richie E. Manley, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to one count of aiding & abetting bank robbery, along with one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On Oct. 3, 2024, at approximately 10:43 a.m., Richie E. Manley entered a bank in Kansas City, Missouri. While speaking to a bank teller, Manley pulled out a handgun, later determined to be a Smith and Wesson, Model SD, .40 caliber pistol, and told the tellers “give me your money.” While pointing the pistol at the tellers, Manley told the tellers to give him the “hundreds.” The tellers provided the money from the bank drawers and Manley took the money and fled the bank. The bank reported an estimated loss of $2,155 from the robbery. The bank was federally insured by the FDIC. Under federal statutes, Manley is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to life in federal prison without parole. The minimum and maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department (KCPD). Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Moline Woman Sentenced to 139 Months in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Moline woman was sentenced on January 20, 2026, to 139 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Rianne Len Brinker, 36, embezzled $551,961.66 from her employer, located in Bettendorf, over a three-year period from October 2020 to October 2023. As part of the fraud, Brinker applied for a credit account that reimbursed funds to her personal bank account and opened a credit card using the identifiers of her employer. Brinker also registered a fraudulent business with the Illinois Secretary of State in an attempt to legitimize her theft from her employer. In 2008, Brinker was convicted of credit union embezzlement in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Brinker was also convicted in Illinois and Iowa for other theft-related offenses. After completing her term of imprisonment, Brinker will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Brinker was also ordered to pay $534,461.66 in restitution. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Jairon Michael Juarez-Gomez (36, Guatemala) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 18 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and failure to register as a sex offender. Juarez entered a guilty plea on October 22, 2025. According to court documents, Juarez is a citizen and national of Guatemala. He is also a registered sex offender following his 2020 Florida conviction for sexual battery with a child. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) a sex offender is required to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where the offender resides and is employed. On December 29, 2020, Juarez was deported from the United States to Guatemala. Afterward, he illegally returned and began living in the Middle District of Florida. When he did so, he failed to update his sexual offender registration as required by SORNA. On August 8, 2025, law enforcement discovered Juarez during a traffic stop. Juarez provided the officer with a false name and date of birth, but authorities soon confirmed his identity. When interviewed by law enforcement, Juarez eventually admitted that he had unlawfully been in the United States for the previous four years. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Mount Dora Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Former St. Mary Parish Teacher Indicted for Attempting to Entice One of Her Students to Engage in Sexual Activity

body_text: LAFAYETTE – A federal grand jury in Lafayette returned an indictment on December 17, 2025, charging Katherine Albarado with attempted enticement of a minor. Albarado faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the charge. “Protecting Louisiana’s children from abuse by people in positions of trust lies at the heart of our mission to make our Louisiana communities safe,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The people entrusted with our children discharge one of the most sacred responsibilities that exists in our society, and our Office will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who violate that trust.” According to information presented in court, Albarado was a high school teacher in St. Mary Parish in May 2022 when she began using her personal email account to communicate sexually explicit messages with a sixteen-year-old student whom she taught. Over a month’s time, Albarado continually tried to persuade the minor victim to engage in sexual activity with her. In addition to describing the sexual activity she wanted to do with the minor victim, Albarado also sent a video of herself undressing in an attempt to entice the minor. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Morgan City Police Department investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with support from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 6:25-cr-00355. ### CONTACT Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Armed Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Thomas Edgar Hall (36, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger to 14 years in federal prison for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hall pleaded guilty on July 8, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, an undercover detective purchased fentanyl and/or crack cocaine from Hall six times in less than four months. Hall had a firearm either on his lap or within reach for most of the drug transactions. During the last transaction, Hall sold the undercover detective a pistol as well as fentanyl. Approximately one week later, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence where Hall was selling drugs from. In that residence, law enforcement located a safe which contained a shotgun, a rifle, three pistols—one with an extended magazine—and assorted ammunition. The firearms in the safe matched those Hall had possessed during the drug transactions. Law enforcement also located additional sums of fentanyl and items commonly used for selling drugs. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelli Swaney.


title: Sheriff Martin Cuellar indicted for misappropriating funds

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – The current Webb County sheriff and his assistant chief have appeared in federal court for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Laredo residents Martin Cuellar Jr., 67, and Alejandro Gutierrez, 47, have turned themselves in to authorities and have now made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan in Houston. A federal grand jury returned the now unsealed five-count indictment Nov. 19, 2025. It alleges that between 2020 and 2022, Cuellar and Gutierrez conspired with others to misappropriate WCSO funds. According to the indictment, Cuellar, Gutierrez and former assistant chief Ricardo Rodriguez used WCSO staff and resources to run a for-profit disinfecting business during the COVID-19 pandemic. They allegedly opened Disinfect Pro Master in April 2020 and entered into service agreements with local businesses and restaurants despite having no employees or supplies of their own. The indictment alleges WCSO employees handled the company’s day-to-day operations from the sheriff’s office where they picked up schedules and equipment to conduct disinfecting services both on and off the clock with the county. The charges also allege Disinfect Pro Master secured a $500,000 contract to clean United Independent School District schools in Laredo and completed the work using WCSO staff and resources. For more than two years, the business allegedly operated almost entirely with county employees and supplies, incurring minimal overhead. Cuellar, Gutierrez and Rodriguez each received approximately $175,000 – one third of the profits, according to the charges. Cuellar allegedly used part of his proceeds to purchase property in Laredo. If convicted, Cuellar and Gutierrez both face up to 10 years in federal prison, as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Cuellar is additionally charged with money laundering, which carries an additional 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of property involved in the real estate transaction. Rodriguez, 65, Laredo, previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing March 16. He is currently on bond pending that hearing. FBI - San Antonio and Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation as part of the Laredo Border Corruption Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter and Robert Johnson are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Traditions Health Agrees to Pay $34M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Home Health Services Following Self Disclosure

component: Civil Division

body_text: Traditions Health LLC (Traditions) has agreed to pay $34 million to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act for billing medically unnecessary home health claims to Medicare and providing financial benefits to physicians in exchange for referrals. Traditions self-disclosed the conduct at issue to the government. The settlement resolves allegations that, from 2021 to 2024, Traditions submitted claims to Medicare from its McAlester, Oklahoma, location for home health services that were not medically necessary. It also resolves claims that, between 2019 and 2024, Traditions paid remuneration to physician-medical directors in Oklahoma and Texas who referred Medicare beneficiaries to Traditions for home health services and that this remuneration potentially violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Physician Self-Referral Law. The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the provision of remuneration to induce referrals of government health care program business. The Physician Self-Referral Law, commonly known as the Stark Law, prohibits physicians from making referrals for the furnishing of certain designated health services, including home health, payable by Medicare to an entity where the physician has a “financial relationship,” unless the arrangement meets the requirements of a statutory or regulatory exception. Federal law prohibits payment by federal health care programs of medical claims that result from arrangements that violate the Anti-Kickback Statute or the Stark Law. In connection with its self-disclosure, Traditions took a number of significant steps entitling it to credit for cooperating with the government. Following its independent investigation, Traditions provided detailed and thorough written disclosures to the government and cooperated with the government throughout the investigation. Traditions also promptly took remedial actions including removing individuals identified as responsible for the misconduct, improving its compliance program, and providing additional training to its employees. “Home health care is critical to Medicare patients who are unable to leave their homes for treatment,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brenna E. Jenny of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As today’s settlement reflects, when health care providers fail to uphold the rules of the Medicare program, they can mitigate the consequences by making timely self-disclosures, cooperating with the government’s investigation, and promptly taking appropriate remedial measures.” “Billing and receiving payments from Medicare for unnecessary and inappropriate medical care is a practice which cannot and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The disclosure and settlement agreed to by Traditions Health LLC in this case demonstrates that early mitigation goes a long way towards addressing fraud and mitigating the loss of taxpayer dollars.” “Preying on vulnerable patients for financial gain is unacceptable,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Providers who engage in kickbacks and false claims will be held accountable. This resolution reinforces OIG’s commitment to protecting patients, preserving program integrity, and safeguarding taxpayer dollars.” The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and HHS-OIG. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care 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 HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). Fraud Section Trial Attorney Jonathan Hoerner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Mitts for the Eastern District of Oklahoma handled this matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Former Employee Sentenced to Nine Days in Prison for Violating Security Requirements at Philadelphia International Airport

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tiriq Henson, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to nine days’ incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release, by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for helping another person bypass airport security at the Philadelphia International Airport. In September of last year, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of entering an airport area in violation of security requirements. As detailed in court filings, on March 9, 2024, Henson, then employed as a wheelchair assistant at Philadelphia’s airport, aided and abetted the entry of his associate, David Easley, into a secure airport area, permitting Easley to use the defendant’s security badge and credentials to bypass airport security entirely and gain access to the boarding area reserved for screened passengers. Easley pleaded guilty to the same offense in July of last year and was also sentenced to a term of imprisonment. This case was investigated by the FBI, with significant assistance from the Transportation Security Administration and the Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.


title: Twice-Removed Illegal Alien Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Illegal Reentry And Unlawful Firearm Possession

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Aviel Gonzalez-Ruiz, 41, of Mexico, was sentenced today to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to illegal reentry by an alien and unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Justin J. Jacobs of the Murphy Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. According to court records and the sentencing hearing, on April 20, 2025, Gonzalez-Ruiz illegally possessed a firearm which he fired twice into the air at a motel parking lot in Murphy. Law enforcement responding to the incident recovered the firearm from Gonzalez-Ruiz’s motel room. Video surveillance from the motel’s video system shows Gonzalez-Ruiz firing the gun out the window of his car, while other people, including at least two children, were nearby. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Gonzalez-Ruiz had been deported from the United States to Mexico on two occasions: once on or about March 2, 2010, at or near Nogales, Arizona, and again on or about September 24, 2018, at or near Brownsville, Texas. In announcing the sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger noted Gonzalez-Ruiz’s many previous reentries after deportation, and the recklessness of firing a gun into the air near children. Gonzalez-Ruiz remains in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making the announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the ATF, HSI, and the Murphy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 48 Months’ Imprisonment For Firearm Trafficking Offense

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jeremy Shea, age 35, of Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 48 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for one count of firearms trafficking conspiracy. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Shea previously pled guilty to conspiring with three co-defendants to traffic at least three firearms from April of 2022 to on or about July 9, 2024, in Luzerne County, and elsewhere. Shea further admitted that as part of the conspiracy, he picked up three firearms from a hotel room occupied by his brother, Justis Shea, after his brother was arrested on an unrelated case. Jeremy Shea then safeguarded those firearms in his house with the intent to transport, transfer, or otherwise dispose of those firearms to others. While his brother was incarcerated, he directed Jeremy Shea to sell or otherwise dispose of the firearms. When investigators executed a search warrant at the Shea’ house in Glen Lyon, they found an American Tactical AR-style rifle with a Bushell mounted optic, a short-barreled AR-style personally-made firearm with an overall length of less than 16 inches, a .22 caliber EIG model E 15 six-shot revolver, AR-style magazines, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia in Jeremy Shea’s bedroom. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pittston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. # # #


title: Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bringing Gun to Plasma Donation Center

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

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Donovan Jackson, 32, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 18, 2023, employees of a plasma donation center on Decker Blvd. called 911 because Jackson arrived to donate plasma with a firearm inside the front pocket of his sweatshirt. Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the center, detained Jackson, and seized the firearm from his clothing. Jackson has a prior conviction for furnishing contraband to an inmate which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law. He was on probation for this offense at the time of the incident. Jackson also participated in the May 2022 Ceasefire program hosted by the City of Columbia Police Department. The Ceasefire program identifies prior offenders who are at risk of future firearms offenses and introduces them to community resources such as substance abuse treatment and employment services. During participation in the program, law enforcement emphasizes the likelihood of future state and federal prosecution if participants, like Jackson, reoffend. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jackson to 33 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case. ###