title: Merced Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Prison for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

body_text: Richard Charles Thomas Jr., 42, of Merced was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years and eight months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 25, 2020, when a law enforcement officer attempted stop Thomas for a traffic violation, he accelerated and engaged in a high-speed chase through residential streets of Merced. During the chase, he reached speeds of 100 miles per hour, drove on the wrong side of the road, sped past stop signs, and tossed a bag out his car’s window. Law enforcement officers eventually caught Thomas after he abandoned his still-moving car and fled on foot. They also recovered the bag, which contained several thousand dollars in cash and nearly 2 pounds of methamphetamine with 99% purity. This case was the product of an investigation by the Merced Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly A. Sanchez and Cody S. Chapple prosecuted the case.


title: Kentucky Nurse Sentenced to Prison for Opioid Diversion Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Jacqueline Brewster, 55, of Belfry, Kentucky, was sentenced on Thursday, July 3, 2025, to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. According to court documents and statements made in court, Brewster was employed as a travel nurse at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley from September 2021 until February 2022. Brewster admitted that she unlawfully accessed and used individually identifiable health information of patients at Raleigh General Hospital to divert hydromorphone, an opioid, for her personal use. To carry out her diversion scheme, Brewster fraudulently obtained the hydromorphone from automated controlled substance dispensing machines at Raleigh General Hospital. Brewster used her personal biometrics to access the machines and a patient’s individually identifiable health information to begin the process of checking out hydromorphone for that patient. Once the machine’s secure drawer opened, Brewster siphoned off a portion of hydromorphone from its vial and diluted what remained in the vial with another substance to make it appear full. Brewster then canceled or nulled the transaction to conceal her removal of the controlled substances. Brewster admitted that she carried out her scheme to use individually identifiable patient health information and steal hydromorphone under false pretenses and for personal gain many times from on or about September 17, 2021, through on or about February 1, 2022. The West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses has indefinitely suspended Brewster’s privilege to practice nursing in West Virginia. “Ensuring the integrity of the healthcare system is vital, as the diversion of medication within healthcare facilities undermines patient care and exposes patients to undue risk,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “I commend the excellent investigative work of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI) Metro Washington Field Office, and the valuable assistance provided by detectives from the West Virginia State Police and the Kentucky State Police.” “Patients suffering from pain trust their health care providers to provide relief through effective and appropriately dosed medications,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronald Dawkins, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice healthcare professionals who violate their position of trust by diverting their patients’ pain medications for their own use.” Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk sentenced Brewster to two years in prison for obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and to three years in prison for wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information, with those terms to be served consecutively. The Court concluded that Brewster’s criminal conduct warranted an upward variance from the advisory guideline range of four to ten months in prison. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess and former Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds 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. 5:24-cr-104. ###


title: District of Arizona Charges 114 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2025-111_July 4 Immigration Enforcement

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 28, 2025, through July 4, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 114 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 60 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 45 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 7 cases against 8 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged one individual for assaulting a Customs and Border Protection Officer. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Marselino Garcia-Gonzalez : On June 27, 2025, Border Patrol Agents attempted to conduct a stop on Marselino Garcia-Gonzalez while he was driving a vehicle on Arizona Highway 93. Garcia-Gonzalez failed to yield, attempting to flee law enforcement by driving over 106 miles per hour. He eventually slammed on the brakes and stopped in the median of the highway. Three subjects, including Garcia-Gonzalez, then exited the vehicle and ran across the northbound lanes of Highway 93. All three subjects were ultimately apprehended. The two passengers were citizens of Mexico, illegally present in the United States. One of the passengers was an unaccompanied 14-year-old male. Garcia-Gonzalez was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. [Case Number: 25-MJ-01710] United States v. Victor Adolfo Zepeda-Arreola : On July 1, 2025, Victor Adolfo Zepeda-Arreola, was charged by criminal complaint with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. Zepeda-Arreola had been previously removed from the United States in 2023 after being convicted of Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree for Purposes of Sexual Gratification, a felony, in the Superior Court of Arizona, Pima County. [Case Number: 25-MJ-06270] A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-111_July 4 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: United States Files False Claim Act Complaint Against Delaware Medical Provider

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. - Acting United States Attorney Dylan J. Steinberg announced that the United States has filed a civil complaint under the False Claims Act against Dr. Shayasta S. Mufti, a Delaware medical provider, alleging that she caused the submission of false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic laboratory tests. In its complaint, the United States alleges that between April 2019 and November 2019, Dr. Mufti referred more than 100 Medicare beneficiaries for medically unnecessary genetic tests that were paid for by Medicare. To be covered by Medicare, a diagnostic laboratory test, including a genetic test, must be ordered by the physician who is treating the beneficiary for a specific medical problem and who uses the results in the management of that problem. The United States alleges that Dr. Mufti had no medical relationship with the beneficiaries she referred for genetic testing, never examined them, and never used the test results to manage their medical conditions. Her referrals were based on brief telemedicine consultations and, in some instances, no consultation at all. The genetic tests that Dr. Mufti ordered often cost thousands of dollars per patient. “The integrity of our federal healthcare programs, including Medicare, relies on medical providers adhering to professional standards of care and billing accurately for services that are medically necessary for their patients,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “As alleged, Dr. Mufti’s actions violated these critical safeguards, putting taxpayer dollars at risk, draining funds from vital health care programs, and undermining the trust placed in healthcare professionals. We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal partners to hold accountable those who exploit programs designed to help our most vulnerable citizens and ensure that services are provided based on medical need, not financial gain.” “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who allegedly participate in fraud schemes driven by greed and apathy for the laws intended to safeguard Medicare funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We are unwavering in our dedication to ensuring the integrity of federal health care programs.” The investigation and litigation are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob Laksin. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates its 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 the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800 HHS TIPS (800-447-8477). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. A copy of the complaint is attached to this press release. The allegations in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Attachment: mufti_complaint.pdf


title: Stantec Inc. Agrees to Pay $4M to Resolve Allegations That It Violated the False Claims Act by Submitting False Certifications to the EPA in Grant Applications

component: Civil Division

body_text: Stantec Inc. (Stantec) a provider of environmental development and engineering services, with its primary headquarters in Alberta, Canada, along with Cardno Consulting LLC (Cardno), a separate company that Stantec acquired in 2021, have agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting or causing the submission of applications to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Brownfields Assessment Grants that falsely certified compliance with federal procurement regulations. “Applicants for federal grant funds must comply with applicable procurement requirements” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “The department will hold accountable those who undermine the integrity of the federal grant process by falsely certifying compliance with regulations that are designed to prevent unfair competitive advantage.” “The EPA’s Brownfields Grant Program aims to help communities around the country transform contaminated sites into community assets,” said Acting EPA Inspector General Nicole Murley. “Fair competition is critical to the integrity of this program, and the EPA Office of Inspector General will vigorously pursue allegations of false certifications to protect both the program and the taxpayer dollars that fund it.” The EPA Brownfields Grant Program provides grants and technical assistance to cities, towns, and other municipalities to assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. The settlement relates to Assessment Grants the EPA awarded from 2014 to 2022. Applicants for EPA Brownfields grants must certify compliance with a requirement that “contractors that develop or draft specifications, requirements, statements of work, or invitations for bids must be excluded from competing on those procurements.” The United States alleged that, from 2014-2022, Stantec, through its subsidiary Stantec Consulting Services Inc., and Cardno drafted or assisted in the drafting of the requests for proposals and statements of work associated with applications for EPA Brownfields Assessment Grants, and then competed for and won the work for which they had drafted the specifications. The United States alleged that this conduct violated the above requirement and that Stantec and Cardno falsely certified, or caused the communities applying for the grants to certify, that they had complied with it. 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, and the EPA’s Office of Inspector General. The matter was investigated by Trial Attorney Robin Overby of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Special Agent Brian Scriver of the EPA’s Office of Inspector General. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Final Three Members Charged in Prolific Chinese Money Laundering Scheme Plead Guilty to Laundering Tens of Millions in Drug Proceeds

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Two Chinese nationals and a New York woman, all members of a prolific Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO), pleaded guilty today to money laundering charges involving drug trafficking proceeds. They are the last of six total defendants charged in the indictment to plead guilty. According to court documents, Enhua Fang, 38, and Jianfei Lu, 30, both of China, and Shu Jun Zhen, 36, of Staten Island, New York, were members of the CMLO that laundered over $92 million in illicit funds, including proceeds from the importation and distribution of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico. According to court documents, Fang was an organizer within the CMLO who directed a group of couriers to pick up bulk cash proceeds from unlawful activities, including narcotics trafficking, from individuals throughout the United States. The couriers then deposited these illicit funds, which generally exceeded $10,000, into shell company bank accounts controlled by the CMLO in order to conceal the nature of the illicit funds. Fang used multiple cellphones, changing phone numbers regularly, and several encrypted messaging applications to communicate with the CMLO’s foreign-based operatives and U.S.-based drug traffickers. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Fang admitted that she was personally responsible for laundering at least $90 million of illicit funds in less than two years. Fang further admitted that she knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds or funds intended to promote drug trafficking. According to court documents, Lu collected drug trafficking proceeds from U.S.-based drug traffickers and deposited those illicit funds, using both real and fake identities, into shell company bank accounts registered by other members of the CMLO. Lu also served as a manager for the CMLO: he coordinated bulk cash pickups and deposits while Fang was in China and procured fake driver’s licenses for the CMLO’s couriers, which were used to deposit illicit funds at major U.S. banks. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Lu admitted that he had actual knowledge and involvement in the laundering of between $25 million and $65 million in illicit funds. Lu further admitted that he knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, Zhen, at Fang’s and Lu’s direction, picked up and deposited — using both her real and fake identities — nearly $25 million of illicit bulk cash, including drug trafficking proceeds. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Zhen admitted that she knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds or funds intended to promote drug trafficking. Fang and Zhen each pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and one count of monetary transaction involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. Lu pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, two counts of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and two counts of monetary transaction involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and money laundering counts and a maximum of 10 years in prison on each of the monetary transaction counts. A federal district court judge will determine their respective sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. All members of the CMLO charged to date have pleaded guilty, including the three who pleaded guilty on April 30, 2025; as a result, this particularly prolific cell within the CMLO has been completely dismantled. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division, and Criminal Investigation Chief Guy Ficco of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement. The DEA Charlotte District Office and the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office are investigating the case. Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Mingda Hang, Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth, and Trial Attorney Jayce Born of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa for the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.


title: Azumi Limited Restaurants Agree to Pay $3.6M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loans

body_text: Azumi LLC; Zuma NYC LLC; Zuma Las Vegas LLC; Zuma Japanese Restaurant Miami LLC; Inko Nito Garey St. LLC; and Beach Chu Hallandale LLC (collectively, the “Azumi Entities”) have agreed to pay $3,602,423 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible. “PPP loans were intended to assist eligible small businesses during the pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When ineligible businesses improperly obtained loans, they harmed both the taxpayers who funded the program and the eligible businesses who were denied relief.” “The Paycheck Protection Program limits were put in place to prevent large corporate groups from obtaining a disproportionate share of the limited funds that were available to assist small businesses struggling during COVID,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “Our office is committed to holding accountable those who misappropriated taxpayer-funded relief program limits.” The PPP, an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Borrowers were eligible to seek forgiveness of the loans if they spent the loan proceeds on employee payroll and other eligible expenses. In January 2021, SBA announced that certain parties that had previously received PPP loans were eligible to apply for a second loan, typically referred to as a second-draw PPP loan. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications and agree that they would comply with all PPP rules. Among other things, PPP rules limited the total amount of funding a single “corporate group” could receive in connection with both first-draw and second-draw loans. The Azumi Entities are limited liability companies, each of which operates a restaurant in the United States and each of which is either fully or partially owned by Azumi Limited. As part of the settlement, the Azumi Entities admitted that they collectively received and were granted loan forgiveness for second-draw loans in a total amount that exceeded the applicable corporate group limit for second-draw loans. The claims resolved by the resolution announced today include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, 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 captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2 Inc. v. Azumi LLC et al. , No. 22-cv-11822 (D. Mass.). As part of today’s resolution, GNGH2 Inc. will receive approximately $360,000. 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 and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General. This matter was handled by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Kimya Saied and Senior Trial Counsel Benjamin Wei, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julien M. Mundele for the District of Massachusetts. Except for the facts admitted by the Azumi Entities, the claims in the complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Four Michigan Businesses Pay $1.9 Million To Settle Allegations That They Unlawfully Obtained Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced today that the United States has reached civil agreements with four Michigan companies to collectively pay $1,933,448 to settle allegations that the businesses violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by making false statements to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for which the businesses were ineligible. Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to American businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA. Regulations imposed various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including exclusions for borrowers with certain types of criminal histories, particularly those related to financial felonies, such as tax evasion. In their loan applications, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate. Your Fantasy Warehouse, Inc., Ugly Christmas Sweater, Inc., and Costume Agent, Inc. collectively obtained four PPP loans and loan forgiveness totaling $504,482.00. The United States contended that these businesses falsely certified to the SBA that they were eligible for the loans because their owner, Firas Hajjar, failed to disclose that he had, within the preceding five years, pleaded guilty to felony tax evasion. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/michigan-business-owner-pleads-guilty-tax-evasion-0 Separately, Delta Staffing LLC obtained two PPP loans and loan forgiveness totaling $462,241.92. The United States contended that these businesses falsely certified to the SBA that they were eligible for the PPP loans because their owner, Bradley McKouen, failed to disclosue that he had, within the preceding five years, been placed on supervised release as a result of his prior conviction for felony tax evasion. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/clarkston-man-sentenced-tax-evasion “When you steal from the American taxpayer, we are going to make sure that you are the one who pays the price,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. The civil settlements resolved a sealed lawsuit originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit has been unsealed and is captioned U.S. ex rel. Forsyth v. Firas Hajjar, et al., No. 2:22-cv-11432. The whistleblower will receive 15% of the total settlement amount. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Gentner from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: Longtime Employee of Harford County Maryland Manufacturer Sentenced to Federal Prison for $29 Million Kickback Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Eugene Andrew DiNoto, 54, of Bel Air, Maryland, to federal prison. DiNoto received concurrent sentences of 70 months for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and engaging in an illegal monetary transaction and 64 months for tax evasion, followed by three years of supervise release. These charges are in connection with DiNoto’s embezzlement and kickback scheme in which he defrauded his employer of more than $29 million. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington Field Office. According to his guilty plea, DiNoto was a longtime employee of Company 1, a family-owned global business headquartered in New York, but with manufacturing facilities located in Belcamp and Abingdon, Maryland, both in Harford County. Beginning in 2012, DiNoto and another employee, Elliott Kleinman, started taking advantage of their management positions at Company 1 to execute a fraudulent billing scheme. Through the scheme, they received illegal kickbacks from various drum vendors that conducted business with Company 1, which used drums to store and transport its products. Anthony P. Urcioli, Sr., 81, of Park Ridge, New Jersey, was the owner and president of Tunnel, Barrel & Drum Co, Inc. (TBD), located in Carlstadt, New Jersey, and of another drum supply company, Hartford Fibre Drum, Inc. (Hartford). Both companies did business with Company 1. After TBD became a drum supplier to Company 1, DiNoto and Kleinman entered an arrangement with Urcioli that permitted TBD to continue selling drums to Company 1 if Urcioli agreed to fraudulently invoice Company 1 for more drums than TBD actually sold and delivered to the company. Urcioli agreed to participate in the false billing scheme and split the extra money that Company 1 paid TBD for the made-up drum deliveries with DiNoto. From approximately January 2012 until January 31, 2020, DiNoto contacted Urcioli at least once per week to discuss the number and type of drums that he actually wanted delivered to Company 1’s Maryland facilities. During the same conversations, DiNoto told Urcioli how many additional drums to charge, but not deliver to Company 1 from TBD, and later from Hartford. After Urcioli created the invoices that fraudulently billed Company 1 for both delivered and undelivered drums, DiNoto approved the invoices and sent them to Company 1’s headquarters for payment. Urcioli also created handwritten purchase order tickets that summarized the breakdown of actual and bogus drum orders and a breakdown of how the kickback amounts were calculated. Urcioli would put a copy of the purchase order ticket in an envelope along with DiNoto’s and Kleinman’s share of the kickback amount payable via checks from TBD and Hartford. Then he would send the envelope to their personal residences in Harford County, Maryland. Sometimes, the invoices were not written as DiNoto instructed, so he called Urcioli to tell him to send a corrected invoice. Occasionally, DiNoto corrected an arithmetic mistake on Urcioli’s purchase order ticket, took a photograph of the changes he made to the ticket, and then emailed the corrected ticket back to Urcioli. Urcioli wanted to pay the kickbacks to DiNoto and Kleinman by check so the payments looked like payments to drum wholesalers and would be deductible as a cost of goods sold on TBD’s tax returns. DiNoto told Urcioli to make his kickback checks payable to a company linked to DiNoto called “Sandpiper Enterprises.” Kleinman advised that he wanted his kickback checks payable to a company he formed called “EDK Management, LTD.” Urcioli agreed, and in addition to making the kickback checks drawn on TBD and Hartford accounts payable to those companies, Urcioli wrote the word “drums” on the checks to further the pretense of legitimate purchases. DiNoto admitted that even though Sandpiper Enterprises was not engaged in any business, he maintained a commercial bank account for Sandpiper Enterprises at a local financial institution, where he deposited all the kickback checks he received. Before accessing the criminal proceeds, DiNoto routinely transferred all or part of the money into one of the personal bank accounts he maintained at the same bank. DiNoto then withdrew the funds from his personal account or wrote a personal check against the balance. Between January 2012 and January 2020, DiNoto falsely invoiced Company 1 a total of $20,300,757. TBD and Hartford kept half of that amount while the remaining funds were sent to DiNoto and Kleinman. DiNoto’s share of the kickbacks was approximately $7,071,106. Over the same eight-year period, DiNoto used drum vendors other than TBD and Hartford to execute his scheme to defraud Company 1. On behalf of the other vendors, DiNoto submitted and approved invoices totaling approximately $9,197,181, resulting in a total loss of approximately $29,497,938 to Company 1. From 2017 through 2019, none of the $7 million plus in kickbacks DiNoto received for his role in the fraudulent billing scheme appeared as income on his tax returns, resulting in a loss to the U.S. government of approximately $1,374,694. Kleinman was previously sentenced to 42 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Urcioli was previously sentenced to time served and 12 months of supervised release. Both Kleinman and Urcioli were also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $19,300,757. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Joseph L. Wenner who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Azumi Limited Restaurants Agree to Pay $3.6 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Azumi, LLC; Zuma NYC, LLC; Zuma Las Vegas, LLC; Zuma Japanese Restaurant Miami, LLC; Inko Nito Garey St., LLC; and Beach Chu Hallandale, LLC (collectively, the “Azumi Entities”) have agreed to pay $3,602,423 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible. The PPP, an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was intended to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Borrowers were eligible to seek forgiveness of the loans if they spent the loan proceeds on employee payroll and other eligible expenses. In January 2021, SBA announced that certain parties that had previously received PPP loans were eligible to apply for a second loan, typically referred to as a second-draw PPP loan. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications and agree that they would comply with all PPP rules. Among other things, PPP rules limited the total amount of funding a single “corporate group” could receive in connection with both first draw and second draw loans. The Azumi Entities are limited liability companies, each of which operates a restaurant in the United States and each of which is either fully or partially owned by Azumi Limited. As part of the settlement , the Azumi Entities admitted that they collectively received and were granted loan forgiveness for second draw loans in a total amount that exceeded the applicable corporate group limit for second draw loans. “The Paycheck Protection Program limits were put in place to prevent large corporate groups from obtaining a disproportionate share of the limited funds that were available to assist small businesses struggling during COVID,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Our office is committed to holding accountable those who misappropriated taxpayer-funded relief program limits.” “PPP loans were intended to assist eligible small businesses during the pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “When ineligible businesses improperly obtained loans, they harmed both the taxpayers who funded the program and the eligible businesses who were denied relief.” The claims resolved in today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, 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 captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Azumi, LLC, et al., No. 22-cv-11822 (D. Mass. 2022). As part of today’s resolution, GNGH2, Inc. will receive approximately $360,000. U.S. Attorney Foley and AAG Shumate made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julien M. Mundele of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter along with Trial Attorney Kimya Saied and Senior Trial Counsel Benjamin Wei of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section.


title: Wake County Felon Sentenced to Over Six Years after Posting a Video Possessing a Firearm

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

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Diamonique Shawn Newton, age 33, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Newton pled guilty to the charge on March 24, 2025. According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, in February 2024, officers with the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) investigated Newton after they saw he had posted pictures of himself on his Facebook page possessing a firearm. RPD was aware of Newton’s felon status and inability to possess a firearm. The investigation culminated on February 26, 2024, when Newton streamed a live Facebook video of himself pointing a gun at the camera multiple times. Based on the investigation, on February 29, RPD obtained and executed a search warrant for Newton’s Raleigh home. During the search, RPD found two firearms, one of which was stolen, over 180 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Newton admitted that the stolen firearm was his and that he had bought it off the street. Newton has a criminal history that spans almost two decades and includes two felony convictions for possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana from 2011 and 2018. Newton was also previously convicted of attempted possession of a firearm by a felon in 2013. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Raleigh Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jaren Kelly and Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00074-D-RJ.


title: Final Three Members Charged In Prolific Chinese Money Laundering Organization Plead Guilty To Laundering Tens Of Millions In Drug Proceeds

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Chinese nationals and a New York woman, all members of a prolific Chinese money laundering organization (CMLO), pleaded guilty today to money laundering charges involving drug trafficking proceeds, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. They are the last of six total defendants charged in the indictment to plead guilty. According to court documents, Enhua Fang, 38, and Jianfei Lu, 30, both of China, and Shu Jun Zhen, 36, of Staten Island, New York, were members of the CMLO that laundered over $92 million in illicit funds, including proceeds from the importation and distribution of illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through Mexico. According to court documents, Fang was an organizer within the CMLO who directed a group of couriers to pick up bulk cash proceeds from unlawful activities, including narcotics trafficking, from individuals throughout the United States. The couriers then deposited these illicit funds, which generally exceeded $10,000, into shell company bank accounts controlled by the CMLO in order to conceal the nature of the illicit funds. Fang used multiple cellphones, changing phone numbers regularly, and several encrypted messaging applications to communicate with the CMLO’s foreign-based operatives and U.S.-based drug traffickers. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Fang admitted that she was personally responsible for laundering at least $90 million of illicit funds in less than two years. Fang further admitted that she knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds or funds intended to promote drug trafficking. According to court documents, Lu collected drug trafficking proceeds from U.S.-based drug traffickers and deposited those illicit funds, using both real and fake identities, into shell company bank accounts registered by other members of the CMLO. Lu also served as a manager for the CMLO: he coordinated bulk cash pickups and deposits while Fang was in China and procured fake driver’s licenses for the CMLO’s couriers, which were used to deposit illicit funds at major U.S. banks. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Lu admitted that he had actual knowledge and involvement in the laundering of between $25 million and $65 million in illicit funds. Lu further admitted that he knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, Zhen, at Fang’s and Lu’s direction, picked up and deposited — using both her real and fake identities — nearly $25 million of illicit bulk cash, including drug trafficking proceeds. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Zhen admitted that she knew funds laundered in the conspiracy included drug trafficking proceeds or funds intended to promote drug trafficking. Fang and Zhen each pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and one count of monetary transaction involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. Lu pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, two counts of money laundering to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the illicit proceeds, and two counts of monetary transaction involving criminally derived property greater than $10,000. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and money laundering counts and a maximum of 10 years in prison on each of the monetary transaction counts. A federal district court judge will determine their respective sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. All members of the CMLO charged to date have pleaded guilty, including the three who pleaded guilty on April 30, 2025 ; as a result, this particularly prolific cell within the CMLO has been completely dismantled. U.S. Attorney Ferguson is joined in making the announcement by Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division, and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office. The DEA Charlotte District Office and the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa for the Western District of North Carolina, Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Mingda Hang, Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth, and Trial Attorney Jayce Born of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Douglas Lee Brown, also known as “Wiggles,” 56, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 18, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Brown on domestic battery and wanton endangerment warrants in Huntington and found he possessed a loaded Taurus model G2C 9mm pistol in his waistband. Officers determined the firearm was reported stolen. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Brown knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for burglary in Franklin County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court on November 15, 2012. Brown has a long criminal history and was on a term of supervision as a result of the burglary conviction at the time of the current offense. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-168. ###


title: Seven Individuals Charged in Drug and Firearm Investigation Centered on South Side of Chicago

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CHICAGO — A drug and firearm investigation centered on the South Side of Chicago has resulted in federal criminal charges against seven individuals. A superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago accuses the seven defendants of participating in a criminal conspiracy that utilized armed security to protect drug trafficking activities in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. The law enforcement investigation, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Chicago Police Department, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Marshals Service, targeted an open-air marijuana market in the 1200 block of West 73rd Place in Chicago. Under the protection of the armed security, the defendants sold large quantities of marijuana in the area and stored drugs, guns, and cash in nearby houses, the indictment alleges. As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 2,000 pounds of marijuana, approximately 81 firearms, including five assault-style rifles, approximately $425,000 in cash, and jewelry valued at approximately $300,000. Charged with federal drug conspiracy are KEJUAN BRYANT, 31, of Chicago, JAMARI GOODMAN, 29, of Chicago, JOSEPH ALBERT HEATH, 32, of Chicago, MATTHEW FURDGE, 22, of Chicago, KEWANN WHITAKER, 32, of Chicago, IGOR DZE, 44, of Miami Beach, Fla., and KHIRY STRICKLAND, 34, of Lemont, Ill. Bryant faces an individual drug distribution count and is also charged, along with Goodman and Heath, with illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Most of the defendants were arrested last week and have made their initial appearances in federal court in Chicago. In addition to the federal charges, 15 individuals were charged in state court as a result of this investigation. The federal charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division, Larry Snelling, Superintendent of CPD, Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the USSS Chicago Field Office, and LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force ( HIDTA ) and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Schied represents the government in the federal cases. The federal superseding indictment 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, among other areas of focus. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The drug conspiracy charge is punishable by up to life in federal prison for Bryant, and up to forty years for Goodman, Furdge, Whitaker, Dze, and Strickland. The firearm charge against Bryant, Goodman, and Heath carries a maximum sentence of life, with a mandatory minimum sentence of five years per defendant. The individual drug distribution count against Bryant is punishable by up to 20 years. bryant_et_al_superseding_indictment.pdf


title: Virginia Man Convicted of Armed Drug Trafficking by Federal Jury

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury found a man from Lynchburg, Virginia, guilty of multiple charges, including possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP). He was also convicted of possessing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Derrick O’Brian Hamlett, 32, was a front seat passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation in Vance County on October 26, 2022. A Vance County detective noticed an odor of marijuana coming from the car and a marijuana grinder in between the front passenger seat and the center console. A search of the vehicle revealed a backpack with a locked section. Hamlett gave law enforcement the code to unlock the section of the backpack. It contained a stolen pistol, a loaded extended magazine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and over 100 dosage units of fentanyl, heroin, and ANPP. It also contained Hamlett’s wallet with his Virginia identification card, social security card, and other documents with his information. Hamlett is a convicted felon and therefore cannot legally possess a firearm. Hamlett faces a mandatory minimum of five years of imprisonment and a statutory maximum of life imprisonment when sentenced on a later date. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. The Vance County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jermaine Sellers and David Beraka prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:24-cr-00043-D-KS.


title: Delaware Man Sentenced To 240 Months For Coercing 11-Year-Old New Jersey Resident To Travel To Delaware For Sexual Activity

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Dylan J. Steinberg, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that on July 2, 2025, the Honorable Jennifer L. Hall sentenced Darius Matylewich, 27, to a period of 240 months of incarceration for coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court documents, the FBI arrested Matylewich after he removed an 11-year-old from her New Jersey home and travelled with her to his Bear, Delaware home to engage in sexual activity. On September 10, 2023, the Wayne Township, New Jersey Police Department (“WTPD”) received a report of a missing 11-year-old girl (“the Victim”). Through investigative measures, WTPD determined that Matylewich took the Victim from her New Jersey home to his home in Bear, Delaware. The FBI, with assistance from WTPD and the New Castle County Police Department, safely recovered the Victim and arrested Matylewich. A subsequent investigation revealed that Matylewich met the 11-year-old Victim on the internet and communicated with the Victim via online video games and social media platforms. A forensic analysis of Matylewich’s cellphone and social media uncovered message threads in which Matylewich coerced the 11-year-old Victim to perform sexual acts, and, in turn, produce child pornography for him. Investigators also recovered messages in which Matylewich described covertly watching and following the Victim near her New Jersey home. Matylewich also used an application on his phone to covertly record conversations, videos, and images of the Victim performing sexual acts that Matylewich solicited from her. Unbeknownst to the Victim, Matylewich then stored videos and images of her within the “hidden” folder of his phone, which could only be accessed via facial recognition. Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg stated, “This sentence sends a clear message: those who harm the community’s most vulnerable will be held fully accountable for their actions. This sentence also reflects the dedication and cooperation of local, state, and federal law enforcement. We commend the FBI and the Wayne Township and New Castle County Police Departments, who acted swiftly to return the Victim to her family and ensure justice was served. We hope this outcome brings a measure of closure to the Victim and her family.” “Nothing can erase the harm Matylewich inflicted on an innocent child. With this lengthy sentence, he is being held accountable for his appalling abuse. Stopping predators like Matylewich from harming children remains a top priority of the FBI and our partners. Let this sentence be a warning to others seeking to take advantage of kids through online video games or social media, you will pay for your crimes,” said FBI Baltimore Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce with assistance from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-CR-102.


title: Repeat Sex Trafficker Is Sentenced To 27 Years In Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Yusef Reynolds, 34, formerly of Delaware, was sentenced today to 27 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Reynolds was on supervised release for a prior federal sex trafficking conviction in Delaware when he met and lured the underage victim, forcing her to engage in commercial sex. James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. “Today’s lengthy sentence is appropriate for a defendant who while on supervised release for sex trafficking a minor engaged in the same behavior—using violence and physical abuse to control a minor and force her to engage in sexual acts for his profit,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “I am proud of the hard work of my office to protect children and hold accountable those who prey on them.” “After serving federal prison time for sex trafficking an underage girl, Yusef Reynolds went right back to his predatory ways. Once again, he lured a victim through social media and exploited her for his own profit. The FBI will continue to work with our partners and prioritize punishing those who abuse children,” said Special Agent in Charge Barnacle. According to court documents, in 2012, Reynolds was convicted of federal charges for sex trafficking a minor and illegal possession of firearms in Delaware and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Reynolds was released in 2021 and was placed under federal supervision. Court records show that, from December 2021 through January 2022, while on federal supervised release, Reynolds sex trafficked a 16-year-old runaway from Massachusetts he met online. According to court documents, Reynolds used Facebook to contact the minor, who at the time was in North Carolina. Using promises of a better life to lure the victim, Reynolds convinced her to join him in Delaware even though he knew the victim was underage. Filed court documents show that Reynolds sent two other individuals to pick up the minor victim and bring her to Delaware. Once there, Reynolds immediately began to sex traffic the minor. Reynolds took pictures of the minor and posted them on a website advertising for commercial sex. After that, Reynolds, either himself or through other individuals he knew or controlled, booked commercial sex appointments for the victim and took all the money the victim earned from the sexual encounters. During that time, Reynolds used a combination of physical and sexual violence, threats, and verbal abuse to force the victim to engage in commercial sex acts and plied the victim with drugs to further coerce her to continue to engage in the commercial sex trade. On March 29, 2024, Reynolds pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for its investigative work and thanked CMPD and the Gaston County Sheriff’s Office, both task force members, for their coordination and partnership with the FBI, which led to today’s outcome. FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces operate in nearly every FBI field office. The most effective way to investigate human trafficking is through a collaborative, multi-agency approach among federal, state, local, and tribal partners. The ultimate goal of the task forces is to recover victims and investigate traffickers at the state and federal level. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Former Delaware Nurse Practitioner  Resolves Health Care Fraud Allegations

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Acting U.S. Attorney Dylan J. Steinberg announced a civil settlement with Sandra Jackson, a former Delaware nurse practitioner who now resides in Florida, resolving allegations that she violated the False Claims Act by ordering medically unnecessary genetic testing and durable medical equipment for Medicare beneficiaries residing in Delaware. As a result of Jackson’s orders, Medicare paid approximately $520,000 for medically unnecessary testing and medical equipment. Between September 2018 and April 2019, Jackson digitally signed hundreds of orders for medically unnecessary genetic testing and durable medical equipment for Delaware residents who she never physically examined and with whom she had no pre-existing provider-patient relationship. The orders Jackson signed contained information that was pre-populated by others. She signed the orders within seconds of opening them. Jackson did not provide any follow-up care to the beneficiaries for whom she ordered testing and equipment. “Health care providers who authorize medically unnecessary testing and equipment waste taxpayer dollars,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This office will continue to aggressively pursue providers whose medical decisions are guided by personal profit instead of individual patient care.” “Providers that participate in the federal health care system are required to obey the laws and regulations meant to protect the integrity of these programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "HHS-OIG remains committed to promoting compliance in HHS programs and investigating alleged misconduct that target them." This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Affirmative Civil Enforcement Auditor David Cheung. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates its 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 the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800 HHS TIPS (800-447-8477). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. A copy of the settlement agreement and agreed-upon statement of facts are attached to this press release. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Attachment: jackson_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty and Pennsylvania Man is Sentenced in Separate Schemes to Transport Contraband into FCI McDowell with Drones

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Today, Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez, 24, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit the felony crime of attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison and Gamalier Rivera, 33, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to three years of federal probation, including two months on home detention, for aiding and abetting the introduction of contraband into a federal prison. Gonzalez and Rivera each admitted to their roles in separate schemes to deliver contraband into Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell using drones. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 1, 2024, Gonzalez traveled on foot with co-defendant Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno to the fence surrounding FCI McDowell. Gonzalez and Aleman-Piceno possessed a backpack and a duffle bag containing a drone and two camouflaged packages containing four cell phones, chargers, phone cards, marijuana, and tobacco. As part of his guilty plea, Gonzalez admitted that they intended to fly the packages onto the grounds of FCI McDowell using the drone, and were stopped by law enforcement as they prepared to launch the drone. Gonzalez further admitted to traveling to McDowell County, West Virginia, from Chicago with Aleman-Piceno and co-defendant Arturo Joel Gallegos. Gonzalez also admitted that he and his two co-defendants stayed an area motel where law enforcement seized marijuana, tobacco and materials used to make the camouflaged packages. Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Aleman-Piceno, 22, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025, to conspiracy to commit the felony crime of attempting to introduce contraband into a federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 8, 2025. The indictment against Gallegos, 26, of Chicago, remains pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. On February 9, 2024, correctional officers at FCI McDowell detected a drone flying over the prison facility. The flight path of the drone took it from the fence securing the prison facility to a cell in one of the housing units. Officers searched the cell and found a broken exterior window, numerous cell phones, tobacco, and marijuana within the cell. Officers traced the flight path back to the drone’s launch site, where they found and apprehended Rivera and co-defendants Hector Luis Gomez DeJesus and Raymond Luis Saez Aviles. Officer seized the drone, the drone’s remote controller, and contraband consistent with what was found in the cell. As part of his guilty plea, Rivera admitted that he, DeJesus, and Aviles participated in the introduction of the contraband into FCI McDowell by using the drone to transport marijuana, tobacco, and cell phones into the prison facility. Rivera further admitted that he expected to be paid for his participation in the contraband introduction. DeJesus, 32, of Sanford, North Carolina, and Aviles, 37, of Poinciana, Florida, each pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to aiding and abetting the introduction of contraband into a federal prison and are scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2025. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the cases. 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. 1:24-cr-126 (Gonzalez) and 1:24-cr-127 (Rivera). ###


title: North Versailles Felon Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of North Versailles, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 121 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Keion Washington, 25. According to information presented to the Court, on February 7, 2024, Washington was driving a vehicle associated with an incident that occurred a few days prior. When law enforcement officers tried to stop the car, Washington initially drove off, then exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Law enforcement officers found a stolen rifle in the car, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Wiegand stated that the sentence took into account the nature of the offense and Washington’s criminal history, including the fact that Washington had been convicted of two prior controlled substances felony offenses. Assistant United States Attorneys DeMarr W. Moulton and Jacqueline C. Brown prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Washington.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced for Making False Statements Under Oath in a Bankruptcy Case

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Travis Lee Harry, 40, of Kernersville, North Carolina, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation, including 90 days on home detention, and fined $4,000 with interest for making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy case. According to court documents and statements made in court, Harry had owned and lived in a house in Princeton, West Virginia, which he sold on December 23, 2019. On February 5, 2020, Harry filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. On the Statement of Financial Affairs he submitted as part of the bankruptcy filing, and which he signed under penalty of perjury, Harry falsely stated that he and his spouse co-owned the house and sold it together. At a March 6, 2020, meeting of creditors as part of the bankruptcy proceeding, Harry falsely testified under oath that he had co-owned the house with his spouse. Harry admitted as part of his guilty plea that he solely owned the house, and that his spouse was never a co-owner. Harry further admitted that he falsely indicated during the creditors’ meeting that all of the proceeds from selling the house went to pay taxes. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Trustee’s Charleston field office, which serves West Virginia, made the criminal referral of this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States Trustee Program is a component of the Department of Justice whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage 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. 1:24-cr-143. ###


title: Consulting Company Pays More Than $450K to Settle Overbilling Allegations

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MERCER (US), LLC, a consulting company with an office in Hartford, has entered into a civil settlement agreement and paid more than $450,000 to resolve allegations that it overbilled the Defense Health Agency for work performed by certain employees and subcontractors billed at rates higher than their educational backgrounds or experience levels permitted. The Defense Health Agency (“DHA”) manages TRICARE’s health benefits program for servicemembers and their families. Prior to developing and implementing DHA’s supporting managed care support and pharmacy services contracts, DHA sought subject matter expertise from outside of the Department of Defense to ensure beneficiaries receive high quality care. Specifically, DHA competitively sought offers for Health Plan Innovative Support (“HPIS”) services from vendors under the General Services Administration’s (“GSA”) Professional Services Schedule (“PSS”). In approximately April 2020, DHA and Mercer entered into a Blanket Purchase Agreement (“BPA”) for HPIS services. DHA also awarded HPIS Task 1 to Mercer. Under this task order, Mercer would provide qualified personnel with subject matter expertise relevant to the design of TRICARE programs. The BPA included labor categories that identified the education and experience qualifications, and associated hourly billing rate, for the personnel working under the BPA. Each month, Mercer invoiced DHA for labor expended under the BPA at hourly billing rates commensurate to the employees’ (or subcontractor employees’) designated labor categories and the education and experience associated with those labor categories. The government contends that, from May 7, 2020, through August 2, 2023, Mercer billed DHA for the efforts of 11 employees working under the BPA at labor rates for which those employees did not have the requisite educational background or experience levels. Mercer investigated and disclosed to the government these incorrect contract billings. To resolve claims arising under the Contract Disputes Act and the common law theories of breach of contract, payment by mistake, and unjust enrichment, Mercer paid the government $456,796.50. This investigation was conducted by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service with assistance from the Defense Contract Audit Agency Operations Investigative Support Division. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Gruber.


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Robert Curtis Denham, also known as “Reala Deala” and “RD,” 36, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 30, 2024, Denham sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Huntington apartment. As part of his guilty plea, Denham admitted to conducting the transaction and to arranging it beforehand. Denham further admitted that additional quantities of fentanyl are attributable to him as relevant criminal conduct. Denham is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-47. ###


title: Virginia Man Sentenced for Possession of Stolen Money

body_text: BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Joshua Sneed, 35, of Bluefield, Virginia, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation, including six months on home detention, and ordered to pay $120,322.10 in restitution for possession of stolen money. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 15, 2024, Sneed was employed as a title clerk for an automotive sales and service business in Bluefield, West Virginia, when a customer purchased a 2008 Bentley Continental for $37,761. The cash was deposited in the business’s safe. On March 27, 2024, Sneed used his access to the business’ computer system to change the transaction from a cash purchase to a credit card purchase. Sneed admitted that he changed the purchase details to conceal the fact that he did not deposit the $37,761 into the business’s bank account. Sneed further admitted that he took the $37,761 in cash from the business to his residence in Bluefield, Virginia. On March 27, 2024, Sneed prepared a bank deposit slip for the business for $60,100 and prepared a second deposit slip on April 9, 2024, for $60,222.10. Sneed admitted that he never made either deposit with the bank. Sneed further admitted that he prepared the deposit slips to conceal his theft of money from the business over several months. On April 9, 2024, Sneed attempted to change the record of the Bentley Continental sale back to a cash purchase from a credit card purchase in the business’s computer system. Sneed found the computer system did not allow him to edit transaction histories for March 2024. On April 15, 2024, Sneed was fired from his position. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage 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. 1:25-cr-14. ###


title: Three More District Men Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl in Trinidad Neighborhood of Northeast Washington

body_text: WASHINGTON — U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro today announced the sentencings of three District men -- Jalonie Hooper, 26, Edward Frizell Williams, Jr., 53, and Dandre Goodwine, 30 -- for their roles in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy that operated an open-air drug market in the Trinidad neighborhood in Northeast Washington D.C. Goodwine, aka “Dreads,” pleaded guilty March 3 before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and cocaine base. Judge Boasberg today sentenced Goodwine to 36 months in federal prison and ordered three years of supervised release. Hooper, aka “JR,” pleaded guilty April 4 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base. Judge Boasberg sentenced Hooper on July 1 to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Williams, aka “Pooh,” pleaded guilty March 3 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, cocaine base, and heroin. Judge Boasberg sentenced Williams on July 1 to 22 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, during the course of the conspiracy, the Trinidad neighborhood crew sold approximately 468 kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and cocaine base on and around the 1100 block of Raum Street, NE. On May 23, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at 1657 11th Place, NE, at a stash house where Goodwine was known to frequent. Agents recovered multiple five firearms, digital scales with white residue suspected controlled substance; a false book containing six twists and 27 small twists each containing a white substance suspected to be a controlled substance, and multiple magazines and rounds of various ammunition. Goodwine’s DNA was found on the magazine of a Glock 22 .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. On August 12, 2023, at 11 p.m., MPD officers were called to investigate an incident on the 1600 block of V Street, NW and arrested Hooper. Officers found approximately 50 grams of cocaine base on his person. When law enforcement agents executed the search warrant at the 11 th Place stash house, they found Williams outside within arms-length of a .40 caliber handgun. DNA on the firearm connected it to Williams. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The Trinidad trafficking investigation was a multi-agency effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, the Narcotics Enforcement Unit of the Violent Crime Suppression Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar Mohanty and Daniel Seidel of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by Criminal Division Trial Attorneys Christina Taylor and Gaelin Bernstein. 24cr246


title: Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Evading Security Requirements at Philadelphia International Airport

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that David Easley, 39, of Georgia, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer to one count of evading airport security. The defendant was charged by information in May of this year, arising from his use of the identification badge of an airline employee to access a secured, sterile area of Philadelphia International Airport, knowingly and willfully bypassing airport security. Easley has never been employed at the Philadelphia International Airport. As detailed in court filings and statements, on March 9, 2024, Easley was a ticketed domestic airline passenger, scheduled to fly from Philadelphia to Atlanta, Georgia, on a flight departing at 7:05 p.m. At approximately 6:35 p.m., video surveillance captured Easley using an airport Secure Identification Display Area (SIDA) badge belonging to an airport employee, typing a passcode on the keypad, and gaining access through the secure doors leading from the public side of the airport ticketing area to the secure area of the airport. The defendant entered a restricted area for employees that is between the public, pre-security ticketing area and the public, post-security “sterile” terminal. Easley did not go through TSA screening before entering this secure area. Easley then used another door to enter the public “sterile” terminal area of the airport, that being the area where screened passengers have access to board their flights. The TSA encountered Easley while conducting random security inspections to prevent prohibited items and unauthorized individuals from accessing the sterile area. Easley is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2025. The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.


title: Brazilian National Charged with Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Brighton, Mass. has been arrested and charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Fagner Storck, a/k/a “Tiago Santos,” 41, was charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Storck made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on July 1, 2025. The Court took the matter of detention under advisement following a hearing earlier today. According to the charging documents and statements made in open court, Storck was first removed from the United States in 2015. It is alleged that sometime after his removal, Storck illegally reentered the United States without permission and was deported to Brazil six years later in April 2021. Sometime thereafter, it is alleged that Storck illegally entered the United States for the third time. Storck has multiple prior convictions for domestic violence, including a 2017 conviction for assault and battery on a family/household member, strangulation/suffocation and intimidation; and a 2020 conviction of assault and battery on a family/household member. Storck was arrested in 2023 on state charges of kidnapping and assault and battery against a pregnant woman. These incidents have resulted in restraining orders filed against Storck by three separate women. Additionally, according to court records, Stock has at least four motor vehicle violations for driving with a suspended license. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case with assistance from Student Attorney Brendan J. Brosnihan. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Warns of Fraud Schemes Following Texas Floods

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is on alert for fraudsters seeking to profit off the catastrophic and deadly flooding in Texas. Millions of people fall victim to scams every year. Natural disasters and severe weather can create opportunities for fraud, occurring at a time when people may be especially vulnerable, or targeting charitable intentions. Scammers are known to carry out a variety of fraud schemes, targeting those in the in affected communities. These methods include using phone, text, mail, email, and even going door to door to target residents impacted by damaging storms. If you think you may have been preyed upon, submit a report to the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or www.justice.gov/disastercomplaintform . Learn how you can donate safely and avoid scams at the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Advice webpage. You can also report disaster related complaints to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). For more information on common charity and disaster fraud schemes, visit FBI.gov/how-we-can-help-you . ###


title: Harlem man pleads guilty to sex abuse charges on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS - A Harlem man accused of sexual abuse on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Ross Vincent Dale, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse. Dale faces maximum penalties of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to a lifetime of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set November 5, 2025. Dale was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in January 2022, Jane Doe was taken to Benefis in Great Falls for a sexual assault examination. Doe alleged she was sexually abused by the Ross Dale on New Year’s Eve or in the early morning hours of New Year’s day, 2021-2022. Doe lived with her grandmother/guardian at the time. On New Year’s Eve, Doe’s grandmother and aunt traveled to Wolf Point, leaving Doe at the house alone. Dale contacted her on New Year’s Eve and brought alcohol. Doe took a video of herself and Dale drinking. At some point, Doe must have passed out because she woke up in her bed to her headboard banging against the wall. Dale was behind her, vaginally raping her. She tried to remain calm until he finally left the house. She told her grandmother immediately upon her return home from Wolf Point. Dale was interviewed. Although he claimed he was not in Harlem but in Billings with his kids on New Year’s Eve, DNA testing resulted in his DNA being found in Doe’s underwear, extracted from semen that was present on Doe’s underwear. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Myers prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who entered the country illegally was sentenced today to a sentence of time served of 73 days in prison and remanded to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol upon release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Jose Luz Rojas-Flores, 35, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of illegal reentry. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Rojas-Flores was first removed from the United States in April 2012. He also was removed in November 2013 after serving a 30-day sentence for illegal entry and in April 2015 after serving a 60-day sentence for illegal entry. On April 26, 2025, the Havre Police Department requested assistance with a traffic stop where five individuals were encountered. None of them spoke English and all presented Mexican identification documents. Rojas-Flores presented a Mexican Voter Identification card but no documents permitting him to enter or remain in the United States. Later, he admitted he last crossed into the United States in January 2020 near El Paso, Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and Havre Police Department. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


title: Honduran man sentenced for illegal reentry

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Honduran man who entered the country illegally was sentenced today to sentence of time served of 74 days in prison and remanded to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol upon release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Enys Jose Rosales-Lara, 39, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of illegal reentry. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on April 23, 2025, law enforcement observed a vehicle in Havre and conducted a traffic stop. Rosales-Lara was in the back seat of the vehicle. He presented investigators with a Honduran Identification Card, possessed no other identification documents, and was taken into custody. He admitted he entered the United States most recently on September 17, 2023, near El Paso, Texas. He also admitted he had no petitions or lawful right to remain in the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol and Havre Police Department. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


title: Mexican man sentenced for possessing fraudulent immigration document

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who possessed fraudulent immigration documentation was sentenced today to sentence of time served of 131 days in prison and remanded to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol upon release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Francisco Alcocer-Sanchez, 62, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of use or possession of fraudulent immigration document. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on February 28, 2025, Alcocer-Sanchez was arrested by local law enforcement in Fairview, Montana/McKenzie County, North Dakota during a DUI stop. He provided an expired licensed permanent resident (LPR) card bearing his picture, but another name and alien number. Law enforcement noticed the LPR card was missing security features. On March 1, 2025, law enforcement verified Alcocer-Sanchez’s true identity and his prior removal from the United States. He later acknowledged his Mexican citizenship and his illegal status in the United States. Alcocer-Sanchez’s immigration history shows he was granted status as a Lawful Permanent Resident on February 12, 1991, but that status was revoked on June 25, 1998, following his conviction for importing cocaine, an aggravated felony. There is no record he applied for readmission into the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol, Fairview Police Department and McKenzie North Dakota Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who entered the country illegally was sentenced today to sentence of time served of 121 days in prison and remanded to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol upon release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Luis Alberto Vega-Lili, 57, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of use or possession of fraudulent immigration document. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on March 11, 2025, Vega-Lili was found on a train in Havre. When he spoke to the Border Patrol agent, he acknowledged his Mexican citizenship and that he did not have immigration paperwork that would allow him to enter or remain in the United States. He provided a Mexican passport that was issued in North Carolina. In 2008, he submitted an incomplete application for naturalization because he was married to a United States citizen, but she passed away. During a secondary security search of Vega-Lili’s cell, agents found a fraudulent social security card and fraudulent permanent resident card in the sole of his boot. The permanent resident card contained information belonging to a person from India who was born in 1973 and living in Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). XXX


title: Placerville Felon Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Richard Clifton Turner, 62, of Placerville, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, agents executed a federal search warrant at Turner’s residence in Placerville. During the authorized search, agents located over 40 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents also located six firearms, including one previously reported as stolen. Turner is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has five prior felony convictions, including a conviction for vehicle theft and drug trafficking offenses. This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case. This case was a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Calaveras Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Interstate Communication of Violent Threats

body_text: Cedar Sky Montgomery, 45, of Calaveras County, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 30 months in prison for interstate communication of threats of violence, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Montgomery used a cellphone and the internet to make threats to multiple victims. In one instance, he threatened to kill a victim and have the victim “watch members of your family hanging from trees while your famil[y’]s Houses Burn to ground … .” On another occasion, Montgomery sent text and multimedia messages that threatened to kill a second victim and that victim’s brother, specifically threatening to “kill as many members of your family as I can find!” Montgomery also told the second victim that he would cut the victim’s fingers and hands “off your physical body.” With a third victim, Montgomery sent threatening voicemail messages saying, “the bomb maker is going to kill everybody in your [expletive] family, I’m going to burn your property down, I’m going to slit your [expletive] throat and I’m going to kill everybody in your family.” Additionally, from late November 2023 through early January 2024, Montgomery used his cellphone to repeatedly call and send hundreds of unwanted text and multimedia messages to a fourth victim’s cellphone. Montgomery sent obscene cartoons and photos and told the victim he was trying to find the victim and threatening to kill the victim’s romantic partner. Montgomery similarly sent hundreds of unwanted messages to a victim, along with angry voicemails and images of a man’s throat being sliced by a sharp blade, combined with claims that Montgomery would find the victim and cut the victim into pieces. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Stockton, Los Angeles and the Washington Field Office, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.