title: Kansas City Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for possession of child pornography, also referred to as Child Sexual Abuse Material or CSAM. Andrew Charles Doyal, 52, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 180 months in federal prison without parole. Following his release, he will be placed on supervised release for life. On Oct. 27, 2025, Doyal pleaded guilty to possessing CSAM. According to court documents, Doyal possessed thousands of CSAM files on multiple electronic devices, including files that depicted children as young as infants and toddlers. At the time, Doyal was required to register as a sex offender due to a prior conviction. Doyal will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Independence Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Christmas Morning Armed Robberies

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for committing two armed robberies and illegally possessing a firearm after fleeing from police officers in a pick-up truck. Duke A. Yates, 37, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 240 months in federal prison without parole. On Nov. 25, 2024, Yates pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Yates robbed a Quik Trip and a Walgreen’s, both in Independence, at gunpoint within 10 minutes of each other at about 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2023. Yates stole a total of between $500 and $700 in cash and a dozen packs of cigarettes from the stores. A police officer spotted Yates driving a white Ford F350 pickup truck with a missing headlight, matching the description of the vehicle used in the robberies, traveling eastbound on U.S. 40 Highway near Blue Ridge Cutoff. Yates fled at the presence of the officer, with the lights now blacked out on the vehicle. The officer turned on his lights and sirens and initiated a pursuit that reached speeds over 100 miles per hour. During the pursuit, the truck failed to stop for posted stop signs and drove over medians. The truck slid onto 23 rd Street facing eastbound in the westbound lanes, causing another motorist to drive onto the shoulder to avoid a collision. Yates drove into oncoming traffic and veered at a marked police vehicle that was attempting to deploy stop sticks. Yates failed to negotiate a turn at 24911 E. Truman Road and went off-road, colliding with a power pole and breaking it at the base. Yates fled on foot and resisted arrest while being taken into custody. Officers searched the stolen truck and found a Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun on the driver’s side floorboard. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Gibson. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Chicago man sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug crimes in Guernsey County

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Chicago man was sentenced in federal court here today to 240 months in prison for having bulk amounts of narcotics at a Guernsey County hotel. A federal jury convicted Kenneth D. Triplett, 38, of three narcotics offenses following a trial in May 2025. The crimes include possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base. According to court documents and trial testimony, in April 2024, the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that Triplett was in the county to distribute drugs. Triplett had traveled to Guernsey County with distributable amounts of drugs after being in the Columbus area. Within 12 hours of receiving the tip, law enforcement observed Triplett’s vehicle at a Quality Inn in Cambridge, Ohio, and arrested the defendant nearby. Triplett had an active full extradition warrant for his arrest from Minnesota. After arresting Triplett, officers searched his hotel room and discovered hidden throughout the room: cocaine and more than 230 grams cocaine base, an open vacuum sealed bag of fentanyl mixed with heroin, and a digital scale. Triplett’s criminal history includes multiple drug convictions in multiple jurisdictions, often rural communities. Sentencing documents also note that Triplett’s drug trafficking is tied to at least one nonlethal drug overdose. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Guernsey County Sheriff Jeffrey D. Paden announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard and Kevin W. Kelley are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Richland County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Charge

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Yashawnus Leekean Patterson, 45, of Columbia, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after being convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Patterson was convicted by a federal jury following a trial in June 2025. Evidence presented at trial included testimony and body worn camera footage showing two Columbia Police Department officers responding to a hotel in downtown Columbia to assist in removing Patterson, who was no longer staying at that hotel. After being asked to place Patterson on trespass notice, officers learned he was wanted on a bench warrant from the Cayce Police Department and arrested him. When officers searched him, they located a loaded 9mm pistol in the front of his waistband, a 30-round extended magazine in his backpack, and a total of 74 rounds of 9mm ammunition on his person and his other belongings. Patterson acknowledged to officers that he knew he was not legally allowed to possess a firearm. Patterson has an extensive record of felony convictions dating back to 1998, including convictions for criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree, strong-arm robbery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Patterson to 96 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case. ###


title: GUILTY VERDICT FOR HONDURAN ALIEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE SEX WITH MINOR

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Israel Ramos Portillo, a/k/a “Juan Carlos,” 39, a citizen of Honduras who resided in Coffee Springs, Alabama, was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The verdicts were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the persistent threats our children face online from predators like this defendant seeking to sexually exploit and victimize them. Fortunately, our state and federal law enforcement partners are keenly focused on identifying and catching those predators wherever they lurk online, and my office stands ready to aggressively prosecute these crimes to keep our kids safe.” Trial testimony and evidence demonstrated that on April 12, 2025, state and federal law enforcement agencies conducted an online undercover operation aimed at identifying adults using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, the defendant began interacting with law enforcement’s undercover profile on a dating website, through which the detective was posing as a 14-year-old minor child. Through numerous text messages over a two-week period, the defendant engaged in sexually explicit conversations and expressed interest in having sex with the child, ultimately arranging to travel from his home in Alabama to Tallahassee to meet the girl and take her to a hotel to have sex. When the defendant arrived at the proposed meeting location, law enforcement arrested him and seized his cell phone as evidence. After searching the defendant’s cell phone, law enforcement confirmed that he was the person communicating with the undercover detective and that he traveled across state lines with intent to engage in sexual conduct with the fictitious 14-year-old girl. Portillo faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. Further, because he is an alien who is not lawfully present in this country, Portillo will be held for deportation proceedings at the conclusion of serving his federal sentence. The case involved a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . This case is also part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Dayton man faces federal child pornography crimes involving victim under 5 years old

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – United States Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. announced today that Christopher Houck, 20, of Dayton, has been charged federally with child pornography crimes involving a child under the age of 5. Allegations in the charging documents state that Houck created sexually explicit videos involving the victim. Initial forensic review of Houck’s cell phones revealed that Houck also allegedly traded child pornography with other individuals online on platforms like Snapchat. He possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography of other victims. Earlier this month, Houck allegedly messaged online with another adult male, discussing their sexual fantasies involving children and the possibility of meeting up to find children with whom to engage in sexually explicit conduct together. This case originated with reports to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center. Houck was originally arrested on local charges of gross sexual imposition, voyeurism, pandering obscenity and child endangering, and he has been incarcerated in the Montgomery County Jail since Feb. 15. Houck is now charged federally with producing child pornography (punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison), distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison) and possessing child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor (up to 20 years). “We will work together across all levels of government to hold accountable offenders who perpetrate crimes against children,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “My office is grateful for the collaboration between the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI that led to these charges.” “The allegations in this case are deeply troubling and involve the exploitation of a vulnerable child,” said Sheriff Rob Streck. “Protecting children is our top priority, and we will continue to work closely with federal and local partners to investigate these crimes, hold offenders accountable, and ensure victims receive the support they need.” This case is being prosecuted in collaboration with the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and FBI are investigating. Assistant United States Attorney Christina Mahy is representing the United States in this case. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Federal Jury finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – After a swift federal trial, a jury found Eric Robinson , 38 , of Memphis, guilty of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Robinson’s extensive criminal history qualified him as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC). United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today. According to information presented in court, on May 5, 2024, officers with the Memphis Police Department located Robinson at the bus station located on North Main Street. Upon his arrest, officers recovered a loaded .380 caliber Lorcin firearm from his person. During the trial, the jury heard evidence of Robinson's lengthy criminal history in Shelby County, which includes prior convictions for Aggravated Rape, Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, and multiple counts of Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Burglary. The jury found Robinson guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and made a finding that he had committed at least three violent felonies on different occasions, triggering the enhanced sentencing penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2026 before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker. As a result of the verdict, Robinson faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent and imminent danger to the community. This defendant’s extensive history of violence ranged from aggravated burglary to aggravated rape, and justice demands aggressive prosecution for the worst of the worst offenders. This verdict ensures that a career criminal is incapacitated and removed from our neighborhoods for a long time." The case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Cedar County Attorney Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Clients

body_text: Springfield, Mo. – A Cedar County, Mo., attorney pleaded guilty to wire fraud yesterday for defrauding his vulnerable clients and using funds meant for their well-being for his own personal benefit. Peter A. Lee, 50, of Stockton, Mo., devised a scheme to defraud his clients of funds for his own personal gain and then concealed his scheme by making false representations to his clients and financial institutions. Lee also used his clients’ funds to repay victims of his prior thefts. The clients he defrauded included decedent estates and a special needs trust. From January 2019 through February 2025, Lee obtained $296,140 in client funds through his fraud scheme. As a part of Lee’s plea agreement, he agreed to voluntarily surrender his license to practice law. Under federal statutes, Lee is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.


title: Individual Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Firearms Violations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On February 26, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Ángel Ramdyel Edwards to 72 months (six years) in prison followed by five years of supervised release for using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. According to court documents, on June 23, 2025, a female victim was on Route 829 in Bayamón, PR, when she noticed a vehicle following her. The female victim saw the vehicle speed past her and simultaneously cut her off in the middle of the lane. Defendant Ángel Ramdyel Edwards exited the passenger side of the vehicle, pointed a gun at the victim’s head, ordered her out of her vehicle and took off with her vehicle. The victim stopped a car traveling on the road and asked the driver for help, informing the driver she had just been carjacked. The victim called 911, reported that she had just been carjacked and told the operator that she had witnessed her own vehicle drive past. Puerto Rico police officers responded and attempted to conduct a vehicle stop. The defendant fled at a high rate of speed and crashed while attempting to evade officers. Shortly thereafter police arrested the defendant. The defendant was indicted on July 2, 2025. On November 20, 2025, Edwards plead guilty to one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Luis Rivera-Méndez from the Puerto Rico Department of Justice prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Bradford County Man Sentenced To One Year Of Probation For Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Richard Burke, age 76, of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to one year of probation and ordered to pay $350,634.23 in restitution on a charge of wire fraud. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, from April 2005 until March 7, 2022, Burke withdrew $350,634.23 of his deceased mother’s Social Security Retirement, Survivors and Disability (RSDI) benefits and Veterans Affairs death pension benefit payments from her bank account. Burke’s mother died in 2005, and no other individual was entitled to the benefits designated to her. Burke used his deceased mother’s bank card to make regular cash withdrawals over the years following her benefits deposits, never notifying the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) nor the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that she had died. The Social Security Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case. # # #


title: FCI Schuylkill Inmate Indicted For Possession Of A Weapon

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Damonta King, age 19, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that in January of 2026, a corrections officer conducting an inmate pat down discovered inmate King to be in possession of a prison-made weapon on his person, commonly referred to as a “shank.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Honduran National Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Elvis Reniery Callejas Flores (43, Honduras) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Callejas Flores pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was contacted by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) about Callejas Flores, a Honduran national living in Florida. INTERPOL provided a copy of latent fingerprints from Callejas Flores and information that he was using the assumed identities of two different United States citizens. On February 24, 2025, HSI agents encountered Callejas Flores at a construction site in Cape Coral. Callejas Flores provided agents with a Florida driver license as identification using the name of a victim. Further, Callejas Flores falsely claimed that he had been born in New York. On April 10, 2025, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Callejas Flores’s home. During the search, agents located items that identified the true name of Callejas Flores. They also located the New York birth certificate in the name of the victim that Callejas Flores had used without lawful authority. A latent fingerprint comparison of the prints provided by INTERPOL and fingerprints taken by law enforcement on two prior encounters with Callejas Flores, when he used two different names, confirmed that the fingerprints belonged to the same individual. “Safeguarding personal information in today’s modern world is becoming increasingly difficult, yet paramount to prevent fraud and the victimization of unwitting citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “The cooperation and diligent investigation by INTERPOL and Homeland Security Investigations in this case proved successful in revealing the true identity of a bad actor and bringing him to justice.” “Identity theft is a serious crime that undermines the integrity of our nation’s identification systems and victimizes innocent citizens,” said Homeland Security Investigations Ft. Myers Resident Agent in Charge John Yancey. “HSI, alongside our partners, remains committed to protecting the public by investigating and prosecuting those who use stolen identities to conceal their true identity and evade the law. This conviction demonstrates our dedication to holding offenders accountable and safeguarding the security of our communities.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava.


title: Federal Inmate Charged with Possessing A Weapon

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dorian Myles, age 37, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of a weapon. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2026, Myles possessed an inmate manufactured weapon, specifically a sharpened four-inch piece of plexiglass, commonly referred to as a “shank.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Federal Inmate Charged With Possessing Weapons

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lesundre Zacharie, age 25, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, Minersville, Pennsylvania, was indicted on February 24, 2026, by a federal grand jury on the charge of possession of weapons. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on or about January 30, 2026, Zacharie possessed two inmate manufactured weapons, specifically a six-inch piece of plexiglass sharpened to a point with a cloth handle, and a four-inch razor blade attached to a plastic pen, commonly referred to as “shanks.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Harrisburg Man Charged With Carjacking And Firearms Offenses

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Terric M. Seay, age 24, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on charges of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and firearms possession. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Seay carjacked the victim, using a firearm to inflict serious bodily injury. The indictment also charges Seay with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), York City Police Department, and Lower Allen Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is up to life in prison, plus a fine and a term of supervised release. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking a Minor in Chicago Suburb

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a man on sex trafficking charges for causing a minor to engage in commercial sex in a Chicago suburb. KENNARD CAMERON recruited and enticed a 15-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts in a motel in Lansing, Ill., in 2023. Cameron had photographed the girl wearing lingerie and in the nude and then posted the photos online in commercial sex advertisements. After Cameron arranged for encounters with individuals who responded to the ads, he and a co-conspirator required the girl to turn over the proceeds to them. Cameron, 40, of Chicago, was convicted on Wednesday of one count of sex trafficking of a minor and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor. The jury returned its verdicts after a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Cameron faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in federal prison and a maximum of life. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey set sentencing for Sept. 16, 2026. The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Chang and Caitlin Walgamuth. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: Richland County man sentenced to 28 years for producing child pornography

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A district judge sentenced an Olney man to 28 years in federal prison after he admitted to producing child pornography of a 13-year-old minor. Joseph Jared St. Pierre, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography. Upon release from prison, he will serve 15 years of supervised release. “Repeated sexual acts against minors is reprehensible, and the Justice Department will relentlessly pursue offenders who prey on and exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. According to court documents, law enforcement officers responded to a report of sexual assault in July 2024 when the mother of a 13-year-old minor discovered a video on the minor’s cell phone of the minor engaging in sexual acts with St. Pierre. “Thanks to the dedication of HSI agents, this predator has been removed from the community and is unable to victimize any more minors while allowing the survivor to begin the healing process,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge, Matthew Scarpino. St. Pierre admitted to engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minor on three separate occasions in Olney. Homeland Security Investigations and the Richland County Sheriff’s Office contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.


title: New Rochelle Man Sentenced Following Trial Convictions for Pandemic Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aly Kaba, age 30, of New Rochelle, New York, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for engaging in a fraudulent scheme to obtain COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, United States Department of Labor (USDOL-OIG), made the announcement. The trial evidence showed that in late 2020, Kaba conspired with his former roommate, Tony Brobbey, and fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor worth more than $150,000. To make the fraudulent unemployment insurance claims, Kaba used multiple stolen identities, including victims named J.F and J.M. and two men who died more than a decade before the pandemic. Kaba’s fraudulent claims sought more than $600,000 in benefits. The evidence also showed that Kaba used fraud proceeds on overseas travel and a Rolex watch. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered a 3-year term of supervised release to follow Kaba’s release from prison, as well as restitution to the States of New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island in a total amount of $182,227, and forfeiture of a money judgment. First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Kaba thought his fraud would get him some new gear and luxury vacations, but in the end, all he got was a trip to federal prison and a jumpsuit. Today’s sentence demonstrates, once again, that my office and our partners will bring to justice anyone who fraudulently exploits a crisis to steal from taxpayers. Thank you to our federal law enforcement partners for all their great work throughout this investigation.” “The deliberate use of someone else’s identity for financial gain creates considerable impacts. We will thoroughly investigate cases when individuals falsely obtain benefits they are not entitled to,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service works alongside our federal law enforcement partners to conduct investigations like these, to preserve the integrity of the programs that are designed to provide financial assistance to those in need.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Keegan said: "Aly Kaba exploited the COVID-19 pandemic by orchestrating a scheme to steal identities and fraudulently obtain over $150,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, causing significant financial harm to victims in multiple states for his own selfish gain. HSI Albany is dedicated to uncovering and dismantling complex fraud schemes, leveraging our expertise and resources to protect public funds and hold perpetrators accountable. HSI remains committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the wellbeing of our communities and ensure justice for those impacted by these crimes." “This defendant took advantage of a national emergency to line his own pockets — using deception and stolen identities to siphon off unemployment benefits meant for people truly in need. That’s not just fraud, it’s theft from the American taxpayer,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “At the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, we are relentless in protecting the integrity of our unemployment insurance programs. We will continue working hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to track down fraudsters, bring charges, and ensure accountability. If you try to exploit these benefits for personal gain, we will find you.” Brobbey previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to 3 years of probation with 24 consecutive weekends in jail and restitution to victims in January 2026. This case was investigated by USPIS, HSI, and USDOL-OIG, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted the case.


title: Three Charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine  on behalf of Mexico-Based Trafficker

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three defendants have been indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Kansas City metropolitan area. One defendant is also charged with his role in a conspiracy to commit international money laundering. Geovanni L. Cano, 39, Pete Carrillo, 36, and Bayron Franco-Lopez, 39, were charged in a twelve-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Feb. 25, 2026. This superseding indictment replaces a previous indictment filed on Dec. 9, 2025. According to Court documents, between Feb. and Aug. 2025, Cano, Carrillo, and Franco-Lopez distributed approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine to law enforcement through controlled buys conducted in Kansas City, Mo. The methamphetamine was distributed on behalf of a Mexico-based broker. Cano also wired money obtained from drug sales to the broker in Mexico to further promote the drug trafficking organization. On Aug. 28, 2025, investigators arrested Cano while he was in possession of approximately 3.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. A federal search warrant was executed at Cano’s residence in Kansas City, Ks. Investigators located approximately 18.6 kilograms of methamphetamine in the residence. The charges contained in the criminal complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashleigh Ragner. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Kansas City, Kansas Police Department; and IRS-Criminal Investigations. Homeland Security Task Force This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.


title: Schenectady Man Sentenced for Drug and Firearm Offenses

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nekie Ricks, age 33, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute crack-cocaine and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) announced the sentence. In pleading guilty, Ricks admitted that in late August 2022 he was riding his bicycle in the late evening hours in the City of Schenectady when he was stopped by Schenectady Police Department officers for traffic violations and resisting arrest. At the time, Ricks had multiple plastic bags with about 31 grams of cocaine base and cash in his pant pockets and carried a cross-body Adidas bag with a loaded 9mm handgun and a high-voltage taser to protect his drugs and drug proceeds. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had previously been convicted of two prior felony offenses. In addition to the 120-month sentence of imprisonment in this case, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentenced Ricks to four years of supervised release, which will begin after he completes his term of imprisonment. First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “Ricks was riding around on a bicycle in Schenectady peddling drugs and carrying a dangerous loaded gun, which threatens public safety and makes Schenectady a more dangerous place. Thanks to ATF and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, Ricks will now be behind bars rather than handlebars and our community will be much safer.” Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo said, “This defendant, a convicted felon, chose to distribute and possess crack cocaine and a loaded gun within Schenectady. This significant sentence reflects the seriousness of those crimes. Through the strong partnership of ATF, the Schenectady Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, a repeat offender is now off the streets.” ATF investigated this Project Safe Neighborhoods case with the Schenectady Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Miguel Ortiz-Camacho, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Ortiz-Camacho illegally reentered the United States and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on February 11, 2026, after being charged with the above felony. Ortiz-Camacho was removed from the United States through Laredo, Texas, on February 26, 2021, and reentered without having obtained permission to do so. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Local man charged with assault of court security officer

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 34-year-old man for assaulting, opposing, resisting, impeding, and interfering with a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Xavier Edmond is currently in custody and expected to appear for his arraignment in the near future. On Feb. 4, Edmond allegedly attempted to bypass security screening at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston. A court security officer quickly approached Edmond and attempted to escort him from the lobby area, but Edmond swung his fists, pushed the officer, and threatened to kill him, according to the allegations. The charges further allege Edmond spit on the officer before additional security intervened and arrested him. If convicted, Edmond faces up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Department of Homeland Security – Federal Protective Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Martin is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Illegal alien ordered to federal prison for sixth unlawful reentry

body_text: HOUSTON – A 61-year-old Honduran national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Angel Arquimedez Coto-Martinez pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2025. U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now ordered him to serve 38 months in federal prison. In imposing the sentence, the court noted his repeated removals and criminal history. Not a U.S. citizen, he is again expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Coto-Martinez has multiple previous convictions for illegal reentry. Authorities first removed him in July 2005 and again in December 2010, July 2016, and twice more in 2022. He returned illegally after each removal. Most recently, he was ordered removed Feb. 27, 2022, but law enforcement found him again in the Houston area Oct. 25, 2025, with no authorization to be in the United States. Coto-Martinez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Justice Department and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office File Statement of Interest Reaffirming the Importance of Incentives to Innovate

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) filed a statement of interest in Collision Communications Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., et al. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The statement reaffirms the importance of preserving incentives to innovate, which are key to growth and dynamic competition in the U.S. economy and fundamental to the U.S. patent system. “Innovation is core to dynamic competition, and vigorous competition is central to the success of the American economy. Policies that preserve incentives to innovate are therefore vital to safeguarding competition,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Dina Kallay of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are pleased to partner with our USPTO colleagues to address these critical issues and support innovators, both big and small.” “The USPTO again joined the Justice Department in filing a statement of interest because a thorough evaluation as to whether a patent owner is entitled to injunctive relief is foundational to the exclusionary right a patent confers,” said John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. “Injunctions prevent ongoing and irreparable harm to innovators and the innovation economy, and ensure that legal remedies can stop unlawfully copied inventions from continuing to harm innovators.” Today’s statement of interest explains that unduly limiting patentees’ ability to seek injunctive relief to block patent infringement undermines the incentive to innovate. A patentee’s right to exclude is grounded in the U.S. Constitution. Non-practicing patentees should not be categorically denied the opportunity for injunctive relief and, under certain circumstances, such patentees can demonstrate irreparable harm and the inadequacy of monetary damages to compensate for the harm of continuing infringement. The statement was filed in support of neither party and does not take a position on the merits or the ultimate outcome of the questions at issue in the case. The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal court. These statements are available on the Division’s website.


title: Operation Take Back America efforts result in another 476 individuals charged in Southern District of Texas

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 473 cases have been filed in immigration and related matters from Feb. 20-26 in continuing enforcement actions to protect the southern border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The cases include charges against 23 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. The Southern District filed a total of 202 criminal complaints for illegal entry, while another 244 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The remaining cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes. Among the new cases are three men from different countries, all who are charged with felony reentry after removal. El Salvadorian Joel Antonio Alvarez-Reyes and Mexican national Arturo Corona-Santiago both have convictions for burglary, according to their charges, and had previously been removed from the United States. Law enforcement allegedly found these men in the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the country. Also charged is Ariel Lazaro Hernandez-Misiara, Honduras, who has a conviction for cocaine trafficking, according to his complaint. Authorities allegedly found him near Roma despite having been removed Jan. 2. If convicted, each illegal alien faces up to 20 years in federal prison. In addition to the new cases, a federal jury in Corpus Christi found 63-year-old Penitas resident Ludivina Vasquez-Salinas guilty of transporting an illegal alien further into the United States. On May 7, 2025, authorities encountered her driving a white SUV and observed movement beneath a blanket on the rear floorboard of her car. Vasquez-Salinas initially claimed only she and her daughter were in the vehicle but later admitted she knew an illegal alien was present and that she was transporting them past the checkpoint. The jury deliberated for only 25 minutes before finding her guilty as charged. In Houston, two illegal alien felons were ordered to federal prison for unlawfully reentering into the country. Raymundo Pecina-Lopez and Samuel Moreno-Soto received 39 months and 18 months, respectively. Both Mexican nationals have previous convictions for assault of a family member and narcotics offenses. Honduran nationals Elmer Adalid Alonzo-Zelaya and Cristian Jose Ayestas-Argueta were also ordered to prison for illegal reentry after removal. Both men have prior convictions for illegal reentry but were recently discovered unlawfully in the United States again. Alonzo-Zelaya has convictions for aggravated assault and obstruction of an officer and driving without a valid license, while Ayestas-Argueta has convictions for assault of a family member and trespassing. Also sentenced in Houston was Mexican national Edgar Jaramillo-Escobar. He had been previously convicted of illegal reentry into the United States and assault causing bodily injury. Two other sentencings occurred in Corpus Christi. Mexican nationals Serafin Garcia-Rodriguez and Hugo Balderas Juarez both have previous convictions for illegally entering and reentering the United States and drug charges. Juarez also has a prior conviction of driving under the influence. Both have now been ordered to federal prison for the new illegal reentry charges. In Houston, Veronica Michelle Torres has pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after being discovered illegally present in the country. According to records, she has various felony convictions such as credit card abuse and unlawful carrying of a weapon and now faces up to 10 years in prison following her plea of illegal reentry. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: MAN ARRESTED FOR PLOTTING WITH OTHERS TO MURDER OR KIDNAP TWO VICTIMS ABROAD AND RELATED TERRORISM OFFENSES

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence & Espionage Division, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced today that DENIS ALIMOV, a/k/a “Denis Nazarovich Alimov,” a/k/a “Denis N Alimov,” a/k/a “Denis Nevsky,” a/k/a “Dionis Nevsky,” a/k/a “Denis Klimenkov,” a/k/a “Denis Nazarovich Klimenkov,” was arrested on February 24, 2026 in Bogotá, Colombia, based on an Interpol Red Notice related to charges filed in Superseding Indictment S2 25 Cr. 122 (JPC) in the Southern District of New York. The Superseding Indictment charges ALIMOV with participating in an alleged plot to murder or kidnap two well-known dissidents abroad, as well as related terrorism offenses. U.S. authorities plan to seek the extradition of ALIMOV from Colombia. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. “As alleged, Denis Alimov and his co-conspirators tried to murder or kidnap two well-known dissidents, with Alimov offering a co-conspirator $1.5 million for each victim,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This chilling attempt shows not only the lengths malign actors will go to silence critics, but also, the resolve, expertise, and ability of American law enforcement and our partners abroad to disrupt those plots and bring those responsible to justice.” “Alimov has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a plot to locate, kidnap, and murder political dissidents who dared to speak out against their authoritarian regime,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence & Espionage Division. “Transnational repression poses a serious and growing threat to individual rights and freedoms, and the FBI is committed to investigating all plots involving U.S.-based criminal actors or victims. Today’s announcement makes clear that combating this threat is among our highest priorities, and we will work with our partners at home and abroad to find and hold accountable those who use threats and violence to silence dissent.” “Denis Alimov allegedly plotted with others to kidnap or murder two foreign dissidents and offered a co-conspirator a bounty for his help carrying out that plot,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle. “The FBI will continue to prevent hired guns from prowling the globe to carry out the nefarious agenda of others, no matter where they are.” As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today and Indictment 25 Cr. 122 (JPC): [1] An investigation by the FBI revealed that from at least in or about October 2024 through in or about March 2025, ALIMOV orchestrated a plot, with others, to kidnap or murder two well-known dissidents residing abroad (collectively, the “Targets”) from a republic in a particular foreign country. The Targets have previously been the subject of multiple reprisal and assassination attempts. In furtherance of the plot, in or about October 2024, ALIMOV met with an alleged co-conspirator, Darko Durovic, [2] at a restaurant near the headquarters of a particular foreign country’s internal security and counterintelligence service. During that meeting, ALIMOV paid Durovic approximately $60,000 to finance the plot. ALIMOV also agreed to pay Durovic approximately $1.5 million in exchange for murdering or kidnapping each of the Targets. Following their meeting in or about October 2024, ALIMOV repeatedly communicated with Durovic regarding the planning and status of the plot, including providing Durovic with IP address and phone number information for one of the Targets. Durovic, among other things, researched Glock handguns while planning travel to a European country to find one of the Targets; traveled to a second European country to locate another of the Targets; and recruited another co-conspirator to participate in the plot, who discussed with Durovic the need to “finance a hunting team” to find the Targets. * * * ALIMOV, 42, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping in a foreign country, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; one count of provision and attempted provision of material support to terrorists, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to finance terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of financing of terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The potential maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI New York Counterintelligence Office, the FBI Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, and the FBI International Operations Division. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá, our partners at the United States Embassy to Colombia, and our law enforcement partners in Colombia, for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley and Kaylan E. Lasky are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Counterterrorism Section. 26-041 ### [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation. [2] Durovic was subsequently arrested in or about March 2025, and his case is pending before Judge Cronan.


title: Connecticut Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Torture and Kill FBI Agent and Family

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Scott Robert Tardy, 32, of Seymour, Connecticut, has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for cyberstalking, providing false statements to the FBI, and obstruction of justice in a scheme that targeted a South Carolina FBI agent and his family. “The work of a law enforcement agent is difficult enough without the undue burden of threats against their safety and the safety of their family,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to support our law enforcement partners who protect South Carolina every day.” “Cyberstalking has serious consequences, as this defendant has now learned,” said Kevin Moore, special agent in charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “His deliberate actions were intended to instill fear and resulted in lasting trauma for the victims. The FBI will always investigate, pursue, and bring to justice, individuals who exploit digital platforms to engage in criminal conduct.” Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Tardy operated an account with the username “connecticut12345” on the Kik social media platform in which he joined an anti-law enforcement chat group. In those messages, Tardy repeatedly identified the victims’ association with the FBI as a reason to target them. He also shared photographs of the agent’s spouse and the city and state where they live. Tardy discussed violence against the agent and the agent’s family, including throwing a Molotov cocktail in their bedroom while they were sleeping. He asked for the conversation to be moved to the Telegram platform, where he operated the username “slimybanana,” because he believed that application was more secure. On the second platform, Tardy discussed what a cartel would do to the victims, he discussed having one of the victims “ruined,” “destroyed,” and “tortured for days.” He discussed having the violence recorded on video. He said burning the house was “good enough” if the victim was inside. Tardy then shared the location of the victims’ home by sharing a map with a pin drop on the victims’ street and asked another user how long it would take them to get there. When the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Tardy’s apartment on Feb. 16, he falsely denied ever using Kik or Telegram, and he denied responsibility for the solicitations and messages. He gave further false statements in an interview with investigators, and he caused the phone that he used to be reset, clearing its content, and exchanging it for a new phone. Despite his efforts to evade detection, data related to the Kik and Telegram accounts showed that Tardy controlled the accounts. Investigators were also able to recover the map of the victims’ home with the pin drop on it from an account associated with Tardy. During the scheme, Tardy worked as a corrections officer at a detention facility in Connecticut. Further evidence revealed that Tardy had engaged in other predatory online activity, to include messages discussing his desires to drug and rape women in his community and sharing images of friends’ children while discussing child sexual abuse. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Tardy to 80 months imprisonment, representing a variance above the advisory sentencing range provided by the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines. The Court imposed the higher sentence because of the severity of the impact on the victims. Tardy’s prison term will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Tardy to pay more than $5,000 in restitution for financial costs to the victims associated with his criminal conduct. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case. ###


title: Brazilian National Sentenced for Involvement in Large-Scale Human Smuggling Ring

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national illegally residing in Worcester, Mass., has been sentenced for his involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle aliens into the United States, money laundering conspiracy and illegal reentry. Case is part of significant international law enforcement operation targeting alien smugglers in United States and Brazil. Flavio Alexandre Alves, a/k/a “Ronaldo,” 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In October 2025 , Alves pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to and transport aliens within the United States, one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint with human smuggling in March 2025 and remains in federal custody. According to the charging documents , Alves was previously convicted of human smuggling offenses in the Central District of California in 2004 and subsequently deported to Brazil in February 2005. Sometime after his removal, Alves illegally re-entered the United States and has been residing in the United States without immigration status. In April 2022, an investigation began into a human smuggling organization (HSO) operating in the United States, Brazil and Mexico, that smuggles Brazilian nationals through Mexico, across the U.S.-Mexico border and into the United States for financial gain and laundering the proceeds. The investigation identified Alves as domestic-based smuggler for the HSO who joined the organization in 2021. Alves coordinated with co-conspirators in Brazil and Mexico to facilitate the transportation of aliens from Brazil into the United States, launder funds to Mexico to support the HSO and collect smuggling fees paid by or on behalf of the Brazilian nationals being smuggled. Specifically, Alves was responsible for purchasing airline tickets for aliens – including families and groups – to various places within the United States. This included purchasing airline tickets for Brazilian nationals to travel from border cities to other locations across the United States shortly after the aliens were encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and released from detention. Between May 2021 and August 2022, Alves purchased more than 100 individual airline tickets from Tucson or Phoenix shortly after CBP encounters, to destination cities throughout the United States. Alves sent money to aliens and smugglers located in Mexico to pay for expenses associated with transit into the United States. Bank and financial records obtained during the investigation revealed that Alves sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in money transfers to facilitate the travel of aliens who were later encountered by immigration authorities illegally crossing into the United States, and paid smugglers in Mexico for their role in the HSO. Additionally, Alves utilized different methods to conceal the nature and frequency of the transfers, including using in-person money transfer services at various locations throughout Massachusetts; providing different variations of his name and home address; and having other close associates conduct the transactions on his behalf. Alves also collected payments from aliens as the fee for being smuggled into the United States – taking a percentage of the fee as his “cut” and transferring the remainder of the money to other members of the HSO based in Mexico. The investigation and arrest of Alves was coordinated under Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) and the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) Program. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA is comprised of detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. The ECT program is a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI and focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities. 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Brasília, Brazil Attaché Troy Clausen for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement today. Substantial assistance was provided by HSI Offices in Brasilia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia; HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force; and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor, Alexandra Skinnion and Acting Deputy Chief Frank Rangoussis of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section.


title: Waterbury Man Charged with Cocaine and Firearms Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo today announced that JAN PAUL BAERGA-MARIANI, 31, of Waterbury, has been charged by indictment with narcotics and firearms trafficking offenses. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, between October 2025 and January 2026, undercover ATF agents purchased a total of approximately one kilogram of cocaine and six firearms from Baerga-Mariani. Baerga-Mariani was arrested on February 10, 2025. On that date, a court-authorized search of his residence on Wood Street in Waterbury revealed a 9mm handgun that had been reported stolen in North Carolina in December 2025, a loaded firearm magazine, additional rounds of 9mm ammunition, a small quantity of cocaine, several vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, and other items. On February 17, 2026, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Baerga-Mariani with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Baerga-Mariani has been detained since his arrest. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charges. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. A charge is only an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department with assistance from the Connecticut State Police, Bloomfield Police Department, Windsor Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Former Employee of South Lake Tahoe Construction Company Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Kami Elois Power, 55, of Gardnerville, Nevada, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins to 12 years and five months in prison for fraud and identity theft in a scheme to defraud a South Lake Tahoe construction company out of more than $1.4 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. In November 2025, following a six-day trial, a federal jury found Power guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft. As part of her sentence, Power is required to pay restitution to the victim of more than $1.4 million and forfeit two houses and the horse that she bought with the stolen money. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between November 2019 and May 2023, Power worked as an office manager and controller at a family-owned construction company in South Lake Tahoe. During her employment, Power embezzled more than $1.4 million from the company. She disguised more than $700,000 of these fraudulent transfers as payments made to vendors that the company worked with—under fake profiles she created in the names of real companies, as well as fake companies that reflected her own initials, such as “KEP Inc. Sale” and “KPI.” She disguised additional fraudulent transfers as payments for payroll or reimbursements. Power also used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized personal purchases, paid down the balance of her own personal credit cards, and used the signature of the owner of the company to write several fraudulent checks. Power used the money she stole to purchase two houses, several new cars and ATVs, and a horse. She also spent the money on field-level seats at football games and a $29,000 Hawaii vacation. This was Power’s fifth time embezzling from an employer; prior embezzlements resulted in two criminal convictions, a civil lawsuit, and a probation violation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Wong and Dhruv Sharma prosecuted the case.


title: Oyster Bay Resident Sentenced to 108 Months in Prison for $30 Million Investment Fraud Scheme and Selling Foreign Nationals Access to Prominent U.S. Politicians

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal court in Central Islip, Sherry Xue Li was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 108 months in prison for money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the United States by obstructing the Federal Election Commission’s (FEC) administration of campaign finance laws. Li orchestrated a nearly decade-long scheme to defraud investors out of more than $30 million through a fictitious development project. As part of the scheme, Li and her co-defendant Lianbo Wang falsely promised those investors that their investments would guarantee them lawful permanent resident status in the United States. Li and Wang also sold foreign investors access to U.S. politicians at fundraisers by collecting foreign-sourced funds from them and unlawfully contributing those funds to U.S. political campaigns and committees. As part of the sentence, Li was ordered to forfeit $31.5 million, as well as property at three locations, and to make restitution to her victims in the same amount. In 2024, Wang pleaded guilty to engaging in unlawful monetary transactions and conspiracy to defraud the United States, and was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. Li pleaded guilty in July 2025. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); Michael Alfonso, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI New York) announced the sentence. “Li orchestrated an elaborate fraud to steal tens of millions of dollars from more than 150 victims around the world,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “She peddled false promises and outright lies to her many investors and stuffed her pockets while they suffered devastating losses. Meanwhile, she sought to obstruct the operation of free and fair elections in our country and sold access to the democratic process to the highest bidder. Today she faces justice for her cynical schemes. Our Office will stop at nothing to hold fraudsters to account and to keep America’s elections free from unlawful foreign influence.” “By defrauding over 150 victims out of $30 million and facilitating illegal contributions to U.S. political campaigns, Sherry Li put personal profit above the law and public trust. Li’s sentencing today underscores HSI New York’s and federal law enforcement’s shared commitment to hold accountable those who orchestrate international schemes designed to undermine our immigration and financial systems. No matter how elaborate or deceptive the tactics used by fraudsters, we remain steadfast in protecting individuals and organizations from those who seek to abuse the safeguards established by our laws,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Alfonso. “Li turned the American dream into a fraud driven nightmare—stripping investors of their savings while spending their money on luxury trips. Not one EB 5 or stock investor saw the promised return. With today’s sentencing and more than $30 million forfeiture order, Li will now answer for the damage she caused,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis. The Scheme to Defraud Investors Li and Wang defrauded investors in a fictitious development project in Sullivan County, New York called the Thompson Education Center (the TEC Project) out of more than $30 million. Many of the victims were foreign nationals located in the People’s Republic of China who were persuaded to invest in the project by the defendants’ false assurances that their $500,000 investments would guarantee them lawful permanent residence in the United States through the EB-5 investment visa program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The defendants falsely represented the progress they were making on the project and its support from government officials. The defendants distributed promotional materials that contained photographs of Li with prominent U.S. politicians to falsely convey government support for the project. Li and Wang siphoned off the money they fraudulently obtained from investors by transferring the funds through bank accounts held in the names of various companies that Li had created. Once the funds were in those accounts, Li and Wang used the funds to pay for personal expenses including clothing, jewelry, housing, vacation travel, upscale dining, and political contributions to prominent politicians. The portion of the invested capital Li and Wang actually spent on the TEC Project was used merely to create and perpetuate the fiction that the TEC Project was a viable development project that was actually under construction. For example, Li and Wang hired contractors, engineers, and other professionals to create architectural drawings and plans and perform minor work on or around the development site, which Li and Wang showed to potential investors to mislead them into believing the TEC Project had a realistic probability of completion and of delivering the returns on investment that the co-conspirators promised their investors. Ultimately, more than 150 investors invested at least $31.5 million in the TEC Project, including approximately $16.5 million from EB-5 investors who were promised green cards in return for their investments, and approximately $15 million from stock investors who were promised that an initial public offering (IPO) would take place. No EB-5 investor in the TEC Project ever received a temporary or permanent green card and the TEC Project did not have an IPO or list on any stock exchange. Selling Access to U.S. Politicians In furtherance of their scheme, Li and Wang also acted as “straw donors” for foreign nationals to unlawfully contribute to campaigns supporting U.S. politicians and political committees. Li and Wang promised foreign nationals access to U.S. political events and politicians in exchange for a fee. Li and Wang used the money they received from foreign nationals to fund political contributions and falsely identified themselves and other U.S. citizens as the contributors of the funds, in violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and FEC regulations. In some cases, Li and Wang used TEC Project investors’ investment funds to make the political contributions which they used to gain access to the political events, where Li and Wang took photographs with elected officials. Li and Wang would then use the photographs as a marketing tool in soliciting investments from foreign nationals in the TEC Project. For example, Li and Wang charged 12 foreign nationals $93,000 per person for admission to a June 28, 2017 fundraising event with the then-President of the United States. Li and Wang used the funds that they collected from the foreign nationals to unlawfully make $600,000 in political contributions in their own names—$270,500 from Li and $329,500 from Wang—to the joint fundraising committee hosting the fundraiser. At the time they made these contributions, they were the largest contributors to the joint fundraising committee, which was unaware of their fraudulent conduct. Li, Wang, and their foreign national guests attended the fundraiser and took photographs with the then-President of the United States. Li and Wang later used a photograph of Li and the President taken at the fundraiser to solicit investments in the TEC Project. * * * * * The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime and Public Integrity Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew D. Reich and Meredith A. Arfa are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Magdalena St. Surin and Rebecca Roth. Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : SHERRY XUE LI Age: 54 Oyster Bay, New York The Defendant Who Previously Pleaded Guilty: LIANBO WANG Age: 49 Oyster Bay, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-484 (GRB)


title: Indictment Returned Against D.C. Jail Inmate Who Stabbed Corrections Officer in August 2025

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ovid Gabriel, 21, was indicted this week on charges related to the stabbing of a D.C. Jail corrections officer on August 3, 2025, and threats against a separate corrections officer on August 11, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Gabriel was indicted on one count each of assault with intent to kill while armed, assault on a police officer while armed, unlawful introduction of contraband into a penal institution, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and felony threats. According to the government’s evidence, on August 3, 2025, Gabriel, an inmate at the D.C. Jail, was standing in the doorway of his cell as corrections officers were performing lockdown. When an officer approached the defendant and ordered him to go into his cell, he refused and attacked the officer. Gabriel took out an improvised knife and stabbed the officer nine times. The victim spent approximately three weeks in the hospital and underwent life-saving surgery. On August 11, 2025, approximately one week after the stabbing, officers discovered a drawing on a cell wall depicting Gabriel holding a knife over a corrections officer, who was identified by name in the drawing: Gabriel signed the threat and acknowledged that he drew it. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2025 CF1 010250


title: Founders/Owners of Hertel & Brown Physical and Aquatic Therapy Each Sentenced to Six Years in Prison and Fined $250,000 for Wire and Healthcare Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - Two residents of Erie County, Pennsylvania, each have been sentenced in federal court to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $250,000 fine on their convictions of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentences on Aaron Hertel, 47, of North East, Pennsylvania, and Michael Brown, 49, of Erie, Pennsylvania. Both defendants pleaded guilty to one count in March of 2025. According to information presented to the Court, Hertel and Brown led, managed, and supervised a conspiracy involving numerous employees at Hertel & Brown Physical and Aquatic Therapy that involved the use of unlicensed technicians to treat patients and then billed health insurance providers as if licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants had provided the treatment. Additionally, the conspirators consistently billed more treatment time each day than the five locations of Hertel & Brown clinics were open, resulting in massive fraudulent overbilling. Conspirators also tampered with the patient schedule to make it appear that patients had received one-on-one treatment as required by Medicare, which the patients had not received, with the clinics instead treating multiple patients at the same time and billing the patients as if they had received individualized treatment. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Baxter noted the significant negative impact on Hertel & Brown’s employees caused by the defendants’ actions and the enormous theft of taxpayer money that resulted from the conspiracy led by the defendants. Restitution from the company and the two former owners will be determined during an April hearing. “Our office is committed to combating health care fraud and ensuring that health care professionals follow the law and act with integrity,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Today’s sentences make clear that those who defraud our health care system face serious consequences and will be punished for their crimes.” “Federal healthcare programs are not an open checkbook,” said FBI Pittsburgh Acting Special Agent in Charge Amie Loos. “When dishonest providers knowingly skew paperwork to line their pockets, it gives them an unfair advantage over honest agencies playing by the book. Complex fraud cases leave a trail – one the FBI and our partners will follow with every tool and resource at our disposal to bring those responsible to justice.” “Today’s sentences send a clear message: anyone who exploits a position of trust to fuel personal greed will be found and held accountable,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Deliberately inflating services to boost profits is a serious violation of public trust and undermines the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded health care programs. HHS-OIG will continue collaborating with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against those who defraud the American people.” “Ensuring high-quality healthcare for veterans is a top priority and these sentences reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding VA programs and services,” said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “We are grateful for the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in bringing this case to justice.” “Today’s sentencings demonstrate that DCIS, the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, will hold all those that conspire to defraud TRICARE, the healthcare system for military members and their families, accountable,” said Christopher M. Silvestro, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Northeast Field Office. “Defendants Hertel and Brown led a company that valued greed over care. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, the Department of Justice, and the Defense Health Agency to protect the integrity of the TRICARE system.” Hertel and Brown were among 20 individuals, along with the physical therapy business itself, indicted in November of 2021, with the company and 17 of the defendants pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and healthcare fraud and one additional defendant being convicted of healthcare fraud following an April 2025 jury trial. Assistant United States Attorneys Christian A. Trabold, Paul S. Sellers, and Molly W. Anglin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Department of Health and Human Services–Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Veterans Affairs–Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Section, and United States Office of Personnel Management–Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of the defendants.


title: Spree of Burglaries Yields D.C. Man Seven Year Prison Term

body_text: WASHINGTON – Daniel Holley, 59, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today for charges stemming from three burglaries, which all took place within one week in June 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Holley pleaded guilty on December 3, 2025, to one count of burglary in the first degree in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Today, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced the defendant to serve seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on June 18, 2025, Holley entered the first victim’s home while the victim was upstairs by breaking a window and stole the victim’s bike. The victim saw the defendant exiting the house with the bike and began to follow. Holley made threats to the victim, who returned to the residence and called the police. The victim provided footage from his security camera which captured the defendant’s face. On June 25, 2025, Holley was stopped by officers at the Shaw Metro Station. Also on that date, police received a report that Holley attempted to break into a second home with a crow bar, but ran away when he saw that someone was home. In another residence, several roommates reported multiple items, including electronic devices, were missing from their home. When Holley was stopped at the Shaw Metro Station he was found in possession of the stolen electronic items. Holley was arrested on June 25, 2025, and he has remained in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll thanked those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ginsburg, who prosecuted the case. 2025 CF3 007187