title: New Haven Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Third Federal Conviction, Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RONNELL ROGERS, 33, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 72 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 5, 2022, Rogers was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 37 months of imprisonment for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, and a consecutive 14 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction for unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. The sentence was subsequently reduced by seven months and Rogers was released from federal prison in March 2024 and began serving a three-year term of supervised release. On May 2, 2024, New Haven Police arrested Rogers during a traffic stop that followed a controlled purchase of fentanyl. At the time of his arrest, Rogers possessed fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution, including meth pills shaped like cartoon characters that could be mistaken for candy. Judge Dooley sentenced Rogers to 63 months of imprisonment for the narcotics offense, and an additional nine months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Rogers has been detained in federal custody since May 30, 2024, when his supervised release was revoked. On October 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl. This matter was investigated by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Postal Crimes

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Antrell Jermaine Hillard, 33, of Live Oak, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to steal postal keys, theft of postal keys, and postal robbery/assault. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant wasn’t just stealing keys from postal carriers, he was attempting to steal from everyone who relies upon the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery. Protecting the safety of our postal carriers and the security of our mail delivery is of the utmost importance, and my office will ensure this defendant is swiftly delivered to federal prison for his crimes.” Court documents reflect that between March 21, 2025, and March 29, 2025, the defendant conspired with others to steal Postal Service keys in Gainesville and Ocala. The defendant planned and participated in three separate incidents involving the theft of keys directly from United States Postal Service carriers while they were delivering mail. In one of the incidents, the defendant snatched a key that was still physically connected to the carrier’s belt, causing it to break from the carrier’s belt. Hillard faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, 10 years’ imprisonment for theft, and ten years’ imprisonment for robbery/assault. The case involved a joint investigation by United States Postal Inspection Service, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Webster Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distributing Crystal Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Webster man was sentenced on May 8, 2026 in federal court in Worcester for distributing crystal methamphetamine. Giang Tran, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2026 , Tran pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine) and distribution of methamphetamine. Tran was indicted on June 10, 2025. In December 2024 a cooperating witness told law enforcement that Tran was the supplier of pounds of crystal methamphetamine. Tran agreed to deliver crystal methamphetamine to undercover law enforcement posing as the cooperating witness on three occasions. On Jan. 2, 2025, Tran personally delivered the drugs to a commercial plaza in Everett. On Jan. 8, 2025, and again on Jan. 21, 2025, Tran sent an associate to deliver the drugs in Worcester. In total, Tran delivered or arranged the delivery of approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Riverside (Calif.) DEA Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Nicholasville Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Nicholasville, Ky., man, Brandon Graves, 33, was sentenced to 66 months imprisonment on Friday by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine. According to his plea agreement, on May 14, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Graves’ residence. During the search, officers located 81.563 grams of fentanyl, 287.98 grams of cocaine, 40.872 grams of crack cocaine, 1.819 grams of methamphetamine, 17.588 grams of psilocybin, and $18,833 in cash. Law enforcement also recovered a vacuum sealer, plastic bags, digital scales, pistol magazines, and rounds of ammunition. Under federal law, Graves must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Michael Fleming, Nicholasville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Nicholasville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Walker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Arcadia, California, Mayor Federally Charged with Acting as Illegal Agent of the People’s Republic of China

body_text: The mayor of Arcadia, California, has been charged in federal court with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Justice Department announced today. Eileen Wang, 58, of Arcadia, is charged via information with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government. In a related filing, Wang has agreed to plead guilty to the felony count, which comes with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Wang is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks. Wang was elected in November 2022 to the Arcadia City Council, a five-person governing body from which the mayor is selected on a rotating basis. “Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust at all, but particularly so because that relationship with that foreign government had never been disclosed.” “Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions.” “By her own admission, Eileen Wang secretly served the interests of the Chinese government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Let this serve as a clear warning: individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments to influence our democracy will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. Protecting the rule of law and the transparency of our democratic process remains at the core of the FBI’s mission, and we will continue working alongside our partners to safeguard the integrity of our elections and keep hostile actors from undermining the voices of the American people.” According to her plea agreement, from late 2020 through 2022, Wang and Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, California, worked at the direction and control of PRC government officials and coordinated with U.S.-based individuals to promote the PRC’s interests by, among other things, promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the United States. Sun is serving a four-year federal prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in October 2025 to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Wang and Sun worked together to operate U.S. News Center, a website that purported to be a news source for the local Chinese American community. Wang and Sun received and executed directives from PRC government officials to post pro-PRC content on the website. For example, in June 2021, a PRC official contacted Wang and other individuals via the WeChat encrypted messaging application with pre-written news articles, including a PRC official-written essay in the Los Angeles Times that stated: “China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue – There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumor to do defame China, destroy Xinjiang’s safety and stability, weaken local economy, suppress China’s development[.]” Minutes later, Wang posted the article on her own website and responded to the PRC official with a link to the article on her website. The others in the group chat did the same. The PRC official responded: “So fast, thank you everyone.” In August 2021, Wang and three other members of the same group chat shared links to the same article on their respective “news” websites, after which the PRC official thanked them for their “reporting.” At the PRC official’s request, Wang made edits to the article, sent the official a link to the article reflecting the requested change, then sent the official a screenshot showing the article had been viewed 15,128 times. In response, the official messaged, “Great!,” Wang replied, “Thank you leader.” In November 2021, Wang communicated with John Chen, a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus, who regularly attended elite Chinese Communist Party functions, including military parades, and met personally with PRC President Xi Jinping, according to court documents. Wang asked Chen to post a “news” article from her website, and wrote, “This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send.” Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official. Wang admitted in her plea agreement that she did not notify the Attorney General that she was acting in the United States as an agent of the PRC, that she was located in the United States when she engaged in these acts, and that did she not disclose on her website that some of its content had been posted at the direction of members of the PRC government. The FBI is investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen for the Central District of California is prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.


title: Honduran Illegal Alien Charged With Illegal Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – EZEQUIEL LARA-REYES (“LARA-REYES”) , age 27, a native of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on May 7, 2026, for illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, LARA-REYES, an illegal alien, was found in Tangipahoa Parish on April 15, 2026. If convicted, LARA-REYES faces a maximum penalty of 6 months of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $10 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters, of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution. * * *


title: Two Defendants Sentenced to 15 Years and Seven Years in Prison for Their Roles in a Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Two defendants were sentenced to 180 months and 84 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a sophisticated, multimillion-dollar bank fraud and identity theft scheme. According to court documents, Demetrius J. Manassa, 38, of New York, New York, and Jarrod A. Ross, 30, of Mobile, pleaded guilty to participating in a complex, nationwide bank fraud and identity theft scheme. The scheme, which lasted for nearly a decade from September 2015 to April 2025, involved widespread theft of mail, counterfeiting of checks and money orders, and impersonation of dozens of identity theft victims. To accomplish the scheme, Manassa, Ross, and other coconspirators—including Shaquan L. Manassa (“S. Manassa”), Patrick E. Williams (“Williams”), and Khashawn D. Sidberry (“Sidberry”)—obtained and possessed stolen checks and money orders, opened bank accounts using identity theft victims’ personal identifiable information (“PII”), produced dozens of forged identification documents, counterfeited hundreds of checks and money orders, and conducted millions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent transactions at banks throughout the United States, including in the Southern District of Alabama. In 2022, thousands of blank Postal Money Orders (“PMOs”) were stolen from three separate postal facilities in New York and North Carolina. Thereafter, Manassa and other coconspirators counterfeited dozens of the stolen PMOs and began fraudulently negotiating them in various accounts at banks across the southeastern United States. Postal Inspectors identified Williams on surveillance videos depositing many of the fraudulent PMOs at banks in the Mobile area. To successfully carry out the fraudulent transactions, Manassa, Ross, and other coconspirators fraudulently opened bank accounts using stolen PII of identity theft victims and generated fake identification documents bearing the victims’ stolen PII. For example, on August 5, 2022, Ross visited a bank in Mobile and fraudulently opened a checking account using a fake Mississippi driver’s license bearing Ross’s picture but the stolen PII of an identity theft victim from New York. The victim confirmed that he had never been to Alabama and did not authorize Ross to possess and use his stolen PII to open an account and conduct transactions in the victim’s name. After Ross opened the account, Williams was captured on video depositing several counterfeited PMOs into the account. The conspirators did the same thing in dozens of other accounts that they fraudulently opened in the names of identity theft victims from across the country. The fraudsters also incorporated multiple fake businesses and opened bank accounts in the names of those purported businesses so that they could attempt to negotiate higher-value checks, some of which were worth more than $1 million each. The victim owners of those stolen checks included, among others, religious organizations, small businesses, charities, and public school systems. In April 2025, federal and local law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Manassa’s home in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Inside the house, agents found dozens of stolen and counterfeited checks and money orders, fake identification documents, assorted stolen mail, counterfeiting stations with printers and dozens of sheets of blank check stock, a loaded Glock pistol, and loose ammunition. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s forensic laboratory in Dulles, Virginia, identified several fingerprints of the defendants on various items of fraudulent paperwork seized from Manassa’s house. Agents also searched Manassa’s cell phones, which contained hundreds of messages that he exchanged with Ross and other coconspirators in furtherance of the fraud scheme. Agents obtained search warrants for social media and email accounts belonging to Manassa, Ross, and others involved in the scheme. In those accounts, agents located photos and videos of Manassa and Ross committing fraudulent transactions and possessing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cash proceeds of their frauds. Manassa’s Gmail search history included searches for “fake moneygram money orders,” “how to erase pen off paper money order,” and “largest bank frauds in history.” Similarly, Ross’s iCloud account contained “fraud Bibles” and how-to guides for committing various fraud schemes. In addition to the check and money order fraud scheme described above, Ross and Sidberry submitted more than $400,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance applications to state departments of labor claiming bogus federal pandemic relief benefits. In their fraudulent applications, Ross and Sidberry made numerous misrepresentations about their entitlement unemployment benefits intended for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. “For nearly a decade, Demetrius Manassa, Jarrod Ross, and their band of fraudsters exploited and stole from hundreds of individuals, businesses, charities, schools, and other victims across the country, causing untold damage. The extraordinary investigative work of our federal and local partners put an end to it,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “The sentences in this case send a clear message: crime does not pay in the Southern District of Alabama.” “Postal Inspectors, along with other law enforcement agents, unraveled a sophisticated counterfeit check and USPS Money Order scheme that resulted in the identity theft of hundreds of victims and millions of dollars in losses,” said Shameka Jackson, Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors will continue to work tirelessly to go after those who try to exploit the U.S. mail system for fraudulent financial gain and bring them to justice. We would like to thank the DOL-OIG for their assistance in this investigation.” “Demetrius Manassa and Jarrod Ross stole money meant to help Americans find work. These sentences send a strong message to fraudsters; if you steal from the federal government and taxpayers, my office will relentlessly pursue you,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “We will work together with other law enforcement partners and have zero tolerance for fraud. We will find you and hold you accountable.” U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Manassa and Ross to serve 180 months and 84 months in prison, respectively. At sentencing, the court noted Manassa’s extensive criminal history, including a prior federal conviction for a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the District of Vermont and several state convictions for theft, fraud, and drug offenses. In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered Manassa and Ross to pay $687,259.04 in victim restitution. Upon their release from prison, Manassa and Ross each will serve five-year terms of supervised release, during which time they will be subject to credit restrictions. S. Manassa, Williams, and Sidberry pleaded guilty to participating in the fraud scheme. The court will sentence them later in 2026. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. The U.S. Secret Service, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Glen Rock Police Department (New Jersey), and the South Fulton Police Department (Georgia) substantially assisted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to more than 17 Years in Prison on Methamphetamine Trafficking Offense

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ANNISTON, Ala. – A Calhoun County man has been sentenced on drug-trafficking charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced David Allen Bentley, Jr., 50, of Anniston, Alabama, to 210 months in prison. Bentley pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to the plea agreement, on January 1, 2025, officers with the Anniston Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Bentley for failure to signal. Bentley did not stop. The officers pursued Bentley, which ended with Bentley stopping and getting out of the car at the officer’s command. Bentley was arrested for attempting to elude. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered approximately 145 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett prosecuted the case.


title: Raleigh Man Sentenced to over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Daniel Shane Tyrolf, 35, to 17.5 years in federal prison, 25 years supervised release, and a $5,000 assessment for Distribution of Child Pornography. Inmate Tyrolf pleaded guilty to the offense on November 3, 2025. “We remain focused on protecting children and fighting the evil scourge of child predators. Spiders like this hide in the dark corners of the internet web, but we will stomp them out with no mercy.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. Kik social media reported to the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children that one of their users had distributed child sexual abuse material on its platform on multiple occasions. The IP addresses came back to Inmate Tyrolf’s residence and his workplace, Tyrolf Automotives, LLC. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office and Knightdale Police Department received cybertips from NCMEC. Both agencies joined the FBI to investigate Inmate Tyrolf. Law enforcement executed search warrants on his Kik accounts and discovered he had uploaded almost 100 files of child sexual abuse material in private and group chats. Law enforcement discovered hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material in multiple accounts belonging to Inmate Tyrolf. On April 29, 2025, law enforcement executed search warrants at Inmate Tyrolf’s residence and workplace, seizing multiple digital devices. His devices contained child sexual abuse files: over 600 images of prepubescent children on one tablet, alone. Chief Capps of the Knightdale Police Department said, “The successful resolution of this case highlights the dedicated efforts of our investigators and task force partners. Protecting our children from online threats is paramount, and we remain committed to holding those who willingly exploit them fully accountable.” “This arrest highlights the importance of the collaboration and diligence our agency has with our federal, state, and local partners to protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” Sheriff Willie Rowe said. “No matter how long an investigation takes, we are committed to seeing it through till the person responsible is identified and prosecuted.” Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Knightdale Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-220-D.


title: Memphis Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Charles Williams, 39 , was sentenced for his role in engaging in a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Memphis. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. Through the utilization of recorded phone calls, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Charles Williams was distributing felony amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl for more than one year before his federal indictment in March 2025. Following his guilty plea to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced the defendant to 228 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Drug dealers with guns create a culture of criminality and deserve significant punishment. Those who sow misery, addiction, and violence into our communities by distributing poison to our citizens will reap the certain consequences of a long federal prison sentence.” “This investigation disrupted a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Memphis, Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our partners brought the full force of resources to bear – removing a dangerous individual and poisonous substances from the streets. Together with our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) counterparts, the FBI will continue to pursue those who exploit our communities for profit.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI); Desoto County Sheriff’s Office; Bartlett Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) all assisted in the investigations of Charles Williams and his co-conspirators. Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce Phillips and Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 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 Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. ### 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: Quincy Felon Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

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

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Robert Edward Nixon, 60, of Quincy, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Nixon appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 23, 2026, at 8:30 am before United States Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Nixon faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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 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 available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: New York Man Who Sexually Exploited Minor Girls Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on May 8, 2026, JAMES PAGLIARO, 27, of Middletown, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 600 months of imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for sexually exploiting minor girls with whom he initiated contact through social media apps. According to court documents and statements made in court, between April 2024 and March 2025, Pagliaro sent sexually explicit messages, many of which included sexually explicit photographs of himself, to thousands of minor girls on social media applications, including Snapchat and TikTok, in an apparent attempt to ensnare and cultivate child “sex slaves.” He successfully coerced at least four girls, including a 15-year-old girl in Connecticut, a 15-year-old girl in the United Kingdom, a 15-year-old girl in New Jersey, and a 16-year-old-girl in Florida, into producing hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos for his sexual gratification. He also traveled to Connecticut at least three times to engage in sexual conduct with the 15-year-old Connecticut victim, whom he forced to engage in sex acts and threatened with violence. A forensic evaluation of Pagliaro’s phone revealed that he exchanged tens of thousands of text messages with his victims, including many messages highlighting their age, and spoke with them on phone and video calls on hundreds of occasions. Pagliaro initially professed his love to his victims, promising them that he would marry them once they turned eighteen, but later threatened them, sending photographs of guns, ammunition and knives and telling the Connecticut victim, for example, that he could murder someone’s entire family without having any trouble sleeping at night and that she should “keep that in mind.” Pagliaro also forced his victims to create humiliating, degrading, and dangerous videos as punishments for their perceived failures, which included sending explicit videos on the wrong social media platform, and he encouraged at least one victim to commit suicide. He also had the Connecticut victim sign a three-page slavery contract purporting to memorialize her “eternal slavery” to Pagliaro and encouraged her to recruit other minors to engage in sexual conduct with him. The forensic evaluation of Pagliaro’s phone revealed that he also possessed thousands of other videos and images of children in sexually explicit conduct, including videos depicting the sexual exploitation of infants and toddlers. “This defendant exploited social media apps to cast a wide net to ensnare young girls into committing sexually degrading acts for his own gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “When successful, he used grooming techniques and psychological manipulation to coerce, abuse, and terrorize his victims. This prosecution and the Court’s imposition of a long prison term should serve as a stark warning for anyone who may use technology to prey upon children. I thank HSI and our local law enforcement partners who investigated this matter, brought justice to his victims, and protected countless others from additional harm.” “Pagliaro is a depraved child predator who has earned every day of his 50-year sentence,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “He contacted hundreds of children online and successfully ensnared several girls, making them first believe they were in a real, loving relationship before slowly exerting more control, more abuse, and more violence. The victims in this case exhibited extraordinary bravery coming forward despite Pagliaro’s threats against them and their families and we hope that this sentence brings some comfort and peace as they move toward healing. HSI remains relentless in its pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation.” Pagliaro was arrested on March 19, 2025. On February 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and traveling to engage in sexual activity with a minor. He has been detained since his arrest. This investigation was conducted by HSI New England, HSI Hudson Valley, the Orange County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office, and the Danbury, Ridgefield, and Watertown Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Morgan County Man Sentenced to 160 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Hartselle man has been sentenced for committing child sexual exploitation crimes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Caleb Sean Wheeler, 28, to 1920 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In January, Wheeler pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count each of transportation and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, in June 2025, Wheeler produced three videos and one image of child pornography and transported child pornography. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the innocent children of this district from crimes like those committed by Caleb Wheeler,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “With the help of our law enforcement partners, Wheeler will spend the rest of his life in federal prison unable to hurt another child.” “The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that demands immediate and vigorous action from law enforcement,” said David R. Fitzgibbons, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Birmingham. “At the FBI, we are committed to doing everything in our power, with a sense of urgency and in collaboration with our partners, to protect innocent children and bring predators to justice.” If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org . The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency/ State Bureau of Investigations, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Huntsville Police Department, and Decatur Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.


title: Felon Who Possessed Gun Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced on May 7, 2026, to more than two years in federal prison. Christopher Dante Roby, age 34, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 8, 2025, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. At the guilty plea, Roby admitted that in December 2024, he illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol. Roby had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including first degree burglary, domestic abuse assault strangulation with injury, felon in possession of a firearm, and intimidation with a weapon. Roby was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Roby was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Roby is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Waterloo Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-2043.


title: Pocatello Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Drugs

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: POCATELLO- U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Kacey Franklin James, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin mushrooms in eastern Idaho. According to court records, the Idaho State Police executed a search warrant on James’ Pocatello residence in October of 2023. They found approximately 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 7.53 grams of LSD, and 1.23 pounds of MDMA, Psilocybin mushrooms, and various other drugs in the home. Officers also recovered 14 firearms, including one reportedly stolen and two short-barreled shotguns that were not properly registered to James. A jury found James guilty of three counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin, two counts of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense on January 29, 2026. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced James to 192 months in federal prison, ordered him to pay a $500 fine, and imposed a five-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence. U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the Idaho State Police along with the assistance of the BADGES Task Force, which led to the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Blythe McLane and Special Assistant United States Attorney Zoie Laggis prosecuted the case for the Government. ###


title: Edmond Doctor Pays $110,000 to Settle Civil Penalty Claims Stemming from Allegations of Controlled Substance Recordkeeping Violations

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Edward Shadid, MD (“Dr. Shadid”), paid $110,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from allegations that he violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (“Act”) and its regulations, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. Recordkeeping is a vital part of managing controlled substances. Complete and accurate records help avoid diversions and losses of controlled drugs. A Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) registrant who transfers controlled substances between locations must comply with the applicable requirements as well as register with the DEA for each principal place of business or professional practice where controlled substances are stored. Registrants must also follow the inventory requirements when purchasing and storing controlled substances. Failure to do so subjects the registrant to civil monetary penalties. Dr. Shadid is a board-certified spinal surgeon who operates the Spine & Pain Care of Oklahoma clinic in Edmond, Oklahoma (“Spine & Pain Edmond”) and the Spine & Pain Care of Oklahoma clinic in Lawton, Oklahoma (“Spine & Pain Lawton”). The United States alleges that from January 2024 through July 2025, Dr. Shadid failed to use DEA Form 222s when transferring Schedule II controlled substances from Spine & Pain Edmond to Spine & Pain Lawton. Dr. Shadid also failed to maintain accurate records of transfers of Schedule IV controlled substances between the same clinic locations. In addition, Dr. Shadid failed to obtain a separate DEA registration for Spine & Pain Lawton and maintain a biennial inventory of the controlled substances stored at the clinics. To resolve these allegations, Dr. Shadid agreed to pay $110,000 to the United States. In reaching this settlement, Dr. Shadid did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald R. Gallegos and Amanda R. Johnson prosecuted the case.


title: HSTF: Chinese National and Las Vegas Man Charged in Scheme to Import Deadly Synthetic Opioid into US

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: Law Enforcement in the People’s Republic of China Confirmed That a Defendant Was Arrested as Part of a Parallel Investigation MIAMI – A Chinese national and a Las Vegas man have been charged by federal indictment for their roles in a scheme to import large quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid protonitazene in the U.S. and distribute it as counterfeit pills. These charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with assistance and collaboration with the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security. According to court records, beginning in approximately September 2024, Jia Guo, a/k/a “idmaster21,” a/k/a “imyourBDOguy,” a/k/a “OXY GUY,” of China, and Seven Schmidt, a/k/a “Vegas,” of Nevada, operated a drug trafficking organization that sourced protonitazene overseas and shipped it into the U.S. for distribution. Protonitazene — often used in counterfeit pill production — is significantly more potent than fentanyl. A quantity as small as 200 grams can produce hundreds of thousands of pills, each potentially lethal. “This case shows why President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force matters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The indictment alleges that a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring a deadly synthetic opioid into the United States and turn it into counterfeit pills for distribution across the country. These pills are made to look familiar, but one pill can kill. If you use South Florida as a gateway to import synthetic opioids, make counterfeit pills, or profit from addiction, you will face federal prosecution. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.” “The bilateral investigation with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security underscores DEA Asia Pacific Division’s unwavering commitment to the protection of American lives: disrupting criminal organizations responsible for distributing dangerous synthetic opioids across the United States is one of DEA’s main priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge David L. King of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “We commend the Chinese Ministry of Public Security for their thorough and swift investigative work on this case, which was initially presented at the February 2026 Bilateral Drug Enforcement Intelligence Working Group, hosted by DEA Asia Pacific Division in Colorado.” “This was the very definition of agents and officers working in unison to bring these criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA, Miami Field Division. “Lives will be saved because of their efforts.” “The US Postal Inspection service remains committed to removing these poisons from our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the USPIS, Miami Division. “These charges serve as a warning to others that, using the US Mail to distribute dangerous drugs has consequences.” Guo allegedly coordinated the illegal procurement and shipment of protonitazene from China to co-conspirators, including an associate in Miami-Dade County. That associate allegedly used pill presses to manufacture counterfeit pills, which were then distributed to drug dealers throughout the U.S. Schmidt allegedly ordered distribution quantities of the counterfeit pills and arranged for their shipment from South Florida to Nevada using the U.S. Postal Service. As part of the investigation, China’s Ministry of Public Security took law enforcement action in China against Guo. In April 2026, Chinese officials arrested Guo and the freight forwarder, who Guo conspired with to send controlled substance parcels to the U.S. As part of the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security seized 10 parcels filled with controlled substances that Guo sent which were for recipients in the U.S. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Public Security for its assistance and coordinated efforts. Guo and Schmidt are charged with conspiracy to import protonitazene into the United States from China and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute protonitazene. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the two counts. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Aley, Special Agent in Charge King, and Inspector in Charge Rojo made the announcement. DEA Miami, USPIS Miami, and DEA Beijing are investigating the case with the assistance from and in collaboration with China’s Ministry of Public Security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Homestead (FL) Police Department, the Henderson (NV) Police Department, DEA Dallas, DEA Las Vegas, DEA Seattle, the Miami-Dade Sherriff’s Office, and the Miami Beach Police Department also provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Prosecutorial, Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) Beijing Resident Legal Advisor, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. 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 Miami comprises of agents and officers from DEA and USPIS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-20161. ###


title: Albuquerque Man Convicted of Fentanyl Trafficking Following Multi-City High-Speed Pursuit

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – After a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted an Albuquerque man of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following a high-speed pursuit through multiple New Mexico cities. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tevin King , 33, was the subject of an active federal arrest warrant on August 19, 2024, related to a supervised release violation. Surveillance indicated King was in Hobbs, New Mexico, where agents observed a black Malibu departing a residence and tracked it as it traveled to Portales, New Mexico. Law enforcement followed the vehicle to a Stripes gas station in Portales. There, the passenger exited the driver’s seat and entered the store, creating an opportunity for agents to move in on the vehicle. King , who had been concealed inside, then moved into the driver’s seat and fled as agents attempted to contain the car. During the pursuit, King drove at high speed while attempting to evade law enforcement. As agents followed closely, King discarded canvas tote bag from the driver’s side window near Eastern New Mexico University. The bag was observed by law enforcement and also by a civilian who retrieved the bag and delivered it to campus police. The bag contained approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills. The pursuit continued into Clovis, New Mexico, where King ’s vehicle collided with a law enforcement unit in a residential area, ending the chase and resulting in King ’s arrest. King was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Following the verdict, the Court ordered that King remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, King faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Portales Police Department, Clovis Police Department, the Lea County Drug Task Force, and the Region V Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mease and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting this case.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Willie U. Mills, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on May 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 77 months in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Mills’s prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Mills pleaded guilty to this charge on February 18, 2026. On October 1, 2025, Madison police officers arrested Mills on an active probation warrant for numerous felony convictions. Officers searched Mills, his vehicle, and his possessions following the arrest. Law enforcement found approximately 9 grams of fentanyl in his pocket, 59 grams of methamphetamine inside a backpack, various pills, and multiple digital scales in his car. They also found just over $9,400 in cash inside his backpack. At sentencing, Judge Conley considered Mills’s lengthy and varied criminal history, expressing concern that Mills had “escalated to worse and worse drugs.” The charge against Mills was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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). # # # #


title: Minnesota Rustler Convicted for Moving Stolen Cattle into Northern Iowa

body_text: A Minnesota man who stole cattle from a farmer and sold them in Northeast Iowa pled guilty on May 8, 2026, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lawrence “Larry” Patrick Burns, age 48, from Eitzen, Minnesota, was convicted of one count of transportation of stolen livestock. In a plea agreement, Burns admitted that, from at least October 2017 to March 2024, he worked as a farmhand in Minnesota. From time to time, a farmer directed Burns to transport certain cattle and grain at various locations in Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri, as part of Burns’ employment. Without the farmer’s knowledge, Burns loaded extra cattle and grain and sold the extra cattle and grain in Burns’ own name. Burns lied and claimed he owned a portion of the cattle and grain that he was transporting across state lines. In the plea agreement, Burns admitted he stole at least $150,000 of the farmer’s cattle and grain during this timeframe. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Burns remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Burns faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 26-CR-2002. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man Charged with Drug Trafficking After Investigators Seize 84 Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Cleveland, Mo. man was charged by criminal complaint after investigators seized 86 pounds of methamphetamine. Russell D. Kircher, 41, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint on May 4, 2026, investigators of the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MOWIN) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Kansas City Interdiction Task Force (KCITF) were working at the “sort” at a UPS center when they identified a parcel being shipped from Los Angeles, Ca., to Cleveland, Mo. Investigators observed the parcel to be consistent with attempted concealment of illegal drugs and obtained a search warrant for it. Investigators opened the parcel and observed an orange-colored FIFA HOME DEPOT bucket. The bucket contained approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine. On May 5, 2026, an undercover investigator delivered the parcel to the delivery address in Cleveland, Mo. Investigators obtained a search warrant from the Cass County, Mo. Circuit Court. Kircher was arrested and investigators recovered approximately 2.24 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe from Kircher’s person. After obtaining another search warrant, investigators searched Kircher’s property and located a large plastic tote, approximately six to eight inches deep in the ground, containing 27 sealed packages of methamphetamine, weighing approximately 62.88 pounds. In total, investigators seized approximately 84 pounds of methamphetamine. The charges contained in this 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 Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Cass County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, DEA Kansas City Interdiction Task Force, and Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Peoria Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – On May 7, 2026, a Peoria, Illinois, man, Wallace Jordan, 56, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for distribution of methamphetamine and 24 months’ imprisonment for possessing a firearm as a felon by United States District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley. The judge ordered that the sentences be served concurrently and imposed a five-year term of supervised release. In December 2024, Jordan, who was already a convicted felon, possessed and sold a loaded firearm. He also sold approximately 110.4 grams of methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, Jordan was prohibited from possessing firearms. Jordan was indicted in September 2025 and pleaded guilty in February 2026. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in October 2025. The statutory penalties for distribution of methamphetamine include the mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, which the court imposed, to life imprisonment; up to five years of supervised release; and up to a $10,000,000 fine. The statutory penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, comprised of agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and the Illinois State Police, investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Jordan 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: U.S. Department of Justice Announces Compensation Process for Victims of AirBit Club Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Last week the Department of Justice announced the launch of the remission compensation process to provide recovery to victims of AirBit Club, a purported virtual currency mining and trading company that was a pyramid scheme. Beginning in late 2015, promoters marketed AirBit Club as a multilevel marketing club. Promoters promised victims that AirBit Club memberships earned passive, guaranteed daily returns on virtual currency mining and trading, and hosted lavish expos and small community presentations aimed at convincing victims to purchase AirBit Club memberships and further promote the scheme. While victims saw “profits” accumulate on their online portal, those representations were false; no virtual currency mining or trading took place. In August 2020, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced charges against five defendants, including the AirBit co-founders Pablo Renato Rodriguez and Gutemberg Dos Santos, who were sentenced in September 2023. Other defendants included promoters Cecilia Millan and Karina Chairez and attorney Scott Hughes, who were sentenced in October 2023 and ordered to forfeit all of their fraudulent proceeds realized from the scheme, which included substantial amounts of virtual currency. To date, the United States has forfeited over $400 million in assets which are now available to compensate eligible victims for their compensable losses. Any victims who have previously provided their information to the FBI or U.S. Attorney’s Office will be contacted by the remission administrator, RCB Fund Services, LLC, (RCB) to file a petition. For more information about the remission process and to access the petition form, please visit the official website at https://www.airbitvictimfund.com/ or contact RCB at (800) 765-7551. “The Department will vigorously pursue those that abuse new technologies to steal millions from hard-working individuals,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants took advantage of virtual currency’s popularity to promote the scheme and recruit additional victims. The criminal convictions and substantial asset recoveries obtained by prosecutors and law enforcement partners have enabled the Department to successfully launch this significant victim compensation effort.” “Investor euphoria over new technology is all too often fertile ground for fraudsters,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “It is our job to root out those fraudsters. Here, the defendants led a multimillion-dollar pyramid scheme based on lies about virtual currency trading and mining. They now face justice, and this outcome should deter anyone who may be tempted to target others with false promises of high returns in virtual currency investments.” “HSI New York's El Dorado Financial Crimes Task Force, the largest anti-money laundering task force in the United States, is proud to have played a vital role in delivering justice to the victims of the fraudulent AirBit Club," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Virtual currency fraud is one of the costliest scams affecting victims today. HSI New York, along with our law enforcement partners through our newly formed Homeland Security Task Force, will continue to pursue fraudsters who promote these schemes, and will utilize every tool at our disposal to recover their ill-gotten gains for investor victims.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Cecilia E. Vogel for the Southern District of New York represented the government in both the criminal prosecution and forfeiture proceedings with valuable assistance from forfeiture contract paralegal Christina Lopresti. HSI’s El Dorado Task Force, HSI Panama, the HSI Panama City Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, and HSI New Orleans investigated the case. Attorneys and investigators at the SEC brought substantial expertise and diligence to develop the investigation. The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has returned more than $12.5 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Senior Attorney Advisor Carly Diroll-Black with MNF’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the remission process. Neither the Remission Administrator nor the Department of Justice will ask for any payment to participate in this remission process. Please be cautious of any individual or organization claiming to represent the Remission Administrator or the federal government in this matter. If you are a victim, any communications will come directly from the Remission Administrator or from government representatives with whom you have already had contact. PSA: FBI Warns of the Impersonation of Law Enforcement and Government Officials https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250418 PSA: Fictitious Law Firms Targeting Cryptocurrency Scam Victims Combine Multiple Exploitation Tactics While Offering to Recover Funds https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250813 How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam


title: United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros Hosts First-of-Its-Kind All Fed-Head Summit in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO – Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today assembled the highest law enforcement leadership from the entire federal apparatus in the Chicagoland region for a historic, first-of-its-kind summit to discuss collaborative efforts to oversee important federal enforcement priorities and do the people’s business. The most senior leaders from more than 40 federal agencies operating in the Chicagoland region participated in the summit, as did nine U.S. Attorneys from the Seventh Circuit (Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin) and other federal districts, in addition to the Head of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force. The day-long 2026 Chicago-Area Federal Agency Leadership Summit, informally dubbed “Davos in Chicago,” began with the Presentation of Colors and then moved on to a series of presentations and panel discussions focused on six key program areas: (i) violent crime, (ii) national security, (iii) narcoterrorism, (iv) government fraud, (v) trade fraud, and (vi) quantum computing. U.S. Attorney Boutros convened the summit to reinforce areas of collaboration and synergies among the agencies as part of a whole-of-government approach intended to strengthen the safety and security of the Northern District of Illinois, the region, as well as the public fisc. The pioneering summit represented the first time anywhere in the country that a United States Attorney has convened and hosted a gathering of an entire region’s federal leadership. “As the chief federal law enforcement officer of the third largest federal district in the country—and of a U.S. Attorney’s Office that is one of the most storied in our nation’s history—I have the distinct privilege and honor to lead from the front and make the Northern District of Illinois the envy of the nation when it comes to effectuating positive changes for the betterment of the people,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “I convened this important summit because we have reached a critical juncture in Chicago where ‘good enough’ is simply not enough. My goal in bringing together the highest-ranking officials from more than 40 federal agencies and all the U.S. Attorneys of the Seventh Circuit and others is to innovate and achieve real, positive, and transformational results both rapidly and fairly. Although the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is in constant contact with many of these partners throughout the year, a summit of this magnitude will serve as a model for other districts, while for our purposes, allows for agency and district partners to come together in one room to exchange ideas and have candid discussions about what’s working, what’s not working, where changes may be needed, and how we can best support each other for the betterment of our communities and the nation. My message to the leaders assembled today was clear: We must be intentional with our actions. We must let our actions speak for themselves. We must rise to the occasion at this moment in time. And we must stay focused, ignore distractions, work closely together, and move with purpose, intensity, accuracy, and impact in support of our public safety and law enforcement missions. The people are counting on us, and we must deliver for them.” Today’s summit featured various panels and presentations, including three panels—comprised of Section Chiefs, office leaders, and agency heads—entitled, (i) “Government Fraud and Corruption,” (ii) “Anti-Violence Initiatives in Chicago,” and (iii) “Homeland Security Task Force, Narcotics Trafficking, and Narco-Terrorism.” Two additional panels, one led by the U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern District of Michigan and Southern District of Indiana, tackled the difficult topic of national security threats posed to our research institutions, while another panel led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation discussed quantum computing given Chicago’s emergence as a global quantum capital. In addition, Cody Herche, Head of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force, presented on the Trade Fraud Task Force and its significance in the Chicagoland region, where the Northern District of Illinois has expansive venue. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is lead prosecutorial partner on the Trade Fraud Task Force, which brings robust enforcement against importers, brokers, purchasers, industrial and commercial end-users, and other supply chain actors and parties who seek to defraud the United States or introduce non-compliant goods into the commerce of the United States. Finally, today’s summit concluded with a special panel of United States Attorneys from throughout the Seventh Circuit, which includes Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. U.S. Attorney Boutros moderated this panel, which discussed district and region priorities, emerging legal issues in the Midwest, and collaborative ways for the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to address them. Also in attendance at the summit were the United States Attorneys for the Western District of Missouri and Eastern District of Arkansas. The informal name of today’s summit—“Davos in Chicago”—draws from the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting, which brings together world leaders and top businesspersons for a renowned conference each January in Davos, Switzerland. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office wishes to extend a special thank you to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for physically hosting today’s summit in its downtown Chicago headquarters and for the incredibly warm hospitality it extended to all those who gathered.


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition in Bay County, Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Emiliano Rafael Hernandez Escamilla, Jr., 30, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Hernandez appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 8:30 am in Tallahassee before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Zuni Man Sentenced for 2021 Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was sentenced to five years in prison for a 2021 assault that left the victim with severe injuries. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on December 16, 2021, Darold ZunieFeathers , 29, and John Doe had been hanging out with friends when they decided to buy more cigarettes before the gas station closed. Instead of driving to the gas station, ZunieFeathers turned down a side dirt road and assaulted John Doe in the car. During the assault, ZunieFeathers struck John Doe repeatedly and bit him multiple times on the torso, arm, and hand. The bites caused severe damage to John Doe's hand, resulting in the amputation of one finger and the partial amputation of another. At the time of the assault, ZunieFeathers was on supervised release following a 2017 conviction for involuntary manslaughter. ZunieFeathers pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon his release from prison, ZunieFeathers will be subject to three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Zuni Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case.


title: Arcadia Mayor Federally Charged with Acting as Illegal Agent of the People’s Republic of China

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The mayor of Arcadia has been charged in federal court with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Justice Department announced today. Eileen Wang, 56, of Arcadia, is charged via information with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government. In a related filing, Wang has agreed to plead guilty to the felony count, which comes with a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Wang is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks. Wang was elected in November 2022 to the Arcadia City Council, a five-person governing body from which the mayor is selected on a rotating basis. “Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions.” “Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust at all, but particularly so because that relationship with that foreign government had never been disclosed.” “By her own admission, Eileen Wang secretly served the interests of the Chinese government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Let this serve as a clear warning: Individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments to influence our democracy will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. Protecting the rule of law and the transparency of our democratic process remains at the core of the FBI’s mission, and we will continue working alongside our partners to safeguard the integrity of our elections and keep hostile actors from undermining the voices of the American people.” "All Americans should be alarmed to learn an elected official was brazenly spreading propaganda on behalf of the Chinese government," said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "The FBI is dedicated to rooting out those illegally acting as agents of a foreign government as they do the bidding of America’s adversaries." According to her plea agreement, from late 2020 through 2022, Wang and Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, worked at the direction and control of PRC government officials and coordinated with U.S.-based individuals to promote the PRC’s interests by, among other things, promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the United States. Sun is serving a four-year federal prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in October 2025 to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Wang and Sun worked together to operate U.S. News Center, a website that purported to be a news source for the local Chinese American community. Wang and Sun received and executed directives from PRC government officials to post pro-PRC content on the website. For example, in June 2021, a PRC official contacted Wang and other individuals via the WeChat encrypted messaging application with pre-written news articles, including a PRC official-written essay in the Los Angeles Times that stated: “China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue – There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumor to do defame China, destroy Xinjiang’s safety and stability, weaken local economy, suppress China’s development[.]” Minutes later, Wang posted the article on her own website and responded to the PRC official with a link to the article on her website. The others in the group chat did the same. The PRC official responded: “So fast, thank you everyone.” In August 2021, Wang and three other members of the same group chat shared links to the same article on their respective “news” websites, after which the PRC official thanked them for their “reporting.” At the PRC official’s request, Wang made edits to the article, sent the official a link to the article reflecting the requested change, then sent the official a screenshot showing the article had been viewed 15,128 times. In response, the official messaged, “Great!,” Wang replied, “Thank you leader.” In November 2021, Wang communicated with John Chen, a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus, who regularly attended elite Chinese Communist Party functions, including military parades, and met personally with PRC President Xi Jinping, according to court documents. Wang asked Chen to post a “news” article from her website, and wrote, “This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send.” Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official. Wang admitted in her plea agreement that she did not notify the Attorney General that she was acting in the United States as an agent of the PRC, that she was located in the United States when she engaged in these acts, and that did she not disclose on her website that some of its content had been posted at the direction of members of the PRC government. The FBI is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.


title: Danville Man Arrested, Charged on Numerous Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – An indictment charging a Danville, Va. man in connection with twelve felony charges related to child exploitation, including the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sexual enticement of minors, cyberstalking, and making threats to injure reputation with intent to extort, was unsealed today following his recent arrest in New Mexico. In a sealed indictment returned April 9, 2026, a federal grand jury in Roanoke charged Jesus Diaz, 25, of Danville, with two counts of making extortive threats to injure the reputation of a minor, one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of cyberstalking of a minor, four counts of production of child sexual abuse material, and four counts of enticement of a minor. Diaz was arrested April 16, 2026 in New Mexico. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in the Western District of Virginia on May 15, 2026. According to the indictment and other court documents, in March 2024, Minor Victim 1 (MV1), then a 17-year-old female living in Idaho, reported to local law enforcement that an individual was extorting her for sexually explicit images and videos. MV1 indicated that several years earlier, when she was 14 years old, she sent nude images via social media to an individual she knew as “Xavier” and that Xavier was now threatening to send those previous pictures and videos to MV1’s family, friends and church members if MV1 didn’t continue communicating with him and send more images. The Idaho Office of the Attorney General Criminal Division reached out to agents with the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to assist in their investigation after they determined accounts used by “Xavier” to send threatening communications were associated with an IP address in Danville, Virginia. Agents with HSI determined that the Danville IP address was associated with Diaz. In addition, they determined Diaz would be returning to the United States from an overseas trip via Hartfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Upon his arrival, law enforcement seized several digital devices from Diaz and obtained search warrants for the devices. During the resulting search, investigators found that that Diaz’s phone allegedly contained references to social media accounts used to harass and threaten MV1. HSI subsequently investigated further. In searches of the devices and digital accounts associated with Diaz, HSI found nude and sexually explicit pictures of MV1 and at least 24 other minor females. Diaz allegedly used social media platforms to meet his victims and to solicit nude pictures and images from them. In some instances, Diaz allegedly threatened to broadcast victims’ previous images if they stopped communicating with him or refused to send more images. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and HSI Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Valuable investigative assistance was provided by the Idaho Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Division, the City of Danville Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations provided valuable assistance in the apprehension of Diaz. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ . An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Additional Charges Files Against Massachusetts State Representative

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Massachusetts State Representative for the First Barnstable District has been charged in a superseding indictment with additional counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns. Christopher Flanagan, 38, of Dennis, Mass. was indicted with eight counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, one count of falsification of records and three counts of filing false tax returns. Flanagan was previously charged in a six-count indictment in April 2025 . He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Flanagan is currently the Massachusetts State Representative for the First Barnstable District, which includes the towns of Dennis, Yarmouth and Brewster. Prior to being elected to his first two-year term to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 2022, Flanagan served two consecutive three-year terms as a member of the Town of Dennis Select Board. Flanagan received an annual compensation of approximately $97,546 and $100,945 in 2023 and 2024, respectively, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. From approximately early 2019 to mid-2024, Flanagan also served as the Executive Officer of a Home Builders Association in Cape Cod (HBA) – a professional trade association that represented the Cape Cod building industry comprised of over 300 members. As HBA Executive Officer, Flanagan reported to a Board of Directors and had signatory authority over HBA bank accounts. Flanagan received annual salary and benefits ranging approximately from $65,800 to $81,600 from 2019 to 2024 from the HBA. It is alleged that, beginning in at least as early as October 2021, Flanagan was facing personal financial difficulty, with thousands of dollars in outstanding credit card debt, missing mortgage payments and hundreds of dollars in bank overdraft fees. According to the superseding indictment, from in or about November 2021 to January 2023, Flanagan stole more than $36,000 in HBA funds from one of the association’s bank account via wire transfers: Additionally, it is alleged that from February 2021 to December 2023, Flanagan stole more than $7,000 from another HBA bank account via wire transfers: Flanagan allegedly used the majority of the stolen funds to pay personal mortgage bills, to pay down thousands of dollars in credit card debt and to make other personal expenditures. In one instance, in January 2023, Flanagan allegedly stole $10,000 from HBA in order to fund his campaign account for State Representative. It is further alleged that, in addition to stealing HBA funds via official checks and PayPal transfers, Flanagan also stole hundreds of dollars via direct debit transactions from the association’s bank account funds to pay for personal psychic services in July 2022. The superseding indictment alleges that Flanagan did not report the stolen funds on his personal tax returns for tax years 2021, 2022 and 2023. Additionally, it is alleged that Flanagan collected rental income that he failed to report on his 2023 tax returns. According to the superseding indictment, on or about May 5, 2024, Flanagan concealed the stolen funds from the HBA Board by logging onto HBA’s accounting/bookkeeping software using another employee’s account, entering backdated transactions to account for the stolen funds and entering false transaction codes (e.g., “office supplies,” “travel” and “bank charges”) for the withdrawals. As part of his concealment, it is alleged that Flanagan told the HBA Board that he withdrew funds to reimburse himself for HBA-related expenses that he had paid for out-of-pocket with his personal funds. When the HBA Board requested proof, Flanagan allegedly provided two phony expense reports: On the first expense report, Flanagan allegedly claimed he had spent $159.36 on “Technology Expenses” at Best Buy on March 4, 2022 and $537.26 on “Office Supplies” at 4Imprint on April 18, 2022. Records of the actual purchases, however, allegedly showed that the Best Buy purchase was for a portable Bluetooth speaker and that the 4Imprint purchase was for t-shirts supporting Flanagan’s State Representative campaign: Additionally, in the second expense report, Flanagan allegedly claimed to have spent a total of $3,784.84 on “Office Supplies.” Records of the actual purchases, however, allegedly showed that $2,118.10 of this amount was actually used for Flanagan’s personal expenses. Specifically: $613.70 and $361.24 Best Buy purchases were allegedly for an electric dryer and an air conditioner, both delivered to Flanagan’s home; a $1,050.30 Macy’s purchase allegedly for men’s ties, dress shirts, slacks and sports coats; and a $92.86 purchase at Target allegedly for children’s clothes and toys. According to the superseding indictment, in or about December 2022, the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) opened an investigation regarding a campaign mailer that was distributed during Flanagan’s 2022 campaign for State Representative, purportedly a group called “Conservatives for Dennis.” It is further alleged that Flanagan obstructed the OCPF investigation by attributing the source of the mailer to a false persona he created named, “Jeanne Louise,” whom Flanagan claimed was a member of an independent conservative group that had endorsed his candidacy. It is further alleged that Flanagan created and sent phony emails to OCPF purporting to be on behalf of vendors responsible for creating and distributing the mailer. In or about October 2023, after Flanagan admitted to OCPF that Jeanne Louise was fake and that he himself was the source of the mailer, OCPF expanded its investigation into Flanagan’s campaign finance activity. Specifically, OCPF requested Flanagan produce evidence that the $10,000 deposited into his campaign account in January 2023 had indeed come from his personal funds. However, it is alleged that Flanagan’s bank statements from the time of the deposit in January 2023 would reflect that he could not have issued the $10,000 campaign check without his theft of HBA money – showing a beginning balance of approximately $42.28 just one week before depositing the stolen funds. In response, Flanagan allegedly provided OCPF with falsified expense reports that claimed that: the $10,000 check from HBA constituted legitimate HBA-reimbursed expenses; that HBA had a practice of allowing Flanagan to withdraw large sums of money for the purpose of expense reimbursement; and therefore, the $10,000 campaign check was a legitimate donation of Flanagan’s own personal funds. It is further alleged that Flanagan transferred the $10,000 in stolen funds from his personal bank account into his campaign bank account before using the funds to pay vendors in order to conceal the true source of the funds. The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000. The charge of falsification of records provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of filing false income tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.