title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $10.5 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Northern District of Alabama collected $10,559,853.82 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. Of this amount, $5,051,988.20 was collected in criminal actions and $5,507,865.62 was collected in civil actions . “I am tremendously proud of the work done by my office’s Financial Litigation Program,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The Financial Litigation Program works tirelessly to collect debts owed to the United States, as well as those owed to crime victims.” The Financial Litigation Program’s work is far-reaching. For example, in April 2025, Robert Winston Burgett was sentenced for embezzling almost $950,000 from the City of Homewood. Within days, the Financial Litigation Program identified Burgett’s retirement accounts and issued collection papers on them. To date, $195,000 has been collected. The U.S. Attorneys’ Office, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Alabama, working with partner agencies and divisions, initiated the forfeiture of 314 separate criminal assets in 134 cases in Fiscal Year 2025, almost doubling case numbers from recent prior years. These forfeitures included a large number of firearms involved in drug trafficking or violent crimes. While forfeited firearms are destroyed, funds generated from other forfeited assets may be used for victim restitution, shared with state and local law enforcement partners, or deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund for additional law enforcement uses and victim support. For Fiscal Year 2025, the Asset Forfeiture Unit in the Northern District of Alabama secured $13,227,075 in forfeiture money judgments owed to the United States.


title: Joaquin Guzman Lopez — Son of ‘El Chapo’ and a Leader of Sinaloa Cartel — Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges in Chicago; Joint Prosecution with San Diego

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: WASHINGTON — Joaquin Guzman Lopez, who succeeded his father, Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” as one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal drug charges. “The Sinaloa Cartel is a terrorist organization that has spent decades destroying American families through brutal violence and deadly drug trafficking,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Yesterday’s guilty plea from El Chapo’s son is a major victory against the Sinaloa Cartel and underscores the Trump Administration’s historic, aggressive campaign to dismantle terrorist organizations that target the American people.” “Under the Chapitos’ leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel has fueled the deadliest drug crisis in our nation’s history, manufacturing poison and profiting from the destruction of American lives,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “DEA stands committed to dismantle Sinaloa Cartel’s command and control, expose their criminal networks, and deliver justice for the hundreds of thousands of lives lost to their greed. Joaquin Guzmán Lopez’s guilty plea marks another blow to the cartel’s ruthless operations. We will not stop until these narco-terrorists are held accountable and the American people are protected." “After the United States successfully prosecuted El Chapo, his son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, took up his father’s mantle and jointly led the ‘Los Chapitos’ faction of the Sinaloa Cartel — one of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations — in its efforts to flood the United States with deadly fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Under the leadership of Guzman Lopez and his associates, the Sinaloa Cartel spread violence and bribed public officials to protect its illicit business. The Criminal Division and our partners will not rest until we have fully dismantled the criminal cartels whose ruthless violence and lethal narcotics distribution threaten the safety and health of the American people.” “For decades, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has been at the forefront of the U.S. government’s relentless pursuit of drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as their top leaders,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “Yesterday, because of this Administration’s leadership, the U.S. State Department has designated many of these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations — a fact that has only further stiffened our resolve to track down and hold accountable transnational criminal organizations and their highest-ranking members and associates. Joaquin Guzman Lopez’s guilty plea is the latest step in our efforts to bring to justice drug lords and other dangerous criminals who poison the American public with illegal and harmful drugs and who otherwise engage in violence and corruption to carry out their and their enterprises’ wide-reaching criminal activities.” “Two down, two to go,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “The Guzman’s have made a family business out of trafficking fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said Acting Assistant Director Gregory Heeb of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Protecting Americans from the Sinaloa and other criminal cartels terrorizing and poisoning our communities is one of the FBI’s highest priorities and we will continue to work relentlessly to dismantle and disrupt these dangerous international criminal networks.” “Yesterday’s guilty plea by Joaquin Guzman Lopez is another example of how HSI is taking on the cartels and their transnational criminal networks and sending a clear message that we are going to hold them accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ray Rede for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “Dismantling the Sinaloa cartel one arrest at time has taken countless hours but together HSI and our federal partners in the Homeland Security Task Force relentlessly focused efforts to stop this transnational criminal organization scourge by removing leaders from the helm. Yesterday’s announcement exemplifies a whole-of-government approach to protecting our homeland that is yielding results.” Guzman Lopez, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy and one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. The convictions carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Guzman Lopez has been detained in U.S. custody since his arrest in July 2024. Guzman Lopez and his three brothers, collectively known as “the Chapitos,” assumed leadership roles of the Sinaloa Cartel following El Chapo’s arrest in 2016 and subsequent conviction in the Eastern District of New York. Guzman Lopez coordinated the transportation of drugs and precursor chemicals for the manufacture of drugs into Mexico, and the transportation of those drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, to the United States border, at times in shipments of hundreds or thousands of kilograms. He used a network of couriers affiliated with the cartel to smuggle the drugs into the United States using vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft, submersible vessels, and other means. After the drugs were distributed throughout the United States, individuals working for Guzman Lopez and others laundered and transferred the illicit proceeds from the United States to Mexico and elsewhere. To protect the Sinaloa Cartel’s operation, Guzman Lopez and his associates bribed corrupt public officials and perpetrated violence against law enforcement officials, rival drug traffickers, and members of their own drug trafficking organization. In addition to the drug offenses, Guzman Lopez also stipulated to committing an international kidnapping offense. Guzman Lopez admitted to coordinating and committing the kidnapping in the hopes of receiving cooperation credit from the United States. As stated in the plea agreement, the United States did not induce or condone the kidnapping, and Guzman Lopez will not receive any cooperation credit for it. As part of his plea agreement, Guzman Lopez agreed to the entry of a personal money judgment in the amount of $80 million, which represents proceeds traceable to his offenses. Guzman Lopez also acknowledged that the crimes to which he is pleading guilty involved more than 36 kilograms of fentanyl, 90 kilograms of heroin, 450 kilograms of cocaine, 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 90,000 kilograms of marijuana. Guzman Lopez’s three brothers — Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez — are also charged with drug trafficking in U.S. indictments. On July 11, Ovidio Guzman Lopez pleaded guilty to federal drug charges in the Northern District of Illinois. He is awaiting sentencing. Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are charged in both the Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of New York. They are fugitives. The U.S. State Department has issued rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrests and convictions. See the reward information here and here . Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine, Michelle Parthum, and Michael Maione for the Northern District of Illinois, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Sutton and Robert Miller for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case. HSI and the FBI investigated the case. The guilty plea was announced as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve various law enforcement goals — including 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). The charges against Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: WAKULLA COUNTY WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO  STRAW PURCHASE OF TWO FIREARMS

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

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Michaela Nicole McMeans, 56, of Panacea, Florida, has pleaded guilty to making false statements to acquire a firearm and conducting a straw purchase of two firearms. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the guilty plea. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I appreciate the excellent investigative work by our federal law enforcement partners to identify and detain this offender who was purchasing firearms for others who were legally prohibited from purchasing or possessing those weapons themselves. My office will continue to back up the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions to keep our communities safe.” After the arrest of two prohibited individuals in possession of firearms in the Panama City area in April 2025 (one a convicted felon, the other a resident alien in the United States on a visa), investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined both firearms had been acquired through a single purchase at a Panama City area federally licensed firearms dealer in March 2025. Investigators determined that the defendant purchased both firearms in the transaction, and that she had represented in documentation filed at the time of the purchase that both firearms were for her personal use; they were not. After being confronted, the defendant admitted the handguns had been purchased on behalf of two individuals who she knew could not lawfully purchase firearms. Sentencing is scheduled for February 5, 2026, in federal court in Tallahassee before District Court Judge Mark Walker. The defendant faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment on the charges. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K Mountin. 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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: TWELVE INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH FEDERAL CRIMES

body_text: United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that 12 individuals were indicted across three divisions of the Northern District of Florida. The following indictments were filed in the Gainesville division: Patrick Johnson, of Gainesville, Florida, indicted for bank burglary and bank larceny. Stephen Jones, of Gainesville, Florida, indicted for a possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Tyrese Jones, of Gainesville, Florida, indicted for possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The following indictments were filed in the Panama City division: Jose Alvarado-Lopez, a citizen of Honduras, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal. Maynor Esquivel-Amador, a citizen of Guatemala, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal. Eugenio Hernandez-Vargas, a citizen of Mexico, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal. The following indictments were filed in the Tallahassee division: Jose Guadelupe Escobar, a citizen of Honduras, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal. Abraham Flores-Tercero, a citizen of Honduras, indicted for illegal reentry after deportation or removal. Kelveont’a Lamar Dennis , of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Rashaad Huggins, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brandon Mahaffey, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for enticement of a minor. Perry Walker II, of Tallahassee, Florida, indicted for one count of sexual exploitation of children, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of transfer of obscene material to minors, and one count of possession of child pornography. Law enforcement agencies conducting the investigations included the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; with assistance from Bay County Sheriff’s Office; Leon County Sheriff’s Office; Alachua County Sheriff’s Office; and Tallahassee Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner, James A. McCain, Eric K. Mountin, Harley W. Ferguson, Justin M. Keen, Meredith L. Steer, and Christie S. Utt. 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. Nine cases are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Two cases are brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Ohio Missionary Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Ohio returned an indictment today charging an Ohio man with four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti. According to court documents, Jeriah Mast, 44, of Millersburg, Ohio, traveled from the United States to Haiti on multiple occasions between 2002 and 2019, including with the organization Christian Aid Ministries (CAM), and sexually abused minors in that country. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement obtained flight records showing that Mast had taken over 30 flights from the United States to Haiti between November 2002 and August 2018. Each count of the indictment is premised on his sexual abuse of a different minor in Haiti. “As alleged, this defendant traveled abroad to commit heinous, unspeakable crimes against vulnerable children living in an impoverished nation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Despite the fact that the defendant’s alleged crimes occurred abroad, our law enforcement partners and prosecutors will continue to relentlessly seek justice on behalf of the minor victims. Wherever the Criminal Division has jurisdiction, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in the intolerable crime of abusing and exploiting children.” “Crimes against children, like those mentioned in these allegations, are reprehensible. Such appalling and morally corrupt behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We commend the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, whose thorough work led to these federal charges being filed today.” “This case highlights the vital role HSI plays in identifying and investigating individuals — especially those in positions of trust — who exploit children, regardless of where these heinous crimes occur,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “HSI Cleveland, in collaboration with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Justice, worked diligently to ensure that those who prey on children abroad are held accountable here in the United States. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice for victims and ensuring that predators face the full weight of the law wherever our investigations lead.” HSI Cleveland is investigating the case and received substantial assistance from the Holmes County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Jennifer King for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Non-Profit Organization Defrauded Of Over $700,000 In Foreign Assistance

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Roseval Supreme (55, Valley Stream, NY) with seven counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Supreme faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison per count. The indictment also notifies Supreme that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $713,390, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. According to the indictment, Supreme is a Haitian national and United States Legal Permanent Resident who was employed as a country director for U.S. non-profit Action Against Hunger (AAH) from October 2020 to March 2023, and managed the AAH country office located in Haiti. AAH received foreign assistance funds, in part, from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Supreme abused his position of trust as the AAH country director, violated AAH conflict of interest and fraud and corruption policies, and steered AAH procurements to a company he owned or was affiliated with for his own financial benefit. Supreme also submitted fraudulent lease agreements and invoices to obtain AAH funding for a residence he already resided in. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the U.S. Agency for International Development - Office of Inspector General. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced for $24M Kickback and Medicare Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: A Georgia man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay over $7.2 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for inducing Medicare beneficiaries to accept medically unnecessary genetic tests. According to court documents, Patrick C. Moore Jr., 48, of Peachtree City, engaged in a kickback scheme in which he instructed a network of recruiters to target and induce Medicare beneficiaries to accept genetic tests that were not medically necessary, not provided as represented or not eligible for reimbursement. Moore received approximately $4.3 million in kickbacks and bribes from his co-conspirators in exchange for the referral of beneficiary insurance information, DNA specimens and accompanying doctors’ orders for genetic testing. Moore, in turn, paid illegal health care kickbacks and bribes to his network of beneficiary recruiters. To conceal the scheme, Moore created sham invoices documenting fabricated numbers of hours worked instead of the per-referral payments he received in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Laboratories associated with Moore and his co-conspirators billed Medicare approximately $24 million and were paid approximately $7.2 million on the kickback-induced claims for the unnecessary genetic tests. In May 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap for the Southern District of Georgia; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the HHS-OIG Atlanta Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement. The HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Ethan Womble and Benjamin Smith of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Thompson for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Ohio Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of Children in the Caribbean

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Holmes County man who traveled internationally to sexually abuse children abroad now faces federal charges. On Dec. 2, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Jeriah Mast, 44, of Millersburg, Ohio, with attempted and actual engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. The indictment alleges that on at least four separate occasions—2004, 2007, and twice in 2011— Mast embarked on trips to the Caribbean and sexually abused minors. As outlined in the original federal criminal complaint filed Nov. 4, 2025, Mast repeatedly traveled to Haiti, during which time he both attempted and engaged in illicit sexual conduct with minors. Foreign travel records obtained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) show that Mast took more than 30 flights from the United States to Haiti. Mast faces a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and $250,000 in fines per count if convicted. He also faces up to a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment. His sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, his role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. “As alleged, this defendant traveled abroad to commit heinous, unspeakable crimes against vulnerable children living in an impoverished nation,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Despite the fact that the defendant’s alleged crimes occurred abroad, our law enforcement partners and prosecutors will continue to relentlessly seek justice on behalf of the minor victims. Wherever the Criminal Division has jurisdiction, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in the intolerable crime of abusing and exploiting children.” “Crimes against children, like those mentioned in these allegations, are reprehensible. Such appalling and morally corrupt behavior will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We commend the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, whose thorough work led to these federal charges being filed today.” “This case highlights the vital role HSI plays in identifying and investigating individuals—especially those in positions of trust—who exploit children, regardless of where these heinous crimes occur,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “HSI Cleveland, in collaboration with the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Justice, worked diligently to ensure that those who prey on children abroad are held accountable here in the United States. We remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing justice for victims and ensuring that predators face the full weight of the law wherever our investigations lead.” An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by HSI and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret Kane and Jennifer King are leading the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone with knowledge and information about this case may call the HSI tip line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP or visit report.cybertip.org. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Violent Threats, Cyberstalking, Civil Rights Violations

component: Civil Rights - Criminal Section

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mark Tucci, 44, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 33 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and $16,529.44 in restitution by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh for multiple offenses arising from racist, violent threats made by phone, email, text message, and in person, that targeted African Americans. In August of this year, the defendant pleaded guilty to an information charging him with two counts of interfering with federally protected activities, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of interstate communication of threats. As detailed in the information and other court filings, the defendant repeatedly called and sent text messages and emails that consisted of racial epithets and violent threats to harm an employee (Victim 1) of an agency of the City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Agency 1), and Victim 1’s colleagues. Between about April 18, 2024, and June 2, 2024, Tucci emailed Victim 1 multiple times regarding a records request he had made to the agency. This escalated on June 3, 2024, when he repeatedly called Philadelphia Agency 1, and during two of those calls, he spoke with Victim 1, identified himself by name, and screamed at Victim 1, who asked him to stop screaming. He continued to do so, causing Victim 1 to hang up each time. During subsequent calls on June 3 with Philadelphia Agency 1, Tucci spoke with two of Victim 1’s colleagues, using racial epithets and making threats. Specifically, the defendant said that he was going to come down to Philadelphia Agency 1 the next day and hurt everyone, and that he had Victim 1’s home address and was going to hurt Victim 1. Tucci sent multiple emails to Victim 1 the same day, using similar racial epithets and threats. He also texted Victim 1 on their personal cell phone, a phone number that Victim 1 had never provided to the defendant. The text messages from Tucci to Victim 1 mentioned Victim 1 by name, and the name of the street on which Victim 1 resided at the time. The messages included a warning that “This is personal now,” and additional threatening language. Tucci’s communications caused Victim 1 severe emotional distress, and fear that Tucci would find Victim 1 and seriously injure or kill them or their family members. Tucci willfully intimidated and interfered, and attempted to intimidate and interfere, with Victim 1 because of Victim 1’s race and color, and because Victim 1 was enjoying employment by, and all perquisites of, an agency of the City of Philadelphia, a subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also detailed in court filings, on the morning of February 1, 2024, Tucci pulled up next to another car in heavy traffic on I-95 southbound, lowered his windows, and repeatedly screamed racial epithets and threats to kill and shoot the other car’s driver (Victim 2), who is African American. Tucci then reached down into his car, at which point Victim 2 believed Tucci was reaching for a gun. Instead, Tucci pulled out a glass mug containing coffee, and threw it at Victim 2’s vehicle, terrifying Victim 2 and damaging their car. The incident occurred while Victim 2 was enjoying a facility provided and administered by a state and a subdivision thereof, that is, driving on I-95. “Every citizen is entitled to a peace and security undisturbed by the abhorrent and racist threats that took place in this case, full stop,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “No citizen has the right to inflict, and no citizen has the duty to endure, the verbal harassment and racist attacks that the defendant committed in our District.” “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: hate-based violence has no place in America,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division remains committed to ensuring that all Americans feel safe in their cities and communities.” “Today's sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting every individual's civil rights and ensuring that those who intimidate, harass, or threaten our citizens are brought to justice,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI and our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the United States Attorney's Office will continue to work side by side to safeguard our communities from threats of violence.” This case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Jeanette Kang and Michelle L. Morgan and Trial Attorney Samuel Kuhn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Former Federal Employee Sentenced To 41 Months In Prison After Pleading Guilty To Defrauding U.S. Government For More Than $1 Million

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that James Montoya, 55, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,122,009.47 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud. According to the plea agreement, Montoya worked as a federal employee at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) office in Lakewood. USGS is part of the United States Department of the Interior (DOI). During a routine initiative to identify misuse, DOI identified numerous questionable transactions on Montoya’s government charge card. An investigation revealed that Montoya successfully concealed improper purchases for years by submitting altered receipts, and fictitious invoices and other documentation to USGS claiming that these purchases were for IT-related items or services. In fact, the defendant did not provide any IT-related items or services to USGS and many of these purchases were for personal items including, but not limited to, vintage and collectible toys as well as car parts. The alleged actions defrauded the government of approximately $1,122,009.47 over approximately fifteen years beginning around December of 2008 and continuing through at least November 2023. “Stealing from the federal government is stealing from hard-working American taxpayers,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “Our office will vigorously prosecute these types of crimes on behalf of American taxpayers.” “Our investigative staff used data analytics and ingenuity to identify this longstanding, ongoing scheme, which defrauded American taxpayers out of over $1 million over many years,” said U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General Special Agent in Charge Katherine Balestra. “The judgment in this case is a strong deterrent for others looking to perpetuate this type of scheme." United States District Judge Philip A. Brimmer presided over the sentencing. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sonia Dave. Case Number: 24-cr-248-PAB


title: Justice Department Sues Michigan Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Against Female Tenants

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against William Aaron Asper, the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Westland, Michigan, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that William Asper sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2018 and continuing to the present day. According to the complaint, Asper has offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, and taken adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances. The lawsuit also names as defendants the William Aaron Asper Living Trust and REPSA Enterprises LLC, both entities that owned rental properties during Asper’s management and sexual harassment of female tenants. “Women should not live in fear when they pay their rent or seek repairs,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on this conduct.” “A man who preys on vulnerable women in need of a home deserves the greatest condemnation,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “We will do our best to protect women against gross exploitation.” “It is unacceptable for landlords to threaten or commit sexual harassment or abuse against tenants,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). “Every person deserves to feel safe in their home. HUD-OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold housing providers accountable for this type of horrible conduct.” The lawsuit, which is the result of a joint investigative effort of the Justice Department with HUD’s Office of Inspector General, seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination. If you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $16.2 million for victims of such harassment.


component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Georgia man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay over $7.2 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for inducing Medicare beneficiaries to accept medically unnecessary genetic tests. According to court documents, Patrick C. Moore Jr., 48, of Peachtree City, engaged in a kickback scheme in which he instructed a network of recruiters to target and induce Medicare beneficiaries to accept genetic tests that were not medically necessary, not provided as represented or not eligible for reimbursement. Moore received approximately $4.3 million in kickbacks and bribes from his co-conspirators in exchange for the referral of beneficiary insurance information, DNA specimens and accompanying doctors’ orders for genetic testing. Moore, in turn, paid illegal health care kickbacks and bribes to his network of beneficiary recruiters. To conceal the scheme, Moore created sham invoices documenting fabricated numbers of hours worked instead of the per-referral payments he received in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. Laboratories associated with Moore and his co-conspirators billed Medicare approximately $24 million and were paid approximately $7.2 million on the kickback-induced claims for the unnecessary genetic tests. In May 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Margaret Heap for the Southern District of Georgia; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the HHS-OIG Atlanta Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Paul W. Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement. The HHS-OIG and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Ethan Womble and Benjamin Smith of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Thompson for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Indian national sentenced to prison for Medicare fraud scheme that stole more than $1 million in taxpayer funds

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – An Indian national convicted of health care fraud was sentenced today in in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Mohammed Asif, 35, was arrested on April 10, 2025, at Chicago O’Hare International Airport while attempting to board an international flight. On September 4, 2025, Asif pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with the operation of American Labworks LLC, a diagnostic testing laboratory in Everett, Washington. Asif conspired with others to bill Medicare for COVID-19 tests and other respiratory illness tests that had not been ordered or performed. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said the fraud amount, $1,174,813, “was a significant amount of money. It was money that was siphoned out of the Medicare system that is designed to treat the elderly and the poor… (The defendant) lacks moral character as a knowing participant in the fraud… He is someone the public needs to be protected from.” “Mr. Asif participated in a scheme to steal more than a million dollars from Medicare -- funds that are meant to be used for important medical care,” said U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Regrettably, schemes like this one are not unique. Medicare is a constant target of fraud, and the harm to the United States and taxpayers is substantial. We will continue to investigate and prosecute such fraud schemes.” According to records filed in the case, the Washington Secretary of State has American Labworks being formed in October 2021 and dissolved in March 2025. Washington Department of Health records indicate that its license as a Medical Test Site expired in December 2023. Asif is listed in filings with the state and with Medicare as the owner and director of American Labworks. Claims data from April 2024 to December 2024 show that American Labworks billed Medicare more than $8.7 million for laboratory testing services, including for COVID-19 testing. Medicare paid out over $1.1 million to the lab. Between June 2024 and March 2025, Medicare received more than 200 complaints from enrollees and others about American Labworks. Many of these complainants reported that Medicare was billed for testing that was never received. For example, one Medicare enrollee noted that Medicare paid American Labworks $545 for COVID-19 tests in August 2023 and March 2024. But the beneficiary had never had any COVID-19 tests on those dates. Multiple Medicare beneficiaries said they too had seen bills for tests that never occurred. Physicians who had allegedly ordered the tests said they had not sent patients to American Labworks, and many patients said they had never heard of the referring physician listed in the records. In some instances, the billing records indicated a beneficiary’s testing date of service occurred after other records indicated the beneficiary was dead. And in other instances, the physician who allegedly referred the patient for testing was dead at the time of the date of service. Financial records indicate Mohammed Asif received multiple checks and made withdrawals from the American Labworks bank account, which he controlled. In May 2024, he withdrew $260,000 from the American Labworks checking account. Soon after that Asif, who had been in the U.S. on a student visa, returned to India. He came back to the U.S. in March 2025 as investigators were unraveling the fraud. Prosecutors and special agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) moved quickly to draft the criminal complaint and take Asif into custody. A grand jury then returned the indictment of Asif on April 23. Asif conspired with other people to accomplish the fraud. The government’s investigation is ongoing. “Billing Medicare for millions of dollars’ worth of laboratory testing that was never furnished is a serious offense that undermines the integrity of our healthcare system and diverts critical resources from those who truly need them,” said Robb R. Breeden, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).“This sentencing reflects HHS-OIG’s continued commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who seek to exploit federal healthcare programs for their own personal gain.” “Like so many other fraudsters who take advantage of such situations, Mr. Asif used the COVID-19 pandemic to steal from taxpayers for his own gain,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “In just a couple of years, his company billed Medicare millions of dollars for laboratory testing that never happened. To those would-be criminals who believe their schemes will never be uncovered: as this case shows, the FBI and our partners will carefully follow the money and financial records to ensure justice is served.” Asif was ordered to pay $1,174,813 in restitution. He will likely be deported following his prison term. The case is being investigated by HHS-OIG and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Philip Kopczynski.


title: South Burlington, Vermont Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor to Produce Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 2, 2025, Jason McGrath, 45, of South Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. McGrath previously pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a minor to produce child sexual abuse materials (CSAM, also known as child pornography). McGrath has been detained since his guilty plea. According to court records, McGrath corresponded with two people via an internet messaging application, offering to pay money for the production of original CSAM. McGrath sent money to the users in an effort to obtain CSAM and received CSAM from at least one user that depicted a child as young as 8 years old. McGrath also exchanged over 1,800 messages with a third person, coaching that person as to how to sexually abuse an 11-year-old girl, providing explicit instructions, and requesting photographs of the abuse. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigation of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, and thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt. McGrath was represented by Assistant Federal Defender Carmen Brooks. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Dallas Business Owner Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison For Failing to Pay Over Withheld Employment Taxes

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A Dallas business owner convicted at trial of failing to pay over employment taxes that she withheld from her employees was sentenced yesterday to more than eight years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Heaven Marie Diaz, 57, was indicted in 2023 and convicted by a jury in June 2025 on five counts of failing to pay over trust fund taxes. She was sentenced yesterday to 97 months in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Judge David Godbey, who also ordered her to pay $799,033.47 in restitution. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Diaz was the owner and CEO of Pursuit of Excellence, a staffing company based in Dallas. From 2015 to 2017, she withheld payroll taxes from her employees’ paychecks but failed to remit more than $3 million to the IRS as required by law. Former employees and Diaz’s former accountant testified that they repeatedly warned her about her obligation to pay employment taxes. Despite those warnings, Diaz continued to withhold the taxes and kept the funds in her company’s bank accounts. Evidence showed she used those funds to cover personal expenses, including international travel, luxury goods, and $10,000 monthly rent on a home in Dallas’s Preston Hollow neighborhood. “The defendant lied to her employees and embezzled employment taxes due to greed. The substantial prison sentence of eight years reflects the seriousness of the offense and the collaborative investigative work by our AUSAs and IRS-CI,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will continue to fully pursue these offenses to protect the federal fisc and ensure that tax dollars are being spent as intended instead of to fund a defendant’s lavish lifestyle.” “Heaven Diaz stole from her employees and the American taxpayer to fund a lifestyle she didn’t earn,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation Dallas Field Office. “She ignored repeated warnings, misused her position, and treated trust fund taxes like a personal bank account. Today’s sentencing is the result of IRS-CI’s relentless investigative work. The women and men of IRS-CI will continue working to uphold trust in the tax system and support those who do the right thing.” IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan P. Niedermair and Joshua D. Detzky prosecuted the case.


title: York Drug Trafficker With Connections To Mexico Sentenced To Over 15 Years In Prison

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jashan Moore, age 33, of York County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to 186 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for drug trafficking. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Moore was sentenced for his leadership role in a drug trafficking ring that involved shipping kilo quantities of methamphetamine to York, Pennsylvania and arranging for the payment to drug sources by international wire transfers to Mexico. Moore pled guilty to all charges brought against him arising from three incidents in April and May 2021 where police arranged for undercover purchases of heroin and fentanyl police made from him, as well as Moore’s participation in arranging the shipment of a parcel with five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine that was seized by police on June 5, 2021. When imposing sentence, Judge Wilson highlighted Moore’s extensive criminal history dating back to his youth and his numerous violations of parole. Moore was on parole with state authorities when he committed these crimes. Judge Wilson ordered that Moore’s federal sentence of 186 months be served consecutively to his punishments for violating parole. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses. # # #


component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT — The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against William Aaron Asper, the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Westland, Michigan, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, alleges that William Asper sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2018, and continuing to the present day. According to the complaint, Asper has offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, and taken adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances. The lawsuit also names as defendants the William Aaron Asper Living Trust and REPSA Enterprises LLC, both entities that owned rental properties during Asper’s management and sexual harassment of female tenants. “Women should not live in fear when they pay their rent or seek repairs,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the Fair Housing Act’s prohibition on this conduct.” “A man who preys on vulnerable women in need of a home deserves the greatest condemnation,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. for the Eastern District of Michigan. “We will do our best to protect women against gross exploitation.” “It is unacceptable for landlords to threaten or commit sexual harassment or abuse against tenants,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG). “Every person deserves to feel safe in their home. HUD OIG will continue to work with the US Attorney’s Office to hold housing providers accountable for this type of horrible conduct.” The lawsuit, which is the result of a joint investigative effort of the Justice Department with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s Office of Inspector General, seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination. If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered nearly $16.2 million for victims of such harassment.


title: Operation Catch Me if You Can: Nigerian Ringleader of Nationwide Bank Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracies Sentenced to Twenty Years in Prison

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Oluwaseun Adekoya, a/k/a “Ace G.,” a/k/a “BRODA,” a/k/a “Legendary,” a/k/a “SANTA,” a/k/a “SANTANA,” a/k/a “Sammy LaBanco,” a/k/a “Sean Maison,” a/k/a ”Kiing_maison,” age 40, of Cliffside Park, New Jersey, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison. Earlier this year, a jury found Adekoya guilty of bank fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and nine counts of aggravated identity theft after a three-week trial. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Proof at trial established that from the comfort of his luxury apartment in New Jersey, Adekoya, a career fraudster, obtained publicly available information regarding people’s home equity lines of credit (“HELOCs”) at localized credit unions throughout the United States, shifting his focus over time to different parts of the country to avoid law enforcement scrutiny. He then utilized encrypted messaging platforms, like Telegram, to obtain Social Security numbers, account numbers, mother’s maiden names, and other personal identifying information (“PII”) for individuals he had identified as having substantial amounts of equity available in their HELOCs. Adekoya then gave this information to a vast web of managers he recruited from all over the country, along with fake driver’s licenses for lower-level workers to use to impersonate the HELOC customers and conduct withdrawal transactions on their accounts. To insulate himself from detection, Adekoya utilized a web of “burner” phones and encrypted messaging applications and laundered his substantial share of the proceeds through bank accounts in other people’s names. Adekoya also reinvested some of the proceeds into continuing the fraud scheme by purchasing air and bus travel for coconspirators, fake driver’s licenses, and rental cars used to drive workers to credit unions. Adekoya, a citizen of Nigeria, previously obtained lawful permanent resident status in the United States in 2004. In sentencing Adekoya, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino noted that Adekoya is a “a perpetual thief” and a “flagrant serial offender” who has orchestrated increasingly sophisticated felony identity-theft and fraud offenses since he started his criminal career in 2008 at the age of 22. “For nearly two decades, Oluwaseun Adekoya abused the privilege of lawful permanent resident status to steal the identities of innocent Americans so he could live lavishly in our country, without an ounce of remorse,” Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone said. “Now he gets to spend two decades in prison, and he deserves every last day of his sentence. I look forward to his subsequent removal from the United States.” Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Adekoya spent almost two decades of his life creating a massive criminal network that stole from hard-working Americans. This sentence ensures he’ll spend the next two decades of his life in federal prison. The FBI is grateful to the numerous law enforcement and banking institution partners who provided the assistance needed to take down Mr. Adekoya and his associates and ensure justice for the victims. We remain deeply committed to using every resource available to investigate and bring to justice any individual or organization focused on defrauding our citizens.” The investigation into Adekoya began in May 2022, when Broadview Federal Credit Union (formerly CAP COM Federal Credit Union and State Employees Federal Credit Union (SEFCU)), headquartered in Albany, identified a series of impersonation transactions at its branches in the Capital Region and referred the case to the FBI-Albany. The ensuing investigation led to the discovery of Adekoya as the mastermind of the nationwide operations and the prosecution of 13 additional coconspirators through a series of superseding indictments, all of whom pled guilty for their roles in the offenses prior to trial. The defendant’s conspiracies were brought to a screeching halt by his federal arrest on an initial indictment on December 12, 2023. He has since been detained and the government twice superseded the indictment to add additional coconspirators and charges. Evidence at trial showed that when the FBI attempted to enter the defendant’s luxury apartment on December 12, 2023, to execute a federal search warrant, Adekoya wiped the primary phone he had used to orchestrate the conspiracy. Nonetheless, the FBI seized numerous “burner” phones used by Adekoya to perpetrate the charged crimes. The FBI also seized Rolex watches, a $51,000 Tiffany engagement ring, designer handbags and shoes, and approximately $26,000 in a bank account used by Adekoya to launder his proceeds. Those items and others have since been forfeited by the government. As part of Adekoya’s sentence, he will also be required to serve five years of supervised release and pay restitution of over $2.2 million and a mandatory special assessment of $1,100. He is also subject to removal from the United States upon completion of his term of imprisonment. The following codefendants previously pled guilty in connection with the conspiracies and were sentenced as follows: David Daniyan, a/k/a “Bamikole Laniyan,” a/k/a “David Enfield,” a/k/a “Africa,” age 61, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Daniyan was sentenced to 54 months’ incarceration, 1 year of supervised release, and ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution. Kani Bassie, a/k/a “$,” age 36, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Bassie was sentenced to 11 years’ incarceration and 5 years of supervised release and will be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court at a later date. Davon Hunter, a/k/a “Scams,” age 27, of Richmond, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Hunter was sentenced to 42 months’ incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $469,499.18 in restitution. Christian Quivers, a/k/a “Denzel Carter,” a/k/a “E,” age 20, of Richmond, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Quivers was sentenced to 42 months’ incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $385,650 in restitution. Jermon Brooks, a/k/a “JayB,” a/k/a “beezy,” age 20, of Richmond, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Brooks was sentenced to 36 months’ incarceration, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $385,650 in restitution. Akeem Balogun, age 56, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Brooks was sentenced to 21 months’ incarceration, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $262,200 in restitution. Victor Barriera, age 64, of Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Barriera was sentenced to time served, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $203,352 in restitution. Danielle Cappetti, age 46, of Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Cappetti was sentenced to time served, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $142,796 in restitution. Jerjuan Joyner, age 50, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Joyner was sentenced to 12 months’ incarceration, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $135,998 in restitution. Gaysha Kennedy, age 46, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Kennedy was sentenced to time served, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $24,500. Crystal Kurschner, age 44, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Kurschner was sentenced to time served, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $220,850 in restitution. Sherry Ozmore, age 56, of Richmond, Virginia, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Ozmore was sentenced to time served, 3 years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $229,303.18. Codefendant Lesley Lucchese, age 53, of Manhattan, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and is scheduled for sentencing next year. FBI-Albany investigated the case and obtained invaluable assistance from numerous law enforcement agencies all over the country. Those include the FBI Field Offices in New York, Newark, Richmond, Chicago and Resident Agencies in Westchester, New York; Brooklyn/Queens, New York; Garrett Mountain, New Jersey; La Crosse, Wisconsin; Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and York, Pennsylvania. Additional assistance was provided by other law enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement & Removal Operations (New York Field Office & Albany sub-office); U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (Buffalo Field Office & St. Albans Resident Office); U.S. Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; New York law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police; Cohoes PD; Colonie PD; Elmira PD; Corning PD; Plattsburgh PD; Albany County Sheriff’s Office; and Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office; Florida law enforcement agencies including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies including the Pennsylvania State Police and Franklin County District Attorney’s Office; Alabama law enforcement agencies including the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Gasden PD, and Rainbow City PD; Georgia law enforcement agencies including the Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, and Morrow PD; Kansas law enforcement agencies including Lawrence PD and Overland Park PD; New Hampshire law enforcement agencies including Rochester PD, Manchester PD, and Amherst PD; the Delaware State Police; Maryland law enforcement agencies including the Maryland State Police, Harford County Sheriff’s Office and Baltimore County Sheriff’s Office; the Virginia State Police; Wisconsin law enforcement agencies including Onalaska PD and Eau Claire PD; and Indiana law enforcement agencies including the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin S. Clark, Mathew M. Paulbeck, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting this case. ###


title: Two Individuals Arrested for Introducing Contraband Into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 12, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging two individuals for conspiracy to traffic suboxone, providing and possessing contraband in prison. According to court documents, Alejandro Sáenz-Concepción, 47, and Alejandro Sáenz-Escobar, 28, of Manatí, PR, knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of suboxone since September 2025. Sáenz-Escobar is facing three counts of conspiracy to traffic suboxone, providing contraband in prison, and possessing contraband in prison. Sáenz-Concepción is facing one count in conspiracy to traffic suboxone. “Prisoners who smuggle contraband, including drugs, into prison and their accomplices will be held accountable by the Department of Justice,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We thank the Bureau of Prisons officers and the FBI for their hard work and dedication in investigating this case.” “Introducing contraband into a federal prison is a serious violation of the law and the FBI will do everything in its power to hold accountable those who commit this offense,” said Joe Rodríguez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “We will continue to work with our partners at the Bureau of Prisons to identify and prosecute these individuals. We encourage people with information on this or any other federal crime to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or leave a tip online through tips.fbi.gov — all tips will be handled confidentially.” If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and the Bureau of Prisons are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucille Marqués-Pacheco and Assistant US Attorney and Chief of the Gangs Section, Alberto López-Rocafort are prosecuting the case. 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: District of Arizona Charges 190 Individuals for  Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from November 22, 2025, through November 28, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 190 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 106 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 71 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 11 cases against 13 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Miguel Angel Marcos : On November 24, 2025, Miguel Angel Marcos was charged by complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. Marcos was pulled over by a Yuma Police Department officer for traveling twenty miles per hour over the speed limit. After stopping the vehicle, the officer observed driver Marcos and one passenger in the front seat. The passenger claimed to have been walking in the desert before being picked up by Marcos. Immigration checks confirmed that the passenger is a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. Case number: 25-2138MJ United States v. Jairo Manzur Rodriguez-Nieblas: On November 26, 2025, Jairo Manzur Rodriguez-Nieblas was charged by complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien and Reentry of a Removed Alien. Yuma County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an individual stranded in the desert and notified Border Patrol. A Border Patrol Agent located the individual, who was wearing camouflage, in the desert. The individual did not have any documents that would allow him to be lawfully present in the United States. The following day, Border Patrol Agents located Rodriguez-Nieblas and another individual, both of whom were wearing camouflage, in the desert. Agents determined Rodriguez-Nieblas acted as a guide for the two other individuals apprehended by Border Patrol Agents to travel from Mexico into the United States. Immigration checks confirmed that Rodriguez-Nieblas and the individual he was found with are citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. Record checks confirmed that Rodriguez-Nieblas had been removed from the United States on a prior occasion. Case number 25-2143MJ A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-169_November 28 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former Florissant Police Officer Admits Searching Women’s Phones for Nude Images

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A former Florissant, Missouri police officer on Tuesday admitted illegally searching the phones of 20 women during traffic stops to obtain nude photos. While on duty, in uniform and in a marked police vehicle, Julian Alcala pulled the women over between the dates of February 6, 2024, and May 18, 2024. Alcala admitted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday that he took each victim’s mobile phone away from them and back to his patrol car. Alcala told 19 of his victims that he needed to use their phone to confirm insurance coverage and told one that he was confirming her vehicle registration. Alcala then searched through the phones without a warrant or probable cause. He used his own cell phone to take photographs of one or more images that portrayed either the victim or a loved one or both in a partial or full state of nudity that he found in various folders and apps. Alcala also found and forwarded a video of one victim to his cell phone. After that victim discovered the forwarding of the video and reported it to the FBI, court-approved search warrants of Alcala’s cell phone and his cloud storage uncovered images of 19 additional victims. Julian Alcala, 30, pleaded guilty to 20 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 11, 2026. Each charge carries a penalty of up to a year in jail, a fine of up $100,000, or both prison and a fine. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Cadet Guilty of Attempted Meth Smuggling into Dooly State Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A former correctional officer cadet who attempted to bring more than a half kilogram of 100% pure methamphetamine into Dooly State Prison for an inmate pleaded guilty to his crime in federal court. Julius Deshawn Williams Jr., 29, of Bonaire, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Dec.1. Williams faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The Court will schedule a sentencing date. There is no parole in the federal system. “Highly addictive, illegal drugs inside a prison only increase the potential for chaos and violence for everyone on the inside, and can never be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Correctional officers have a vital role in ensuring community safety. We appreciate the collaboration across all levels of law enforcement to protect people.” “Contraband in the hands of inmates gives them the ability to continue their criminal enterprise, so the efforts of our dedicated officers in stopping those who attempt to introduce these items is paramount in our commitment to public safety," said GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. "We are pleased to see that justice has been served on this individual for his role in jeopardizing the safe and secure operations of our facilities.” “Keeping narcotics out of our correctional facilities requires strong, united efforts across agencies,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This guilty plea is the result of that collaboration. DEA will continue to stand with our federal, state and local partners to ensure that anyone attempting to introduce dangerous drugs into a prison faces the full force of the law.” According to statements referenced in court, Williams was a cadet undergoing training to become a correctional officer at Dooly State Prison. On June 24, 2024, when Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) officers conducted the security check and shake down required of every person attempting to enter the facility, they found four packages containing methamphetamine wrapped in black tape and hidden in the defendant’s pants. Next, his vehicle was searched, and GDC officers found four more packages of methamphetamine wrapped in black electrical tape and a pistol. Williams admitted he was attempting to bring the drugs into the prison to give to an inmate. The packages contained 640 grams of methamphetamine with 100% purity. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis Lynes is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Afghan National Charged with the Murder of National Guard Soldier Sarah Beckstrom

body_text: WASHINGTON – Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who resided in Bellingham, Washington, has been charged with first-degree murder while armed for the death of National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, as a result of the ambush-style shooting, which occurred the day before Thanksgiving, November 26, a few blocks from the White House, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Ms. Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries on November 27, 2025. National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe. 24, was critically injured in the ambush and remains hospitalized. A D.C Superior Court judge today found probable cause that Lakanwal committed the offenses of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and ordered that Lakanwal be held without bond pending a preliminary hearing. Lakanwal, who was injured during the shooting, remains in a local hospital where he is currently being treated and held under guard. According to court documents, Lakanwal drove from his hometown in the state of Washington to Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, November 26, Lakanwal arrived at about 2:13 p.m., at 17 th and I Streets, NW, near Farragut West Metro Station, and opened fire on two National Guard members without provocation. Fellow guardsmen at the scene responded immediately to engage and subdue the suspect. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Ballentine, Ariel Dean, Christopher Tortorice, and Laura Bach, with special assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullough. These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Five Foreign Nationals Sentenced in November for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that five foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were recently sentenced. Gerardo Antonio Estrada-Rios , 28, a Honduran national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Costello to 18 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Estrada-Rios had previously been removed from the U.S. in August 2016 and July 2019, and again in October 2024, after he had completed a two-year prison sentence resulting from his 2022 conviction in Houston, Texas, on a charge of “robbery – bodily injury.” In March of this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) became aware that the defendant was incarcerated at the Lehigh County Prison in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Estrada-Rios was arrested on a federal criminal complaint and warrant in May, charged by indictment with illegal reentry in June, and pleaded guilty in August. Julio Cesar Concepcion , 41, a Dominican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark A. Kearney to 12 months and one day in prison for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. In 2019, Concepcion was indicted for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Following the expiration of his sentence, he was removed to the Dominican Republic in August 2021. In April of this year, ICE encountered Concepcion in a Philadelphia parking lot. He admitted he was in the U.S. illegally and was taken into custody. The defendant was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in May and pleaded guilty in August. Sean Christian , 35, a Jamaican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. to 12 months and one day in prison and two years of supervised release for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Christian had previously been removed from the U.S. in August 2016, following his conviction that April in Maricopa County, Arizona, of attempt to transport marijuana for sale in an amount over the statutory threshold, for which he was sentenced to three years of probation with six months’ imprisonment. ICE became aware in 2024 that Christian had reentered the U.S. illegally. After conducting surveillance to confirm his identity and location, ICE officers took him into custody in March of this year. He was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in April and pleaded guilty in June. Isaac Tapia Hernandez , 35, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kai N. Scott to 10 months in prison for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Tapia Hernandez had previously been removed from the U.S. in May 2019 and twice in June 2019, after he was stopped at the border by immigration authorities in Laredo, Texas. In February of this year, ICE learned that the defendant was in Chester County Prison on an outstanding warrant, in connection with charges brought against him in April 2019 in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County. ICE arrested Tapia Hernandez on a federal criminal complaint and warrant in May. He was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in June and pleaded guilty in August. Geysi Enecon Aguilar Montoya , 41, a Honduran national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro to time served, approximately three months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Montoya had previously been removed from the U.S. four times, in October 2007, November 2012, November 2013, and March 2024. In July of this year, ICE received information that Montoya had again illegally reentered the United States. He was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in August, charged by indictment with illegal reentry in September, and pleaded guilty last month. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy Potts, Robert Schopf, and Terri Marinari.


title: Large-scale fentanyl, methamphetamine trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Dominic Lindsey, 35, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison for trafficking bulk amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The defendant’s fentanyl was cut with xylazine – a horse tranquilizer that commonly prevents Narcan from counteracting fentanyl overdose deaths. According to court documents, in January 2024, the defendant knowingly sold narcotics as a high-level trafficker. He was personally responsible for more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and bulk quantities of fentanyl and fentanyl analogue. For nearly two decades, the defendant was convicted of and sentenced for at least 15 local offenses, including multiple drug and firearm offenses. One such conviction was for aggravated assault with a firearm after Lindsey shot someone in the back of the neck. The defendant was still under court supervision from his prior offenses when he committed this most recent federal crime. Lindsey was charged federally in April 2024 and pleaded guilty in November 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Largest North Carolina Behavioral Health Practice Agrees to Pay $1.9 Million to Resolve Allegedly False Medicare Claims

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Mindpath Care Centers, North Carolina, PLLC, North Carolina’s largest behavioral health practice with offices statewide, along with former officers Jeff Williams, Abigail Sheriff, and Sarah Williams, paid $1,900,000 to the United States to resolve allegedly false Medicare claims billed for psychotherapy and related services. “This large settlement demonstrates our steadfast commitment to protect taxpayer money and to guard the integrity of our vital health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Behavioral health practices and other health care providers seeking Medicare funds must make honest claims for payment based upon documented medical need. We will hold those who abuse health care programs accountable. Our office will zealously pursue damages and civil penalties against medical practices who violate the laws.” “Health care professionals are expected to submit true and accurate billing, which is critical to protecting the integrity of the Medicare program,” stated Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “This settlement reflects the ongoing commitment of HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to addressing allegations involving improper billing practices and the potential exploitation of enrollees in our nation’s federal health care programs.” This settlement arose from whistleblower allegations that Mindpath fraudulently billed for Psychotherapy and medication management sessions. The United States filed a complaint alleging that Defendants “systematically billed for fraudulent Psychotherapy treatments, without required documentation of the separate time and Psychotherapy treatments of patients to maximize their profits, all in blatant disregard of Medicare billing requirements.” More specifically, the Government alleged that, from 2018 to 2020, Mindpath billed Medicare without providing documentation of “separate and distinct Psychotherapy treatments”, “failed to adequately correct problems repeatedly raised by Mindpath employees,” and “demonstrated a pattern of reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance toward stated concerns about billing fraud” while being “primarily focused on generating income.” Ultimately, Mindpath agreed to pay $1.9 million to resolve the False Claims Act allegations. The False Claims Act mandates that the Government recover triple the money falsely obtained, plus substantial penalties for each false claim submitted, and attorneys’ fees and costs to the whistleblower. The civil claims resolved by settlement here are allegations only, with no judicial determination or admission of liability. The defendants deny these allegations. This matter was handled in partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina and the HHS Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Neal Fowler represented the United States.


title: Whitehall Borough Resident Charged with Cyberstalking, Interstate Stalking and Threats

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of the borough of Whitehall, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of cyberstalking, interstate stalking, and interstate threats, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The 14-count Indictment named Brett Michael Dadig, 31, as the sole defendant. Dadig was previously charged by way of criminal complaint with three counts of cyberstalking on November 7, 2025. Dadig has remained in custody pending a detention hearing that was continued at the request of defense counsel until December 15, 2025. “As charged in the Indictment, Dadig stalked and harassed more than 10 women by weaponizing modern technology and crossing state lines, and through a relentless course of conduct, he caused his victims to fear for their safety and suffer substantial emotional distress,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti. “He also ignored trespass orders and protection from abuse orders. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from menacing individuals such as Dadig.” According to the Indictment, in the summer and fall of 2025, Dadig harassed, threatened, and intimidated multiple female victims in Pittsburgh and across the country. Dadig recorded a podcast and considered himself a social media influencer, with much of his content focusing around his desire to find a wife and his interactions with women. Relying on advice from an artificial intelligence chatbot, Dadig attempted to meet women at gyms. Dadig thereafter harassed, intimidated, and threatened the women and gym employees in posts on social media, on his podcast, and in phone calls. The Indictment sets forth allegations pertaining to 11 victims, including from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, and New York. Dadig’s harassment of his victims included showing up to their homes and places of business unannounced and uninvited, following them from their places of business, attempting to get them fired, taking and posting pictures of them online without their consent, and revealing private details (including their names and locations) online. Some of Dadig’s threats and online content included references to breaking his victims’ jaws and fingers, dead bodies, burning down gyms, strangling people, being “God’s assassin,” and his victims rotting in hell and suffering “judgment day.” Two of Dadig’s Pittsburgh victims obtained Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders against him, which Dadig violated both online and in person. When Dadig was banned from gyms and businesses and was reported to the police in one city, he would move on to another city to continue his stalking course of conduct. View the full Indictment here . The law provides for a minimum sentence of 12 months for each charge involving a PFA violation and a maximum total sentence of up to 70 years in prison, a fine of up to $3.5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment, with the assistance of multiple local police departments in Pittsburgh and across the country. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Dominican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national in state custody at Souza-Baronowski Correction Center in Lancaster, Mass., has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Carlos Alexander Martinez-Jimenez, 48, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Martinez-Jimenez currently is serving a state prison sentence and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, in February 2017, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Furnishing a False Name or Social Security Number as well as Identity Fraud in Fall River District Court, for which he was sentenced to 134 days in state prison. He was subsequently removed from the United States in April 2017 after serving his sentence. On Jan. 31, 2024, Martinez-Jimenez was convicted of Trafficking 18 grams or more (Less Than 36 grams) of Heroin/Morphine/Opium/Fentanyl in Essex Superior Court. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half to five years in state prison and is currently serving that sentence. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Zachary Stendig of the Criminal Division 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.