body_text: WASHINGTON — On Aug. 5, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia returned a two-count indictment charging former Augusta State Medical Prison Correctional Officers Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips with violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to an inmate, resulting in his death. The indictment further charges Roberson with falsifying a logbook to cover up his misconduct. The indictment alleges that on Oct. 28, 2020, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell, and, rather than extinguish the smoldering fire, evacuate the inmate from his cell, remediate the smoke from the cell, or call a fire emergency over the radio, they willfully disregarded the substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate by leaving him in his locked cell for several hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons for the Southern District of Georgia, and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Augusta Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Augusta Resident Agency is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland for the Southern District of Georgia and Special Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Perras and Trial Attorney Briana M. Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Federal Hate Crime and First-Degree Murder Charges Filed Against Alleged Killer of Israeli Embassy Staff Members

component: Criminal Investigative Division (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was charged in an indictment unsealed yesterday with additional federal and local murder offenses in connection with the May 21, 2025, fatal shootings of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Rodriguez previously was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with the murder of a foreign official, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition, he had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder under the D.C. criminal code. The indictment adds two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death and two local counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Multiple charges in the indictment carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. At a later date, the Attorney General will decide whether to seek the death penalty. “This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.” Joining in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith. “This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Dhillon. According to the indictment, Rodriguez made multiple statements prior to the slayings in which he advocated for violence against Israelis. On May 20, 2025, Rodriguez flew from Chicago to Washington D.C. with a Heckler and Koch VP9 SK 9mm semi-automatic handgun packed in his luggage. The same day, he allegedly authored a manifesto that he called “Explication,” in which he argued for the “morality of armed demonstration” and wrote that “[t]hose of us against the genocide take satisfaction in arguing that the perpetrators and abettors have forfeited their humanity.” On May 21, 2025, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the “Young Diplomats Reception” sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM) located at 575 3rd Street NW, Washington, D.C. Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T., were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., who attended the reception at the CJM. Yaron Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen who was in the United States on official business. Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were United States citizens. Rodriguez allegedly approached the victims after they walked out of the CJM and fired approximately 20 shots using the 9mm semi-automatic handgun that he had transported from Chicago. After the victims fell, he allegedly continued firing at close range, including as one attempted to crawl away. Multiple shots struck Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, killing them. During the shooting, the defendant allegedly called out, “Free Palestine.” Moments after the shooting, Rodriguez entered the CJM, where several event attendees were still present., displayed a red keffiyeh and allegedly said, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.” Police removed Rodriguez from the CJM. As he was taken away, Rodriguez yelled at event attendees who had remained inside CJM, “shame on you” and “shame on Zio-nazi terror.” Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun and 20 spent shell casings at the scene. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 25cr224


title: Honduran National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Honduran national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Jose Denis Guardado-Paz, 40, was sentenced on Aug. 4, 2025 by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to time served (approximately 43 days in prison). Guardado-Paz is now subject to deportation proceedings. Earlier in the hearing, Guardado-Paz pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Guardado-Paz was arrested on May 5, 2025 and was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. Guardado-Paz was most recently deported from the United States on Oct. 18, 2019. Sometime after his October 2019 removal, Guardado-Paz illegally reentered the United States without permission. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Requires Broad Divestitures to Resolve Challenge to UnitedHealth’s Acquisition of Amedisys

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, together with its state co-Plaintiffs, filed a proposed settlement today requiring broad divestitures to resolve Plaintiffs’ challenge to UnitedHealth Group Incorporated’s (UnitedHealth) $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc. In addition, Amedisys would pay a $1.1 million civil penalty to the United States for falsely certifying that it had provided “true, correct, and complete” responses under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. “In no sector of our economy is competition more important to Americans’ well-being than healthcare. This settlement protects quality and price competition for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable patients and wage competition for thousands of nurses,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “I commend the Antitrust Division’s Staff for doggedly investigating and prosecuting this case on behalf of seniors, hospice patients, nurses, and their families.” The proposed settlement would require UnitedHealth and Amedisys to divest 164 home health and hospice locations (including one affiliated palliative care facility) across 19 states, accounting for approximately $528 million in annual revenue. By number of facilities, the settlement would secure the largest divestiture of outpatient healthcare services to resolve a merger challenge. In addition, the proposed settlement would: Obligate UnitedHealth to divest eight additional locations if it fails to obtain regulatory approval for the divestiture of associated facilities without the additional locations; Impose a monitor to supervise UnitedHealth’s divestiture of the assets and compliance with the consent decree; Provide the divestiture buyers with the assets, personnel, and relationships to compete against UnitedHealth in the overlap areas; Incorporate robust protections to strengthen adherence to the decree and deter interference with the divestiture buyers’ ability to compete; and Require Amedisys to pay a $1.1 million civil penalty and train its corporate and field leadership on antitrust compliance for falsely certifying that the company had truthfully, correctly, and completely responded to the United States’ requests for documents. The map below shows the locations of the divested home health and hospice locations under the decree: As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Jill Maguire, Acting Chief, Healthcare and Consumer Products Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest. UnitedHealth is a vertically integrated insurer, healthcare provider, pharmacy benefit manager, and healthcare software and services vendor headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. UnitedHealth acquired Amedisys’s home health and hospice rival LHC Group Inc. (LHC) in 2023. Amedisys is a home health and hospice services provider headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Brock E. Russell, 45 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Russell was sentenced to 188 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in February of 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Russell was driving. In the vehicle was approximately five pounds of methamphetamine and a digital scale. During further investigation, Russell was also found in possession of numerous firearms. As a multi-convicted felon, Russell is prohibited from possessing any firearms. “Brock Russell aimed to distribute a large amount of meth—five pounds—into our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “He further endangered those communities by possessing firearms that federal law prohibited him from possessing. Thankfully, our exceptional team of investigators, prosecutors, lab techs, and support staff put an end to his illegal conduct. Northern Indiana is safer thanks to their efforts.” This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Allen County Police Department; South Bend Police Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Ashcraft. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: St. Cloud Woman Sentenced To More Than 12 Years In Federal Prison For Distributing, Receiving, And Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Jessica Corin Mangano (35, St. Cloud) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for distribution, receipt, and possession of child sex abuse material. Mangano pleaded guilty on February 27, 2025. According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Mangano distributed and received videos depicting the violent sexual abuse of infants, toddlers, and other young children. She also distributed images of two children to men that she knew and described her desire to rape these children or watch the men rape these children. A search of Mangano’s cellphone revealed that she had 81 images and 295 videos of child sexual abuse material saved to this device. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Chauncey A. Bratt. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Moore Woman to Serve More Than Nine Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Leading to Overdose Death

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Defendant Ordered to Pay More Than $18,000 in Restitution for Funeral Expenses OKLAHOMA CITY – BETH NICHOLE CHRISTIANNA MORRIS , 34, of Moore, has been sentenced to serve 110 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl leading to an overdose death, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On October 28, 2019, Norman Police Department responded to a fatal fentanyl overdose at an apartment complex in Norman. A subsequent investigation identified Morris as having sold three counterfeit “M-30” pills to the victim the day prior. The counterfeit “M-30” pills were laced with fentanyl and resulted in the victim’s fatal overdose. On March 18, 2024, Morris was charged by Superseding Information with distribution of fentanyl. Morris pled guilty on March 27, 2024. As part of her guilty plea, Morris admitted that the fentanyl she distributed resulted in the death of the victim. At the sentencing hearing on July 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Morris to serve 110 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Morris was also ordered to pay $18,690.51 in restitution to the victim’s family for funeral expenses. In announcing his sentence, Judge Heaton noted the seriousness of the offense and the need to afford adequate deterrence. This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and demonstrates the importance of the DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign. More information about “One Pill Can Kill” can be found at https://www.dea.gov/onepill . Further information about the danger associated with fentanyl distribution and use can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16O7TkhFH9k . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and David McCrary prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: CEO of Spine Device Company Sentenced for False Statements in Connection With Mandatory Reporting to CMS

body_text: BOSTON – The Founder, President and CEO of SpineFrontier, Inc. was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for making false statements to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Dr. Kingsley R. Chin, 61, the Founder, President and CEO of SpineFrontier, Inc., a Massachusetts-based medical device company, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to one year of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home confinement. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $9,500, in addition to $40,000 the defendant personally agreed to pay as part of a related civil settlement, and $855,000 his wholly-owned company, KICVentures, agreed to pay as part of the same settlement. In May 2025 , Chin pleaded guilty to one count of false statements. Pursuant to the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, device manufacturers, like SpineFrontier, are required to report any payments or transfers of value to physicians, including spine surgeons. CMS maintains a database, via the Open Payments website, which makes all such payments or transfers of value publicly accessible. SpineFrontier offered surgeons the opportunity to engage in purported consulting on product development. Specifically, Chin directed his employees to report the payment of fees paid to a surgeon as consulting fees that were not compensation for actual consulting work. Chin caused his employees to report a payment of $4,750 on Jan. 19, 2016, to the surgeon as a “consulting” payment, even though Chin knew that the surgeon had not performed actual consulting work for the payment. He also knew that he and SpineFrontier were required to accurately report any payments or transfers of value to the surgeon. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham R. George, Christopher R. Looney and Mackenzie A. Queenin prosecuted the case.


title: August Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the August Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Elijah Lee Chandler, Jr. Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (superseding). Chandler, 36, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to possess more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He is additionally charged with possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. Lastly, Chandler is charged with maintaining a residence to distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tulsa Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-231 Nicholas Donell Cotton. Second Degree Burglary in Indian Country (Count 1); Theft in Indian Country – Over $1,000 (Counts 2 & 3); Wire Fraud (Counts 4 & 5). Cotton, 37, of Inola and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with breaking into a fenced-in structure with the intent to steal any property and to commit a felony. He is charged with stealing a vehicle, assorted equipment, and tools valued at over $1,000. Cotton is further charged with fraudulently using two stolen credit cards. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-280 Aldo De Leon Mendoza. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Leon Mendoza, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Apr. 2016. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Regan Reininger is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-284 Alexander Douglas Goins. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Goins, 34, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit activity. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Owasso Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-274 Chad Allen Haeberle. Threat to Assault, Kidnap, and Murder a Member of Congress; Cyberstalking. Haeberle, 34, of Jay, is charged with threatening to assault, kidnap, and murder a Member of Congress. Further, Haeberle is charged with causing reasonable fear or substantial emotional distress by using an electronic communication service with intent to harass and intimidate a Member of Congress and their spouse. The U.S. Capitol Police, the U.S. Marshal Service, and the Jay Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan E. Michel and Tara T. Heign are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-273 Mynor Antonio Hernandez-Aguilar. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez-Aguilar, 34, a Guatemalan national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Jan. 2020. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-281 Ramsey Nathaniel Hogan. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Hogan, 58, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Probation and Parole Office, and the U.S. Marshal Service are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Mike Flesher are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-282 Juan Manuel Joaquin-Francisco. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Joaquin-Francisco, 51, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valeria Luster is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-283 Roberto Montel Madden. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Madden, 38, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Brasher is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-275 Simon Martinez-Gonzalez. Kidnapping of a Child (superseding). Martinez-Gonzalez, 44, a Mexican National, is charged with kidnapping a minor child in Dec. 2024. The Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mallory Richard and Stacey Todd are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-029 Jesus Medina Acevedo. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Medina Acevedo, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in July 2017. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-285 Anibal Valentin Rivas Gabino. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rivas Gabino, 35, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Mar. 2019. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Field Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-286 Jose Luis Rodriguez Cornejo. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien (superseding). Rodriguez Cornejo, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing more than 500 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is further charged with maintaining a residence to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Additionally, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2001. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-187 Odell Carl Stokes; Arthur Lee Hudgens, Jr.; Roderick Dale Favors; Cornelius James Artis. Drug Conspiracy (Count 1); Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 2 and 3); Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 4 and 5) (superseding). Stokes, 49, Hudgens, 46, Favors, 43, and Artis, 44, of Tulsa, are charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine from Oct. 2024 through May 2025. They are additionally charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-188 Mark Joseph Vossler. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Vossler, 53, transient, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from March through July 2025. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-276


title: Alleged Perpetrator of Shooting in Washington, D.C. Charged with Hate Crimes

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. returned an indictment yesterday charging Elias Rodriguez with murder of a foreign official, hate crimes, firearms offenses, first-degree murder, and assault with intent to kill, for the shooting of Israeli Embassy staffers leaving a reception hosted at the Capital Jewish Museum (CJM). Rodriguez had previously been charged by complaint with murder of a foreign official, firearm offenses, and first-degree murder on May 22. According to the indictment, on May 21, Rodriguez purchased a ticket to the American Jewish Committee (AJC)’s Young Diplomats Reception being hosted at CJM. Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. were employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. who attended the reception. After purchasing the ticket, Rodriguez reviewed information about AJC, which indicated AJC’s support for Israel. After Lischinsky, Milgrim, C.S., and A.T. walked out of the reception, Rodriguez approached them and fired approximately 20 shots. Rodriguez shot Lischinsky and Milgrim multiple times, killing them. C.S. and A.T. escaped uninjured. Rodriguez approached a police officer, said “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,” and was arrested. Rodriguez’s previously scheduled “explication” was then posted to his X account; in it, Rodriguez advocated for violence against Israelis. “This Justice Department will not tolerate violence motivated by hatred of faith or national origin, and we will enforce our federal civil rights laws accordingly,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This office will leave no stone unturned in its effort to bring justice to the innocent victims of Elias Rodriguez,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “The hate charges shed further light on his evil intent in the killing of innocent victims.” The Metropolitan Police Department and the Washington Field Office of the FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Joint Task Force October 7. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Anderson Man Sentenced for Impersonating Homeland Security Officer and Possessing Incendiary Bombs

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Joshua W. Stearman, 42, of Anderson, Indiana, has been sentenced to 65 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In April of 2025, a federal jury found Stearman guilty of unlawfully possessing incendiary bomb sand falsely impersonating an officer or employee of the United States. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, on December 12, 2023, around 1:47 a.m., Ingalls Police responded to a suspicious person report near a home previously targeted by vandalism and arson. A witness saw Stearman approach the house carrying something before fleeing to a red Toyota RAV4 when security lights activated. Officers quickly located the vehicle and pulled it over. Stearman presented both his driver’s license and a fake government ID, claiming to be a Homeland Security Officer returning from a mission. He was wearing black gloves with duct tape wrapped around his wrists. Officers took him into custody and discovered four bottles filled with gasoline, each containing cloth wicks and wood pieces, along with a lighter in the car. At trial, experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed the bottles were each incendiary bombs. A forensic chemist testified the liquid inside each bottle was gasoline, and a destructive device examiner explained their intended design was to start and spread fire upon impact. Possessing such devices is a federal crime under laws regulating destructive devices. “This defendant not only endangered lives by bringing homemade firebombs into a residential neighborhood but also sought to evade detection by impersonating a Homeland Security officer,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the swift actions of local law enforcement and the expert analysis of our federal partners, this dangerous individual was stopped before he could carry out a potentially deadly attack.” The ATF and Ingalls (Indiana) Police Department investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by Lapel (Indiana) Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Walter, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Threat Offense

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A San Antonio, Texas man was sentenced August 7, 2025, to 24 months in federal prison for interstate transmission of threats. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Stephen Brody Crain, 30, sent threats by various means for approximately eight months to two Iowa victims and their family members. One victim sent more than $4000 to Crain. Crain also made false abuse reports to the Iowa Department of Human Services and sent pizza to the victim’s residences. Even after Crain was arrested, he sent letters to one of the victims and the victim’s family members. Crain was previously convicted of stalking in Texas District Court for Smith County. As part of that offense, Crain similarly sent threatening messages, sent pizza, and called child services to falsely report abuse. Crain was paroled in November 2023, just two months before the threats to the Iowa victims began. After completing his term of imprisonment, Crain will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Crain was also ordered to pay $4,117 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.


title: Valparaiso Man Ordered to Pay $123,523 in Restitution as part of Conviction for Wire Fraud

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: HAMMOND – Yesterday, Alan Jones, 55, years old, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge James T. Moody after pleading guilty to a federal felony for mail fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Jones was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $123,523 in restitution to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. According to documents in the case, Jones was employed by an environmental consulting company located in Chesterton, Indiana. Jones and the company were hired by gas station owners to manage and perform remediation work related to underground storage tank leaks. The State of Indiana created a state trust fund, administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, to help reimburse those remediation costs. Jones submitted false and fraudulent applications for reimbursement of costs that were not actually incurred and caused state funds to be paid to the consulting company for which it, and Jones, were not entitled. “Alan Jones participated in a scheme to fraudulently obtain public money from the State of Indiana,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “This district is committed to prosecuting those who defraud government programs. I want to thank the combined team of state and federal law enforcement professionals for the thorough investigation which supported this prosecution.” “The defendant’s fraudulent billing scheme undermined the financial integrity of Indiana’s trust fund for the cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks,” stated Special Agent in Charge Allison Landsman. “Protecting our air, land, and water and addressing the damage from these leaks is crucial. The EPA remains steadfast in collaborating with state partners to prosecute those who commit fraud and jeopardize essential environmental initiatives.” This case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin F. Wolff.


title: Bronx Man Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the arrest of CARLOS RIVAS in connection with the unsealing of a Complaint charging RIVAS with possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography that depict pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. RIVAS was arrested yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. “As alleged, Carlos Rivas possessed hundreds of images and videos of child pornography while working at a Bronx school,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Child pornography has no place anywhere in our society, particularly anywhere connected to a school. Our devoted prosecutors and partners will unrelentingly fight this scourge.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint: [1] In the summer of 2024, RIVAS worked at a school in the Bronx, New York (“School-1”). From at least in or about July 14, 2024, through in or about August 15, 2024, RIVAS possessed hundreds of images and videos constituting child pornography on his account with an electronic service provider’s file storage service. Some of the child pornography was uploaded to RIVAS’s account from an Internet Protocol address associated with School-1. * * * RIVAS, 22, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of possession of child pornography, including images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained 12 years of age, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita Maxwell is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._rivas_complaint_1.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Dog Fighting and Drug Crimes

body_text: An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to federal dog fighting and drug crimes. Joel Brown, 38, admitted to possessing and training dogs for fighting purposes and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Brown kept 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes at his residence in Franklin County. The dogs on his property were chained with heavy tow chains attached to tire axels buried in the ground. The dogs were within eyesight of each other but housed just out of reach — a housing style typical with organized dogfighting. On one of Brown’s Facebook accounts, he posted a video of a black pit bull with visible scarring running on a slatmill. After responding to complaints about dogs being left outside at the property and obtaining search warrants, Columbus Humane rescued the dogs, working with the Columbus Division of Police. Authorities also recovered tools and supplies commonly used in the training and keeping of dogs for fighting. Under federal law, it is illegal to possess, train, transport, deliver, receive, buy, or sell animals intended for use in an animal fighting venture. While conducting search warrants, law enforcement officers also discovered approximately 52 grams of methamphetamine in Brown’s home. Brown will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for the drug charge, as well as a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the animal fighting charge. Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made the announcement. Columbus Humane, the Columbus Division of Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Kevin W. Kelley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.


title: Vermont Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that on August 4, 2025, Travis Collins, age 43, of St. Albans City, Vermont, was sentenced by Judge William K. Sessions III to a term of imprisonment of 12 months and one day, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Sessions ordered that Collins’ sentence was to begin on the date the sentence was imposed, and would not count the time Collins spent in pretrial custody. According to court records, on January 9, 2024, Collins was arrested in downtown Burlington, Vermont on outstanding State of Vermont warrants. At the time he was arrested, Collins was wearing a backpack that contained a loaded pistol. The pistol, which had an obliterated serial number, was later determined to have been stolen. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecutor was Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Collins was represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Brothers from Washington sentenced to prison for Virginia,  Maryland armed robberies

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three Washington men have been sentenced to prison for a series of armed robberies across Maryland and Virginia. According to court documents, from September 2023 to February 2024, brothers Andre Joel White Jr., 41; Abdullah Khalil Ismael DeVaugh Michelle, aka Damien Devaughn Moore, 43; and Aaron Isaiah Devaughn Aaron White, 29, robbed a convenience store, four tobacco shops, and a gas station, which they robbed twice, and attempted to rob another gas station. During the robberies, the brothers wore masks and gloves, brandished firearms, assaulted a victim, and stole money and cigarettes. On Dec. 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C., Michelle noticed a ride-share driver exit his vehicle at a hotel to help a passenger with their luggage. Michelle jumped in the driver’s seat of the car and drove away. The brothers then used the stolen car to commit additional robberies in Virginia. When the car became disabled following a robbery, they abandoned it and continued to rob stores using a van rented by Michelle. The van was eventually reported stolen, and despite using stolen license plates, Michelle was arrested on Feb. 13, 2024, while driving the van. On Feb. 5, Michelle pled guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On July 2, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison. Aaron White pled guilty on Feb. 5 to two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On June 18, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. On Dec. 18, 2024, Andre White pled guilty to three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith J. Edwards and Nicholas A. Durham prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-222-2.


title: New Jersey Man Charged with Maliciously Damaging a Building by Fire or Explosive Material and Use of Explosive Material in the Commission of a Felony

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tyrie Rashad Dunn, a.k.a. “Chaos,” age 37, of Lodi, New Jersey, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for maliciously damaging a building by fire or explosive material and use of explosive material in the commission of a felony. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on January 17, 2025, Dunn carried and used two Molotov cocktails to set fire to a rental property in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Dunn set fire and heavily damaged the property during the early morning hours, while the five building tenants were asleep. Several of the victim tenants had to jump from a second story window to escape, resulting in bodily injuries. Dunn fled from the scene of the fire to New Jersey, where he was subsequently apprehended ten days later after a car chase and the assault of law enforcement officers. Separate criminal charges for that incident are currently pending in the District of New Jersey. The case was investigated by the Pottsville Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd 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). The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 30 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Tacoma Woman Faces Federal Charge for Failing to Obey a Lawful Order

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—Ciara D. Mercado, 32, of Tacoma, Washington, has been charged by information with failing to obey a lawful order. According to court documents and information shared in court, on August 4, 2025, Mercado entered the grounds of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Portland. Mercado failed to comply with the lawful direction of federal officers and was arrested. Mercado made her first appearance in federal court Tuesday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was ordered released pending further court proceedings. Failure to obey a lawful order is a Class C misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 30 days in prison. The case is being investigated by the Federal Protective Service and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. An information is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Final Defendant in Massive Chicago-to-Duluth Fentanyl Trafficking Scheme Convicted After Trial

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – Following a three-day trial, a federal jury found defendant Carl Maurice Brown, 32, guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. In February 2024, a federal grand jury indicted multiple defendants, including scheme leader Ezell Cordero Lucas, a/k/a “Cash,” and trial defendant Carl Brown, with engaging in a Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. Carl Brown proceeded to trial and today a federal jury found him guilty. Six other defendants, including scheme leader Lucas, have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing. “This conviction closes the book on a dangerous fentanyl trafficking ring that pumped poison into northern Minnesota from Chicago,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Fentanyl has devastated families and communities across our state, and this case is a powerful reminder: we will not let drug traffickers exploit our cities or our rural communities. We are grateful to the federal, state, and local partners whose tireless work dismantled this network and helped protect Minnesotans from the lethal fentanyl epidemic.” From December 2021 to February 2024, defendant Ezell Lucas, a/k/a “Cash,” managed a large-scale drug distribution operation (the “Lucas drug trafficking organization” or the “Lucas DTO”) based in Chicago, Illinois, that transported mass quantities of fentanyl to Duluth, Minnesota, for sale to drug customers in the Twin Ports region. Lucas worked with local drug distributors in Duluth to traffic fentanyl from Chicago and establish a customer base in Duluth. Lucas directed criminal associates from Chicago, including defendant Carl Brown, to travel to Duluth and conduct the organization’s operations on the ground. Lucas, sitting in Chicago, fielded calls from drug customers and directed those customers to pre-determined locations in Duluth to meet Lucas’s drug dealers and complete the sales. During a two-year period, law enforcement seized more than 890 grams of fentanyl and 262 grams of methamphetamine from the Lucas DTO over the course of 19 seizure events, including controlled buys, traffic stops, residence search warrants, and a seizure incident to an overdose death. Brown will be sentenced at a later date. He faces up to life in prison. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Duluth Police Department, the Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and Syngen Kanassatega are prosecuting the case.


title: Tigard Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Online Enticement of a Child

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Tigard, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for traveling from Oregon to Washington in hopes of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a nine-year-old child. Andrew Sterling Hilliker, 47, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on January 28, 2024, Hilliker used Kik Messenger, an online messaging application, to contact an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the parent of a nine-year-old child as part of a broader investigation into online child exploitation. Hilliker engaged in sexually explicit communications with the undercover officer and expressed his interest in sexually abusing the child. Soon after, Hilliker planned to meet the undercover officer and purported child at a hotel in Vancouver, Washington. On January 31, 2024, Hilliker traveled from Oregon to Washington to meet the purported parent and engage in illicit sexual conduct with the child. Hilliker was arrested when he arrived at the hotel and had condoms in his pocket. When questioned by investigators, Hilliker admitted that he believed he was communicating with the parent of a nine-year-old child and engaged in sexually explicit communications about the child. On February 22, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Hilliker with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. On January 14, 2025, Hilliker pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. This case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Eliza Carmen Rodriguez, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . The FBI Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation. Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Waterbury Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Firearm Charge

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MALIK WRIGHT, 22, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2024, Waterbury Police made a controlled purchase of narcotics from Wright and observed him conducting additional hand-to-hand drug sales. On August 29, 2024, investigators saw Wright stash a satchel in the tire area of an abandoned car in a vacant lot near Coe Street and High Street, and then conduct another apparent drug sale. Officers took Wright into custody and located the satchel, which contained fentanyl and cocaine, a scale, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun with a 23-round magazine. At sentencing, which is scheduled for November 19, Wright faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Wright has been detained since his arrest. This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Waterbury Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth through Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: New Orleans Woman Guilty of Theft of Mail by Postal Employee

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on August 5, 2025, KANESHA FLORENCE (“FLORENCE”), age 28, pled guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709. According to court records, on February 6, 2023, FLORENCE allegedly unlawfully stole and removed a greeting card containing an Amazon Gift Card came into her possession and was intended to be conveyed by mail. FLORENCE faces up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Sentencing is set for November 4, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Eight Charged With Drug Trafficking And Firearm Offenses

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” age 26, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Oliver Rivera, age 31, of Drums, Pennsylvania, Mark Reynolds age 57, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Sherrielee Stout, age 32, of Plymouth, Pennsylvania, Chandler George, age 34, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Angela Ruggiero, age 42, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Joel Fernandez, age 34, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Eric Konnick, age 41, of Edwardsville, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges and firearm offenses. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that between January of 2025, and July 30 of 2025, the eight charged defendants conspired to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and marijuana within Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. The indictment further alleges the defendants committed the following criminal offenses: On multiple occasions between January of 2025 and July 2025, Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” distributed and possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams and more of methamphetamine; Between May 29, 2025, and July 20, 2025, Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” and six of the other co-defendants used communication facilities to facilitate the commission of a drug trafficking crime, namely conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; On July 30, 2025, Joel Fernandez and Marvin Rivera possessed with intent to distribute over 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and over 400 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; On July 30, 2025, Angela Ruggiero possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; On July 30, 2025, Eric Konnick possessed with intent to distribute over 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and over 40 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; and, On July 30, 2025, Joel Fernandez and Marvin Rivera, a/k/a “Mace,” each possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During the investigation, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) executed search warrants at numerous locations associated with the drug trafficking activities of the defendants. On July 30, 2025, the agents found, among other items: approximately 71 pounds of alleged methamphetamine, over 2 kilograms of alleged fentanyl (which represents over one million in potential fatal doses), approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, marijuana, and benzodiazepines, as well as multiple firearms, drug packaging materials including a kilogram press and vacuum sealers, and over $160,000 in cash. The street value for the recovered controlled substances is approximately $600,000. The case was investigated by the DEA, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Tatum Wilson are 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). The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is imprisonment for life, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Two Drug Trafficking Co-Conspirators Sentenced to 15-Year Prison Terms

body_text: WASHINGTON –Charles Cunningham, 59, and Tyrone Ragland, 57, both of the District of Columbia, were each sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a drug conspiracy that trafficked large quantities of PCP, fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base (crack) in the metropolitan area and for possessing illegal firearms in furtherance of their drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Cunningham pleaded guilty on May 7, after a jury was selected but before the trial began, before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon with a sentencing enhancement under the Armed Career Criminal Act. In addition to the 180-month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered three years of supervised release. Ragland, aka “Tech,” pleaded guilty on May 7, after a jury was selected but before the trial began, before Judge Cobb to a charge of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of PCP. In addition to the 180- month prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Ragland to serve five years of supervised release. According to court documents, through controlled purchases and wiretaps, evidence showed that a co-defendant Melvin Grayson distributed PCP, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Ragland, Cunningham, and others conspired with Grayson to distribute the narcotics. In search warrants conducted at various residences, agents recovered six firearms, more than 2.5 kilos of PCP, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, and approximately $50,000 in cash. On Jan. 11, 2023, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Cunningham’s residence on 13th Street, NE, and recovered large quantities of narcotics: over 1,500 grams of PCP, over 50 grams of cocaine, over 50 grams of cocaine base, and over 270 grams of fentanyl. In the oven, next to a pouch of various drugs packaged for distribution, Cunningham kept a loaded Glock 31 handgun. During the conspiracy, Cunningham stashed bulk quantities of PCP and fentanyl at his residence to provide to his coconspirators for redistribution. Items recovered from Cunningham’s residence. Also on Jan. 11, 2023, FBI agents executed search warrants at two residences associated with Ragland. In his Eastern Ave SW apartment (where he primarily resided), agent recovered dozens of glass vials used for PCP distribution, multiple cell phones, and a digital scale. In a 6th Street SW, residence where Ragland had unfettered access, agents found a firearm stashed between the mattress and the bed’s headboard, about 626 grams of PCP, 41 grams of cocaine, and $16,230 in cash. Items recovered from Ragland’s residences. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Cross Border Task Force and the DEA Washington Division, with assistance from MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division and the Prince George’s County Police Department. The Cross Border Task Force is a part of the FBI’S Safe Streets Initiative and targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the Baltimore/Washington High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar R. Mohanty and Iris Y. McCranie of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 23cr007


title: Convicted Felon and His Demolition Company Agree to Pay $2.01 Million to Resolve Allegations Regarding False Applications for Pandemic Relief Loans

body_text: BOSTON – Charles Smith, Jr. of Sharon, Mass. and SMI Demolition, Inc., of Norwood, Mass. have agreed to pay $2.01 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that SMI Demolition falsely certified to the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) its eligibility for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). In January 2018, Smith pleaded guilty in federal court in Massachusetts to two counts of mail fraud. In April 2020, Smith owned 51% of SMI Demolition, but on April 7, 2020, SMI Demolition applied for a PPP loan and certified that no owner had pleaded guilty to a felony involving fraud. Around the time of the application, Smith and others prepared an agreement that purported to transfer part of his ownership to another person. But that agreement was never finalized. SMI Demolition nonetheless applied for and received two more loans from SBA - an EIDL and a second PPP loan. These loans totaled $1,448,402, of which all but $150,000 was forgiven by SBA. Smith and SMI Demolition admitted to the facts forming the basis of the settlement, including that the loan applications falsely stated that the companies did not have owners who had pleaded guilty to certain felonies, when in fact Mr. Smith had pleaded guilty to mail fraud charges in 2018. Because SMI Demolition was not eligible for the PPP loans nor the EIDL due to Smith’s felony convictions and ownership interest, the United States contends that Smith and SMI Demolition thus caused false claims for payment to SBA. The claims resolved by today’s settlement include claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Forsyth v. SMI Demolition, Inc. and Charles Smith, Jr., No. 23-cv-10091-NMG (D. Mass.). As part of today’s resolution, the relator will receive approximately $200,000. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement today. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew A. Caffrey, III and Brian Sullivan.


title: Rossiter Man Convicted at Trial of Unlawful Possession of Destructive Device

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - After deliberating for one and a half days, a federal jury in Pittsburgh found Roam L. Beer guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a destructive device, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Beer, 51, of Rossiter, Pennsylvania, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. The evidence presented during the day and a half trial established that, on January 5, 2024, Beer threw an ignited homemade explosive device, which had been weaponized with steel shot, at the side of the residence of his estranged wife, who was in the room immediately inside the wall of the house where Beer threw the device, but was uninjured in the incident. Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for November 18, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court ordered that Beer remain in custody. Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and New Kensington Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Beer. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Mexican National Sentenced To 84 Months In Prison For Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eduardo Lopez-Zamorano, age 35, was sentenced to 84 months in prison to be followed by three years on supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for illegally reentering the United States. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Lopez-Zamorano has a long criminal history in the United States. He was convicted of obstructing the administration of law in 2022, when he tried to shove a police officer who had responded to a domestic dispute in Chambersburg. He was then removed from the United States on May 26, 2022. He illegally reentered the United States thereafter and was again removed on December 9, 2022, after serving a five-month sentence for illegal reentry. That notwithstanding, Lopez-Zamorano again illegally reentered the United States. He was convicted of criminal mischief and harassment in 2023 and driving under the influence in 2024, when he was found driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.25%. He was also convicted of harassment for punching a female victim in the face in February 2024. On March 30, 2024, he was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he had been charged with assault for holding a knife to the throat of the mother of his child. He had not obtained legal permission to reenter the United States. 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 matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Zuni Woman Indicted for Child Abuse Resulting in Death

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni woman has been indicted on federal charges for her alleged role in the death of a minor child. According to court documents, on January 26, 2025, Miranda Cachini , 26, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, allowed a minor child to be placed in a dangerous situation which resulted in the child’s death. Cachini is charged with abuse of a child resulting in death and will remain in third-party custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Cachini faces up to 18 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment (Cachini).pdf An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Assault Charges Filed Against Shiprock Man

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges for a violent assault that left two people seriously injured. According to court documents, on August 5, 2025, Joshua Black , 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, became violent during an argument at the home. Black assaulted another man by slamming his head into a fireplace and striking him repeatedly with a shovel and a wooden board. The man sustained life-threatening head injuries and was later airlifted to a local hospital. During the same incident, Black also assaulted a woman, kicking her and taking her mobility aids, and pushed another man to the ground. During a search of the residence, officers located Black hiding inside a box spring and took him into custody. Investigators recovered bloodied objects at the scene, including a broken shovel, a wooden board, and a crutch. Black is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in third-party custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Black faces up to 10 years in prison per count. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case as part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months. As part of this effort, the FBI has launched a multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, we are aggressively restoring safety in our communities across the country. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Española Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Bank Robbery

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Española man was sentenced to more than 154 months in federal prison for robbing an ATM technician at gunpoint. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on January 15, 2022, Michael Cobb , 42, approached an ATM technician who was loading cash outside a Century Bank in Española, New Mexico. Cobb pointed a handgun at the technician and demanded the cash canisters. After the technician backed away, Cobb took the canisters, fired a round near the ATM, returned to grab two more canisters, and drove away. Española Police used license plate reader technology to identify the red Chevrolet Sonic used in the robbery. The vehicle was registered to Cobb ’s family residence in Ohkay Owingeh. Investigators matched surveillance footage to Cobb . On January 19, 2022, Pojoaque Tribal Police located the vehicle at Buffalo Thunder Casino. Cobb attempted to flee but was arrested following a brief pursuit. Officers recovered cash consistent with the stolen denominations from Cobb ’s person at the time of his arrest. On November 26, 2024, Cobb pled guilty to bank robbery with a dangerous weapon and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Cobb will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Española Police Department and Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell prosecuted the case.


title: Mexican National Indicted For Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Juan Valencia-Diaz, age 51, a Mexican National residing in York County, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for a charge of reentry of previously removed aliens. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Valencia having previously been removed in 2017, was found to be in the United States on or about July 19, 2025, in York County, Pennsylvania, and he did not have authority for readmission to the United States at the time he was encountered. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Consiglio is prosecuting the case. 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). The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty to Assault by Strangulation

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman by strangulation. According to court records, between April 7 and April 8, 2024, Kayiliab Haines , 34, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling her. Haines pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation. He will remain in custody pending sentencing. At sentencing, Haines faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Haines will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.


title: Executives Of Data Intelligence And Mobile Advertising Companies Charged In Connection With Accounting Fraud Scheme

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANIL MATHEWS, RAHUL AGARWAL, and KENNETH HARLAN with conspiracy and securities fraud. MATHEWS and AGARWAL were, respectively, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Near Intelligence, Inc. (“Near”), and HARLAN was the Chief Executive Officer of MobileFuse LLC (“MobileFuse”). The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme to defraud investors in Near by fraudulently inflating the company’s revenue by approximately $25 million through a series of “round trip” transactions in which Near made inflated payments to MobileFuse, only for MobileFuse to pay the money back to Near. MATHEWS and AGARWAL are also charged with wire fraud in connection with their separate schemes to embezzle money from Near, and MATHEWS is charged with aggravated identity theft in connection with his appropriation of the identities of others that he used to generate fake invoices to disguise his embezzlement. MATHEWS was previously arrested in connection with these charges in France, where he fled during the pendency of this criminal investigation. The United States is seeking his extradition. AGARWAL, an Indian citizen and resident, is at large. HARLAN was arrested earlier today and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. “As alleged, executives from Near and MobileFuse ran a circular payment scheme to inflate revenue and increase Near’s value,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Our investors, businesses and employees depend on the integrity of our capital markets. Market integrity is one of America’s great competitive advantages, and this Office will hold those who undermine that essential integrity to account.” “These defendants not only allegedly recycled more than $25 million through each other’s businesses, but two of them also stole even more funds to maintain their personal lifestyles,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “These defendants allegedly manipulated their executive positions within their respective companies to create a mirage of financial success and attract prospective buyers. The FBI is determined to apprehend any individual who relies on fraudulent misrepresentations to improve their economic portfolio.” According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] The defendants, from 2021 to December 2023, caused Near to fraudulently inflate its reported revenue by “round-tripping” money through MobileFuse, a private mobile advertising company founded and run by HARLAN. The round-tripping scheme began before Near became a public reporting company, and MATHEWS and AGARWAL’s fraudulent inflation of Near’s revenue was designed, at least in part, to make Near look more attractive for acquisition by a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, or SPAC, to take Near public. HARLAN, along with other senior MobileFuse executives, agreed to facilitate Near’s fraudulent inflation of its revenue by exchanging fake invoices along with inflated payments that allowed Near’s revenue from MobileFuse’s business to appear more than 10 times higher than it actually was, while MobileFuse “netted” out the roundtripped amounts and paid Near only what MobileFuse owed it for services actually rendered. The defendants, and other senior executives at Near and MobileFuse, knew that Near was recognizing fake revenue that was based on these round-tripped amounts that originated at Near, rather than representing money MobileFuse legitimately owed Near for business services. The fraudulent accounting practices instigated by the defendants and their co-conspirators caused Near to overstate its revenue by at least approximately $25 million. At various times, Near’s revenue was falsely inflated by as much as approximately 28 percent, with the greatest inflations to Near’s revenue in 2022, just before it went public. These inflated figures were relied on by the SPAC when it evaluated whether to acquire Near. Near’s misrepresentations about its revenue, as orchestrated by the defendants and their co-conspirators, continued after it became a public reporting company. Revenue inflated by MobileFuse’s round-tripped payments gave the appearance that Near was meeting its revenue projections, when, actually, Near would have failed to meet those projections without the round-trip payments. In order to conceal Near’s fraudulent accounting practices, the defendants, and other senior executives at Near and MobileFuse, took steps to mislead the independent certified public accountants engaged to audit Near’s financial statements. The round-tripping scheme unraveled a few months after Near began trading on the Nasdaq on or about March 24, 2023. On or about October 5, 2023, Near announced an initial assessment that revenue may have been overstated and that its financial statements should not be relied on. Near filed for bankruptcy in December 2023, less than nine months after its merger with the SPAC was completed. The Round-Tripping Scheme In January 2021, before the round-tripped payments began, MATHEWS and AGARWAL, along with another Near executive (“Near Executive-3”), invested $2 million in MobileFuse through a Singaporean private limited company in exchange for approximately 1.2 million Class B MobileFuse shares, which amounted to an approximately 10% equity stake in MobileFuse. In the summer of 2023, shortly after Near became a public company, MobileFuse repurchased these Class B MobileFuse shares from MATHEWS, AGARWAL, and Near Executive-3 for only approximately $12,000. Effectively, therefore, the January 2021 “investment” amounted to a nearly $2 million payment from the Near executives to MobileFuse, and specifically, to HARLAN and his co-founder, the majority owners of MobileFuse. A few months later, the round-tripped payments began. MATHEWS, AGARWAL, and HARLAN coordinated the mechanics of the payments, which would begin with a large invoice from Near to MobileFuse followed by a “counter invoice” representing the amount MobileFuse would legitimately owe Near for services rendered on a monthly basis, plus the round-tripped amount that originated from Near. In accordance with this plan, from May 2021 to September 2023, Near and MobileFuse engaged in a series of similar transactions in which Near paid MobileFuse followed by reverse payments to Near on or about the same day in close but slightly greater amounts, the difference representing the amount MobileFuse legitimately owed to Near for actual services rendered. The payments totaled approximately more than $25 million to MobileFuse, and approximately $27,750,000 to Near. Near booked payments received from MobileFuse as revenue, even though the defendants knew that the payments Near received from MobileFuse lacked economic substance and merely reflected a return of money Near had previously paid MobileFuse the same day or the day before. Near’s recognition of the fraudulently inflated revenue from the MobileFuse round-tripped transactions caused Near’s revenue to be overstated on its financial statements, including its audited financial statements from both before and after Near became a public company. HARLAN knew that MobileFuse’s exchange of invoices with Near enabled Near to record increased revenue on its books and that this the increased revenue was fraudulent, and he acted accordingly. Explaining the arrangement to other MobileFuse executives, HARLAN said “Basically [Near is] grossing up their revenue.” MobileFuse, however, did not book the money it received from Near as part of the round-tripped transactions as revenue within its own financial statements. Rather, MobileFuse “netted” the amount Near paid it against the amount it paid Near and recorded only the difference. The result was that Near and MobileFuse accounted for the revenue from their mutual transfers differently. HARLAN recognized that Near’s approach was highly misleading: on or about March 28, 2023, HARLAN texted MobileFuse Executive-2 to compare MobileFuse’s finances to Near’s: “Interesting note….we have more revenue than Near and obviously profitable both in 2022 and forecasted for 2023 and our revenue is real.” The Embezzlement Schemes MATHEWS and AGARWAL further enriched themselves at Near’s expense by embezzling money from the company. From in or about May 2022, through in or about 2024, MATHEWS engaged in a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from Near to pay rent for a luxury home located in Laguna Beach, California. MATHEWS took concerted efforts to conceal the embezzlement scheme from Near, its auditors, and its shareholders, including through the creation and use of fictitious invoices using misappropriated identities. Similarly, from in or about 2021 to in or about 2022, AGARWAL also embezzled from Near by transferring funds equivalent to more than a million dollars to a Singaporean company owned by him, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars to a company owned by another Near executive (“Near Executive-3”). Agarwal later facilitated a cover-up by causing Near’s finance department to transmit to Near’s independent auditors a fraudulent MobileFuse invoice to account for the transfers. * * * A chart containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the individual defendants is attached. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI and further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is handling the extradition. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Chiuchiolo and Allison Nichols are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Defendant Age Residence Charges Maximum Potential Sentence(s) MATHEWS 51 Laguna Niguel, CA Conspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements in a registration statement, to make false statements in reports required to be filed by the SEC, improperly influencing the conduct of audits, and falsifying the books and records of a publicly traded company, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count One) Securities fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff (Count Two) Wire Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Three) Aggravated Identity Theft, 18 U.S.C. § 1028A Five years 20 years 20 years Two years, mandatory consecutive AGARWAL 40 India Conspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements in a registration statement, to make false statements in reports required to be filed by the SEC, improperly influencing the conduct of audits, and falsifying the books and records of a publicly traded company, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count One) Securities fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff (Count Two) Wire Fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Count Five) Five years 20 years 20 years HARLAN 52 Princeton, NJ Conspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false statements in a registration statement, to make false statements in reports required to be filed by the SEC, improperly influencing the conduct of audits, and falsifying the books and records of a publicly traded company, 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count One) Securities fraud, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff (Count Two) Five years 20 years u.s._v._mathews_et_al_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine (Actual) and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Jesus Ignacio Medina-Leyva will spend the next 120 months, or ten years, in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller. A federal grand jury indicted Medina-Leyva, 29, of Culiacan, Mexico, along with 31 other defendants on November 2, 2017. The 31-count indictment charged Medina-Leyva with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. On April 10, 2025, Medina-Leyva pleaded guilty to both counts he was charged with in the filed indictment. An investigation revealed that Medina-Leyva and co-defendants were involved in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, a money laundering conspiracy, and various federal firearms violations. Medina-Leyva was arrested entering into the United States from Canada on a warrant relating to the charges in the indictment on August 6, 2024. To date, 26 of Medina-Leyva’s co-defendants have been convicted and sentenced. In addition to the 120-month sentence, Judge Miller also sentenced Medina-Leyva to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, North Little Rock Police Department, Conway Police Department, Sherwood Police Department, Arkansas State Police, and the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Truck Driver Sentenced for Transporting a Minor Across the Southeast

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: ABERDEEN, MS – A South Carolina man was sentenced today to over 17 years in prison for transporting a minor from North Carolina to Louisiana and through Mississippi with the intent for the minor to engage in sexual conduct. According to court documents, Randy Taylor, 35 years old, of Columbia, South Carolina, solicited a minor online to engage in sexual activity with him. Taylor picked up the 12-year-old outside her home in his 18-wheeler and took the child to Louisiana where he recorded a sexual interaction between the two. Once alerted to the missing child, FBI Agents began tracking the minor and were able to rescue the child at a Vaiden, Mississippi truck stop. The minor was returned home safely to her family. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Taylor today to 210 months followed by 10 years of supervised release. “This defendant earned every year of this sentence when he transported a 12-year-old child across state lines and sexually assaulted her,” stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “AUSA Parker King and our partners at the FBI and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office have demonstrated that there will be zero tolerance for those who would take advantage of innocent victims.” “Thank God this child’s life was saved and her victimization ended. We certainly appreciate the cooperation and teamwork from the FBI and everyone involved. We do not tolerate child sex predators operating in Carroll County. We remain committed to protecting children from predators. Parents should be more vigilant than ever concerning their children’s online activities. Unfortunately, these types of cases don’t always end this well,” said Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker. “Randy Taylor’s predatory action of soliciting a minor to indulge in his sexual fantasies was appalling,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our partners to stopping crimes against children. Our children are our most vulnerable citizens. Through impactful programs such as Project Safe Childhood, those who seek to harm them will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. The Jackson and Charlotte FBI Field Offices; MS Department of Public Safety; Carrol County Sheriff’s Office; and the Cherokee Indian Police Department in North Carolina, will never fail to protect the innocence of minors from predators like Mr. Taylor." The FBI and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .