title: South Florida Tax Preparer Admits to Wire Fraud in  $4.1 Million PPP Loan Scheme

body_text: MIAMI – A federal judge accepted the guilty plea of a South Florida tax preparer who prepared and submitted false tax forms to support more than 200 fraudulent loan applications under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). According to court documents, Roody Metelus, 47, of Westlake, owned and operated JRS Tax Services, LLC, in Dania Beach. From approximately January 2021 through January 2022, Metelus worked with others to fabricate tax documents for clients — many of whom were wage earners — to falsely portray them as self-employed business owners eligible for PPP funds. “Pandemic relief programs were created to help small businesses survive an economic crisis, not to enrich tax preparers through fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant fabricated tax records, exploited his clients’ trust, and helped generate more than $4.1 million in fraudulent loan applications to steal taxpayer-funded relief. Those who abuse emergency government programs for personal gain will be prosecuted, and they will not keep the proceeds of their crimes.” “Tax fraud is fraud, and this defendant is now a felon,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office. “I caution anyone thinking of submitting false documents to the United States Government or defrauding federal relief programs, you will face a similar fate.” Using these false records, Metelus and his co-conspirators sought more than $4.1 million in PPP loans. Approximately 116 of those applications were funded, resulting in roughly $2.3 million in proceeds. Metelus required clients to pay him a percentage of the loan funds once disbursed. Metelus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Loecker made the announcement. The IRS-CI, Florida Field Office, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee Jimenez is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-60019. ###


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Dealing & Selling Firearms

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Juston McDowell, age 25, of Laurinburg, North Carolina, was sentenced yesterday to 27 months in prison for unlawfully dealing in firearms without a license. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea, McDowell admitted that between March 2022 and February 2025, he acquired multiple firearms, including handguns and switches, in North Carolina and then sold the firearms in Albany, New York, and elsewhere. McDowell also admitted that he did not have a license that would allow him to deal in firearms. FAUSA John A. Sarcone III stated: “Juston McDowell is responsible for putting numerous firearms in the hands of individuals who sought to circumvent laws designed to keep our communities safe. His actions were dangerous and caused additional unregulated firearms to enter our neighborhoods. Yesterday’s sentence sends a message: If you illegally bring guns into my District, you will be punished. I commend the hard work and determination of our partners at ATF and AUSA Belliss for bringing this dangerous individual to justice.” ATF SAC Bryan DiGirolamo stated: “This sentencing holds accountable an individual who unlawfully trafficked firearms across state lines, putting dangerous weapons—including machine gun conversion devices—into our communities. ATF is committed to disrupting the illegal flow of firearms that drive violence, and this case underscores the critical role of partnership in that mission. We thank the ATF NY Albany Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York for their dedication to this investigation and prosecution.” United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year term of post-release supervision. ATF investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted this case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn . ###


title: Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting U.S. Representative  Ilhan Omar During Minneapolis Town Hall in January 2026

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, pleaded guilty today to one count of Assaulting a United States Officer in U.S. District Court. According to court documents, on January 27, 2026, Kazmierczak sat in the front row at an official Minneapolis town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, when he stood up, and rapidly approached Rep. Omar as she was speaking. Kazmierczak sprayed Rep. Omar with apple cider vinegar from a syringe, which landed on Rep. Omar’s clothing and skin. Lab analysis confirmed the liquid contained acetic acid. Kazmierczak gestured and shouted at Rep. Omar before security guards subdued him. The town hall meeting was temporarily disrupted, but Rep. Omar later continued her remarks. photo of syringe with liquid used by Kazmierczak recovered by Minneapolis Police During his arrest by Minneapolis Police officers, Kazmierczak spontaneously stated, “I squirted vinegar.” During today’s change-of-plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen, Kazmierczak admitted that he planned the assault and that he did not agree with Rep. Omar’s political views. “This assault is yet another example of a dangerous national trend: people channeling political hatred into criminal acts,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “The Department of Justice and this U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate such behavior.” “Political violence is a scourge on our democracy,” said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “The FBI will not tolerate attacks on elected officials or anyone who serves our nation. Anyone who thinks they can attack an elected official or seek to insert violence into our democratic discourse without consequence will find the FBI and our law enforcement partners in their way. Mr. Kazmierczak’s conviction today is a testament to a quick and thorough investigation and underlines the importance of interagency collaboration with Minneapolis Police and other state and local agencies.” A sentencing date for Kazmierczak has not yet been set by the U.S. District Court. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department, led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar prosecuted the case.


title: Eight-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ATLANTA - Usoro E. McWhorter, who has eight prior felony convictions, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. His accomplice, Omari Nicks, was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison last year on the same charges. “This serial convicted felon sold deadly quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs from an Atlanta apartment and dumped heroin out of a window in a failed attempt to evade seizure by law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “McWhorter’s and Nicks’s lengthy sentences are the result of close collaboration between federal and local law enforcement officers committed to aggressive prosecutions of drug traffickers in north Georgia.” “An individual with eight prior convictions who continues to traffic drugs demonstrates a clear disregard for the law and for human life,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we were able to bring this case forward and ensure accountability. Together, we remain committed to removing repeat offenders who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.” “The recent federal conviction and 10-year sentence of a fentanyl distributor underscore the devastating impact this drug continues to have on our communities. Fentanyl trafficking fuels addiction, overdoses, and loss of life at an alarming rate,” said Major Mark Mayton of the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and the commitment of law enforcement and the judicial system to hold those responsible accountable. We remain dedicated to working with our partners to combat the spread of fentanyl and protect the safety and well-being of our citizens.” “The Cartersville Police Department has always taken an aggressive approach to drug enforcement, and this case was no different. It really is a shining example of what happens when local and federal law enforcement work together to achieve a common goal. This collaborative effort created a true local impact by dismantling an illicit pipeline of drugs and firearms into not only our community, but all of the communities that these defendants sought to exploit,” said Chief Kevin Cloninger of the Cartersville Police Department. According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In January 2025, Omari Nicks was selling methamphetamine and fentanyl from his Atlanta apartment. Some of Nicks’s customers traveled into the city from as far as Bartow County, Georgia. On February 6, 2025, DEA agents searched Nicks’s apartment after seeing Nicks sell drugs while Usoro McWhorter acted as a lookout. When agents entered the apartment, Nicks attempted to flee by climbing out a third-story window, but he fell off the side of the building and was quickly apprehended. Agents arrested McWhorter while he was dumping heroin out of another apartment window. Inside the apartment, agents found approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, a hydraulic press to form powdered drugs into bricks, approximately $5,400 in cash, and an AR-15 style rifle loaded with a 30-round magazine. Law enforcement also recovered approximately 100 grams of the heroin McWhorter dumped out of the apartment window. Before this incident, McWhorter had been convicted of eight felony offenses. Most of those convictions involved drug sales. On May 6, 2026, Usoro E. McWhorter, 48, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. McWhorter was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, after he pleaded guilty. On August 27, 2025, Omari A. Nicks, 47, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years and 6 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Nicks was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, and the Cartersville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold, III and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Defendant Pleads Guilty in $48 Million Nationwide Book Publishing Scam Targeting Hundreds of Seniors

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, a 34-year-old citizen of the Philippines, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he conspired to perpetrate a book publishing scam that caused losses of over $48 million to more than 800 victims throughout the United States. Sordilla is the first of four defendants to admit his role in a scheme that targeted authors — most of them seniors — by promising to elevate their work to major publishing deals and Hollywood film adaptations, all in exchange for millions of dollars in fraudulent fees. According to his plea agreement, Sordilla was the founder and CEO of Innocentrix Philippines, which purported to be a “business process outsourcing” company in the Philippines. Sordilla admitted that he and his co-conspirators created and registered phony business entities in the United States, including: PageTurner Press and Media LLC (“PageTurner”), which was incorporated in California in September 2017 and claimed to be a book publishing business located in Chula Vista, California The Metro Films LLC (“Metro Films”), which was incorporated in California in April 2022 and claimed to be a motion picture and sound recording business located in Los Angeles, California WP Lighthouse LLC (“WP Lighthouse”) was registered in Indiana in July 2024 and claimed to be a book publishing business in Indianapolis, Indiana. From 2017 until 2024, under the guise of these fictitious businesses, Sordilla and co-conspirators operated a fraudulent network of scammers in the Philippines to enrich themselves by selling false hopes of tremendous professional success to writers in the United States. According to his plea agreement, Sordilla’s role in the conspiracy was using Innocentrix Philippines to manage a call center in the Philippines where dozens of sales representatives contacted victims in the United States pretending to be literary agents from PageTurner or WP Lighthouse. As part of the conspiracy, the scammers falsely told victims their works had been selected for acquisition by publishers or movie studios, and fraudulently convinced victims to send payments for various services including pre-payment of taxes and transaction fees, before the victim-author’s work could be published or optioned to studios. According to court documents, the conspirators made false representations regarding PageTurner and WP Lighthouse to the victims, including by falsely representing the location of operations, their contacts and communications with literary agents, major traditional publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services. As part of the conspiracy, the conspirators impersonated literary agents and executives from major publishers, motion picture studios, and popular video streaming services, or pretended to be representatives from the fake motion picture business Metro Films. In reality, PageTurner, WP Lighthouse, and Metro Films were fictitious businesses with no relationship to either traditional publishers or Hollywood entertainment companies. Sordilla directed co-conspirators to open and manage bank accounts in the name of PageTurner and WP Lighthouse LLC at various financial institutions, his plea agreement said. After victim funds were received in bank accounts established on behalf of PageTurner and WP Lighthouse, in order to conceal the location and control of proceeds of the book publishing scam, Sordilla directed co-conspirators to withdraw and transfer victim funds to domestic and international bank accounts in the Philippines controlled by Sordilla and co-conspirators. As part of the conspiracy, Sordilla directed co-conspirators to launder at least $42 million, and received approximately $2,725,951. As part of the guilty plea, Sordilla agreed to forfeit $2,725,951 in proceeds from the offense. Sordilla will also be subject to an order of restitution to the victims of the offense in the amount of at least $48,719,156.38. “The defendants didn’t just steal money — they stole dreams, leaving victims with empty promises and devastating losses,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today’s guilty plea delivers justice for victims and serves as a warning that legitimate publishers and filmmakers do not demand upfront fees.” “Michael Sordilla and his co-conspirators callously preyed on the hopes and dreams of authors to have their stories come to life, costing hundreds of victims more than $48 million in losses,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Today’s guilty plea is the beginning of holding all those involved in this Hollywood dream scheme accountable for their crimes. FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our pursuit of justice of any scammers attempting to steal Americans’ hard-earned money.” “The defendant knowingly used the mail to execute a fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims for financial gain,” said Matt Shields, Inspector in Charge of the Los Angeles Division. “This guilty plea represents a significant step in holding the defendant accountable and seeking justice for all of those impacted.” If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. As of today, three of the four defendants charged in the case are awaiting trial. Law enforcement previously seized the PageTurner domain and over $6 million from bank accounts linked to PageTurner and WP Lighthouse. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Oleksandra “Sasha” Johnson. DEFENDANTS Case Number 24CR2712-JLS Gemma Traya Austin Age: 60 Chula Vista, CA In custody. Arrested in Chula Vista on December 12, 2024 Michael Cris Traya Sordilla Age: 34 Philippines In custody. Sentencing set for July 24, 2026 Bryan Navales Tarosa Age: 35 Philippines In custody. Arrested in San Diego on December 9, 2024 Micheal Glenn Austin Age: 35 Chula Vista, CA Released on bond SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349 Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h) Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation United States Postal Inspection Service


title: Gainesville Man Sentenced to Prison for Drug Distribution and Illegal Weapons Charges

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

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Khalil Keari Barnett, 30, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to seven years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, another violent, drug-peddling criminal has been removed from our streets. Operation Take Back America was launched to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward eliminating the threats to our communities posed by violent criminals like this defendant, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those offenders until our streets are safe and drug-free.” Court documents reflect that Alachua County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call for service. When law enforcement arrived on scene, the defendant left out the back door of the residence and attempted to enter a rideshare vehicle before fleeing on foot. As the defendant was fleeing, he threw a bag from his person, which included 600 grams of marijuana and a black mask. A firearm and box of ammunition were also recovered near the defendant. The defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as he has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon by a delinquent. Alachua County Sheriff Scott said: “The arrest and subsequent federal conviction of Mr. Barnett is, once again, strong evidence to our community that we will not allow violent criminals who inflict physical harm, unlawfully possess weapons, and traffic narcotics to roam our streets in search of their next victim. As your Sheriff, I stood before this community and made a commitment to keep you safe while you enjoy all that Alachua County has to offer. It is through partnerships like our relationship with the US Attorney’s Office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, that we are able to uphold that promise.” The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Salvadoran National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Antonio Chavarria-Marquez, age 43, a citizen of El Salvador, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Chavarria-Marquez illegally reentered the United States and was found in York, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 2026, after he had been removed from the United States through Laredo, Texas on April 4, 2019, and reentered without having permission to do so. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evelyn M. Stoner is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Victorino Javier Cruz-Lopez of Mexico, age 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of illegal reentry into the United States. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Cruz-Lopez was encountered in the United States in York County on or around April 16, 2026, after having previously been removed in 2013, and that he did not receive permission to reenter the United States, as required by law. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Louisiana Man Detained on Turtle Trafficking Charges

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A federal magistrate judge in Phoenix yesterday ordered Albert Bazaar held in custody following his arrest on charges relating to trafficking turtles. The court unsealed an indictment from San Francisco charging Bazaar, formerly of Angie, Louisiana, on conspiracy and Lacey Act violations. A status conference will be held on May 14 in Phoenix. The indictment alleges that between January 2022 and December 2023, Bazaar poached and sold over 1,700 loggerhead musk turtles, 100 stripe-neck musk turtles, and 15 striped mud turtles from their native habitats in Florida. Florida law protects fresh and marine turtle species from unregulated harvest. The indictment charges Bazaar with aiding and abetting a co-conspirator who exported the turtles from San Francisco to Taiwan, falsely claiming they were captive-bred to obtain export permits. The turtles are estimated to be worth more than $550,000 in the Asian pet trade. The indictment describes eight transactions where Bazaar sold illegally collected turtles to the San Francisco exporter. The exporter financed Bazaar’s poaching trips from Louisiana to Florida, including sending money so Bazaar could buy a boat and van. Bazaar is charged with creating a declaration of captive bred wildlife that falsely stated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that the turtles were lawfully bred in Alabama and Georgia. The federal Lacey Act criminalizes selling or transporting wildlife in interstate commerce that was taken in violation of state law. It is also a Lacey Act violation to provide false information relating to wildlife involved in international or interstate commerce. Loggerhead musk turtles, stripe-neck musk turtles, and striped mud turtles are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States and 184 other governments are signatories to the CITES treaty, which restricts international wildlife sales without a permit to support sustainable trade. If convicted, Bazaar faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 fine on each of the conspiracy and Lacey Act charges. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California, and Assistant Director Doug Ault, USFWS Office of Law Enforcement, announced the arrest and charges. Bazaar was investigated and charged as part of the USFWS Operation Southern Hot Herps, which was a joint federal and state law enforcement operation to detect and deter turtle poachers in the southeastern United States. Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources worked closely with USFWS in the investigation. Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Chambers for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case. An indictment merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Knoxville Man Sentenced To Over Five Years For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 7, 2026, Timir X. Thomas, 20, currently of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 70 months in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. After his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for five years. Thomas previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(D), and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. 924(C). According to court filed documents, in March 2025, law enforcement from multiple state and federal agencies began a joint investigation into Thomas and his co-conspirators for drug trafficking and the possession of firearms. The investigation revealed that Thomas and other members of the drug trafficking organization were utilizing social media platforms, such as Instagram, to sell marijuana and firearms. On Instagram, Thomas posted photographs and videos of himself and others possessing thousands of dollars of drug proceeds, firearms, and large quantities of marijuana. The investigation further revealed that, since October 2024, Thomas obtained large quantities marijuana from California and distributed those drugs in Knoxville. On April 20, 2025, investigators conducted a traffic stop and arrested Thomas. Thomas was in possession of distribution quantities of marijuana, a Glock 19x, 9mm pistol, a Glock 23, 40 caliber pistols, and a Micro-Draco, AK-47 style, 7.62x39mm pistol. Following the arrest, KPD obtained search warrants for Thomas’s cell phones and found photographs, videos, and text messages showing that Thomas had distributed large quantities of marijuana and possessed numerous firearms while trafficking marijuana. United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge, Jamey VanVliet, of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Knoxville Police Department Community Engagement Response Team (CERT), Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF. This investigation was led by ATF Special Agent James Makemson. Assistant United States Attorney Michael T. Gilmore represented the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces . ###


title: Twin Brothers Plead Guilty To Robbery, Brandishing Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Javae McClain, 19, of Aurora, and Javaris McClain, 19, of Aurora, each pled guilty to robbery affecting commerce and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to the plea agreements, in September of 2024, the McClain brothers committed an armed robbery of a convenience store in Denver. Both were charged with aggravated robbery in Denver and then released on state bond. Between December 23, 2024, and January 12, 2025, while on state bond, Javae McClain committed an additional ten armed convenience store robberies across the Denver Metro area, and was taken into custody on January 12, 2025. After Javae McClain was taken into custody, Javaris McClain, who was also still on state bond, continued the robbery spree by robbing an additional nine Denver area convenience stores with a gun. Javaris McClain was arrested on February 4, 2025. Senior United States District Judge William J. Martinez presided over the hearing. Both McClains are scheduled to be sentenced in September. The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force handled the investigation in cooperation with Denver, Commerce City, Westminster, Lakewood, Sheridan, Littleton, Aurora, and Parker Police Departments, and the Arapahoe County Sherriff’s Office. The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado handled the prosecution. Case Number: 25-cr-134-WJM


title: Two men sentenced to federal prison for theft of U.S. mail

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: AUGUSTA, Georgia: Two men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to charges including mail theft. Michael Jermaine Thompson, 24, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Mail Key and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall previously sentenced Thompson’s co-defendant, Robert Dean Plyler , 23, of Augusta, to a total of 38 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after he pled guilty to Possession of Stolen Mail, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. There is no parole in the federal system. “The security of the U.S. Mail is vital to commerce and communications, and mail theft is a serious matter,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These sentences hold both men accountable, and deliver a timely warning that we will diligently pursue those who would violate the mail system.” As described in court records and testimony, North Augusta police officers were alerted in December 2024 that two men were seen opening a mail “blue box” outside the Georgia Avenue post office and placing the mail in the trunk of their car. As officers were enroute they saw a vehicle matching the description and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle sped into Georgia and eventually crashed during the pursuit, and Thompson and Plyler were taken into custody. Investigators from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office recovered a pistol and a large amount of mail from the vehicle. Personnel at the Richmond County jail also found a U.S. Postal Service key in Thompson’s possession. A total of 131 pieces of mail were recovered, representing 29 victims. The investigation also discovered that Plyler had opened a bank account in his name and had been depositing checks taken from mail thefts into the account. Judge Hall ordered Plyler to pay restitution of $1,157. “This sentencing is a statement that mail theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies to collectively pursue criminals who victimize postal customers.” “Stealing from the U.S. Mail is not a victimless crime – it disrupts lives, compromises financial security, and erodes trust in a system Americans rely on every day,” said Matt Ploskunak, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Augusta office. “These defendants not only targeted that system, but one of them did so while unlawfully possessing a firearm, compounding the threat to the community. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit the mail for personal gain and hold them accountable under federal law.” The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the North Augusta Office of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted for the United States of America Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey L. Scanlon.


title: Three Individuals Indicted in Northwest Alabama Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. An 11-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Tyrone Bernard Watkins, aka “T.Y.,” 33, of Muscle Shoales, Alabama; and Mikel Leshane Presley, aka “Mike Lowery,” 34, and Jade Leela Mitchell Little, 34, – both of Tuscumbia, Alabama – with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Watkins was also charged with distribution of methamphetamine. Presley was also charged with distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm. The alleged incidents occurred between October 2023 and August 2024, in Colbert County, Alabama. The DEA, ATF, and FBI investigated the case along with the Colbert County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Judah is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Hastings Man Charged with Stealing More than $100,000 in Federal Taxpayer Funds

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that on May 5, 2026, a grand jury charged Michael Lee Brooks, 47, of Hastings, Michigan, with two counts of theft of federal taxpayer funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641. Count 1 of the indictment alleges that Brooks, who was the representative payee for his father’s Social Security retirement benefits, failed to notify the Social Security Administration that his father died in September 2019, and thereafter continued to collect his father’s Social Security benefits for seven years, through August 2025. The indictment alleges that Brooks submitted false annual representative payee accounting statements to the Social Security Administration as part of the theft, which totaled $99,055.00. Count 2 of the indictment alleges that Brooks stole $4,218.00 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by making false statements and material omissions of fact. If convicted, Brooks faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count. The case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Public Company CEO And Chairman Convicted Of Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that BRADLEY HEPPNER, the former chairman of GWG Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded company, was found guilty by a jury following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. HEPPNER was convicted of securities fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, and false statements to auditors in connection with a scheme to fraudulently extract more than $150 million from GWG. “A unanimous jury has found former public company CEO and Chairman Bradley Heppner guilty of fraudulently extracting $150 million,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Heppner used shell companies to hide his scheme. When his house of cards began to collapse, he did not come clean. Instead, he doubled down by falsifying emails and backdating documents to lie to the auditors, directors, and the SEC. Our world-leading capital markets are built on trust and transparency. The honesty and candor of C-Suite executives is essential, and this action should send a message: C-Suite executives who breach the public trust will be pursued by the SDNY’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and our dedicated partners at FBI, vigorously. That is what investors and the American people want and deserve.” As established during the trial: Between 2018 and 2021, HEPPNER, as chairman of GWG Holdings, Inc.—a Nasdaq-listed financial services company that raised capital through bonds sold predominantly to retail investors and retirees—executed a scheme to fraudulently divert GWG funds to his own benefit through a shell company he controlled, the Highland Consolidated Limited Partnership (“HCLP”). To effectuate the scheme, HEPPNER fabricated a $141 million debt that Beneficient, a subsidiary of GWG that HEPPNER had founded, purportedly owed to HCLP. Under the guise of repaying that debt, HEPPNER told the board of directors of GWG that it was necessary to transfer millions of dollars to Beneficient. When a special committee of GWG’s board inquired about who controlled HCLP and would receive the debt payments, HEPPNER falsely represented that HCLP was independent and disclaimed any personal financial interest in payments made on the purported debt. Those representations were false. HCLP was controlled by HEPPNER, and when GWG authorized payments to satisfy what it believed were arm’s-length obligations to a third-party lender, those funds flowed through multiple corporate entities and ultimately into HEPPNER’s personal accounts. HEPPNER used the proceeds for personal expenses, including renovating his Dallas mansion and purchasing a private jet travel and jewelry. To conceal the scheme, HEPPNER made false and misleading statements and caused the preparation of backdated and fraudulent documents to deceive auditors in connection with their assessment of whether HCLP was independent of HEPPNER. After GWG received a subpoena from the SEC, HEPPNER also falsified the minutes of an October 2019 board meeting, adding language to create the false appearance that he had previously disclosed to Beneficient his history of borrowing funds from HCLP, and caused the falsified minutes to be transmitted to the SEC. * * * HEPPNER, 60, of Dallas, Texas, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rakoff on October 7, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, and false statements to auditors, and a maximum of five years in prison on the conspiracy count. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This case is being handled by SDNY’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel G. Nessim, Alexandra Rothman, and Kyle Wirshba are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Katy man sent to prison for leading multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 40-year-old suburban Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud dozens of victims of over $17 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Christopher Knight Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud Feb. 19. After today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered Lopez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard statements from 13 victims, each of whom described the impact Lopez’s crime had on their lives. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison noted he had never seen a white-collar crime more offensive during his time on the bench. From May 2015 to January 2025, Lopez and his brother, Jayson Lopez, ran an investment business and conspired with others to defraud their clients by providing false information about the companies in which the clients invested. They used forged bank letters and fabricated account statements to mislead investors about the companies’ financial strength. The bothers operated under several LLCs, to include Knight Nguyen Investments, Knight Advisory and Planning, Aevum Holdings Inc., Exempt Management LLC and Ping An Financial Services Pte. The Lopez brothers misappropriated client funds for personal use and used additional investor money to pay purported returns to other victims to falsely portray the investments were profitable. Christopher and Jayson Lopez also admitted they falsely claimed access to $2 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. They told their clients they could use these funds to finance their clients’ businesses if the clients paid large advance fees. The brothers collected the fees from their clients but never issued the loans. The scheme resulted in an approximately $17 million in losses to more than 40 victims, including senior citizens and others seeking to invest retirement savings and college funds, as well as local and international businesses. Jayson Lopez, 43, Orlando, Florida, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and will be sentenced May 8. Nadir Abdel Torres 46, Mandan, North Dakota, was also charged and previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he assisted the brothers by helping them obtain the forged letters and bank statements. He will be sentenced May 22. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case.


title: Zuni Woman Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter of Infant

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after her 2-month-old daughter died from asphyxiation. According to court documents, on the night of January 25, 2025, Miranda Cachini , 27, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, consumed alcoholic beverages and fell asleep while breastfeeding her 2-month-old daughter in bed. During the night, Cachini rolled over on top of the baby, causing her to pass away by asphyxiation. Cachini pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and faces up to eight years in prison at sentencing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, 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.


title: Geneva man charged with production and possession of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Rafael Arroyo-Ubiles, 27, of Geneva, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a lifetime period of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. According to the complaint, in January 2026, Arroyo-Ubiles came to the attention of the Geneva, NY, Police Department during an investigation into illegal narcotics sales in the City of Geneva. Geneva Police executed multiple search warrants related to illegal narcotics sales. During the execution of one of the search warrants, investigators discovered an online account belonging to Arroyo-Ubiles. While searching for evidence of narcotics activity in the account, investigators observed videos depicting Arroyo sexually abusing a five-year-old girl. The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Colleen D. Holland and was detained. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the Geneva, NY Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ronald Eveland, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Luis Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Luis Hilario, a/k/a Virgilio Hilario, a/k/a Agustin Santiagocordovas, a/k/a Liuis Virgiliohilario, a/k/a Luis Hilario Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Hilario-Virgilio, a/k/a Luis Virgilio-Hilario, age 35, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department. The Indictment alleged that on March 27, 2026, Hilario, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on November 2, 2018, and July 20, 2018, and after previously being convicted of a felony. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hilario will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie Pippin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.


title: Illegal reentry into U.S. lands three-time DUI offender in federal prison

body_text: HOUSTON – A 32-year-old illegal alien from Mexico with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Jose Alejandro Luna-Rangel pleaded guilty Feb. 25. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered Luna-Rangel to serve 40 months in federal prison, and he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court cited the need to deter further criminal conduct and considered Luna-Rangel’s pattern of dangerous behavior and repeated disregard of the law. Authorities previously removed Luna-Rangel from the United States in July 2016 following his conviction for driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle. He later illegally returned to the United States. Law Enforcement discovered Luna-Rangel again Nov. 5, 2022, in Harris County following convictions for assault-family violence and felony driving while intoxicated (third offense). Luna-Rangel has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Federal jury convicts Alexandria man on charges relating to the deletion of U.S. Government databases

component: Criminal Division

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted Sohaib Akhter, 34, of Alexandria, today on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, password trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Sohaib Akhter, and his twin brother and co-defendant, Muneeb Akhter, worked for a Washington, D.C., company that provided software products and services to more than 45 federal government agencies and hosted data for some federal government clients on servers in Ashburn. On Feb. 1, 2025, Muneeb Akhter asked Sohaib Akhter for the plaintext password of an individual who submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) Public Portal, which was maintained by the Akhters’ employer. Sohaib Akhter conducted a database query on the EEOC database and then provided the password to Muneeb Akhter. That password was subsequently used to access that individual’s email account without authorization. When the company discovered Sohaib Akhter’s felony conviction, it terminated both brothers’ employment during an online remote meeting on Feb. 18, 2025. Immediately after being fired during this meeting, the brothers sought to harm their employer and its U.S. government customers by accessing computers without authorization, write-protecting databases, deleting databases, and destroying evidence of their unlawful activities. The compromised information included case management and Freedom of Information Act response processing software. Over the course of several hours, approximately 96 databases storing U.S. government information hosted by the company were deleted. A search of Sohaib’s cellphone revealed that he had obtained firearms as early as January 2025 and, following the execution of a search warrant on March 12, 2025, took steps to sell them. On March 18, 2025, Sohaib drove to a firearm company in Farnham, Virginia, with his domestic partner, who completed paperwork for a transaction to sell the company seven firearms. As a convicted felon, Sohaib could not legally possess firearms. On June 6, 2015, Muneeb and Sohaib pled guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization, and conspiracy to access a government computer without authorization. Muneeb also pled guilty to accessing a protected computer without authorization, making a false statement, and obstructing justice. On Oct. 2, 2015, Muneeb was sentenced to three years and three months in prison; Sohaib was sentenced to two years in prison. Sohaib Akhter is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FDIC-OIG, DHS-OIG, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by: the Department of Agriculture OIG; Department of Education OIG; Environmental Protection Agency OIG; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission OIG; Federal Reserve Board OIG; Department of Health and Human Services OIG; DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer; Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG; Department of the Interior OIG; International Development Finance Corporation OIG; Department of Justice OIG; Department of Labor OIG; Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG; Small Business Administration OIG; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Department of Veterans Affairs OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Capitol Police; Fairfax County, Virginia Police Department; and the Alexandria, Virginia Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys George Brown and Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. 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. 1:25-cr-307.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Selling Firearms Without a License

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Salvadoran national unlawfully residing in Chelsea was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for making multiple illegal firearms sales. Melbi Ovidio Ortez, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 27 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In February 2026 , Ortez pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. In June 2025 , Ortez was arrested and charged. Ortez was identified as an 18th Street Gang associate who supplied firearms and controlled substances to gang members. On four different occasions between April 3, 2025 and May 2, 2025, Ortez sold firearms and ammunition behind his Chelsea residence. Ortez sold a Glock 9mm caliber pistol; a Sturm and Ruger .22 caliber revolver; a Glock .40 caliber pistol; a Colt .380 caliber pistol; magazines; and over 100 rounds of ammunition. In addition, the serial numbers on both the Glock 9mm pistol and the Colt .380 pistol had been defaced. TheGlock 9mm pistol had been purchased only 20 days earlier from a licensed firearms dealer in New Hampshire. Ortez also sold cocaine two times during that same period. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Fraud Detection and National Security Unit; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecutedthe case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.


title: U.S. Court of Appeals Affirms Federal Prison Sentence of More than Thirty Years for El Salvador Man Convicted of Possession and Conspiracy to Distribute Sixteen Pounds of Fentanyl

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has affirmed a federal prison sentence of more than thirty years issued by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann to an El Salvador man following his conviction by a federal jury in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place at the federal courthouse in Aberdeen on September 15, 2025. The appeal was argued at the federal courthouse in St. Paul, Minnesota on March 19, 2026. The Eighth Circuit issued its opinion and judgment affirming the sentence on May 7, 2026. Edwin Giovanni Salinas, 47, an illegal alien from El Salvador who was living in Los Angeles, California, was sentenced to serve 365 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Salinas left California with a backpack he used to transport approximately three pounds of pure China and Mexican cartel-sourced fentanyl powder and nearly 50,000 fentanyl pills laced with horse tranquilizer. One of the bags of fentanyl seized from Salinas was marked with the word “CHINA.” The pills were manufactured to look like prescription oxycodone pills. In all, Salinas was seeking to distribute approximately sixteen pounds of fentanyl, presumably to communities across the Midwest. The immediate destination for the drugs was believed to be a designated meeting spot at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The approximate street value of the drugs was estimated at $2,000,000. Salinas was traveling with the illegal drugs in a speeding car with California plates at four in the morning near the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, with an individual he recruited to drive. The vehicle was stopped and the contraband found and seized by a deputy with the Roberts County Sheriff’s Department and a police officer with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe. Salinas was convicted on both felony counts following a five-day jury trial. At sentencing, the district court made factual findings, credited on appeal, that Salinas “had enough fentanyl to kill 500,000 people” and that this was one of “the biggest drug bust[s] in the history of South Dakota.” The appellate court also affirmed a sentencing enhancement imposed by the district court for threatening his co-defendant and placing her in fear when they were in U.S. Marshals custody and traveling to federal court. “Case closed,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The incredible vigilance and professionalism demonstrated by these on-duty law enforcement officers with the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police and Roberts County Sheriff’s Office unquestionably saved lives.” This case was investigated by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribal Police, the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Division of Drug Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case. Following sentencing, Salinas was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service before being transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45. The Mexican drug cartels responsible for the fentanyl smuggled into the United States—primarily the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel—operate global criminal enterprises and rely on a global supply chain, with most fentanyl and its chemical precursors originating from China. In 2025, DEA seized more than 47 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, equivalent to more than 369 million lethal doses of fentanyl.


title: Three Sentenced for Spree of Armed Robberies of Luxury Watches in Summer of 2024

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Darryl James, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday, May 1, 2026, to 15 years in prison for his participation in a spree of armed robberies of luxury watches and other goods in the Summer of 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. James pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. His two co-conspirators, Isaiah Boyd, 24, and Issac Ingraham, 20, were sentenced on February 13, 2026 for their participation. Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of attempted robbery, while Ingraham pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. According to the government’s evidence, in the Summer of 2024, there were a number of similar-style armed robberies that were committed in busy nightlife areas of the Northwest quadrant of the District of Columbia, fitting a similar modus operandi: a stolen car would pull up to a pedestrian or make a U-Turn before pulling up to a pedestrian, one or more masked men would jump out of the car and brandish a gun, and one or more of those men would rob a luxury watch at gunpoint. James participated in at least eight of these armed robberies, culminating in the last one on July 26, 2024, when James led law enforcement on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle throughout the District, ultimately discarding stolen property and two handguns along the way. James, Boyd, and Ingraham were able to flee successfully that day, but James was arrested about two weeks later with another handgun. Law enforcement eventually identified Boyd and Ingraham as being participants, alongside James, and they were arrested in December 2024 and January 2025, respectively. All three have been detained since their arrest. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy, who investigated and prosecuted the case. 2024 CF3 008088, 2024 CF3 012630, 2025 CF3 001859


title: Federal Jury Convicts Two Tampa Men of Distributing Fentanyl Which Caused the Death of a University of South Florida Student

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida –A federal jury has found Miguel Cintron (38, Tampa) and Darrius Gustafson (22, Tampa) guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. Each faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Cintron, Gustafson, David Chudhabuddhi, and Marquis Trant distributed a lethal amount of fentanyl that resulted in the death of Victim-1. After Victim-1’s death, all four individuals continued to distribute fentanyl to undercover deputies and detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. On April 10, 2024, all four were arrested and a search warrant was executed at Cintron’s residence where law enforcement recovered more than seven kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, and over $200,000 in cash. Chudhabuddhi and Trant previously pleaded guilty and are scheduled for sentencing on June 18, 2026. This case was investigated by the University of South Florida Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.


title: Tucson Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years In Prison for Violent Sexual Assault

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – On May 5, 2026, Steven Daniel Buitimea, 37, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 210 months in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Buitimea previously pleaded guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse. On May 28, 2022, Buitimea, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, sexually assaulted the victim by force, causing serious physical injury to the victim. The sexual assault occurred on the Pascua Yaqui Indian Reservation in Tucson, Arizona. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson office and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 22-CR-1916 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-070_Buitimea # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Narcotics and Firearms Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Methuen man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition and using a firearm in relation of a drug trafficking offense. Shawn Hart, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2025, Hart pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl; one count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; one count of using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense; and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023 . In August 2022, Hart was identified as a manufacturer and distributor of counterfeit pills containing controlled substances on the North Shore of Massachusetts. On Sept. 15, 2022, Hart distributed approximately 500 counterfeit Adderall pills, containing 68 grams of fentanyl, during a controlled purchase in North Billerica. Additionally, on June 1, 2023, Hart distributed approximately 100 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing suspected fentanyl and well as a 9mm privately manufactured firearm (commonly known as a “ghost gun”) containing 19 rounds of ammunition during a controlled purchase at his home in Methuen. In addition, three additional firearms, a pill press used for manufacturing counterfeit pills and suspected narcotics in various forms and quantities were seized from Hart’s residence following his arrest. Hart is prohibited from possession firearms and ammunition due to multiple previous state felony convictions, including: possession with intent to distribute a class a controlled substance in December 2003; armed robbery in June 2004, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; masked armed robbery, breaking and entering a vehicle at night and larceny in August 2004, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison; and assault and battery on a correctional institution guard in September 2004, for which he was sentenced to six months in prison. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Methuen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Wray of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Dominican National Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine : A Dominican national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Dewar Francisco Beriguete-Hernandez , 21, to three years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Beriguete-Hernandez was convicted on October 24, 2025, following a two-day jury trial. According to court records, Beriguete-Hernandez was part of a drug trafficking organization that delivered fentanyl from Massachusetts to customers in Maine. Beriguete-Hernandez was arrested in Kittery in April 2024, in possession of approximately 196 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Following trial, a jury convicted him of possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute. He was acquitted of a separate count charging him with distributing controlled substances. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, with the assistance of the Kittery Police Department. Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Brooklyn Man Convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Child

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Dewitt John on both counts of a superseding indictment charging him with sexual exploitation of a child and accessing with intent to view child pornography. The verdict was returned after a three-day trial before United States Circuit Judge Denny Chin, sitting in the Eastern District of New York by designation. When sentenced, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict. “From behind his computer screen, Dewitt John preyed on vulnerable children online, exploiting their innocence for his own gratification and using cash payments to coerce minors as young as 13 into producing sexually explicit videos of themselves,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This conviction demonstrates our Office’s unwavering commitment to protecting children from online predators. We will continue working tirelessly to identify and hold accountable those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our community.” “Dewitt John preyed on these children’s fear and innocence to force them to comply with his depraved demands. These victims bravely faced their fears in court to testify against their abuser to ensure he can’t hurt anyone else. May today’s guilty verdict serve as a warning to other predators that the FBI is determined to hold accountable those who sexually exploit vulnerable children,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. As proved at trial, in or about March 2024, John identified a 13-year-old girl who had posted photographs of herself on a Reddit forum and whose posts disclosed her age. John offered to pay the girl for her for photographs and then initiated contact on Instagram. John proceeded to groom the victim by sending her money through Cash App in exchange for sexually explicit videos of herself. Despite the victim expressing discomfort and reluctance to comply, John continued to pressure and coerce her into producing the material. During the course of this conduct, John sent the victim explicit and graphic messages describing the sexual acts he wanted her to perform. As further demonstrated at trial, John also targeted a second 13-year-old minor victim through similar online methods, grooming her and inducing her to send him naked images of herself for his gratification. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. * * * * * The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke Theodora and Special Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Elardo are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Elizabeth Reed. The Defendant: DEWITT JOHN Age: 31 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 24-CR-492 (DC)


title: Tahlequah Resident Pleads Guilty To Discharge Of A Firearm During The Commission Of A Violent Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Langston Love Hughes, age 22, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by not less than 10 years and up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on January 5, 2026, Hughes did knowingly use, carry, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is, Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hughes will remain the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: New York Man Sentenced for Foreign Murder of a U.S. National in Bangladesh

body_text: Today, a Bronx man was sentenced in New York for the June 2021 murder of a U.S. national in Bangladesh. Ganet Rozario, 54, a U.S. citizen from New York, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Rozario previously pleaded guilty to one count of foreign murder of a U.S. national. According to court documents and statements read in court, Rozario used a shotgun to kill his uncle, Michael Rozario, in Bangladesh. Both men are naturalized U.S. citizens originally from Bangladesh. The men had been involved in a years-long property dispute over the family home located in Munshiganji, Bangladesh. During a visit to Bangladesh in 2021, both men were staying at the property. On the evening of June 11, 2021, Ganet went outside the family home to smoke a cigarette near his uncle’s bedroom window. While outside, he overheard his uncle, who was inside the house, insulting him. Ganet became angry, went back into the house, retrieved a shotgun, and went back outside. After shouting words to the effect of “you will not see the sun tomorrow,” Ganet fired a single shot through an opaque window shutter striking Michael Rozario on his right stomach and abdomen area, killing him. Ganet returned to the United States in July 2023 and was indicted for the murder of his uncle in April 2024. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York made the announcement. The FBI Los Angeles and New York Field Offices investigated this case. Acting Deputy Chief Frank Rangoussis of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Legal Attaché in Dhaka, Bangladesh and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance to the case. The Justice Department thanks the Government of Bangladesh for their cooperation.


title: Precious metals Ponzi scheme operator sentenced to over four years in prison

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The owner and operator of an Alexandria-based precious metals investment firm was sentenced today to four years and two months in prison for wire fraud and violating the Travel Act. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, beginning in November 2021, Warith Deen Muhammad, 39, of McLean, falsely told more than a dozen investors that if they invested with him and his business, Niagara Gold and Silver LLC, he would use their money to buy, trade, and sell precious metals. Muhammad guaranteed profits of five to ten percent and told investors that they would receive their principal plus interest back, typically within 30 days. To mask the fraud, Muhammad used new investors funds to pay prior investors, leading investors to believe that their investment had been “successful,” inducing them to invest more money and to recruit others to invest. In total, from November 2021 through June 2023, Muhammad used fraudulent representations to induce more than 12 investors to send him over $1.5 million. In addition to spending investor money to pay prior investors, Muhammad also used investor funds to finance his lavish lifestyle. He leased high-end sports cars, including a Ferrari FF, Bentley, and Dodge Challenger Demon. He paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to rent luxury properties, and he spent tens of thousands of dollars at retailers, including Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s, and Chanel, among others. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Morgan and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell prosecuted the case. 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. 1:25-cr-284.


title: St. Tammany Parish Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: SLIDELL , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that DEVIN JUNEAU , ( “JUNEAU” ), age 40, was charged on April 24, 2026 in a two-count Indictment by a federal grand jury. In Count One, JUNEAU is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and (e). If convicted, JUNEAU faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years up to 30 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 250,000, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Count Two charges JUNEAU with coercion and enticement of a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b). If convicted, JUNEAU faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a fine of 250,000, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. If convicted of either count, JUNEAU will be required to participate in the Sex Offender Registry and Notification Act (“SORNA.”) U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States 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. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Long Beach Man Sentenced to 2½ Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Molotov Cocktail at Anti-ICE Protest Last Year in Downtown L.A.

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man who possessed a Molotov cocktail during an anti-immigration enforcement protest in downtown Los Angeles last year was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison. Wrackkie Quiogue, 28, was sentenced by United States District Judge Anne Hwang. Quiogue pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device. He has been in federal custody since June 2025. In June 2025, federal law enforcement officials began conducting immigration enforcement operations throughout the greater Los Angeles area. During and following those operations, protests occurred in and around Los Angeles County. While many of the protestors peacefully exercised their First Amendment rights, some individuals directly engaged in violent actions to obstruct, impede, or injure law enforcement officers. One such protest that turned violent occurred on June 8, 2025, in the Civic Center area of downtown Los Angeles. Members of the crowd threw rocks and bottles at law enforcement officials. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an unlawful assembly. One police officer witnessed Quiogue possessing a Molotov cocktail. The glass bottle he held contained a flammable liquid (ethanol) and a source of ignition, namely a yellow piece of cloth soaked in ethanol, which acted as a wick. Fearing that Quiogue would light the Molotov cocktail and throw it at the officers, police approached Quiogue, causing him to attempt to flee. As the LAPD officers pursued him, Quiogue threw the unlit Molotov cocktail into the air. LAPD officers subdued and arrested Quiogue, who was holding a lighter in his right hand. Quiogue admitted to knowingly possessing the destructive device and that he had not registered it with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law. “Unlike many of the individuals in the crowd, who were gathered to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights and protest immigration enforcement operations, [Quiogue] came prepared to instigate violence and inflict harm on the law enforcement officers assigned to protect the Roybal Federal Building,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Quiogue]’s premeditated actions endangered the law enforcement officers protecting Roybal Federal Building and the civilians who gathered to peacefully protest.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this matter with the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David C. Lachman of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.


title: Former Account Manager at Beverly Hills Business Management Firm Charged with Embezzling More Than $2 Million from Celebrity Client

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former account manager at a high-end Beverly Hills business management and tax firm was charged today in an eight-count federal indictment with embezzling more than $2 million from one of the firm’s celebrity clients. Frank Musoke, 38, formerly of Woodland Hills, is charged with five counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion. He is believed to have fled to Uganda, where he has dual citizenship with the United States. According to the indictment, Musoke was employed as an account manager at a full-service business management and tax firm identified in court documents as “Company A.” This Beverly Hills-based firm primarily served high-net-worth celebrities in the entertainment industry. In this role, Musoke was entrusted with managing the complete financial and business affairs of Company A’s elite clientele. His job was to help clients with asset protection, investment strategies, and financial planning to help them preserve and grow their wealth. The victim, identified in the indictment as “Individual A,” is a well-known television host and producer and had been a Company A client for nearly 20 years. Musoke was Individual A’s account manager and had full access to Individual A’s financial accounts, including control of his debit cards. From December 2019 to June 2023, Musoke gained unauthorized access to debit cards and the associated personal identification numbers (PINs) connected to Individual A’s business bank account. Without Individual A’s knowledge or consent, Musoke – in breach of his fiduciary duty – fraudulently used Individual A’s debit cards to withdraw approximately $1,733,688 at a bank’s ATMs, spend $165,270 on Amazon purchases, incur $191,543 in personal travel expenses, and spend more than $160,000 on other personal expenses. In total, Musoke embezzled more than $2 million from Individual A. Company A terminated Musoke in July 2023, after the fraud was discovered. From May 2021 to May 2023, Musoke filed false federal income tax returns in which he failed to report a total of approximately $1,766,367 in income he embezzled through the unauthorized use of debit cards. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, Musoke would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each tax evasion count. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating this matter. Chief Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.


title: Detroiter Pleads Guilty in $16M Federal Student Aid Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Brandon Robinson, 42, of Detroit, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a decade-long, multi-million-dollar Federal Student Aid fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge John Woolley, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG), and Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. According to the court records, Robinson was responsible for leading a years-long scheme to obtain fraudulent Federal Student Aid benefits involving so-called “straw students” who were enrolled for the primary purpose of receiving FSA. Specifically, between January 2015 and February 2024, Robinson submitted fraudulent FSA claims for more than 1,200 individuals, involving over 100 schools in 24 states. As a result of the scheme, Robinson fraudulently caused more than $16M in FSA benefits to be awarded, with more than $10M disbursed. Robinson also accepted responsibility for filing over 100 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims between April 2020 and March 2023, causing the disbursement of over $1M in UI benefits. Robinson pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Laurie J. Michelson. Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, where Robinson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count, followed by a mandatory, consecutive penalty of 24 months for the aggravated identity theft count. In a related case, co-conspirator Antonio Robinson and Joshuan Porter also pleaded guilty, for their roles in the same scheme. That case is also assigned to Judge Laurie J. Michelson and they will be sentenced on July 7, 2026 (Antonio Robinson), and August 4, 2026 (Joshuan Porter). Both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. United States Attorney Gorgon stated, “More than 1,000 fake students. A decade of fraud. This man built an industrial-scale operation to loot federal student aid programs and to steal from the American taxpayer.” "Scams like this steal money from hardworking taxpayers and legitimate students and that is unacceptable,” said John Woolley, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Central Regional Office. “The OIG and our law enforcement partners are committed to fighting student aid fraud and we will continue to aggressively pursue those that participate in these types of crimes." “Brandon Robinson’s guilty plea sends a clear message: if you steal from programs meant to help hardworking Americans, our team and Vice President Vance’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — will find you, investigate you, and hold you accountable,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. “Protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance system remains one of my top priorities. Fraud is a tax on every honest American, and we will continue aggressively pursuing the bad actors who exploit taxpayer-funded programs for personal gain.” The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The case was jointly investigated by agents from the Department of Education Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan A. Particka and John K. Neal.