title: Two Men Arrested For Conspiring To Facilitate Narcotics Trafficking Out Of An Inwood Smoke Shop

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Frank A. Tarentino, announced today the unsealing of Complaints charging MUJAHED ALI and QUIRINO GARCIA DIAZ with conspiracy to distribute narcotics. The defendants were arrested yesterday in Manhattan, and GARCIA DIAZ was arrested at their Inwood smoke shop, from which they sold drug traffickers a variety of drug paraphernalia, including cutting agents— i.e. , substances added to narcotics to increase their volume (and thus their saleable quantity) and to modify their effects. The investigation of the smoke shop led agents to multiple large-scale narcotics mills and other drug operations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and New Jersey and the seizures of large volumes of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as multiple firearms. The defendants will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. “Businesses, small or large, that engage in drug trafficking will be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “As alleged, this Inwood smoke shop helped traffickers pump lethal narcotics into our city. New Yorkers want this stopped and we hear them.” “Once again, we see the reckless lengths individuals are willing to go as they conspire, distribute, and profit from the sale of fentanyl, a drug that is singlehandedly destroying our communities and devastating families,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino. “The alleged use of a smoke shop to conceal their narcotics trafficking, which in turn led to the discovery of six drug mills, underscores their willingness to sacrifice the safety of our neighborhoods for personal gain. Illicit narcotic mills have no place in our communities, and the DEA will continue to do everything we can to eliminate these operations and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaints: Between in or about August 2024 and in or about October 2025, ALI, GARCIA DIAZ, and others used the Inwood smoke shop to sell cutting agents and drug paraphernalia to drug traffickers, who would then use the smoke shop’s products to increase their quantities of narcotics and package them for sale. ALI, GARCIA DIAZ, and their co-conspirators sold cutting agents to an undercover officer who explicitly indicated that he was purchasing those substances to mix with narcotics, including cocaine and heroin. ALI and his co-conspirators also gave suggestions on which cutting agents to use with certain types of narcotics. For example, on one occasion, ALI suggested that an undercover officer purchase and use a particular cutting agent, fish scale, to mix with the undercover officer’s cocaine because fish scale would make his drug product “shine the most.” Over the course of the approximately 14-month period during which ALI, GARCIA DIAZ, and their co-conspirators sold cutting agents and drug paraphernalia from the Inwood smoke shop, law enforcement investigated customers who had appeared to purchase cutting agents and/or drug paraphernalia from the shop and identified at least six narcotics mills as well as other locations where narcotics were being stored. This led to the arrests of at least eight drug traffickers, including owners and operators of narcotics mills, and the seizure of bulk quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, in addition to multiple firearms and ammunition that the traffickers possessed in connection with their drug businesses. Below are photographs of certain of the narcotics mills that ALI, GARCIA DIAZ, and their co-conspirators supplied with cutting agents and/or drug paraphernalia sold out of the Inwood smoke shop: Fentanyl Seized from a Manhattan Narcotics Mill Searched on August 14, 2024 Fentanyl and Heroin Seized from a Bronx Narcotics Mill on August 27, 2024 Fentanyl Seized from a Bronx Narcotics Mill on September 11, 2024 Cocaine Seized from a Bronx Narcotics Mill on September 16, 2024 Fentanyl Seized from a New Jersey Narcotics Mill on October 16, 2024 Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Three Loaded Firearms, and Ammunition Seized from a Bronx Narcotics Mill on August 11, 2025 Following the defendants’ arrests, law enforcement searched the Inwood smoke shop and a storage unit next to the shop that was used by the defendants. Inside the storage unit, law enforcement found a room full of narcotics cutting agents and another room full of drug paraphernalia and equipment used to mix, press, and package narcotics, including three kilogram presses used to press narcotics powder into kilogram-sized bricks, numerous sifters, grinders, scales, and hundreds of thousands of glassine envelopes, small vials, and small plastic bags, all commonly used to package narcotics. Below are photographs of the room containing narcotics cutting agents: * * * ALI, 41, a citizen of the United States and Yemen, and GARCIA DIAZ, 35, a citizen of Mexico, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Field Division. The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie L. Dang is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Morristown Man Sentenced For Operating Ponzi Scheme

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: GREENEVILLE Tenn. – On October 1, 2025, Michael D. Harris, 60, of Hamblen County, Tennessee, was sentenced to 33 months by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his release, Harris will be on supervised release for three years and will be required to repay over $1.5 million in restitution. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Harris agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. According to filed court documents, from 2015 to 2020, Harris operated an investment scheme, commonly referred to as a Ponzi scheme, in the Morristown, TN area. He would convince victims of the offense to invest money with him based on his self-proclaimed expertise as a stock trader. In exchange for giving Harris their money, victims either obtained guaranteed return promissory notes (usually calling for ten percent (10%) interest per month) that would frequently roll over into new notes or membership interests in purported investment group plans. As part of the scheme, Harris agreed to pledge non-existent life insurance and, for those in his investment group plans, he would provide weekly market updates and phony plan share values. In truth, Harris was spending money on himself, losing money in speculative investments, and using new investor’s money to repay previous investors. Harris ultimately confessed what he had done to a Tennessee Securities Division Fraud Investigator. In total, Harris defrauded 52 victims and stole over $1.5 million. He has been ordered to make full restitution to all victims as part of the sentence. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation (“IRS CI”) made the announcement. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by IRS CI with valuable assistance from the Morristown Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mac D. Heavener III represented the United States. ###


title: Two Charlotte Men Are Charged With Using Their  Vehicles To Assault, Resist, Or Impede Federal Officers Conducting Immigration Enforcement Operations

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two men involved in separate incidents have been charged in federal court for allegedly using their vehicles to assault, resist, or impede federal officers conducting immigration enforcement operations in Charlotte, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Cristobal Maltos, 24, and Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez, 24, both of Charlotte, are each facing charges of felony assault, resist, or impede a federal officer. Maltos had his initial appearance in federal court today and was released on bond. Martinez’s initial court appearance was on Monday, and he remains in federal custody. The U.S. Attorney made clear that these charges do not stem from the organized protests that have taken place in the Charlotte area: “Those who disagree with immigration enforcement actions have a right to peacefully protest, and I am proud that our citizens exercised their First Amendment rights without resorting to violence at organized protests over the weekend,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “I am also thankful to the law enforcement officers who were present to ensure everyone’s safety.” “The charges against the defendants, however, allege acts of violence targeting law enforcement officers. As always, we will stand up for our law enforcement community and vigorously prosecute anyone who endangers them while they do their job,” U.S. Attorney Ferguson added. According to allegations in the criminal complaint filed against Martinez, on November 16, 2025, federal law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with the defendant after his van was observed at two different locations where federal officers were conducting immigration related operations. The complaint alleges that as officers approached Martinez’s van, he fled the scene driving aggressively and a high rate of speed. Law enforcement used sirens and lights attempting to stop Martinez, but he allegedly continued to evade law enforcement, driving erratically and swerving in and out of traffic, crossing medians and sidewalks, and driving into oncoming traffic down North Tryon Street. Ultimately, Martinez rammed his van into a government vehicle that had its lights and sirens activated and was occupied by four federal officers. After striking the government vehicle, Martinez continued to flee until he was stopped and taken into custody. According to allegations in the criminal complaint filed against Maltos, on Monday, November 17, 2025, federal officers with the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting an official operation when they observed a Black Honda Civic appearing to follow the agents. The federal officers attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as Maltos. Maltos reversed his vehicle, and the officers did not pursue. According to allegations in the complaint, the federal officers observed Maltos had resumed following them. Shortly afterwards, five Border Patrol officers, dressed in their uniforms, asked the defendant to roll down his window. A Border Patrol officer leaned over the hood of the vehicle on the front driver’s side. The vehicle moved forward and struck the Border Patrol officer’s body with the driver’s side mirror. The vehicle then stopped and began to reverse slowly. Border Patrol officers removed Maltos from the vehicle and placed him under arrest. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is joined in making the announcement by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. The charges against the defendants are merely allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former President and Chief Operating Officer of Public Company Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Idaho executive pleaded guilty to insider trading on the basis of material nonpublic information about an impending corporate acquisition. According to court documents, Michael Smith, 48, of Eagle, Idaho, served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Company-1 since in or around June 2022. Company-1 was based in Idaho, and its shares were publicly traded on NASDAQ. By at least June 2024, by virtue of his position at Company-1, Smith received material nonpublic information (MNPI) regarding the impending acquisition of Company-1 by another company. Smith was subject to Company-1’s Insider Trading Policy that, among other things, prohibited employees from trading in Company-1’s stock if an employee possessed MNPI. On July 26, 2024, Smith bought Company-1 stock using a brokerage account belonging to Individual-A. Smith and Individual-A had a close personal relationship. Smith executed these trades on the basis of MNPI about the impending acquisition of Company-1 despite knowing that he was prohibited from trading Company-1 stock. On Aug. 7, 2024, news of Company-1’s acquisition became public, and Company-1’s stock increased by nearly 50%. The next day, Smith sold the Company-1 stock he had purchased for Individual-A for a profit of approximately $145,754.69. Smith executed the trades to financially benefit Individual-A. Smith pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS-CI) made the announcement. USPIS-CI is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Kyle Crawford and John Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.


title: Four California Residents Sentenced to Prison in Connection with $16M Hospice Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: Four California residents were sentenced to prison for their roles in defrauding Medicare of nearly $16 million through sham hospice companies and laundering the fraudulent proceeds. Yesterday, Juan Carlos Esparza, 33, of Valley Village, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $1,825,012, and Susanna Harutyunyan, 39, of Winnetka, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,822,963. In October 2025, Karpis Srapyan, 35, of Winnetka, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $3,203,574. In September 2025, Mihran Panosyan, 47, of Winnetka, was sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $4,680,146. Additionally, in May 2025, Petros Fichidzhyan, 44, of Granada Hills, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $17,129,060. According to court documents, Esparza schemed with others, including co-defendants Fichidzhyan and Srapyan, to bill Medicare for hospice services that were medically unnecessary and never provided. From July 2019 until January 2023, Esparza, Fichidzhyan, and Srapyan operated four sham hospices, one of which, House of Angels Hospice, was owned by Esparza. Fichidzhyan, Esparza and Srapyan concealed the scheme by using foreign nationals’ names and personally identifiable information to act as straw owners for the hospices and to open bank accounts, submit information to Medicare and sign property leases. They also controlled and used cell phones in the names of the foreign nationals in furtherance of the scheme. In total, Medicare paid the sham hospices nearly $16 million. Fichidzhyan, Esparza, and Srapyan worked with others, including co-defendants Harutyunyan and Panosyan, to launder the fraudulent proceeds. As part of the money laundering scheme, the defendants maintained fraudulent identification documents and other documents associated with the sham hospices, as well as bank documents, checkbooks and credit and debit cards in the names of purported foreign owners. After defrauding Medicare, the defendants moved the funds between various assets and accounts, including bank accounts in the names of shell companies, to conceal the scheme. In July 2025, Esparza pleaded guilty to health care fraud and transactional money laundering, Harutyunyan pleaded guilty to transactional money laundering, and Srapyan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and transactional money laundering. In June 2025, Panosyan pleaded guilty to concealment money laundering. In February 2025, Fichidzhyan pleaded guilty to health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and concealment money laundering. At sentencing in May 2025, the court preliminarily ordered the forfeiture of two homes bought with fraud proceeds. The government has also seized $2,920,383 from bank accounts associated with the fraud. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Sarah E. Edwards, Allison L. McGuire, and Michael Bacharach of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara B. Vavere for the Central District of California is handling asset forfeiture. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of 9 strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


body_text: WASHINGTON – An Idaho executive pleaded guilty to insider trading on the basis of material nonpublic information about an impending corporate acquisition. According to court documents, Michael Smith, 48, of Eagle, Idaho, served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Company-1 since in or around June 2022. Company-1 was based in Idaho, and its shares were publicly traded on NASDAQ. By at least June 2024, by virtue of his position at Company-1, Smith received material nonpublic information (MNPI) regarding the impending acquisition of Company-1 by another company. Smith was subject to Company-1’s Insider Trading Policy that, among other things, prohibited employees from trading in Company-1’s stock if an employee possessed MNPI. On July 26, 2024, Smith bought Company-1 stock using a brokerage account belonging to Individual-A. Smith and Individual-A had a close personal relationship. Smith executed these trades on the basis of MNPI about the impending acquisition of Company-1 despite knowing that he was prohibited from trading Company-1 stock. On August 7, 2024, news of Company-1’s acquisition became public, and Company-1’s stock increased by nearly 50%. The next day, Smith sold the Company-1 stock he had purchased for Individual-A for a profit of approximately $145,754.69. Smith executed the trades to financially benefit Individual-A. Smith pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group (USPIS-CI) made the announcement. USPIS-CI is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Kyle Crawford and John Liolos of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Fresno Man Sentenced for Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: Monico Erich Gastelo, 44, of Fresno, California, was sentenced yesterday after being convicted of sexual exploitation of a child and receipt and distribution of child pornography. The Court sentenced Gastelo to 40 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release, during which time Gastelo’s access to children, computers, and the internet will be restricted. He was also required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life upon his release from custody. According to court documents, in January 2019, Gastelo created a social media account in which he pretended to be an 18-year-old boy to enhance his chances of connecting with minors. Gastelo used the account and others to converse with minors — some of whom disclosed that they were 12 years-old — and repeatedly demanded sexually explicit content from them. Between Jan. 1, 2020, and March 23, 2020, Gastelo began communicating on messaging platforms with other individuals sexually attracted to children. He sent and received multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on these platforms, describing the type of videos and images he preferred, including requesting videos of sex acts performed by toddlers. Forensic review of Gastelo’s phones revealed that he had more than 1,500 images and videos of CSAM saved on his device. Gastelo’s conduct escalated in May 2020. A minor victim disclosed to law enforcement that he had been sexually exploited online and that an individual later identified as Gastelo had added him as a friend on social media. Gastelo had sent over a dozen images of his genitalia to this minor victim and insisted the minor reciprocate. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California made the announcement. The Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Florida Man Indicted for Health Care Fraud, Wire Fraud in Durable Medical Equipment Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NOTE: This press release is about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown and is now available after the return to normal operations. GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment against Mark Weinberger, 62, of Lake Worth Beach, Florida, for health care fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Weinberger, who was excluded from Medicare for a minimum of 15 years because of a prior conviction, was a beneficial owner and/or managing employee of a durable medical equipment (DME) company enrolled with Medicare and submitted a false enrollment document to Medicare to conceal Weinberger and another’s true ownership and control over the DME company. It is further alleged that Weinberger and his coconspirators generated doctors’ orders for orthotic braces using call centers, including a call center in Greenville, South Carolina, and submitted to Medicare, through the DME company, false and fraudulent claims in the approximate amount of $6.7 million that were obtained by the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes, medically unnecessary, and/or otherwise ineligible for reimbursement. Medicare paid approximately $3.4 million on those claims. Weinberger faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for the wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy counts and a maximum penalty of 10 years for the health care fraud and health care fraud conspiracy counts. Weinberger was arrested in the Southern District of Florida on Nov. 6, 2025. Weinberger is scheduled for arraignment in the District of South Carolina on Nov. 24, 2025, in front of the United States Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorney Catherine Wagner of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower for the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED TO PRISON  FOR FAILING TO REGISTER

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Octavius Durdley, 47, of Archer, Florida, was sentenced to six years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release after a jury found him guilty of failing to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping our communities safe from the disgusting sexual predators who seek to exploit and victimize our children remains one of the top priorities of my office. I appreciate the excellent work by our federal law enforcement partners to investigate this offender, and remain committed to aggressively prosecuting these offenses to ensure our children can grow up safe from the threats posed by criminals like this defendant.” According to court records and trial testimony, the defendant, who was designated as a sex offender following a 2010 conviction for receipt and possession of child pornography, purposefully did not complete the required registration upon his release from prison in December 2024. This is the defendant’s second conviction for failing to register as a sex offender in the Northern District of Florida. The defendant was also sentenced to an additional year and two months in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release, for a total of seven years and two months to be served. Acting United States Marshal Greg Leljedal remarked: “If you are a convicted sex offender and fail to register, the U.S. Marshals will track you down and bring you to justice. Octavius Durdley attempted to evade the law and will now be behind bars for the next 7 years.” This conviction was the result of an investigation by the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: PENSACOLA FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO NARCOTICS  AND FIREARMS CHARGES

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Malcolm Terrell Louis, 39, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution is the result of the outstanding investigative work by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners who are committed to ending the flow of drugs and violence plaguing our communities. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these repeat offenders as we fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from violent drug traffickers and career criminals who have terrorized our streets for far too long.” Court documents reflect that in December of 2024, law enforcement located an unattended, parked vehicle that was left running at a housing complex in Pensacola. Law enforcement could see multiple bags of narcotics and a firearm in the vehicle. The defendant’s fingerprints were located on the vehicle and on one of the bags containing methamphetamine and cocaine. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at a residence in Pensacola. The defendant was present at the residence, and was found to be in possession of narcotics, including methamphetamine and cocaine, and firearms. The defendant is a multi-time convicted felon. The defendant faces up to life imprisonment. The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. Sentencing is scheduled for January 8, 2026, at 10:00am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html


title: REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER FROM HONDURAS PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL REENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES BY A REMOVED ALIEN

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Kevin Noel Ochoa Venegas (a/k/a Kevin Noel Ochoa-Venegas, a/k/a Kevin Noel Banegas Banegas, a/k/a Kevin Noel Banegas, a/k/a Kevin Banegas, a/k/a Kevin Noel Banega), 32, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal reentry of a removed alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This criminal alien has demonstrated a brazen disregard for our national immigration laws, as evidenced by his repeated deportations and illegal returns to our country. He has also clearly shown he is a threat to our communities while unlawfully present here through his other criminal acts, including his commission of a sex offense. Thanks to the outstanding work of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, this criminal alien sex offender has been removed from our streets. My office stands ready to aggressively prosecute offenders like this to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the criminal aliens who mistakenly believe they can violate our national and state laws with impunity.” Court documents reflect that on April 11, 2025, the defendant was arrested in Bay County, Florida, for driving without a valid license. Law enforcement determined that the defendant was a citizen of Honduras who was illegally present in the United States. An investigation revealed that the defendant was previously removed from the United States in 2016, and again in 2021 after he was convicted for a sex crime that required him to register sex offender. The defendant did not apply for or receive permission to reenter the United States since his last removal from the United States in 2021. The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, and up to three years of supervision upon his release. An ICE detainer has been lodged against the defendant, and he will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his term of federal prison. The case involved a joint investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2025, at 3:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Third Defendant Pleads Guilty For Fraudulently Obtaining Millions In Public Benefits And Laundering Proceeds To China

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brian R. Cleland, age 72, pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $46.4 million. Cleland is the third defendant to plead guilty in connection with this case, following the guilty pleas of Bruce Jin in January 2025 and Carlos A. Grijalva in May 2025. In April 2025, Cleland and Grijalva were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and other offenses, after charges were originally filed against all three defendants in August 2023. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Cleland admitted that, from 2021 to early 2022, he, Grijalva, and Jin, along with other unnamed coconspirators, agreed to launder state unemployment compensation funds that they knew had been obtained through fraud. Cleland also admitted that he and the others entered into a series of agreements that made it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment while knowing that funds obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (“UC”) benefits. Cleland also admitted to knowing that bank accounts of identity theft victims were unlawfully created and accessed across the United States and that fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts. Cleland also admitted to knowing that this fraudulent activity was being conducted by fraudsters located in China. Through this pattern of financial activity, tens of millions of dollars of fraudulent UC payments were issued to accounts by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and other state treasuries around the United States. Cleland also admitted that he and Grijalva then provided the bank account information of these identity theft victims to payment processing companies to generate ACH payments to accounts controlled by him and Grijalva. This bank account information, including account numbers and routing numbers, was from an individual in China, known in the superseding indictment as “COCONSPIRATOR 2.” Cleland admitted that he and Grijalva transferred over $46 million through this pattern of unlawful activity and that he and Grijalva discussed, on a number of occasions, that the supposed sale of COVID-19-related PPE would be their cover story for it. They also used code language to hide the true nature of their financial activity. For example, they used the term “call center” to refer to the people conducting the fraudulent activity from China and “product” to refer to the fraudulent commercial activity that they conducted with those overseas criminal actors. After that, Cleland and Grijalva, using a number of different bank accounts, transferred over $30 million to companies controlled by Bruce Jin, as well as transferring additional funds to an individual known as “COCONSPIRATOR 1” in the superseding indictment. Cleland admitted that he and Grijalva made transfers to Jin knowing that Jin would, in turn, transfer at least a portion of these funds to parties located in China. Cleland also admitted that he and Grijalva each made an estimated $2.2 million dollars in personal profit from the scheme. Together, their profit represents approximately 10% of the funds that they were responsible for transferring. Cleland agreed to certain property forfeitures as part of his plea agreement, including approximately $46.4 million in US currency, as well as the contents of several bank accounts and real properties located in Hawaii and California that were purchased using funds traceable to the charged offenses. One of these properties, located in California, was purchased in the name of one of Grijalva’s family members. All three named defendants are now scheduled to be sentenced in 2026. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ravi Romel Sharma and K. Wesley Mishoe and Trial Attorney Patrick B. Gushue of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section, Bank Integrity Unit, are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney General previously established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to launder monetary instruments is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 ½ Years  in Federal Prison for Assault

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on September 30, 2025. Jody Jeremy Dupris, a/k/a Jeremy Jody Dupris, age 45, was sentenced to six years and four months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Dupris was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of May 2024 in Eagle Butte, SD, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. Dupris went to the victim’s residence and demanded to be let in. After the victim allowed him into the residence, Dupris stabbed the victim in his right shoulder with a box-cutter/utility knife, causing a deep laceration and bleeding. The victim was able to get away and seek medical care after Dupris passed out. When law enforcement officers entered the victim’s residence, they found Dupris lying on the floor with the weapon nearby. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. Dupris was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Douglas Lee Brown, also known as “Wiggles,” 56, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced on November 17, 2025, to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 18, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Brown on domestic battery and wanton endangerment warrants in Huntington and found he possessed a loaded Taurus model G2C 9mm pistol in his waistband. Officers determined the firearm was reported stolen. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Brown knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for burglary in Franklin County, Ohio, Common Pleas Court on November 15, 2012. Brown has a long criminal history and was on a term of supervision as a result of the burglary conviction at the time of the current offense. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-168. ###


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on October 1, 2025. Tyler Schmidt, 31, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Schmidt was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. He pleaded guilty on July 11, 2025. Between October 2021 and November 2024, Schmidt and others were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Rapid City, SD, area. Schmidt routinely traveled to other states to purchase multiple pounds of methamphetamine at a time. Schmidt would then transport the methamphetamine into South Dakota and work with others to sell the methamphetamine in Rapid City. Law enforcement seized over eight pounds of methamphetamine during the investigation. This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard Counter Drug Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case. Schmidt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to Over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Child Pornography

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025. Aaron Williams, Jr., 24, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Williams was ordered to pay $570 in restitution and $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Williams was also ordered to forfeit his cell phone. A federal grand jury indicted Williams for the charges in August 2024. He pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025. During the 2024 Sturgis Bike Rally, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted an undercover anti-child exploitation operation. During the operation, Williams used his Reddit account and cell phone to send messages to a person he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, who was actually the undercover persona of an investigator with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. When Williams attempted to meet up with the girl to engage in sex acts, he was arrested. After Williams’ arrest, he called his father from jail, reported he had been arrested for child exploitation crimes, and requested that his dad get his “stuff” from Williams’ apartment. Shortly thereafter, Williams’ sister entered his apartment and removed several electronic devices. The devices were ultimately recovered by law enforcement. Analysis of Williams’ cell phone revealed hundreds of images of child pornography depicting infants, bestiality, and rape and bondage of children. Williams was convicted in 2023 for Possession of Child Pornography, Viewing Child Pornography, and Distribution of Child Pornography, crimes committed during his military service in the United States Air Force. As a result of the previous conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. On August 1, 2024, just days before his arrest, Williams had completed a term of federal supervised release. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Williams was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Swears in Veteran Trial Lawyer Maria Guzman as Assistant United States Attorney

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones today announced the swearing-in of Maria Guzman as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. Guzman joins the Narcotics Section, bringing more than three decades of trial experience in state and federal courts. Guzman is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Miami School of Law. She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Houston, Texas, where she tried more than fifty misdemeanor and felony jury trials. After several years in private practice handling criminal and civil matters, she returned to public service in Miami as an Assistant State Attorney for Miami-Dade County. There, she prosecuted violent crime, robbery, and homicide cases, rising to Assistant Chief of the Robbery/Career Criminal Unit and Felony Division Chief. She tried approximately thirty homicide cases during her tenure. Following her time in Miami, Guzman served for seventeen years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Middle District of Florida. She was lead trial counsel on hundreds of federal cases, including matters involving firearms, narcotics, RICO conspiracies, child exploitation, fraud, immigration, and international money laundering. Her years as an AFPD shaped her reputation as a skilled litigator, a demanding courtroom advocate, and a trusted trainer for young attorneys. Most recently, Guzman served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Middle District of Florida, prosecuting violent crime, narcotics trafficking, health care fraud, immigration offenses, overdose death cases, and OCDETF investigations. She served as the office’s Violent Crimes Coordinator, leading significant investigations and securing notable jury verdicts in complex robbery and firearms cases. In announcing her appointment, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones stated: “Maria is the kind of prosecutor who makes a district stronger the moment she walks through the door. She has tried more than 300 cases, served our justice system from every angle, and brings a depth of experience that is rare in any district. Our Narcotics Section gains a steady hand, a battle-tested trial lawyer, and a public servant committed to protecting our community.” Guzman is fluent in English and Spanish and is admitted to practice in Florida and Texas. She will begin her duties in the Narcotics Section immediately. ###


title: St. Francis Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Federal Officer

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on October 20, 2025. Jordan Fast Horse, age 24, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. She pleaded guilty on July 23, 2025. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in August of 2024, in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On the day in question, Fast Horse was arrested by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Officers and charged with child abuse and transported by an officer to the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Adult Correctional Facility. While she was completing intake processing at the Adult Correctional Facility, Fast Horse kicked the leg of one corrections officer and slapped a second corrections officer across the face. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Fast Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Memphis Doctor to Pay $375,296.90 to Settle Fraudulent Billing Allegations

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Memphis nephrologist providing end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, treatments to Medicare beneficiaries will pay $375,296.90 to resolve False Claims Act allegations brought against him. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the agreement today. Dr. Mark Shermer was alleged to have falsely billed Medicare for ESRD treatment visits to dialysis patients that he never actually performed. The civil settlement resolved these allegations brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Under the qui tam provision, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the settlement if the government takes over the case and reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Davis , 2:21-cv-2754-JTF-cgc (W.D. Tenn.). “Falsely billing Medicare for dialysis procedures that never occurred contributes to the soaring costs of health care and ultimately harms actual patients," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant. "Settlements like this protect public funds and safeguard the beneficiaries of federal health care programs." “Providers who submit false claims to Medicare compromise the integrity of federal health care programs and the services they are meant to provide,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and uphold the trust placed in these vital programs.” The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Pazar Williams represented the United States in this case. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Konnor Wolfe Lyons, 35, of Huntington, pleaded on November 17, 2025, to receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 24, 2023, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file sharing computer network to download 464 digital media files containing child pornography. As part of his guilty plea, Lyons admitted that he knowingly downloaded the files via an internet connection and knew they depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sadistic and masochistic abuse. Lyons also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On September 2, 2024, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file-sharing computer network to download six digital media files containing child pornography. Lyons admitted that the files depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and he downloaded them using an internet connection. On November 4, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lyons’ residence and seized his cell phone. A forensic extraction of the cell phone revealed 1,546 images of child pornography that Lyons had downloaded from the internet. Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced on March 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Lyons must also register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case is also the result of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-76. ###


title: United States Attorney’s Office Summarizes Accomplishments During the Lapse in Government Funding

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Like federal employees across the country, during the lapse in funding that began on October 1, 2025, and ended during the evening of November 12, 2025, the men and women of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont were not paid for the work they performed. Nevertheless, during that time, the office’s accomplishments included the following: Cases Charged • On October 2, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Tashama Oates, 47, from Connecticut, with conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. If convicted Oates faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years’ imprisonment. On October 14, Oates was ordered detained pending trial. • On October 15, the Grand Jury returned a superseding indictment charging Dontayveus Thomas, 33, of Florida, with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possessing a firearm in connection with his drug conspiracy. If convicted Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years’ imprisonment. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On October 16, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Deandre Watson, 35, from Detroit, Michigan, with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. If convicted, Watson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 5 years’ imprisonment. Watson had previously been charged by criminal complaint, and on October 10 was ordered detained pending trial. • On October 16, the Grand Jury also returned an indictment charging Jamelle Willis, 39, from Brooklyn, New York, with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. If convicted Willis faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 5 years’ imprisonment. The government sought Willis’s detention, but he was ordered released on conditions. • On October 22, Juan Pablo Espinoza-Morales, 51, of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint with transporting nine aliens (from Brazil, Portugal, Guatemala, and Venezuela) into the United States from Canada. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On October 23, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Isiah Smith, 38, from Brooklyn, New York, with conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base. If convicted, Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years’ imprisonment. Smith had been previously charged by criminal complaint, and on October 15 was ordered detained pending trial. • On October 23, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Ezra Dillon, 34, from Burlington, Vermont, with a Hobbs Act robbery in connection with his brandishing a knife while stealing from City Market in Burlington. If convicted, Dillon faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Dillon, who had been previously charged by criminal complaint, was ordered detained pending trial. • On October 29, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Mark Billy Brown, 31, from Springfield, Massachusetts, with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Brown faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted. Brown was previously charged by criminal complaint, and has been ordered detained pending trial. • On October 29, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Raymond Regimbald, 54, from Rutland, Vermont, with various offenses relating to the distribution of cocaine. If convicted, Regimbald faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On October 30, the Grand Jury returned a superseding indictment charging Maurice Jackson, 33, from Brooklyn, New York, with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute more than 280 grams of cocaine base. If convicted Jackson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On October 30, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Aldrain Ashby, 40, with distribution of fentanyl and that such distribution resulted in the death of one victim, and serious bodily injury to another. Ashby was also charged with distributing fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school in South Burlington. If convicted Ashby faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On October 30, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Mohamed Mubarak, 28, from Kenya, with making a false statement in connection with his attempt to acquire firearms from a licensed firearm dealer. If convicted, Mubarak faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On November 6, the Grand Jury returned a three-count superseding indictment charging Tremaine Knight, 43, from Hartford, Connecticut, with one count of murder-for-hire, one count of distribution of cocaine and fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted, Knight faces up to a lifetime prison sentence. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On November 6, the Grand Jury returned a two-count indictment charging Haley Morgan, 21, from Burlington, Vermont, with enticing and attempting to entice a minor child to engage in unlawful sexual conduct and with distribution of child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, Morgan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years’ imprisonment. The government sought Morgan’s detention, but she was ordered released on conditions. • On November 6, the Grand Jury returned a six-count indictment charging Ayman Khalifa, 25, from St. Albans, Vermont, with distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. If convicted Khalifa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least five years’ imprisonment. He has been ordered detained pending trial. • On November 12, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Guadalupe Vargas, 43, from Arleta, California, with distributing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug crime. If convicted, Vargas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years’ imprisonment. Vargas has been ordered detained pending trial. • On November 12, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Dejaneiro McDaniel, 20, from Lancaster, California, with distribution of cocaine base and fentanyl. If convicted McDaniel faces up to 20 years in prison. He has not had a court appearance yet. Sentencings • On October 6, Davonne Brown, 42, from Manhattan, New York, was sentenced to a 110-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release following his plea to conspiring to carry a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense. • On October 9, Hussein Iman, 21, from Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to a 120-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to drug and money laundering offenses. • On October 16, Davon Lee, 26, from Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to a 60-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. • On October 20, Meghan Cox, 40, from Laconia, New Hampshire, was sentenced to a 20-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, following her guilty plea to conspiring to commit a robbery by force on a commercial business. (On September 30, 2025, her co-defendant Christopher Boisvert had received a 74-month prison sentence following his guilty plea to bank robbery.) • On October 22, Gordon Richard, 77, from Georgia, Vermont, was sentenced to an 18-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. • On October 22, James Plunkett, 40, recently from Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced to a 78-month prison term, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, following his guilty plea to bank robbery. • On October 23, Joseph Cadorette, II, 38, from Williamstown, Vermont, was sentenced to a 40-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to using and maintaining a place to further drug distribution activities. • On October 27, Gabriel Lopes Da Silva Santos, 28, from Brazil, was sentenced to a 9-month prison term following his guilty plea to possessing a firearm as an alien in the United States without immigration status. • On November 3, Jaquan Rivera, 26, from New Britain, Connecticut, was sentenced to a 48-month prison term, to be followed by three years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. Other Matters • The United States also successfully forfeited the Milton residence of Gordon Richard, because he had utilized that location to further the drug crime for which he was sentenced on October 22, as described above. All indictments and complaints are allegations only. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are convicted. Upon conviction, the Court’s sentencing decisions will be informed by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and Statutory Sentencing Factors. ###


title: Eight Members of Global Insider Trading Network Charged With Securities Fraud and Money Laundering Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A superseding indictment was unsealed today bringing securities fraud and money laundering charges against eight foreign nationals who are alleged members of a global insider trading network, including several leaders of the network: Samy Fadi Khouadja, 45, of France and the United Arab Emirates; Eamma Safi, a/k/a “TT,” a/k/a “Yummy,” a/k/a “Situatie Packered,” a/k/a “Roman Kna,” 38, of the United Arab Emirates and Germany; Zhi Ge, a/k/a “Josh Ge,” a/k/a “Josh Gez,” a/k/a “Jay Gat,” 34, of Singapore; Christophe Dong, 41, of France; Julien Liu, 35, of France and Hong Kong; Patrick Chou, 38, of France and Hong Kong; Cheuk Yue Lee, a/k/a “Ryan,” a/k/a “m100,” 43, of Hong Kong; and Dev Ananth Durai, a/k/a “Devah,” 39, of Singapore. Safi and Ge were charged by criminal complaint in April 2024 and indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in July 2024. The superseding indictment charges all eight defendants with two counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, two counts of securities fraud, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. Safi is in U.S. custody, and Ge was provisionally arrested in Singapore on July 3, 2024, and remains in extradition proceedings. The remaining defendants are considered fugitives. As alleged in the charging documents, which included information obtained from cooperating witnesses, Khouadja, Safi and Ge were leaders of an insider trading network from 2016 to 2024. As part of the scheme, Khouadja, Safi and Ge allegedly recruited investment bankers and other corporate insiders who had access to material, non-public information (MNPI) about the financial performance and merger-and-acquisition activity of publicly traded companies. As alleged, Khouadja, Safi and Ge then obtained MNPI from those insiders, including by paying the insiders for the information. Thereafter, Khouadja, Safi and Ge allegedly traded on the basis of the MNPI and recruited a network of traders, in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, to trade on it. The defendants allegedly leaked MNPI to journalists and news outlets to profit on securities trades following the publication of the information. Many of the illegal trades allegedly took place over an automated exchange operated in Massachusetts. It is further alleged that the network of traders, which included Dong, Liu, Chou, Lee and Durai, traded on the basis of the MNPI in exchange for their agreement to kick back a percentage of illicit profits to leaders of the network, through payments designed to conceal the nature of the proceeds, including cash transfers, third-party payments and the use of shell companies and sham loans and invoices. As alleged, the defendants and other co-conspirators who were members of the network traded on MNPI in advance of more than a dozen corporate transactions and announcements, generating tens of millions of dollars in illicit profits. The defendants and other co-conspirators who were members of the network allegedly took various steps to conceal the scheme from law enforcement and regulators, including the use of burner or disposable cell phones, coded language, in-person meetings and various encrypted communications channels. Specifically, the defendants and other co-conspirators allegedly relied heavily on encrypted mobile messaging applications, featuring disappearing or auto-deleting messages, which they believed were beyond the reach of law enforcement. For example, it is alleged that Durai messaged a co-conspirator trader that Liu was a “purely insider trading guy,” and that “the deal I made with the guy who gives me the tip [Liu] is that I give him 50% of profit…so you can buy and help me subsidize my payment to him.” In another message, Liu allegedly told Durai that Khouadja provided MNPI that was “only [a] 100% thing.” In another message, Khouadja allegedly told Dong to tell a co-conspirator trader that “the source wants 50, so for you, me and the source, you can tell him 200. He will give me the code [stock ticker] only if the guy [trader] is ok,” and thereafter, Khouadja told Dong to tell the trader that the deal “could be anytile [sic, anytime] | they are already drafting SPA [stock purchase agreement].” Khouadja also allegedly messaged Dong, “US deal 50c premium imminent…can he do it,” which Dong then forwarded to traders, including Chou and Durai. As another example, Safi allegedly provided MNPI to Ge to relay to Lee, and Safi said: “Is like [Lee] asking me in order to take our trade we should let him speak with the insider | I am his assurance,” and if “[Lee] wants the formal way let him go to a financial advisor.” It is further alleged that after Chou profitably traded on MNPI obtained from Dong, Dong sent Chou a phony invoice for dresses to substantiate a kick-back payment of illicit securities fraud proceeds from Chou to Dong. “Protecting the integrity of our nation’s capital markets is a priority of my office,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s charges show that we will aggressively pursue those who engage in insider trading and cheat the system. No matter how secret you think encrypted messaging is and no matter how many steps you take to conceal your illegal activities, if you sell inside information or trade on non-public information be warned, my office will use every tool at our disposal to track you down and one day, you will find yourself in federal custody.” “These eight men are accused of engaging in a global con – trading on material, non-public information stolen from companies to score millions of dollars for themselves,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Office. “We believe everything these men did, including their alleged attempts to conceal their crimes, show a willful disregard for the law. Protecting companies from theft and maintaining a level playing field for investors is critical to the financial markets. For that reason, the FBI takes our responsibility to investigate insider trading and other complex financial crimes seriously.” The charge of conspiracy to commit securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The superseding indictment charges each defendant with one count of money laundering conspiracy, which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. The superseding indictment charges Safi and Ge with one count of money laundering, which provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Switzerland to secure the arrest and February 26, 2025 extradition from Switzerland of Safi. Assistant United States Attorney Ian J. Stearns of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dorchester Man Charged With Firearms Trafficking

body_text: BOSTON – A Dorchester man has been arrested and charged with trafficking firearms. Joshua Morency, 28, was charged with one count of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of possessing a machinegun. Morency was arrested on Nov. 12, 2025 and was ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025. According to the charging documents, in August 2025, federal and state law enforcement began an investigation of Morency for unlawfully distributing firearms in the Boston area. Over the course of the investigation, Morency allegedly sold 21 firearms in undercover controlled purchases. It is alleged that the majority of the firearms purchased from Morency were 3D-printed, privately made firearms (commonly known as “ghost guns”). The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possessing a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to ten years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County and Plymouth County Sheriff's Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra W. Amrhein and Anne Paruti and of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Founder of Chicago Cryptocurrency Company Indicted in Alleged $10 Million Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: CHICAGO — The founder of a Chicago cryptocurrency company has been indicted in an alleged $10 million money laundering conspiracy. FIRAS ISA founded Chicago-based VIRTUAL ASSETS LLC, which did business as Crypto Dispensers, and served as its Chief Executive Officer. The company operated a cash-to-cryptocurrency exchange business, which included cryptocurrency ATMs at various locations throughout the United States, allowing individuals to convert cash, checks, or other monetary instruments into cryptocurrency. An indictment unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois alleges that criminals and, in some instances, fraud victims, sent at least $10 million in proceeds from wire fraud and narcotics offenses to Crypto Dispensers, Isa, or a co-conspirator. After the proceeds were sent, Isa converted or caused to be converted the cryptocurrency and thereafter transferred the cryptocurrency to virtual wallets to disguise the true source and ownership of the proceeds. The indictment alleges that Isa knew the money was derived from fraud. Isa, 36, of Frankfort, Ill., and Virtual Assets LLC are each charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy. The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Isa and his company have pleaded not guilty to the charges. A status hearing in federal court in Chicago is set for Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Adam Jobes, Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, including the IRS Chicago Cyber Crime Unit, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley Tucker and Ramon Villalpando. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. isa_et_al_indictment.pdf


title: Vernon Man Who Enticed Minors to Send Him Sexually Explicit Images on Snapchat Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on November 5, 2025, DARYL TODD, 45, of Vernon, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 84 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for enticing minors to send him sexually explicit images and videos on Snapchat. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force revealed that Todd used Snapchat to communicate with minor girls and entice them to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, sometimes in return for money that Todd sent the victims using the mobile payment service Cash App. Todd also sent sexually explicit images of himself to the minor victims. After Todd was arrested on March 7, 2024, analysis of his cellphone and tablet revealed sexually explicit images of minor females. On April 8, 2025, Todd pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. Todd, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 7. This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Honduran Man Guilty of Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTIAN PENA-OCHOA (“ PENA ” ) , age 30, a Honduran citizen, pleaded guilty on November 5, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, PENA initially illegally entered the United States in October of 2014. In 2018 PENA was convicted of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number and removed to Honduras. Between 2018 and 2020, PENA again illegally entered the United States. In December 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for PENA in Orleans Parish for domestic abuse battery/strangulation, aggravated battery, and extortion. A second warrant was issued against him for additional charges including rape, domestic abuse battery/strangulation, and false imprisonment while armed with a dangerous weapon. In 2022, PENA was located by the United States Marshals’ Fugitive Task Force in Harris County, Texas. He was extradited to Orleans Parish where he pleaded guilty to second degree rape and cruelty to juveniles. PENA faces up to two years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Amidst the Government Shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office Continues Efforts to Combat Waste, Fraud and Abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that while the Government was shut down, the United States Attorney’s Office continued to work important cases focused on those who take advantage of our communities through Fraud, Waste and Abuse. The following are impactful cases that have occurred during the shutdown. Wenatchee, WA- Wenatchee Man Sentenced to Thirty Months Imprisonment for Aggravated Identity Theft and False Statements in Passport Application . On September 24, 2025, District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Brandon Wilkerson, of Wenatchee, Washington, to thirty months in prison for aggravated identity theft and false statements on a passport application. As set out in court documents, in October 2021, Wilkerson attempted to get a passport in his name but was denied in January 2022 because he was subject to a pending state warrant of arrest for felony unlawful possession of a firearm under Washington state law. In March 2022, Wilkerson stole his brother’s identity and applied for a passport under his brother’s name which was subsequently approved unknowing of the fraud. Wilkerson then used the passport to travel to Brazil, where he married a Brazilian national under his brother’s name. Wilkerson subsequently applied for legal status for the Brazilian national, again falsely and fraudulently using his brother’s name. Wilkerson was Indicted for this offense on March 19, 2024, and later placed into custody after violating the terms of his pre-trial release for committing a new criminal offense. The full press release is located here . Yakima, WA - Coeur d’Alene Physician Found Guilty in Telemarketing Medicare Fraud Conspiracy. On September 29, 2025, a federal jury found Dr. David Antonio Becerril, age 69, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and formerly of Selah, Washington, guilty of sixteen (16) felony counts of conspiracy, health care fraud, and false statements in connection with Dr. Becerril’s participation in a telemarketing health care fraud scheme. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian presided over the trial, which began on September 22, 2025. At sentencing, which is set for January 20, 2026, Dr. Becerril faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison. According to evidence presented at trial and court documents, between February 2018 and September 2019, Dr. Becerril, a licensed Washington physician, participated in a scheme and conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars by falsely billing Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment, including back, knee, shoulder, and ankle braces. The evidence at trial showed that Dr. Becerril signed false and fraudulent orders for genetic tests and braces for elderly Medicare beneficiaries that Dr. Becerril had never seen, spoken to, heard of, or had any contact with whatsoever, and which included deceased patients as well as elderly patients who had no limbs for the braces they were prescribed by Dr. Becerril. Dr. Becerril was paid per order he signed. In total, Medicare was billed over $3.2 million for the fraudulent prescriptions signed by Dr. Becerril. The full press release is located here . Spokane, WA- Tri-Cities Urgent Care Clinic Agrees to Pay $2.8 Million to Resolve Claims of Overbilling for Diagnostic Tests . Health First Urgent Care, an urgent care clinic with locations in Richland and Pasco, Washington, has agreed to pay $2,807,729 to resolve claims that it fraudulently overbilled Medicare and Medicaid for diagnostic tests. According to the settlement agreement, a False Claims Act (FCA) claim arose from allegations that Health First Urgent Care fraudulently billed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) respiratory and urinary tract infection panel testing. These panel tests were a predetermined group of medical tests used to test for multiple pathogens from a single sample obtained from a patient. The United States and State of Washington alleged that instead of billing for a single panel test, Health First Urgent Care improperly “unbundled” the panel test and billed for each individual test comprising the panel. This resulted in overbilling to Medicare and Medicaid programs. In addition, the State of Washington alleged that Health First Urgent Care improperly billed for panel tests that were more expensive and not medically necessary for individual patients, such as patients presenting with symptoms of Covid-19. The full press release is located here . Spokane, WA- Spokane Valley Couple Sentenced on Fraud Convictions in Connection to COVID-19 Relief Loan . On October 8, 2025, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Raymond and Jennifer Hilderbrand, ages 55 and 54, of Spokane Valley, Washington. Earlier this year, the Hilderbrands were found guilty at a jury trial on multiple fraud charges. Raymond Hilderbrand was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison; Jennifer Hilderbrand was sentenced to time served. Both Raymond and Jennifer Hilderbrand will be on supervised release for three years and are required to pay $363,000 in restitution. The full press release is located here . Spokane, WA- Othello Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Odometer Tampering On October 1, 2025, a federal jury in Spokane, Washington, convicted Reynaldo Garza, age 53, of Othello, Washington, of five felony counts of Odometer Tampering. After a thorough investigation by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, the evidence at trial established that Garza would purchase high-mileage used cars for cheap. Garza would replace the odometers in the vehicles with an odometer purchased from wrecking yards or used auto parts sellers. The new odometer would display many fewer miles than the original. Garza then sold the vehicles under the false and fraudulent representation that they had fewer miles than was true. In some cases, Garza sold cars by misrepresenting the mileage by up to 100,000 miles less than it the actual mileage. In other cases, the difference was tens of thousands of miles. In doing so, Garza made thousands of dollars in profits for each fraudulent sale. The full press release is located here .


title: Amidst the Government Shutdown, the United States Attorney’s Office Continues Efforts to Combat Violent Crime and Crimes Against Our Children

body_text: United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that while the Government was shut down and the United States Attorney’s Office continued to work important cases to protect our communities and children from being victimized. The following impactful cases occurred during the shutdown. Spokane, WA- Former Riverside School Employee Pleads Guilty to 12 Separate Counts of Child Exploitation Involving Multiple Minor Victims . on October 15, 2025, that former Riverside School District employee Dallas Michael Shuler pled guilty to 12 felony counts pertaining to the online exploitation of children. As indicated in court pleadings and hearings, in May 2024, the FBI Spokane Office was contacted due to a child sexual abuse material video, which had been posted online. When questioned about the video, Shuler indicated he had been in contact with the minors depicted in the video and had requested the minors produce the sexually explicit material. Further investigation into Shuler’s electronic devices and online accounts showed Shuler had engaged in hands-on sexual abuse of at least three minor children and had filmed the abuse. He also engaged in online sexual exploitation of children with dozens of additional victims, many of whom were contacted and victimized through Snapchat. The charges pled to encompass sexual exploitation against 37 different minor children. Sentencing is currently scheduled for January 21, 2026. The full press release is located here . Spokane, WA- Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Attempting to Entice a Minor for Sex Online . on October 1, 2025, United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Timoteo Roque Roque to 120 months of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for the crime of Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor. According to information disclosed in court documents and proceedings, on July 28, 2024, an undercover (UC) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Officer (TFO) was participating in an undercover enticement operation in Chelan County with a goal of identifying those who were baiting children online for illegal sex. The UC ICAC TFO was online portraying a 13-year-old child and received communication from Roque Roque. During the communications, Roque Roque affirmed that he was interested in having sexual contact with minors and agreed to pay $250 for 30 minutes of sex with the child. Roque Roque traveled to a hotel on two separate occasions with the intention of having sex with who he believed was a child, before he was arrested. Roque Roque was also unlawfully present in the United States after previously being deported in July 2019. The full press release is located here . Yakima, WA- White Swan Woman Sentenced to Twenty-Five Years in Prison for Murder on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation . United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Tahsheena Stacie Sam, age 33, to 300 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Judge Dimke also imposed 5 years of supervised release. According to documents and evidence presented at sentencing, on Christmas Day 2017, Destiny Lloyd, an enrolled member of Yakama Nation, went missing after being seen in a vehicle that night with friends. Four days later, Ms. Lloyd’s body was discovered face-down in a snowy canal ditch located within the boundaries of the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation. Ms. Lloyd was 23 years old. The Yakama Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation began a thorough and lengthy investigation into Ms. Lloyd’s death. After extensive efforts that included collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, law enforcement eventually discovered that Ms. Lloyd had been killed by Tahsheena Sam on the evening of December 25, 2017. The full press release is located here . Yakima, WA- White Swan Man Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Attempted Sexual Abuse by Force or Threat on the Yakama Reservation . United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Jerry Slockish, age 58, to 144 months in prison for Attempted Sexual Abuse by Force or Threat in Indian Country. The child victim was six years old at the time of the offense. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing, on June 4, 2019—the child victim’s sixth birthday—Slockish waited until he was alone with the child and told her that he wanted to give her a birthday present. After the child refused, Slockish forcibly grabbed the child and started touching her. The child told Slockish to stop and began to scream. Slockish covered the child’s mouth with his hand and touched the genitalia of the child over her clothing. After Slockish sexually assaulted the child, she attempted to leave the bedroom, but Slockish grabbed her and dragged her back into the bedroom. Slockish then told the child that he would give her “whoopings” and bruises on her eyes, face and legs if she told anyone about the touching. The full press release is located here . Yakima, WA- Convicted Murderer Sentenced to Thirteen Years in Prison for Assault with Intent to Commit Murder on the Yakama Reservation . Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastain sentenced Jordan Stevens, age 35, to 162 months in prison for Assault with Intent to Commit Murder. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing, on October 6, 2018, the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department received a report of shots fired at a residence in Toppenish, Washington. Through their investigation, law enforcement discovered that Stevens shot the victim in the chest for “ripping him off.” The victim’s friend transported the victim to the hospital where he received life-saving care and was discharged a few days later. Stevens is currently serving a life sentence for the 2019 murder of a separate Yakama Nation Tribal member. The full press release is located here . Yakima, WA- Yakima Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Attempted Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography . On October 7, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian, sentenced J’Lovfonte Jerrome Joe, age 31, of Yakima, Washington, to 240 months incarceration for Attempted Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Chief Judge Bastian also ordered that, following his sentence of incarceration, Joe be required to complete 5 years of supervised release. In addition, Chief Judge Bastian required that Joe pay $3,000 in restitution to victims of the child pornography he possessed. According to court documents, Joe posted images of a minor child who was in his care to a message board dedicated to child sexual abuse on the dark web on January 22, 2021. In addition to images of the child, including images where the child’s clothes were pulled down and Joe’s tongue was pictured extending between the sleeping child’s buttocks, Joe made statements to other persons on the message board that he was considering drugging the child to complete a sexual assault. On February 2, 2021, Homeland Security Investigations agents and task force officers executed a search warrant on Joe’s residence. Electronic devices seized from that residence linked to Joe, contained over fifty digital files of Child Sexual Abuse Material in addition to images taken of the child taken at his residence. Those other digital files of Child Sexual Abuse Material included images of pre-pubescent children being sexually assaulted by adults. Joe pleaded guilty without benefit of a plea agreement on December 3, 2024, after several violations of conditions of pre-trial release, including cutting off his ankle monitor. At sentencing, prosecutors requested a term of imprisonment of 320 months (26 years, 8 months) to be followed by ten years of supervised release. Defendant requested a sentence of the statutory mandatory minimum of 180 months (15 years) imprisonment to be followed by ten years of supervised release. The full press release is located here . Pasco, WA- Convicted Rapist and Mexican National Sentenced to 30 Months of Incarceration for Unlawful Reentry After Deportation . On October 2, 2025, District Court Judge United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke, sentenced Jose Luis Cruz-Agustin, age 37, of Pasco, Washington, Washington, to 30 months of imprisonment for illegally entering the United States after multiple prior deportations. Judge Dimke also ordered Cruz-Agustin be subject to a three-year term of supervised release following his term of imprisonment due to his history of unlawfully returning to the United States. According to court documents, Cruz-Agustin was arrested for Driving Under the Influence and booked into the Franklin County jail in March of 2025. Thereafter, Immigration and Customs Officers discovered that Cruz-Agustin, a citizen and national of Mexico, had prior convictions for Rape in the Third Degree, Assault in the Third Degree with Substantial Pain, and Furnishing Liquor to a Minor, in Washington state. These convictions stemmed from Cruz-Agustin’s rape of two 15-year-old girls after he provided them with alcohol in 2015. ICE officers also learned that in 2014, Cruz-Agustin was convicted of various domestic violence offenses which also includes sexual violence. Cruz-Agustin has previously been deported form the United States on two prior occasions in 2016 and 2018. The full press release is located here .