title: White Plains Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic PCP

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

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Today, Bengi Bernard Knox, 47, of White Plains, Maryland was sentenced by the Honorable Lydia K. Griggsby to nine years, followed by four years of supervised release. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief George Nader of the Prince George’s County Police Department. According to the guilty plea entered on February 20, 2025, between at least December 2022 and March 29, 2023, in the District of Maryland and elsewhere, Knox conspired with co-defendants Kevin Lee Simon, Jr. and Malik Marvin Lloyd, and others, to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP, a Schedule II controlled substance. On January 5, 2023, Knox and Lloyd arranged to meet at a location in Washington, D.C. Lloyd entered Knox’s vehicle and stayed for a few minutes. Lloyd then exited Knox’s vehicle and was observed by law enforcement to be carrying in his right hand a vial of PCP. The following day, on January 6, 2023, Knox and Lloyd met on Clay Street in Northeast Washington, D.C. to exchange money for the January 5 distribution of PCP. On February 7, 2023, Simon told Knox about a new source of supply of PCP. In a call, Simon relayed to Knox that the new source of supply said the product was “super crunch.” Simon proceeded to tell Knox that the source would sell Simon the drug unaltered for $13,500, instead of $12,500 for the drug with some cutting agent. The quoted prices, $12,500 or $13,500 were for a gallon, or 128 ounces, of PCP. On March 29, 2023, law enforcement with the DEA, ATF and PGPD executed search warrants for Knox’s residence and Knox’s vehicle in White Plains, Maryland. Law enforcement recovered 60.992 grams of PCP; 23.68 grams of cocaine; and 0.95 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Knox possessed the PCP, cocaine, and heroin/fentanyl with the intent to distribute them. Law enforcement also recovered a Glock Model 43 9mm pistol containing approximately 6 rounds of 9mm ammunition; approximately 19 rounds of 9mm ammunition; and approximately $2,257 in U.S. currency. The firearm was located in Knox’s closet, near a bottle of PCP. On May 29, 2025, Judge Griggsby sentenced Simon to 12 years in prison on related charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of PCP, possession with intent to distribute PCP and cocaine base, and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. On June 5, 2025, Judge Griggsby sentenced Lloyd to 8 years in prison on related charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of PCP, and possession with intent to distribute PCP and cocaine base. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, ATF, and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and Timothy Hagan, who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Quitman Woman Sentenced to Probation for Excavation and Removal of Native American Human Skeletal Remains Located in a National Forest

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Kristy Loree Gordon was sentenced to four years’ probation for the excavation and removal of archaeological resources that included human skeletal remains and were located on public land at a known Native American archeological site. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today, by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr. Gordon, 43, of Quitman, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 6, 2023, in a one count indictment charging her with excavating, removing, damaging, and otherwise altering and defacing, an archaeological resource located on public lands. On March 13, 2025, Gordon pleaded guilty to the charge for which she was indicted. An investigation revealed that on November 19, 2020, the Stone County Sheriff’s Office received a report of possible human skeletal remains discovered by hikers around the Pogue Springs area in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. Upon arrival of law enforcement officers from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service, Gordon stated that she and another hiker located possible human skeletal remains off a hiking trail while digging into wet soil with a stick. She stated that she covered them back up with dirt and notified law enforcement. Law enforcement officers observed evidence of extensive excavation in the area, with many dug holes. A U.S. Forest Service archeologist who accompanied law enforcement officers to the area stated that it was a known Native American archeological site and that no permits had been issued for excavation in the area. The scene was processed and the human skeletal remains, including a partial human skull, tools, and tool fragments were collected. In an interview with U.S. Forest Service agents a few days later, Gordon admitted she did not tell the truth in her first written statement. In her second written statement, Gordon stated she went to dig for artifacts in the area because she had been told it was a good location to find Native American artifacts. She admitted she dug as much as 1.5 feet down, where she found the bones and brought them home. Gordon stated while she was cleaning the bones, she noticed she brought back a human skull. She stated she took them back to the dig site and “threw dirt over them and prayed over them.” Gordon stated she did not feel right and went back to call law enforcement to report the human skeletal remains. During a search of Gordon’s residence, law enforcement officers located a large collection of Native American artifacts, including an archaic knife. U.S. Forest Service agents identified this knife as a funerary object, meaning an object believed to have been placed with individual human skeletal remains as a part of the death rite or ceremony of the deceased. Gordon admitted that she had located the knife with the human skeletal remains and removed it along with the remains. The knife and many other objects were collected as evidence. A skull fragment was located outside the residence where Gordon stated that she had washed the bones. A Facebook search warrant was obtained for Gordon’s Facebook account, which revealed that, on the date that Gordon contacted the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, she had shared photographs of human skeletal remains, including a partial human skull, with other individuals. Native American remains and funerary objects are protected by federal law pursuant to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Gordon agreed to pay restitution totaling $16,135.32 for the cost of restoration and repair to the site. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Forest Service with assistance from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Timothy D. Luckett, also known as “Fetty” and “Jack Boi,” 32, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 21, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Rotary Road residence in Huntington where they encountered Luckett. On a kitchen counter in the residence, officers found approximately 454 grams of methamphetamine on one digital scale, approximately 2.5 grams of fentanyl on a second digital scale, and approximately 50 grams of fentanyl in a backpack. Under a dresser, officers found a loaded Ruger .45-caliber pistol, a loaded Sig Sauer Mosquito .22-caliber pistol, a Feather Industries .22-caliber rifle, and ammunition. Officers also found $7,278 in the residence and $380 on Luckett’s person during the search. As part of his guilty plea, Luckett admitted that he used the residence to store and conduct distributions of controlled substances, and that the seized cash was proceeds from his distribution of methamphetamine. Luckett also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On November 8, 2023, Luckett sold approximately 7.6 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Huntington in exchange for $800. Luckett is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case. 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-105. ###


title: Epping Man Pleads Guilty for Purchasing Live-Streamed Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – An Epping man pleaded guilty today in federal court for his conduct involving the sexual exploitation of minors, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. David Mendum, 46, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. U.S. District Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for November 25, 2025. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mendum was paying child sex traffickers in the Philippines to create live-stream child sexual abuse material and transmit it to him over the internet. The Department of Homeland Security led the investigation. The New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Epping Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/. ###


title: Mexican National in the U.S. Illegally Charged With Using a Vehicle to Assault, Resist, Oppose, Impede, Intimidate, and Interfere with a Federal Agent

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Cristian Geovanni Rojas Benitez, 37, a Mexican national who overstayed his visa and remained illegally in the United States, was charged by indictment with forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with an officer of the United States, while using a deadly or dangerous weapon, that is, a motor vehicle, while the officer was engaged in the performance of official duties. Specifically, the indictment alleges that, on the morning of June 23, 2025, the defendant used his full-size pickup truck to assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), while the agent was carrying out his official duties. As detailed in court filings, on that date, the HSI agent and other federal officers were attempting to locate Rojas Benitez and take him into administrative custody because he violated the terms of his release pending removal proceedings. Based on information they had received, the federal officers surveilled a Downingtown, Pennsylvania, residence. At approximately 8:30 a.m., a man matching the description and photograph of Rojas Benitez exited the residence and got into a pickup truck. When the defendant started to drive away, the federal officers quickly conducted a vehicle stop. As alleged in court filings, Rojas Benitez did not comply with the federal officers’ commands to get out of the vehicle or roll down his window. During this encounter, the HSI agent moved to the front of the vehicle to maintain visibility of the driver. The law enforcement officers told Rojas Benitez that if he did not comply, his window would be broken, and when Rojas Benitez continued not to comply after multiple warnings, one of the federal officers broke the rear driver’s side window of the truck. As alleged, the defendant then put the vehicle in drive and drove over the sidewalk in the direction of the HSI agent, who had to push off the truck with his hand and jump out of way to avoid being struck. As alleged, the defendant also narrowly avoided hitting a passing school bus. The defendant then fled the state and was ultimately located by the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington, D.C., on July 24. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The case was investigated by HSI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison for Assaulting a Fellow Inmate

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jermaine Knight, 36, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to a total of forty-three months in prison, for assaulting and strangling an inmate in December 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Knight pleaded guilty on July 17, 2025, to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction) and one count of felony strangulation. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ordered Knight to serve 20 months of incarceration for the unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction) and 23 months of in prison for the felony strangulation, with prison time to be served consecutively and followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant admitted that on October 9, 2024, he was walking his dog while in possession of a ghost gun when he accidently shot himself in the thigh when his dog lunged on the leash. Officers responded to the scene and though Knight initially lied and said he was shot by an unidentified assailant, Officers conducted a thorough investigation and determined that Knight shot himself. Knight also admitted that on December 18, 2024, while he was pending trial for the firearm offense, he assaulted and strangled a fellow inmate in the D.C. Superior Court holding cell while both men were waiting for their court hearings. Knight sucker punched the other inmate, hit him in the head and face approximately 15 times, and eventually strangled the inmate for five seconds. Knight then mopped up the inmate’s blood with sandwich bread. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Marshal Robert A. Dixon of the Marshals Service. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro, Chief Smith, and U.S. Marshal Dixon commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kadian D. Carter, who prosecuted the case.


title: North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Maurice Hopkins, 32, of Mt. Holly, North Carolina, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez for the Western District of North Carolina today and pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation for threatening eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion, and national origin. According to filed plea documents and today’s court hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside a pizza restaurant in Charlotte. When Hopkins encountered the victims, who were a group of friends getting pizza at the time, he asked if they were American. Hopkins then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making other statements because of the victims’ race, color, religion, and national origin. Court records show that Hopkins made multiple threats, including threatening to punch the victims in the face and go retrieve a firearm and return to kill them. Hopkins then left the restaurant and returned minutes later, walking through the doorway with a loaded AR-15 style rifle. The victims immediately fled through the door in the rear of the restaurant. As Hopkins admitted in court today, he threatened the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion, and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services, and facilities of the restaurant. Hopkins pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hopkins remains in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Wagoner Resident Sentenced To Fourteen Years For Child Neglect

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Salasha Fae Bosley, age 26, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for each of two counts of Child Neglect in Indian Country. The counts were ordered to run concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On December 12, 2024, Bosley pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, between September 2023 and June 16, 2024, Bosley failed to provide two children with adequate nurturance, affection, food, shelter, sanitation, hygiene, medical care, supervision, and sanitary living conditions while responsible for the health, safety, and welfare of the children. One of the children sustained life threatening injuries because of the neglect which will require lifetime medical intervention. The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The defendant willfully and shamefully put two innocent children at grave risk by neglecting to provide for their most basic needs,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Cases like this are among the most difficult to investigate, and collaboration from our partner agencies is vital to achieving justice. I’m thankful for the efforts of everyone involved to ensure the defendant will not be able to inflict further harm on these children.” “The appalling neglect these children endured is inexcusable,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I wish to thank the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI for their tireless work to rescue these children from deplorable treatment and living conditions. We are proud to stand with our law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable in our communities and hold offenders accountable.” The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Bosley was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Kansas City Man Charged with Attempting to Access Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to child pornography. According to an indictment returned last week, Cody Tyler Titus, 24, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged with one count of attempting to access with intent to view child pornography over the internet from Nov. 2, 2022, and Nov. 19, 2023. Titus was arrested and made his initial appearance in court today. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, if convicted of attempted access with intent to view child pornography, a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000 is authorized. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa A. Moore. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources." ###


title: California Behavioral Medicine Provider Agrees To Pay $2.75 Million To Resolve Alleged False Claims For Psychotherapy Services

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – American Psychiatric Centers, Inc., doing business under the name Comprehensive Psychiatric Services (CPS), has agreed to pay $2.75 million to resolve allegations that CPS violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to government healthcare payors for certain psychotherapy services. CPS, which is headquartered in Walnut Creek, Calif., provides behavioral medicine services for individuals and families in the State of California. Since at least 2015, CPS and its healthcare providers have submitted claims to government payors using Current Procedural Terminology codes 90833 and 90836, which are “add-on” codes to be used when psychotherapy services are performed in conjunction with an evaluation and management visit, and which require specific documentation. The settlement announced today resolves the government’s allegations that, from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2022, CPS submitted fraudulent claims using these add-on codes in instances where its healthcare providers either had not provided the services described by those codes or had failed to sufficiently document that such services had been provided. CPS will pay $2,615,569.32 to the United States and $134,430.68 to the State of California. “Providers that participate in federally funded health care programs must abide by the rules and submit proper claims for care that was in fact rendered. To do otherwise is to drain resources from our fellow Americans who rely on Medicare and other government programs. This settlement sends a clear message that we will continue to investigate and pursue any entity that fraudulently seeks to increase profits at taxpayers’ expense,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Holding health care providers accountable for submitting false claims to Federal health care programs is crucial for ensuring that taxpayer funds are appropriately used and for maintaining the American public’s trust,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey McIntosh of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agency remains dedicated to protecting taxpayer-funded programs that deliver essential behavioral health services.” “Today’s outcome concludes a collaborative effort to hold Comprehensive Psychiatric Services accountable for its improper billing practices. These actions undermined our Federal health care system, including the Department of Defense’s TRICARE program,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate health care providers that seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer.” “Veterans and their families expect and deserve the highest quality healthcare delivered in a safe and accountable setting,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “This settlement is a testament to the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of VA’s healthcare programs and preserving taxpayer funds.” “False claims increase costs and undermine the integrity of our federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program,” said Derek M. Holt, Special Agent in Charge, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General (OPM OIG). “We support the work of our law enforcement partners and colleagues to investigate fraudulent medical billing that wastes taxpayer dollars.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Helland handled this matter for the government, with the assistance of Garland He. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, HHS-OIG, DCIS, VA OIG, OPM OIG, and the California Department of Justice, Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: Yolo County Man Pleads Guilty and Is Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a Young Woman During a Flight from Seattle to Sacramento

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Jeff Lorenzo, 40, of Winters, pleaded guilty and was sentenced today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan to 30 days in prison for sexual assault in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 9, 2024, Lorenzo was flying from Seattle to Sacramento. A 20-year-old woman was one of the last passengers to board the flight. She took the last remaining seat between Lorenzo and his co-worker in the back of the aircraft. During the flight, Lorenzo willfully and repeatedly touched the woman without her consent. He grazed her leg with his hand, put his head near her crotch under the guise of picking up his dropped phone, and pressed his arm into her breast multiple times throughout the flight. Lorenzo’s co-workers reported that Lorenzo has a history of behaving inappropriately, including harassing women. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody prosecuted the case.


title: Lackawanna man sentenced for defrauding Medicaid

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Munef Fadhel, 38, of Lackawanna, NY, who was convicted of health care fraud, was sentenced to serve one year probation by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who handled the case, stated that between June 2017, and December 2020, Fadhel defrauded the Medicaid program. Fadhel was an owner of Great Lake Transportation, Inc., a transportation company that provided rides to Medicaid beneficiaries. While working at Great Lake Transportation, he knowingly submitted multiple false and fraudulent records seeking transportation reimbursement for trips. Fadhel submitted claims for shared rides which he certified as individual rides in order to claim a higher reimbursement amount. This resulted in a loss to Medicaid in excess of $95,000. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm, and the New York State Department of Financial Services, under the direction of Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris. # # # #


title: Coos County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Sexually Exploit a Minor

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A North Bend, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually exploiting an Oregon child using the social media application Facebook Messenger. Chistopher Jay Young, 40, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and 15 years’ supervised release. According to court documents, on January 20, 2024, Young, using Facebook Messenger, persuaded a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct, record the conduct, and send it to him. On April 11, 2024, federal and state law enforcement officers from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oregon State Police, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office executed federal search warrants on Young’s home and vehicles. Young was arrested and investigators seized his devices. During a search of Young’s devices, investigators learned that Young used the minor’s social media account to communicate and request the child sexual abuse material and that Young had the minor’s Facebook login credentials saved in his phone. On April 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Young with attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and attempting to coerce or entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. On May 6, 2025, Young pleaded guilty to attempting to use a minor to produce a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from HSI. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Federal grand jury indicts Georgia man for his role in Jamestown drug conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jeryel L. Winfield a/k/a Derezz a/k/a Idriys, 51, of McDonough, GA, formerly of Binghamton, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, between 2019, and May 26, 2022, Winfield conspired with Joseph S. Zaso and others, to sell heroin and fentanyl. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Central Georgia resident with a prior aggravated assault conviction, who was found guilty at trial of illegally possessing a pistol with an extended magazine during a tense standoff with Baldwin County deputies in 2022, was sentenced to serve more than eleven years in prison. Dormaine Mitchell, 39, of Milledgeville, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 140 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge C. Ashley Royal on Aug. 19. Mitchell was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on April 8, following a two-day trial. There is no parole in the federal system. “Repeat offenders convicted of violent crimes have no business carrying a gun. Felons who illegally possess firearms will be federally prosecuted for breaking the law and endangering others,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case demonstrates the risk our law enforcement partners face daily, and I am thankful for their commitment to public safety.” “A prohibited person in possession of stolen firearms is a clear and present danger to our communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka of the Atlanta Field Division. “We are incredibly grateful for the courage and quick action of our law enforcement partners who responded to this high-risk situation. Their dedication ensured a safe outcome for everyone involved. ATF is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners as we work together to protect the public and pursue justice.” “The defendant has repeatedly caused issues in our community through his criminal behavior. We are very grateful that his case has gone federal, ensuring he is held accountable for his crimes,” said Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a Baldwin County Sheriff’s deputy observed the defendant driving erratically by running off the side of the road and into oncoming traffic on Vinson Highway near Laboratory Road on Oct. 13, 2022. The officer stopped the vehicle and noticed the driver, Mitchell, had a strong smell of alcohol and slurred speech. Mitchell told the officer he did not have weapons in the car. However, when Mitchell reached for his wallet, the officer saw the extended magazine of a Glock 22 pistol sticking out from between the driver’s seat and the center console. The officer pulled her weapon and commanded Mitchell to put his hands on the steering wheel. The officer then saw Mitchell lower his right hand. The officer called for backup, took cover and gave verbal commands. At some point during their encounter, Mitchell moved the firearm and placed it on the passenger seat of the vehicle. More officers arrived, and Mitchell was taken into custody. While Mitchell was escorted to the police car, he told the officer, “You better be glad it didn’t go bad.” Mitchell has a lengthy criminal history, including a prior aggravated assault conviction in Baldwin County Superior Court. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, along with assistance from the Milledgeville Police Department and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Sioux City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Meth

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Omar Barrientos, 35, from Sioux City, Iowa pled guilty August 19, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea hearing showed that on June 20, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to remove a subject sleeping in a vehicle in the Thompson Electric parking lot in Sioux City, Iowa. Law enforcement arrived and knocked on the driver’s window eventually waking up Barrientos. Barrientos was the sole occupant of the vehicle and exhibited strange behavior and signs of impairment. Law enforcement observed a set of pills in the center console and in plain view on the driver’s side floorboard was a white, crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine. Upon further search of the vehicle, law enforcement found a bag under the driver’s seat containing just under a pound of methamphetamine. Barrientos admitted that he planned to distribute some or all of the methamphetamine to another person or persons. Barrientos had previously been convicted of willful injury and criminal gang participation, in 2009 and in 2016 he was again convicted of willful injury along with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Barrientos remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Barrientos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least ten years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4065. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Waterbury Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 63 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANGEL QUIROS, also known as “Papa John,” 36, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for heading a Waterbury drug trafficking organization. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury. One organization was headed by Quiros and operated in the area of William Street, and the other was headed by Daniel Diaz-Rivera and operated in the area of Maple Avenue. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. The organizations shared sources of supply, worked together to further their operations, and sold narcotics all hours of the day and night. Quiros, Diaz-Rivera, and 15 associates were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation. Quiros, Diaz-Rivera, and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash. Investigators seized from Quiros quantities of cocaine and crack, more than $6,000 in cash, and jewelry valued at more than $24,000. On February 11, 2025, Quiros pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Released on $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on October 20, 2025. Diaz-Rivera pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on June 23, 2025, was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment. The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.


title: Omaha 19-year-old Sentenced in Fentanyl Analogue Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Dale Jackson, 19, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 15, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distribution and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl analogue. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Jackson to 120 months’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge and 70 months on the distribution charge, both sentences will run concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jackson’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation determined that associates and co-conspirators Latrell Knight and Dale Jackson were receiving “M-30” pills from a common drug supplier and selling them. “M-30” pills are frequently counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and analogues of fentanyl. Between April 17, 2024, through September 10, 2024, Knight and Jackson sold a confidential source (CS) M-30 pills. These transactions would occur outside of Knights residence and at a Casey’s gas station near 72nd and Grover streets in Omaha. Knight and Jackson would sell together and separately. In addition to the pills, Knight sold a DB9 9mm handgun to the CS on May 6 and a Glock 17 9mm handgun to the CS on July 11. Jackson communicated via text message with the CS on July 11 telling the CS that Jackson had arranged for a $1,000 transaction with a drug supplier for the CS, but the transaction did not occur on that day. Twice Jackson shorted the CS 50 M-30 pills. In total about 1,616 M-30 pills were sold to the CS as part of the conspiracy. Jackson’s cellphones were seized and searched on December 30, 2024, pursuant to a search warrant and their contents revealed a pattern of fentanyl sales that included at least 84 M-30 pills separate from the controlled buys. The contents also revealed conversations with the common supplier pertaining to obtaining more M-30 pills. Both were arrested on January 23, 2025. Knight pled guilty to drug conspiracy, drug distribution, and possession of a firearm in the furtherance of drug trafficking. He will be sentenced on September 25, 2025. 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Omaha Police Department.


title: Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Laura Gema Carroll, age 36, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tahlequah Police Department. On March 19, 2025, Carroll pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on June 12, 2024, Carroll possessed one semi-automatic pistol and five rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. 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. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Augustin Borja-Gaona, a/k/a Augustine Borja, a/k/a Augustine Bara, a/k/a Agustin Borja, a/k/a Augustin Gaona Borja, a/k/a Austin Borja, a/k/a Austin Gaona Borja, a/k/a Agustin Borja-Gaona, a/k/a Genaro Borja-Reynoso, age 56, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office. The Indictment alleged that Borja-Gaona, an alien previously removed in 1999, 2002, 2007, and 2012, was found in the United States on March 19, 2025, without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Borja-Gaona will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


title: Hartshorne Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm And Explosives Charges

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kelly Von Morck, age 35, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to two counts of Unlawful User of Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and one count of User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of Explosive. The Superseding Indictment alleged that on October 20, 2024, Von Morck, knowing that he was an unlawful user and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a .22 revolver, a 16-gauge shotgun, a .38 caliber revolver, a .30-06 caliber rifle, and 559 rounds of assorted ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The Superseding Indictment further alleged that on June 26, 2025, Von Morck, knowing that he was an unlawful user and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and 82 rounds of assorted ammunition, which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. Lastly, the Superseding Indictment alleged that on October 20, 2024, Von Morck, knowing he was an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance, knowingly possessed an explosive which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The charges arose from an investigation by the Hartshorne Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Von Morck will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: TWO HAVANA MEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION BY A CONVICTED FELON

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Nicholas Wayne Finley, 27, of Havana, FL, and Jason Dean Atkinson, 42, of Havana, FL, were indicted by a federal grand jury. Finley was charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Atkinson was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Both Finley and Atkinson appeared in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 11, 2025, for their arraignment in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for October 20, 2025, at 8:15 a.m. in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. If convicted, each man faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment per count. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: PENSACOLA COMPANY SENTENCED FOR VIOLATING FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – ServisMed, LLC, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to engaging in a conspiracy to violate the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”). John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the guilty plea and sentence. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This company broke the law by exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to enrich itself through the deceptive distribution of a chemical agent that had not been registered or approved for use on humans. This conviction and sentence holds this company accountable for its corporate criminal conduct, and should serve as a deterrent against future criminal schemes that endanger our community.” Court documents reveal that ServisMed, LLC, which was located on South Palafox Street in Pensacola, was a distribution company licensed to market and sell products that included disinfectant pesticides. During the COVID-19 pandemic, between March and December 2020, ServisMed, LLC, conspired with others to distribute a pesticide product – in this instance purporting to fight COVID-19 – without it being registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as required. This included ServisMed, LLC, distributing such product to a local law enforcement agency as well as attempting to export the product to the foreign countries of Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Registration and proper labeling of pesticide products to be used on humans are intended, in part, to protect citizens of the United States against potential harms in using such pesticides and against potential danger when such pesticides are traveling on American soil during the distribution process for foreign export. Law enforcement was able to stop foreign exports by ServisMed, LLC, and others valued at over $250,000. Pursuant to the guilty plea, ServisMed, LLC, will pay restitution to the local law enforcement agency in the amount of $13,330; pay a $40,000 fine; forfeit the foreign export products valued at over $250,000; and dissolve as a company. “The defendant in this case sold unregistered pesticides in the midst of a global pandemic and sought to profit from people’s fears of contracting the coronavirus,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Martel of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division. “The sentencing demonstrates that corporations will be held criminally responsible for placing the public at risk by failing to ensure the integrity and safety of their products.” The case was jointly investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division, the Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security Office of Export Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Justin M. Keen. 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: Wyoming Man Charged with Drug Trafficking  and Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Ramico Jovon Earvin, a/k/a “Pooh,” 43, of Wyoming, Michigan was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of carfentanil and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. “Fentanyl and firearms are a deadly and dangerous combination,” stated United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office remains committed to the fight to remove illegal drugs and weapons from our communities to vigorously prosecute the purveyors of this poison.” The indictment, unsealed late last week, alleges that on March 4, 2025, Earvin possessed a significant amount of fentanyl and carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl itself. The indictment also alleges on the same date, Earvin, a convicted felon, possessed a loaded .45 caliber revolver. If convicted, Earvin faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug trafficking charge. The firearm offense carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. In response to the news, the Wyoming Police Department released the following statement: “This seizure of dangerous narcotics exemplifies the Wyoming Police Department’s commitment to ensuring the City of Wyoming remains a safe place to live, work, and visit. Holding those responsible for the distribution of these narcotics accountable remains one of our highest priorities. We are proud to work alongside our local, state, and federal partner law enforcement agencies as we continue our dedication to preserving and strengthening safety for the City of Wyoming.” The Wyoming Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan is prosecuting it on behalf of the United States. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. # # # Earvin - Indictment


title: Houston man arrested for smuggling 40 illegal aliens locked behind false compartment in box truck

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 25-year-old Houston resident has been charged with smuggling more than three dozen people in truck discovered near Hebbronville with no means of escape, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Kenneth Gamboa is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian Bajew at 9:30 a.m. Several others facing illegal reentry charges are also set to appear in federal court in relation to the smuggling event. The criminal complaint alleges that on the very early morning hours of Aug. 15, Gamboa arrived at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on Farm to Market Road 1017 in Jim Hogg County. He was allegedly driving a box truck with paper plates. At primary inspection, a K-9 alerted to presence of humans or narcotics in the cargo area of the box truck, according to the charges. A subsequent x-ray scan allegedly revealed what appeared to be humans standing next to each other in the storage area of the box truck. The investigation revealed a false wall in the storage area of the truck towards the front of the cargo area that had created a hidden compartment, according to the complaint. The charges allege it had multiple boards screwed shut to prevent the individuals from being able to get out on their own. Authorities allegedly had to remove the screws sealing the hidden compartment, at which time they discovered 40 people behind the false wall. Law enforcement was able to determine that 26 of them had allegedly been previously removed from the United States. They now face charges of illegal reentry into the United States and possible prison terms of up to 20 years. If convicted, Gamboa faces up to 10 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Houston conducted the investigation with the substantial assistance of Border Patrol and ICE-HSI San Antonio. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory Sailer is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . A complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Meg E. Heap takes oath as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Margaret “Meg” Heap took the oath of office at 11:00 a.m. today, administered by U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall, to become the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Mrs. Heap as the interim U.S. Attorney effective August 18. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the United States Courthouse in Augusta. “I am incredibly honored to serve as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “I look forward to working with our partners in law enforcement to make this a safer place to live and raise our children.” Before her appointment, Heap served as the Chairman and Vice Chair of Georgia’s State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Mrs. Heap was appointed to the Board on January 19, 2021, by Governor Brian Kemp. In 1986, Heap began her legal career as a Volunteer Coordinator and Victim Advocate with the Chatham County District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program. After attending Mercer University Law School, she received her Juris Doctor in 1992 and went on to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, where she prosecuted felonies in the Superior and Juvenile Court. From 1995-2010, Mrs. Heap served the citizens of the Eastern Judicial Circuit as an Assistant District Attorney and later served two terms as the District Attorney. As the District Attorney, she was named “2019 District Attorney of the Year” by the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia. As U.S. Attorney, Heap is the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 of Georgia’s 159 counties with a population of more than 1.6 million people and includes the cities of Savannah, Augusta, and Brunswick. She leads a team of approximately 70 attorneys and staff in prosecuting federal crimes in the district and defending the United States in civil cases brought in U.S. District Court. Learn more about the district at www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/about-district . For any questions, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (912) 652-4422.


title: Nottingham Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison on Firearm Possession Charges

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Gino Michael Gelormino, 42, of Nottingham, Maryland, to four years in federal prison followed by two years supervised release for being a felon in possession of six ghost guns, a machine gun conversion device, and 1,258 rounds of ammunition. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). As part of ATF and MSP’s investigation into suspected Dead Man Inc. gang members, BCPD authored a state search warrant for Gelormino and his Baltimore County residence. On April 11, 2024, law enforcement executed the warrant with Gelormino present at the residence. Law enforcement searched the residence, recovering six privately manufactured firearms — also known as “ghost guns” — from a locked master bedroom closet. Gelormino’s wife confirmed that only she and Gelormino could access the closet and that all the items belonged to him. Gelormino is a convicted felon and cannot possess firearms or ammunition. Additionally, three of the firearms were outfitted with loaded, high-capacity magazines along with various attached weapon-mounted lights and a red-dot sight. Law enforcement also uncovered a 3-D printed machine gun conversion device in the closet. A machine gun conversion device — also known as a “switch”— can convert a firearm from semi-automatic to fully automatic. Investigators also recovered three ballistic vests, approximately 1,258 cartridges of assorted ammunition, along with paperwork including receipts for orders that match the firearms, firearm parts, and firearm-related accessories recovered, and shipping labels and other firearm-related documents. This case is part of a Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations to reduce drug-related and/or gang violence in the Baltimore metropolitan and surrounding areas. The Baltimore Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, MSP, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Founder And Former CEO Of Charity Pleads Guilty To Multimillion-Dollar Charity Fraud And Tax Evasion

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that KEITH TAYLOR, the founder and former chief executive officer of Modest Needs Foundation (“Modest Needs”), a charitable organization, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon to defrauding the charity and its donors by stealing millions in donations meant for low-income families and spending them instead on personal expenses—including rent in a luxury apartment building in midtown Manhattan, food delivery services, and lavish meals at some of New York City’s most expensive restaurants—and lying about the charity’s oversight and governance. TAYLOR also pled guilty to evading more than a million dollars in federal income taxes and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2026. “Keith Taylor preyed on the trust of New Yorkers who gave generously to help struggling families,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Those who use charitable dollars to line their own pockets undermine the work of our many great charities and the special tax status charities enjoy. They must be brought to justice.” According to the Superseding Indictment, the Complaint, filings, and court proceedings: In or about 2002, TAYLOR founded Modest Needs, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that used a crowdsourcing model to help low-income workers pay for unexpected expenses like medical bills or broken appliances. Its mission was to provide short-term financial assistance to individuals and families living paycheck-to-paycheck who were faced with an unexpected crisis or expense that they could not pay. Since at least 2015, TAYLOR embezzled more than $2.5 million from the charity and its donors and used that money to fund his lavish personal spending. TAYLOR regularly dined at Per Se, Jean-Georges, Masa, and Marea in midtown Manhattan, sometimes as often as twice a day, spending more than $320,000 of charity funds at New York City restaurants and steakhouses. Funds donated to the charity paid over $300,000 of TAYLOR’s rent for a luxury apartment on the 30 th floor of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper. TAYLOR also used charity funds to buy himself expensive electronics, pay over $100,000 to food delivery services, and pay for his own medical expenses. TAYLOR put over $270,000 of charity funds directly into his personal brokerage account. TAYLOR also routinely paid his other personal expenses from the charity’s bank accounts. TAYLOR continued to defraud Modest Needs and its donors, even after his arrest in June 2024 on these charges. Even though he purportedly resigned his employment with Modest Needs and no longer was supposed to have access to Modest Needs’ bank accounts, as a condition of his pretrial release, TAYLOR continued to use Modest Needs’ funds for his personal expenses, including to pay for meals, medical expenses, and rent for his luxury apartment, all in violation of the conditions of his pretrial release in this case. TAYLOR attempted to hide his embezzlement of charity funds by creating a fake board of directors and claiming it had approved his personal spending and provided oversight over the organization. TAYLOR used the names of his acquaintances and falsely listed them on the charity’s tax forms and website as board members. TAYLOR’s acquaintances who were listed as the charity’s board members included a bartender from Jean-Georges, a friend, and his house-cleaner, none of whom ever attended a board meeting or even knew that they had been listed on the charity’s website or tax forms as board members. For at least the calendar years of 2017 through 2024, TAYLOR did not file personal income tax returns or pay income taxes on the millions of dollars in income he received from the charity, evading more than a million dollars in federal income taxes. * * * TAYLOR, 58, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison because he committed the offense while on pretrial release, and eight counts of tax evasion, each of which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the exceptional investigative work of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office. My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to do all that we can to protect the community from the devastating consequences of pernicious fraud schemes. If you believe you are a victim of Taylor's fraud, please contact USANYS.Taylor.Victims@usdoj.gov . If you are a victim, and would like to send the Judge presiding over this case a victim impact statement, which describes how this crime impacted you and your family, your statement can be emailed to USANYS.Taylor.Victims@usdoj.gov . The Court will consider any statements sent in connection with sentencing of defendant Keith Taylor. If you are a victim, and would like to speak at Keith Taylor’s sentencing hearing, to describe to the Judge how Keith Taylor’s crimes impacted you and your family please email USANYS.Taylor.Victims@usdoj.gov . This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Rebecca R. Delfiner, and James G. Mandilk are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Judge Hands Man 24 ½ Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting at a Gender-Reveal Party

body_text: WASHINGTON – Nyjell Outler, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to a total of 24-and-a-half years in prison for the shooting death of 21-year-old Demetris Johnson and the shooting of Daloni Williams in March of 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. A Superior Court jury found Outler guilty in March 2025 for voluntary manslaughter while armed in the fatal shooting of Mr. Johnson and for aggravated assault while armed in the shooting of Mr. Williams. The Honorable Jason Park sentenced the defendant August 15, 2025. According to evidence presented at trial, at approximately 7:43 p.m., on March 20, 2021, Outler arrived at a gender-reveal party, on Madison St., Northeast. He was carrying an AK-style rifle (known as a “Draco”) in a backpack. He was at the party for a little more than a half hour before the shooting. After interacting with different guests throughout the evening, he stepped away from the driveway of the home where he had been hanging out, pulled the Draco out of his backpack, held it at his right side, and returned to the driveway where three young men, including Demetris Johnson and Daloni Williams, were. There were still dozens of other guests inside the house and inside the fenced-in area just off the driveway. When Daloni Williams took a couple steps toward the defendant with his arm extended, as if to say, “put that away” the defendant raised the Draco and shot Daloni Williams twice, from point-blank range. Outler then pivoted and pulled the trigger two more times as Demetris Johnson and the other young man on the driveway were trying to run away. One of the shots hit Demetris Johnson in the back. The defendant fled the scene. Daloni Williams spent nine days in the hospital after emergency surgery to save his leg and had to undergo months of physical therapy. Demetris Johnson died in the backyard of the house hosting the gender reveal party. At today’s sentencing hearing, the government requested that Judge Park sentence the defendant to a total of 35 years of incarceration. In support of its request, the government highlighted not only the egregious circumstances of the killing, but also informed Judge Park of multiple armed assaults and a misdemeanor sex offense the defendant is reported to have perpetrated since being brought back to Washington, D.C. from Florida. At the time of the shooting, Outler was on a GPS monitor after he had been arrested and released for possessing another Draco in February 2021. About two hours after fleeing from the area, he cut off his GPS. He was on the run for 11 months, even making it into the U.S. Marshals Service Top 15 most wanted. Finally, in February 2022, Outler was arrested in Florida following an anonymous tip. Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Mabry Johnson and Sharon Newman, Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams, Victim/Witness Service Coordinators Katina Adams-Washington and Shanika McCullough, and Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Clark, Kristian Hinson, and Yasmin Emrani, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: WEST PALM BEACH MAN FACES DRUG AND MACHINEGUN CHARGES

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

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Justin Stephen Lombard, 22, of West Palm Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a machinegun. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges. Lombard appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 8, 2025, for his arraignment at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for September 22, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. Lombard faces a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Alabama Doctor Charged with  $6 Million Telemedicine Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Alabama-based doctor has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with a $6 million telemedicine fraud scheme involving medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) and genetic testing primarily used to detect mutations in genes that could indicate a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers. Tommie Robinson, 43, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of health care fraud. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled by the Court. According to the charging documents, between December 2018 and March 2021, Robinson worked with telemedicine companies to sign medical documentation, including doctors’ orders, for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and genetic testing. It is alleged that these orders signed by Robinson were pre-populated based on telemarketing calls made to Medicare beneficiaries, that Robinson never had any contact with the beneficiaries himself and had no medical relationship with the patients. DME suppliers and laboratories ultimately submitted claims to Medicare for these signed orders. As a result of Robinson’s alleged participation in this scheme, over $6 million in claims were allegedly submitted to Medicare for DME and genetic testing that were medically unnecessary, based on false documentation, and tainted by kickbacks. The charge of health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss, 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. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Robert Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Kelly M. Lawson, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, Boston Regional Office; and Patrick Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigation Service, North East Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Locker of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Alexandra Brazier and Lindsey Ross of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Units are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Three Evansville Felons Headed to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Three convicted felons residing in Evansville have been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing firearms. All three cases are unrelated. Defendant Charge Sentence Prior Felony Convictions Codey M. Ritchison, 34 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 9 years, 2 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised release Domestic battery; Intimidation; Two counts of carrying a firearm by a felon; Possession of methamphetamine; Two counts of resisting law enforcement; Theft; Residential entry On October 19, 2023, Evansville Police officers spotted Codey Ritchison in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in the drive-through line at an ice cream shop. At the time, Ritchison had an active felony parole violation warrant. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, he fled on foot with a pistol in his hand. As he ran across Diamond Avenue—a busy, divided, multi-lane street—he dropped the firearm while crossing the median. The pistol was loaded with an extended 25-round magazine. Defendant Charge Sentence Prior Felony Convictions Randy Dale Ricketts Jr., 43 Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon 15 years’ imprisonment; 4 years of supervised release Strangulation; Domestic battery with a deadly weapon; Domestic battery resulting in moderate bodily injury; Battery resulting in serious bodily injury On August 20, 2024, Evansville Police responded to a report of a suspicious person with a gun on North Wabash Avenue. Officers located Ricketts nearby. A search of the area uncovered a 9mm handgun under a vehicle with one round in the chamber and a missing magazine. The serial number had been obliterated and was no longer legible. Ricketts was found with a loaded magazine matching the firearm in his front pants pocket. Defendant Charge Sentence Prior Felony Convictions Destin Jay Svestka, 28 Prohibited person in possession of a firearm 13 years, 4 months’ imprisonment; 3 years of supervised release Three counts of Burglary On May 10, 2024, Evansville Police located a stolen vehicle on the Lloyd Expressway and initiated a traffic stop. The driver, Destin Svestka, ignored the police and fled the scene. Two hours later, Svestka led Warrick County law enforcement on a high-speed chase in the same stolen vehicle, eventually abandoning it in the Bally’s Casino parking lot and fleeing on foot. During the chase, Svestka threw a black bag into the river. After his arrest, the bag was recovered and found to contain a loaded Springfield Armory XDM .45 caliber pistol. “These are not victimless crimes. These are dangerous individuals with violent criminal histories, caught once again with guns they are prohibited from having,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “When violent offenders have access to firearms, every encounter becomes a potential tragedy. These weapons drastically increase the chance that a situation turns deadly for victims, bystanders, and even law enforcement. Thanks to the work of the ATF and Evansville Police Department, these men are no longer in a position to threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Evansville Police Department investigated these cases, as well as valuable assistance provided by the Evansville-Vanderburgh Crime Gun Intelligence Center. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Richard L. Young and Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd S. Shellenbarger and Jeremy S. Kemper, who prosecuted these cases. These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced for Trafficking Firearms and Methamphetamine

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Brian Keith Adams, 35, of Baltimore, Maryland to nine years in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release for his role in a firearms trafficking conspiracy and distributing methamphetamine. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD); and Chief Johnny Jennings, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). According to the guilty plea, in December of 2023, ATF special agents began investigating Adams after the law enforcement suspected he was trafficking firearms to the Baltimore area from North and South Carolina. Adams does not hold a federal firearms license and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Between February and June 2024, Adams sold more than 100 firearms to an undercover agent and more than 100 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. The firearms transactions occurred in both Maryland and North Carolina. During one of the transactions, Adams was armed with a loaded firearm for protection. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, USPIS, HSI, MSP, DPSCS, BPD, PGPD, and CMPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Hagan who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Trio Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $520,910 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Funds

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Three men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a COVID-19 fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of $520,910 in unemployment benefits from various state and federal unemployment programs. Defendant Charges Sentence Kamaldeen Karaole, 24, Indianapolis Aggravated identity theft; Conspiracy to commit access device fraud; Access device fraud. 4 years, 3 months’ imprisonment; 2 years of supervised release Stephen Olamigoke, 23, Nigeria. Conspiracy to commit access device fraud; Access device fraud. 2.5 years’ imprisonment; 2 years of supervised release Johnson Omodusonu, 24, Indianapolis Conspiracy to commit access device fraud; Access device fraud. 2 years’ imprisonment; 2 years of supervised release Each defendant was also ordered to pay $520,910 in restitution. At the time Stephen Olamigoke entered his guilty plea, he acknowledged that upon completion of his sentence, he will be subject to removal from the United States According to court documents, between August and October 2020, the defendants stole 168 Unemployment Insurance (UI) debit cards and associated PIN numbers. These cards, issued by the states of California, Arizona, and Nevada, were being periodically loaded with benefits. None of the cards belonged to the members of the conspiracy—they were all in the names of other real individuals. To obtain the cards, other members of the conspiracy located outside the United States had used stolen personally identifiable information to file numerous false unemployment claims with various state workforce agencies. Unemployment Insurance is a joint state and federal program that provides temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. The trio used 98 of the cards to withdraw cash from various ATMs in and around Indianapolis, often making multiple withdrawals within the span of just a few minutes. In total, they completed 529 withdrawals, stealing $520,910 in benefits. These funds were intended to support individuals unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, several federal programs expanded UI eligibility and benefits, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and the Lost Wages Assistance Program. “Stealing unemployment benefits meant to help people survive during one of the worst crises in modern history is both heartless and criminal,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These defendants exploited a system designed to support those in genuine need, and now they are being held accountable for their greed thanks to the diligent work of our federal partners and prosecutor.” “As the primary federal law enforcement agency charged with investigating fraud against the unemployment insurance program, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is committed to relentlessly protecting the integrity of this vital benefit program from those seeking to unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of American workers. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their strong partnership and collaboration. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate these types of allegations,” said Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Investigating and bringing to justice those who commit fraud against essential government programs is one of the many things we do as postal inspectors,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Felicia George, of the United States Postal Inspection Service - Detroit Division. “Crimes like this not only deprive real people of critical aid, but also threaten the integrity of the U.S. Mail, which so many Americans rely on for secure and timely delivery of vital benefits. This case is an outstanding example of collaborative efforts between federal agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working side by side to protect public resources and ensure assistance reaches the individuals and families who truly need it.” “These defendants shamelessly exploited a national crisis for personal gain, stealing money intended to keep struggling families afloat - families counting on those funds to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table during desperate times,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to hold accountable anyone who exploits government relief programs and to safeguard public funds from fraud.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###