title: Ambulance Company And Its Owners Agree To Pay  $900,000 To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Of  Medically Unnecessary Ambulance Services

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Courtesy Transport Services, LLC (“Courtesy”) and its owners, Melanie Burger and Dr. John Milanick, have agreed to collectively pay $900,000 to resolve allegations that they defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by billing for ambulance transportation services that were not medically necessary or not actually provided. The settlement amounts for Courtesy and Melanie Burger are based on their ability to pay. According to the settlement agreements, from June 1, 2013, through June 30, 2019, Courtesy submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for basic life support, non-emergency ambulance transport services which the United States contends were not reimbursable, because the services were not medically reasonable and necessary, the patients did not require transportation by ambulance, or the services were not actually provided to patients. As such, these services were not reimbursable by Medicare and Medicaid. “False and fraudulent claims for ambulance services harm both the integrity of important federal healthcare programs as well as the seniors who rely on them,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Our office is committed to recovering taxpayers’ money from fraud and abuse of these programs and will hold those who submit false claims accountable.” “When health care providers bill Medicare for medically unnecessary services, they not only misuse critical resources meant to care for beneficiaries, but also increase the financial burden on taxpayers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rolando Alvarez of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Together with our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to uncovering and investigating fraudulent health care schemes to preserve the integrity of federal health care programs.” These settlements resolve a lawsuit originally filed by Jonathon Whitmore, a former Courtesy employee, under the qui tam , or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act that permit private individuals to sue on behalf of the government for false claims, and to share in any recovery. Mr. Whitmore will receive roughly $171,000 of the proceeds from the settlements with Courtesy and its owners. The False Claims Act case is captioned United States and the State of Florida ex rel. Whitmore vs. Courtesy Transport, et al. , Case No. 5:19-cv-241-Oc-34PRL. These settlements resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Florida’s Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“MFCU”), and the HHS Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Tapie and MFCU Deputy Director of Civil Enforcement Cedell Ian Garland handled the investigation. The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Attempted Production Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Troy Lyn Everett (63, Georgia) to 15 years in federal prison for attempted production of child sexual abuse material. Everett was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty in March 2025. According to court records, from August 22 through October 25, 2024, Everett communicated with an undercover detective from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office who was posing as a 14-year-old child on an online messaging application. Everett engaged the detective in a variety of sexually explicit messages and expressed a desire to have sex with the child. Everett asked the undercover officer multiple times for sexually explicit photos and videos of who Everett believed to be a 14-year-old girl. Additionally, Everett discussed traveling to meet the minor for sex. Everett biked more than an hour from his residence in Georgia to an Atlanta bus station where he purchased a bus ticket to Jacksonville. Upon his arrival in Jacksonville, he was arrested and admitted to traveling for sex and making repeated requests for sexually explicit photos and videos from a person who he believed to be a 14-year-old child. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Nassau County Sherriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida Intercept Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Ambridge Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Series of Drug Trafficking and Firearm Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violating drug trafficking and firearms laws and was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of federal supervised release, on his convictions, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Maurice Mosely Jr., 44. According to information presented to the Court, Mosely’s drug trafficking activity was the subject of an investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement operating under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program in Beaver County. The investigation established that Mosely distributed controlled substances from both his own residence in Ambridge and his girlfriend’s residence in Aliquippa. On July 21, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants upon both locations. The search of Mosely’s residence resulted in the seizure of a loaded, stolen handgun from the kitchen, as well as ammunition from the master bedroom and garage. Mosely was previously convicted of four felony drug trafficking crimes. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Mosely was present at the time law enforcement searched the residence associated with his girlfriend, with a search of Mosely’s person resulting in the seizure of crack cocaine and bulk U.S. currency. The search of the girlfriend’s residence also resulted in the seizure of distribution quantities of crack, methamphetamine, and cocaine, two digital scales, an owe sheet, and about $4,000 in cash. Following the July seizures, Mosely was the subject of a traffic stop in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, in August 2021. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer identified signs of impairment and observed Mosely kick a bag underneath the driver’s seat. A search incident to Mosely’s arrest resulted in the seizure of crack and more bulk U.S. currency. In September 2021, law enforcement responded to a fight outside of a bar in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Upon law enforcement’s arrival outside, a surveillance camera within the bar recorded Mosely reach for his waist, run toward a nearby cigarette machine, and throw an item behind the machine, with an audible clunk when the item Mosely threw struck the ground. Law enforcement had all of the patrons of the bar line up outside of the building, with which Mosely initially complied before fleeing the scene on foot. A subsequent search of the bar resulted in the seizure of a loaded handgun from behind the cigarette machine. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Colville emphasized the seriousness of Mosely’s drug and firearms offenses, in addition to the danger Mosely presents to the community. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police, New Brighton Area Police Department, Beaver Falls Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Mosely.


title: New York Man Admits Continuing to Sell Counterfeit Xanax on Dark Web

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from New York state on Tuesday admitted continuing to sell counterfeit Xanax on the dark web while out on bond after pleading guilty in a similar case. John Cruz, 31, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to misbrand, introduce misbranded drugs and sell counterfeit drugs. On Nov. 29, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to the same charge and admitted purchasing counterfeit Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, on the darknet and then reselling it from at least October 2019 through May 2021. As part of his guilty plea Tuesday, Cruz admitted that after pleading guilty and while out on bond, he continued the same conduct, operating a darknet website where he offered four different types of counterfeit/misbranded pills. An FBI Special Agent, acting in an undercover capacity, made several purchases from Cruz using cryptocurrency. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service made an undercover purchase from Cruz’ co-defendant, Jared James. On April 9, 2024, investigators conducted a court-approved search of James’ home and found pills in four colors. The day before, officers observed James take five packages to a post office that were addressed to locations in Little Rock, Arkansas; Burien, Washington; St. Paul, Minnesota; Richmond, Virginia; and Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Each package contained a bag with about 1,000 counterfeit or misbranded pills. Investigators also seized $145,502 from an account Cruz held in the cryptocurrency Monero, representing the proceeds of his illegal pill sales. Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7. Each count Cruz is facing is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. James, 48, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced in May to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to the same charge. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ware and Kyle Bateman are prosecuting the case.


title: Dominican National Arrested for Drug Trafficking in Manchester

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Dominican Republic national was arrested yesterday for possessing with the intent to distribute illegal narcotics in Manchester, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Daris Rafael Melo Vittini, age 39, a Dominican Republic national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was arrested on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, namely fentanyl and crack cocaine. He appeared in federal court today and was detained. According to the charging document and statements made in court, on June 30, 2025, the Manchester Police Department observed the defendant driving around the city in a car that was known to law enforcement as being involved in narcotics distribution. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, and a narcotics-detecting K-9 positively alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the car. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement found inside a “hide” in the center console approximately 114 grams of suspected fentanyl and 13 grams of suspected crack cocaine, all in pre-packaged baggies. Also inside the hide was approximately $1,500. The defendant had approximately 45 grams of suspected fentanyl and 37 grams of suspected crack cocaine on him, all in pre-packaged baggies. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately 119 pre-packaged baggies of suspected fentanyl and crack cocaine. Possession with intent to distribute carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and a term of supervised of at least three years and up to life. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case. This effort 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 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: Hertford County Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years After Armed Robbery in Winton

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – Trevon Montez Freeman, of Hertford County, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during the robbery. Freeman, 21, pled guilty to the charges on February 11, 2025. “Commercial armed robbery not only endangers the lives of victims and bystanders but tears at the fabric of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “This result reflects our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable and providing some justice to the victim in this case.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, on November 26, 2023, just before 10 p.m., Hertford County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Winton Deli on S. Main Street in Winton. The clerk, who was shaking and in tears, explained that she and her nephew had been closing the store when a black male ran into the store and aimed a tan handgun at them. The robber, who was wearing a black ski mask, Air Force 1 shoes, and a black hoodie, ordered the clerk to the register at gunpoint. He took bills and change, later determined to be $257, from the register and left the store. Deputies attempted a K-9 track, which led to a parking lot where fresh tire marks indicate a car had sped away. “The professionalism, dedication, and commitment shown by our team reflect our ongoing mission to protect the citizens and businesses of Hertford County,” said Hertford County Sheriff Dexter Hayes. “We remain steadfast in our pledge that anyone who chooses to commit a crime in our county will be held accountable. We will not tolerate those who threaten the safety of our community.” Surveillance video confirmed that the robber brandished a tan handgun with a light attached under the barrel. He could be heard speaking on the video, and a deputy recognized the voice as belonging to the defendant Trevon Freeman. Deputies began to patrol around Freeman’s house and just after midnight made a traffic stop on Freeman’s car for a speeding violation. Freeman was wearing a black jacket and Air Force 1 shoes, and a black ski mask sat beside him in the passenger seat. Deputies found a roll of bills and hundreds of coins in pocket, totaling nearly $200. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Hertford County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake D. Pugh and Phil Aubart prosecuted. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-0018-M.


title: Philadelphia Man Who Bypassed Airport Security Checkpoint and Unlawfully Boarded a Flight Sentenced

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jonathan “Jon” Beaulieu, 32, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Hey to one year of probation and restitution in the amount of $59,143 for entering an airport area in violation of security requirements. Beaulieu was charged by information in January of this year and pleaded guilty in February. As detailed in court filings and statements in court, on June 26, 2024, at approximately 12:12 a.m., witness J.M. was working as a security guard at Philadelphia International Airport. She was assigned to the Terminal C exit lane to prevent unauthorized people from entering what’s known as the airport’s “sterile area” – the terminals beyond the TSA security checkpoint. At that time, the defendant approached the exit lane and stated that he left his phone in the airport and needed to retrieve it. J.M. called police dispatch and told them that Beaulieu was trying to get into the airport to get his phone. After the dispatcher informed the witness that the police couldn’t look for Beaulieu’s phone, he started to walk past the witness into the airport. The witness repeatedly told Beaulieu that he could not enter the airport. Beaulieu then dropped a $50 bill onto the witness’s desk and asked her if that would get him into the airport. J.M. left the bill on the desk and again told Beaulieu that he could not enter the airport’s sterile area. She called the police again and informed dispatch that Beaulieu was now attempting to go around her and into the airport. After a few minutes of arguing with the witness, Beaulieu walked around her, entered the airport’s sterile area, and walked away. J.M. called the police, informed dispatch that there was a security breach, and described Beaulieu. The flash information was broadcast over police radio and officers started searching the terminals. Airport security personnel checking the facility’s cameras saw that Beaulieu had boarded a plane at Gate A-20. Upon responding to the gate, Philadelphia police found that the plane doors were closed and the plane was preparing for departure. The captain of the plane was then informed that there was a passenger aboard who had bypassed security, and the plane returned to the gate. All passengers were removed and Beaulieu was located and arrested. Due to the boarding of an unscreened passenger, the entire plane had to be searched, resulting in the flight’s cancellation. American Airlines reported that the cost of the flight cancellation was $59,143. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everett Witherell.


title: Greene Man Admits Federal Drug and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine : A Greene man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime. According to court records, in January 2025, Lewiston police officers approached and detained John Labbe , 44, after they observed him operating a vehicle unlawfully. Officers recovered from Labbe a handgun with a laser sight. Inside a backpack he was wearing, officers found quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base. A later search of Labbe’s cell phone revealed communications in which he appeared to be arranging for the distribution of controlled substances. Labbe faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison, a maximum fine of $5 million, and up to life on federal supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with help from the Lewiston Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Attorney General’s Office. Project Safe Neighborhoods : This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn . ###


title: Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in $8-Million Federal Emergency Assistance Benefits Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, a Nigerian national extradited from France, to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. Jemide will also serve three years of supervised release, pay $520,431.83 of restitution, and a forfeiture money judgment was entered against him in the amount of $311,036.64. Jemide executed his part of the criminal scheme from Nigeria where he resided when he committed the offense. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor, Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General – Philadelphia Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool, U.S. Secret Service – Washington Field Office. As a result of the conspiracy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided emergency benefits and compensation for damages to victims affected by declared national emergency disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires. Among other benefits, an individual in an affected area was immediately eligible for Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) to purchase life-saving or life-sustaining materials. Victims could decide how to receive assistance payments, including deposits on pre-paid debit cards. According to his guilty plea, in 2016 and 2017, Jemide and others from Nigeria directed co-conspirators living in the United States to purchase hundreds of Green Dot Debit Cards. Co-conspirators living in Nigeria then registered the cards with Green Dot using stolen personal information from identity theft victims around the United States. Jemide and his co-conspirators used an encrypted messaging application and other means to communicate. In 2017, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria — and the California wildfires — Jemide and other co-conspirators from Nigeria used stolen personal information to apply online for FEMA and CNA benefits. FEMA dispersed $500 per claim on the Green Dot Debit Cards that the co-conspirators purchased for a total of at least $8 million. In addition to filing false disaster-assistance claims with FEMA, Jemide and co-conspirators also submitted false online claims for Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, and other government benefits using stolen identities of multiple individuals, including names, addresses, Social Security Numbers (SSN), and other personal identifiers. As a result of fraudulent submissions, FEMA and other federal agencies deposited benefits onto the Green Dot Debit Cards. The funds were deposited on the debit cards using multiple stolen identities, including identities different from the identities used to register the cards. Jemide and select co-conspirators informed other co-conspirators when the fraudulent funds became available on the debit cards and gave them information to cash out the funds from the cards in exchange for a commission. Additionally, the co-conspirators took steps to conceal their identities by enlisting others to make purchases and withdrawals; utilizing multiple store and bank locations and methods of withdrawal; and making money orders payable to other individuals and/or corporate entities. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DHS OIG, SSA OIG, and the USSS for their work in the investigation and thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service for their valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Jemide to the United States. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Darren Gardner who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Participant In Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced To 63 Months

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Alexis M. Sanford announced that Kaushalkumar Chaudhary, age 30, of India, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud. Chaudhary was a courier or “money mule” for a conspiracy that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims. Individuals in India and the United States used the internet and cell phones to contact victims and make false claims using a variety of schemes. These schemes included that the victims’ social security account numbers had been compromised, that they were under federal investigation, or some other false reason why they should convert their financial holdings into cash, gold, and/or silver. Conspirators often claimed to be members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission, or some other government or law enforcement agency and falsely asserted that they could assist the victims in protecting their money. Chaudhary, acting at the direction of his coconspirators, would travel to the victims’ homes or other pre-arranged meeting locations and retrieve the cash, gold, or silver from the victims. He would then drive to meet coconspirators at designated locations and receive a share of the proceeds as his payment. The balance of the stolen money would be transmitted to other coconspirators both inside and outside of the United States. Chaudhary picked up $70,000 in gold bars from one victim and retrieved money and valuables from thirteen other victims in various states in 2023 and 2024. He was responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss and was ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $524,947. “My office stands ready to investigate and prosecute elder financial abuse in all its forms and will continue to hold perpetrators accountable and seek full restitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sanford. “Potential victims should stay vigilant—resist the pressure to act quickly, be cautious of unsolicited calls and emails, and remember that law enforcement and federal officials will never retrieve valuable items from you for protection.” “No American deserves to be the victim of financial crime, but it is especially abhorrent when the perpetrator wasn’t in the country legally in the first place,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Chaudhary’s actions defrauded 14 victims of over $500,000. Once he has served his sentence, he will rightfully be deported to his home country. I’m proud of our agents and their work with the Battle Creek Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan to see justice served in this case.” Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case and received valuable assistance from the Battle Creek Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella prosecuted the case. Federal law enforcement provides a number of tips on how to protect yourself from similar internet or email scams, including: Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, e-mails, and mailings. Never give or send any sensitive information (including your date of birth, account numbers, or passwords), credit or debit card numbers, or money or other valuables to unverified people or businesses. Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a false sense of urgency to lure people to immediate action. If you recognize a scam attempt, immediately end all communication with the perpetrator. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. More information about the Department’s efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, which can be found at elderjustice.gov . The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov . ###


title: Justice Department Charges Two Individuals With Acting As Agents Of The PRC Government

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO — Two nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) made their initial appearances in federal court in Portland, Oregon, and Houston, Texas, yesterday to face charges issued out of the Northern District of California for acting as agents of the Government of the PRC without prior notification to the Attorney General. The defendants, Yuance Chen, 38, a PRC national and legal permanent resident who resides in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Liren “Ryan” Lai, 39, a PRC national who traveled from the PRC to Houston, Texas, on a tourist visa in April 2025, were arrested Friday on a criminal complaint charging them with overseeing and carrying out various clandestine intelligence taskings in the United States on behalf of the PRC Government’s principal foreign intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security (MSS). These activities included facilitating a “dead drop” payment of cash for information relating to the national security of the United States previously provided to the MSS, gathering intelligence about U.S. Navy service members and bases, and assisting with efforts to recruit other individuals from within the U.S. military as potential MSS assets. Chen and Lai were arrested on June 27, 2025, by the FBI in Happy Valley, Oregon, and Houston Texas, as part of a coordinated counterintelligence and law enforcement operation across multiple states. “This case underscores the Chinese government’s sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country – we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security.” “These charges reflect the breadth of the efforts by our foreign adversaries to target the United States — this time by conducting illegal intelligence-gathering operations aimed at our national security information and military service members,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “My office and the FBI remain ever vigilant in guarding against these threats to the United States. We will continue to undertake counterespionage investigations and prosecutions, no matter how complex and sensitive, to disrupt attempts to weaken our national security.” “The FBI arrested two Chinese nationals who were allegedly attempting to recruit U.S. military service members on behalf of the PRC,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources. This case was a complex, coordinated effort and is an example of outstanding counterintelligence work done by FBI San Francisco, Portland, Houston, San Diego, and the Counterintelligence Division. The FBI will continue to vigilantly defend the homeland from China’s pervasive attempts to infiltrate our borders.” “This case represents a significant disruption of a covert operation directed by the PRC's Ministry of State Security to penetrate and compromise U.S. national security from within our own borders. These individuals allegedly carried out clandestine taskings on behalf of a hostile foreign intelligence service, targeting U.S. military personnel and installations, and attempting to recruit others to do the same. Their arrest is the result of an extensive, complex counterintelligence investigation led by the FBI's San Francisco Division and underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to detecting, exposing, and neutralizing espionage threats from the PRC and other adversaries. The FBI will not tolerate efforts by foreign intelligence services to operate inside the United States and we will continue to use every lawful tool to defend our country's security and sovereignty,” said FBI San Francisco Field Office Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “Adverse foreign intelligence services like the PRC’s Ministry of State Security dedicate years to recruiting individuals and cultivating them as intelligence assets to do their bidding within the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Under my leadership, the National Security Division will continue to defend our nation and neutralize our adversaries’ clandestine spy networks.” As alleged in the criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, the PRC Government conducts intelligence activities against the United States through multiple arms, including the MSS. The MSS handles civilian intelligence collection for the PRC and is responsible for counterintelligence and foreign intelligence, as well as political security. The MSS and its bureaus seek to obtain information on political, economic, and security policies that might affect the PRC, along with military, scientific, and technical information of value to the PRC. The MSS and its bureaus are tasked with conducting clandestine and covert human source operations, of which the United States is a principal target. As alleged in the criminal complaint, Lai recruited Chen to work on behalf of the MSS in or about 2021. While in Guangzhou, China, in January 2022, Lai and Chen worked together to facilitate a dead-drop payment of at least $10,000 on behalf of the MSS, working with other individuals located in the United States to leave a backpack with the cash at a day-use locker at a recreational facility located in Livermore, California. Following the January 2022 dead drop, Lai and Chen continued to work on behalf of the MSS, including to help identify potential assets for MSS recruitment within the ranks of the U.S. Navy. For example, beginning in 2022, Chen was tasked by Lai and other agents of the MSS to contact a Navy employee over social media, and then later, in 2025, arranged for a tour with the employee of the USS Abraham Lincoln and provided information about the employee to the MSS. In 2022 and 2023, Chen was tasked to visit a U.S. Naval installation in Washington State and a U.S. Navy recruitment center in San Gabriel, California. While in the recruitment center, Chen obtained photographs of a bulletin board containing the names, programs, and hometowns of recent Navy recruits, the majority of whom listed their hometown as “China,” which he appears to have transmitted to an MSS intelligence officer in China. The complaint also alleges that Chen received instruction from the MSS on what to say to potential recruits regarding potential payment that could be made by the MSS, preferred Naval job assignments for potential recruits, and methods for minimizing Chen’s risk of exposure. The complaint alleges that in 2023, Lai flew to the United States from the PRC and provided Chen with a cellphone that Chen then used to communicate with the MSS. The complaint also alleges that Chen traveled to Guangzhou and met with MSS intelligence officers in April 2024 and March 2025 in order to discuss compensation and specific taskings. The complaint also alleges that Lai traveled to Houston, Texas, in April 2025, claiming that the purpose of his visit was related to his business as an online retail seller, and that he would be staying in the Houston area for two weeks. However, on May 9, 2025 – more than four weeks after his arrival in the United States – Lai traveled by car with a companion from Houston to Southern California, via New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona, before returning to Texas, on May 15, 2025. Chen and Lai are charged with violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 951, which makes it a crime for a person to operate or agree to operate within the United States as an agent of a foreign government without notification to the Attorney General of the United States. If convicted, the defendants face a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years. The FBI San Francisco Field Office is leading the investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Portland, Houston, and San Diego Field Offices. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) also provided valuable assistance during the operation. The National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are in charge of the prosecution. Significant operational support and assistance is also being provided by the District of Oregon, the Southern District of Texas, and the Southern District of California. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tairon Jordan Bradley, 25, of Huntington, was sentenced today to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 7, 2023, a law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bradley in Kenova. As the officer was collecting information, Bradley fled in his vehicle. Bradley drove onto Interstate 64 during the resulting pursuit and struck another vehicle as he entered Cabell County. Bradley’s vehicle came to a stop in the middle of I-64, and Bradley fled on foot across the interstate and into a nearby wooded area where he was found and arrested. Officers found a loaded Weihrauch Hermann Model EA/R .38 Special/.357 magnum revolver in Bradley’s vehicle. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bradley knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and conspiracy in Cabell County Circuit Court on January 17, 2019. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kenova Police Department, and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-83. ###


title: Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to attempting to meet a minor for sex

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Pennsylvania man pled guilty today to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court documents, on May 1, Keith Allen Pinkard, 67, of Middletown, sent a private message to another user on a social media platform, unaware that the other user was an undercover FBI special agent. Pinkard told the user that he was seeking “a new playmate” for an “ongoing adventure.” The two discussed their interests, including Pinkard’s interest in young girls, leading to discussion of the other user’s purported nine-year-old daughter. Pinkard expressed interest in meeting the other user in person and engaging in sex acts with the purported nine-year-old girl. Pinkard said he was ready to commit “to a regular thing” with the user and the purported child, and that he wanted to present the child with a gift before going to the child’s bedroom. Pinkard and the other user arranged to meet at a coffee shop the following week and then walk together to the other user’s residence, where the purported child would be waiting. On May 6, Pinkard arrived at the agreed upon location in Virginia, where he was arrested by FBI agents. In his vehicle were a gift bag containing a coloring book, colored pencils, and two packs of candy, as well as an Easter-themed basket with candy. He also had an image of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his cellphone. Pinkard is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper is prosecuting the case. 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-183.


title: Man Indicted in Federal Court for Allegedly Carjacking Two Vehicles and Robbing Two Credit Unions in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly carjacking two vehicles and robbing two credit unions in Chicago. MAURICE D. LEE, JR., committed the carjackings and robberies in May of last year, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The first carjacking and robbery occurred on May 10, 2024, when Lee took a Toyota from a driver and robbed a credit union at the University of Illinois Chicago, the indictment alleges. The second carjacking and robbery occurred on May 17, 2024, when Lee took a Toyota and robbed another credit union at the University of Illinois Chicago, the indictment states. Lee allegedly brandished a handgun in all the carjackings and robberies. The indictment charges Lee, 32, of Chicago, with two counts of carjacking, two counts of robbery, and four counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Each firearm count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, resulting in a total mandatory minimum sentence of 28 years in federal prison. Each robbery count is punishable by up to 20 years, while each carjacking count is punishable by up to 15 years. Lee was arrested two days after the second robbery. He was in state custody until his arrest last month in the federal case. He remains detained without bond awaiting trial in federal court. Arraignment is set for July 7, 2025, at 9:45 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the University of Illinois Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Asheeka Desai. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. lee_indictment.pdf


title: Man Indicted for Stabbing a Metro Transit Police Sergeant in the Face

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Erik Schleehauf, 43, of Washington, D.C., was indicted in Superior Court on felony charges for the assault of a police officer while armed, assault with a deadly weapon, and assault with significant bodily injury for the April 15, 2025, attack of a Metro Transit Police Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). Schleehauf was indicted by the grand jury on June 25, 2025. A jury trial is scheduled to begin on July 22, 2025. According to government’s evidence, at around 2:26 p.m., on April 15, 2025, at the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro Station, an MTPD Sergeant observed Schleehauf evade his fare by over the fare machine and jumping over the glass gates on his way out of the Metro Transit System. The MTPD Sergeant followed the defendant as he tried to leave the station using the escalator. After Schleehauf refused to provide his identification and insisted on leaving without paying, The MTPD Sergeant deployed OC spray. Schleehauf pulled out a sharpened, pointed tool and began to stab the MTPD Sergeant in the face, causing puncture wounds. The MTPD Sergeant suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. This case is being investigated by the Metro Transit Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tayron Jerome Griffin, also known as “Taye,” 24, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 4, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Griffin’s residence. Officers found approximately 617 grams of methamphetamine in his bedroom nightstand, approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine in a kitchen drawer, and drug trafficking paraphernalia and $1,648 in the residence during the search. As part of his guilty plea, Griffin admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it, and that the cash was drug proceeds. Griffin further admitted to possessing a loaded Romarm Cugir Model Mini Draco 7.62x39mm pistol and a loaded Smith & Wesson Shield .40-caliber pistol found in the nightstand and a loaded Glock 20 10mm pistol found on top of the nightstand during the search. Griffin also admitted to selling drugs on three occasions at his residence, each time to a confidential informant, as relevant criminal conduct. Griffin sold approximately 28.9 grams of methamphetamine for $200 on February 21, 2025, approximately 27.9 grams of methamphetamine for $210 on February 25, 2025, and approximately 1.59 grams of cocaine for $100 on February 28, 2025. Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, and the Huntington Police Department. 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-50. ###


title: PENSACOLA MAN SENTENCED IN DRUG AND FIREARM CASE

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Dillon Devontrez Royster, 31, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the substantial efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest, and help bring this drug trafficker to justice. This is yet another important case by my office fulfilling the promise of President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by aggressively pursuing criminal offenders who victimize our communities. We will not stop until we have rid our streets of these criminals who peddle in violence and addiction.” “This is a huge win for public safety in Northwest Florida,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “Armed drug trafficking is a serious crime – this investigation demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to remove an armed drug trafficker from our communities.” On April 17, 2024, members of the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives executed a search warrant at Dillion Royster’s residence. During the search, law enforcement found approximately 1,851 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of fentanyl, and numerous firearms. This sentence was the result of a joint investigation by Escambia County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The 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: Weiser Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Cody Michael Howells, 35, of Weiser, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. According to court records, the investigation began when the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”) received CyberTip reports from an online social media platform. A CyberTip is a report submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC gathers leads and tips regarding suspected online crimes against children and forwards them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. ICAC determined that numerous files of child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to an account, later identified as belonging to Howells. ICAC subsequently executed a federal search warrant at Howell’s residence in Weiser. During an interview, Howells admitted to viewing child sexual abuse material. ICAC located additional files of child sexual abuse material on Howell’s cellphone. At the time, Howells was on parole for Lewd Conduct with a Minor Under 16. Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Howells to lifetime supervised release following his prison sentence and ordered him to pay $30,000 in restitution to victims in the images he possessed. Howells will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction. Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Idaho ICAC Task Force, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rupert Police Department, and the Weiser Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Virginia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Benefits Scheme

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Alonzo Brown, 27, of Richmond, Virginia, to 45 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a conspiracy and scheme to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and California Employment Development Department (CA-EDD). Judge Griggsby also ordered Brown to pay $310,428.08 of restitution to the victims and forfeit all money, property, and/or assets derived from the scheme, including a money judgment of $310,428.08. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington Field Office. According to the guilty plea, from at least June 2020 through March 2021, Brown conspired with Michael Cooley, 26, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Isiah Lewis, 35, of Prince George’s County, to devise and execute a scheme to defraud individuals and multiple state workforce agencies, including in Maryland and California, of more than $800,000 in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, successfully obtaining more than $300,000. The scheme was sophisticated and used personal identifiable information — such as name, date of birth, and social security number — from more than 60 individuals to file online UI applications in Maryland and California, using anonymous email addresses to obscure their identities and avoid detection. Griggsby sentenced Cooley to 87 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme back in April. This case is part of the District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force, a Strike Force that is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information about the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi and Jared M. Beim, who are prosecuting this federal case, and Joanna B.N. Huber, who is supporting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Crack Cocaine Dealer with an Arsenal Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Freddie Lee Hall, Jr., 57, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in prison in connection with distributing crack cocaine while in possession of multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Hall pleaded guilty Feb. 13, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge McFadden ordered Hall to serve five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Hall was recorded on surveillance cameras 13 times in 2024 as he sold distribution quantities of cocaine base – in amounts ranging from 13.5 grams to 106 grams, for a total over three-quarters of a kilogram – to a confidential informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division. ATF agents arrested Hall on Aug. 22, 2024, in Northwest Washington. The same day, agents executed a search warrant at Hall’s residence in District Heights, Maryland. ATF special agents recovered seven firearms in total: a Ruger LC pistol concealed on a basement air duct; a Panzer BP12 shotgun, stashed behind a bedroom door; and five additional firearms in a gun safe that included a privately made firearm, aka a “ghost gun,” a loaded Ruger P89 pistol, a loaded Taurus GX4 pistol with an obliterated serial number, a Ruger P95 pistol, and a loaded American Tactical AR pistol with obliterated serial number. They also seized 1,400 rounds of ammunition from 17 firearms magazines. During the search ATF agents observed what appeared to be freshly manufactured crack cocaine drying on paper towels in a basement bedroom. They additionally recovered a large quantity of marijuana, 547 grams of powder cocaine, 72.86 grams of cocaine base, two pounds of suspected magic mushrooms, assorted drug paraphernalia and manufacturing devices, and more than $61,763 in cash. This case was investigated by the DEA Washington Division, the ATF Washington Field Division, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Prince George’s County Fire-EMS, Office of the Fire Marshal. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney. 24cr378


title: The New England Strike Force Joins Nationwide Crackdown on Health Care Fraud

body_text: CONCORD- Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack, together with Acting U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Drescher of the District of Vermont and Craig M. Wolff of the District of Maine, announces a sweeping enforcement action aimed at combatting health care fraud across New England. The enforcement action is a result of the collaboration and partnership between the Districts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, and the New England Strike Force. The New England Strike Force charged six defendants in connection with unrelated allegations including conspiracies to defraud the State of New Hampshire’s Medicaid program (NH Medicaid), Medicare, and other federal benefit programs, totaling over $14 million. The charges filed in federal court throughout New England are part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from various schemes, including a previously convicted social worker who submitted claims to NH Medicaid following his disbarment from billing federal health care programs, a conspiracy to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment that were medically unnecessary, and a conspiracy to fulfill illegitimate prescriptions for drugs including Ozempic. The schemes charged in the District of New Hampshire include: Previously Convicted Felon Charged in New Scheme Fraudulently Billing Medicaid and Exploiting a Vulnerable Patient United States v. Erik Alonso : Erik Alonso, age 54, of Miami, Florida, was charged by indictment with eight counts of health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to submit claims to NH Medicaid, despite being barred from billing federally funded health care programs following a previous heath care fraud related conviction in 2015. Alonso failed to disclose his exclusion to his employer, a Laconia, New Hampshire-based telehealth psychotherapy provider, and purportedly provided psychotherapy treatments to NH Medicaid beneficiaries between March 2022 and July 2024 via telehealth. In addition, Alonso allegedly exploited a psychotherapy patient by using purported psychotherapy sessions to seek and obtain assistance from that client with personal tasks, including preparing an application for a presidential pardon of his prior conviction and assisting him with applying for licensure in other New England states. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and John Howard, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Straw Owner of Health Care Company Used to Commit Fraud and Launder Illicit Proceeds United States v. Leo Anzivino Jr.: Leo Anzivino, Jr., age 34, of Teaticket, MA, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain over $6 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Anzivino, Jr. acted as the straw owner of a durable medical equipment (“DME”) company, Advanced Medical Supply (Advanced), and conspired with others to cause the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. The indictment further alleges that Anzivino falsified bank account documents, including beneficial ownership information, and conspired to launder fraudulent funds from the DME scheme to conceal and disguise the nature, source, origin, and control of the proceeds of the DME fraud. Anzivino, Jr., made four transfers from one Advanced account at a New Hampshire bank to another Advanced account at a Massachusetts bank, totaling over $3 million dollars, to conceal a co-conspirator’s control over the funds. The government seized approximately $353,768.29 in assets tied to the alleged scheme. This case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Danielle Sakowski, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn, and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. The schemes charged in the District of Vermont include: Global Pharma and Money Laundering Scheme United States v. Manthan Rohit Shah : Manthan Rohit Shah, 37, of Mumbai, India, was charged by indictment with misbranding prescription medication, conspiring to import controlled substances, and conspiring to commit international concealment money laundering. As alleged in the indictment, Shah owned and operated Company-1, a pharma company based in Mumbai, India. Company-1 allegedly shipped controlled substances and misbranded pharmaceutical drugs, including drugs that contained potentially potent, dangerous, and/or addictive substances, into New England and across the United States. Shah and Company-1 used fake prescriptions to provide a veneer of legitimacy for customer orders, despite the customers never obtaining such prescriptions. Shah undertook various acts in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. For example, on or about May 6, 2025, Shah sent a text message to an undercover law enforcement agent regarding Company-1’s fulfillment of illegitimate prescriptions for 50 pens of the drug Ozempic, costing approximately $6,200, to be shipped from a location outside the United States to an address in Vermont. Shah also conspired with others to direct the shipment of pharmaceutical drugs without valid prescriptions to a network of online pharmacies and call centers that fulfilled orders placed by customers in New England and across the United States. Shah then conspired with others to launder the funds from financial accounts in the United States, through shell companies, and to Shah’s company in India. The case is being prosecuted by DOJ Trial Attorneys Patrick Brown, John Howard, and Thomas Campbell. Health Care Scheme Involving Purchase of Tulum Penthouse, High-Volume Cash Withdrawals United States v. Evelyn Herrera : Evelyn Herrera, 61, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $6.5 million in Medicare funds. According to the charging documents, Herrera, the owner of Merida Medical Supplies Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare from individuals residing across New England for wrist, knee, and back braces and other equipment, which were medically unnecessary and ineligible for reimbursement by Medicare. After the funds from these fraudulent services were deposited into a bank account controlled by Herrera, she allegedly conducted financial transactions and attempted to conceal the source, origin, and control of the health care fraud proceeds generated by Merida. For example, Herrera allegedly sent an international wire from her bank account, indicating it was to be used to purchase property in Mexico, and sent other funds to a cryptocurrency wallet that she controlled. During the scheme, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a payment suspension to Herrera for suspected fraud, after which Herrerra allegedly attempted to withdraw large amounts of cash from a bank and siphon funds off to other individuals. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, Thomas Campbell, and Tiffany Wynn. The complaint was filed in the District of Vermont. Health Care CEO Indicted in Cross-Border Health Care Fraud Scheme United States v. Donald Jani : Donald Jani, 39, of Maharashtra, India, was charged by indictment with health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.9 million in Medicare funds. According to the indictment, Jani, the CEO of CSS Pain Relief, Inc., a purported DME company, submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME. Jani and his co-conspirators allegedly used the personal identifying information of elderly and disabled New England residents to fraudulently bill Medicare. As part of the conspiracy, Jani unlawfully used the personal identifying information of medical providers in the District of Vermont and elsewhere to create the false appearance that the DME claims were premised on legitimate medical orders. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Sarah Rocha, John Howard and Thomas Campbell. The indictment was brought in the District of Vermont. The scheme charged in the District of Maine includes: Individual Charged in Health Care and Identity Theft Scheme United States v. Joseph Dobie : Joseph Dobie, 36, of Lewiston, Maine, was charged by complaint with aggravated identity theft, false statements relating to health care matters, and unlawful use of Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits in connection with an identity-theft scheme. As alleged in the complaint, Dobie used a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain Medicaid and SNAP benefits in Maine, while simultaneously receiving SNAP benefits in New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Scott. The complaint was filed in the District of Maine. Additionally, the New England Strike Force provided valuable support in a nationwide investigation: Operation Gold Rush: Transnational Criminal Organization-Led Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Outside of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, the New England Strike Force also supported a nationwide investigation, Operation Gold Rush, which resulted in charges in the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of California, the Middle District of Florida, and the District of New Jersey against 19 defendants in connection with the largest loss amount ever charged in a health care fraud case brought by the Department at $10.6 billion. Twelve of these defendants have been arrested, including four defendants who were apprehended in Estonia as a result of international cooperation with Estonian law enforcement and seven defendants who were arrested at U.S. airports and the U.S. border with Mexico, cutting off their intended escape routes as they attempted to avoid capture. The criminal case is being prosecuted by DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chiefs Kevin Lowell and Shankar Ramamurthy, and Trial Attorneys Sara Porter, Andres Almendarez, Leonid Sandlar, Monica Cooper, Thomas Campbell, Danielle Sakowski, and Matthew Belz. Trial Attorney Sara Porter initiated the investigation, which has been supported by members of multiple Strike Forces. The civil forfeiture proceeding is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson of the District of Connecticut and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Chelsea Rooney. Office of Public Affairs | National Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in 324 Defendants Charged in Connection with Over $14.6 Billion in Alleged Fraud | United States Department of Justice These charges are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in intended loss and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets. The United States has seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles and other assets in connection with the takedown. Descriptions of each case involved in the national enforcement action are available at Criminal Division | 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown . The New England Strike Force’s cases are the result of investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Leveraging advanced data analytics, forensic accounting, interagency collaboration, and subject-matter expertise, the New England Strike Force investigates and prosecutes complex health care fraud and money laundering schemes across the region, focusing on both individuals and corporations engaged in criminal conduct. DOJ Fraud Section Assistant Chief Kevin Lowell leads the Strike Force. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law. ###


title: Mexican National Living Illegally in Charleston Pleads Guilty to Immigration Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Federico Montalvo Salas, 22, a Mexican national residing illegally in Charleston, pleaded guilty today to reentry of a removed alien. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Salas so he will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings at the conclusion of any sentence. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 28, 2025, Salas was arrested by law enforcement in the South Charleston area. ICE agents confirmed that Salas was a citizen of Mexico in the United States illegally and that he had previously been deported from the United States. Salas had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States. Salas was removed from the United States to Mexico on June 28, 2024, after being found that day near Douglas, Arizona. Salas never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States for either of the prior removals, nor did he seek to reenter the United States through other legal means. Salas is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and up to one year of supervised release. Salas will be subject to deportation proceedings at the conclusion of any sentence. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case, as part of a special unit within the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia focused on the immigration enforcement objectives of Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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. 2:25-cr-82. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in National Health Care Fraud Takedown Resulting in $2 Million Civil Settlement

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced a $2 million civil settlement to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act. The settlement is a joint agreement between the United States, Riverpark Operations, LLC (Riverpark), Avamere Group, LLC (Avamere), and the Oregon Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (Oregon DOJ MFCU) on behalf of the state of Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) administers Oregon's Medicaid program using a combination of state and federal funding. This civil settlement is part of the Department of Justice’s 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Riverpark and its parent company Avamere have agreed to pay the United States $2 million and perform corrective actions to resolve allegations that Riverpark fraudulently billed Medicare and Oregon Medicaid for grossly substandard nursing home services. Riverpark operates a 119-bed skilled nursing home facility in Eugene, Oregon, under the name Avamere Riverpark of Eugene. During November and December 2017, and between September 2018 and July 2019, Riverpark is alleged to have provided grossly substandard services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who resided at the facility when staffing levels did not meet minimum staffing requirements. Among other things, the United States and the Oregon DOJ MFCU allege that, during these timeframes, Riverpark's failure to adequately staff the facility resulted in residents experiencing increased instances and severity of preventable urinary tract infections, pressure sores, and falls. In connection with the settlement, Riverpark and Avamere have entered into a Quality-of-Care Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), which will remain in effect for five years to address quality of care and resident safety within the skilled nursing facility. This civil settlement is part of the Justice Department’s national healthcare fraud takedown that resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and illegal drug diversion schemes that involved the submission of over $14.6 billion in alleged false billings and over 15 million pills of illegally diverted controlled substances. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the Government, in connection with the Takedown, seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, and other assets. Descriptions of each case involved in the strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here . The District of Oregon worked with HHS-OIG and the Oregon DOJ MFCU to investigate and resolve this matter. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or via email at HHSTips@oig.hhs.gov.


title: Wyoming man sentenced to 3 years in prison for attempted robbery on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Wyoming man who attempted a robbery on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Jesse Alex Sutherland, 37, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of attempted robbery. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of November 21, 2023, the defendant, Jesse Alex Sutherland, went with a co-defendant to a remote residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The co-defendant was armed with an AR-15 style rifle. The two men met with a third person outside the home. While still outside the residence the co-defendant fired one round into the ground and six into the air. He and the defendant then broke into the residence. The two men assaulted the two occupants of the home, and the co-defendant struck them with the rifle while demanding access to a safe. Sutherland was seen on surveillance video before and after the attempted robbery. He was arrested shortly thereafter wearing the same hoodie he wore during the attempted robbery. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, BIA and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Somerset Man Indicted for Fentanyl and Heroin Distribution Leading to the Death of a Victim

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Somerset County man with drug offenses including distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Thomas Kane Miller, 40, of Somerset, New Jersey was charged by criminal indictment with one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor (4-ANPP), one count of distribution of fentanyl and heroin that resulted in the death of a victim, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl and heroin. Miller’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for June 30, 2025, before Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court. “The fentanyl epidemic has devastated communities across the country. Too many lives have been lost, too many families have been broken. This poison has no place on our streets. This office is unwavering in its pursuit of justice, and will relentlessly hold accountable anyone who traffics fentanyl or other deadly drugs in New Jersey — ensuring they face the full weight of the law for the destruction they cause. The District of New Jersey continues to emphasize opioid enforcement, including with its Fentanyl Precursor Interception Strike Force that seeks to stem the tide of chemical precursors and adulterants used to manufacture fentanyl, and bring to justice individuals who sell this poison on our streets.” - U.S. Attorney Alina Habba “Today’s indictment against Thomas Miller reflects the determination the DEA and our law enforcement partners have in targeting those individuals who continue to poison our communities with fentanyl,” stated DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “Mr. Miller’s victim was more than just another statistic; it’s a life cut short by greed. The DEA is committed to holding these individuals accountable, especially when their actions result in the tragic loss of life.” “This tragic loss of life is a stark reminder fentanyl-related deaths continue to plague our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations New York acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “The lethal dangers posed by the illegal narcotics that traffickers are introducing to our communities cannot be overstated. This is why HSI New York, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations that prioritize profit over American lives.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In October 2022, Miller distributed a mixture of fentanyl and heroin to an individual who died as a result of using the substance. Law enforcement located the deceased victim at a residence in Plainfield, New Jersey. Inside the residence were two wax folds containing fentanyl and heroin bearing a unique stamp which law enforcement linked to Miller. Shortly before the victim’s death, the victim and Miller were communicating about arranging to meet. Approximately 10 days before the victim’s death, Miller was found in possession of multiple wax folds bearing the same unique stamp and containing fentanyl, heroin, and a fentanyl precursor. Miller also distributed fentanyl and heroin on two other occasions in December 2022 and January 2023, in Middlesex and Somerset Counties. The count of drug distribution resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $1 million. The counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin, and distribution of fentanyl and heroin, each carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the New York DEA Strike Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino, III, special agents of HSI New York, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor John P. McDonald, and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, with the investigation, leading to the charges. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) 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 arrest was the result of an investigation by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud and Opioid Enforcement Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Timothy Donahue, Esq., Michael Alexander Thomas, Esq. miller.indictment.pdf


title: Four Family Members Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Fort Worth, Texas, returned an indictment on June 11, unsealed yesterday, charging four family members with conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing tax returns that sought millions of dollars in false refunds. The following is according to the indictment: beginning in 2016, David Hunt, of Arlington, Texas, his twin sons Brandon Hunt and Baylon Hunt, also of Arlington, and Brandon and Baylon’s half-brother Corey Burt, of Mississippi, allegedly conspired to file false tax returns in the name of purported trusts that sought over $8.5 million in tax refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Brandon Hunt also filed a false return in his own name. Collectively, the defendants allegedly received over $1 million from the IRS based on those false tax returns. Brandon and Baylon Hunt also allegedly submitted additional fake documents to the IRS as part of their scheme, including falsified financial instruments and altered money orders. The indictment further alleges that they shared in the proceeds of their fraud by transferring money between themselves. The defendants also allegedly used the refunds to purchase luxury goods, cryptocurrency, and real estate. Each defendant was charged with conspiracy as well as aiding and assisting in the preparation of tax returns. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. The defendants also face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy Larson of the Northern District of Texas made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Daniel Lipkowitz of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Daniel Alvarez-Reyes, 30 years old, of Mexico residing in Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Alvarez-Reyes was sentenced to 37 months in prison. According to documents in the case, Alvarez-Reyes criminal history includes felony convictions for possession of cocaine in Indiana and Ohio and for illegal reentry into the United States in the Western District of Texas. He was previously removed from the United States on two separate occasions, the first time in April 2019, and the second time in January 2020. This case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander and former Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.


title: Duncansville Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A former resident of Duncansville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on her conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Tonya Settlemyer, 40. According to information presented to the Court, Settlemyer assisted Jason Lynn, the leader of an Altoona-based drug trafficking organization who distributed large quantities of methamphetamine to various individuals throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Service—Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Settlemyer. This prosecution 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.


title: Mississippi Man Sentenced For Impersonating Deputy United States Marshal

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that WILLIAM GILCHRIST (“GILCHRIST”) , a resident of Greenville, Mississippi, was sentenced on June 24, 2025, by United States District Judge Susie Morgan to 3 years of probation and a $4,000 fine for impersonating a deputy United States Marshal, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. According to the indictment, on or about June 19, 2024, GILCHRIST falsely assumed and pretended to be a Fugitive Task Force Officer with the United States Marshals Service. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Roaring Spring Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple narcotics offenses related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Joshua Pote, 42, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Pote was a distributor for a drug trafficking organization based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, that sold large quantities of methamphetamine and smaller quantities of heroin and fentanyl to various individuals throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania. Pote distributed methamphetamine to various users during the conspiracy. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for November 4, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The court ordered that Pote remain detained pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the United States Postal Service—Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. This prosecution 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.


title: Liberty County man sentenced to over 14 years in federal prison  for methamphetamine trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Cleveland, Texas man has been sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. John Matthew Goines, 50, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 175 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, in 2024, Goines was stopped for traffic violations on two separate occasions in Liberty County each resulting in the discovery of thousands of dollars in cash, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and over 150 grams of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Cleveland Police Department, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn. ###