title: Mexican National Sentenced to 6 months in Prison For Immigration Offense

body_text: HAMMOND – Victor Manuel Arellano-Cetina, 34 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Victor Manuel Arellano-Cetina was sentenced to 6 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings. According to documents in the case, Arellano-Cetina’s history includes three prior deportations from the United States in 2010, 2023, and 2023. “The Defendant has been deported three prior times and clearly does not respect our nation’s laws or her sovereignty. After his jail sentence, he needs to return to his home country and not come back,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Crown Point Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas Closes Out May With 350 New Immigration Cases

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 350 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 22 to May 28, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes, burglary, patronizing prostitution, and multiple prior removals. Among the new cases, 172 were filed in Del Rio, where Jeremias Perez-Ramirez , an illegal alien from El Salvador, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents and charged with illegal re-entry. Perez-Ramirez was recently deported for the fourth time in February. A felon, his criminal record contains three DWI convictions, two convictions for driving with a suspended or invalid license, and unlawful restraint. USBP agents also arrested convicted felon and illegal alien from Mexico, Martin Roman-Barrera . Roman-Barrera was last deported in 2014, after he was convicted of aggravated battery in a public place and sentenced to three years of confinement. Prior to that, he was convicted of two DUI misdemeanors and driving on a suspended or revoked license. In El Paso, federal prosecutors filed 152 new immigration cases, including an illegal re-entry charge against Ecuadorian national Luis Oswaldo Zhagui-Zhagui . Zhagui-Zhagui was removed from the U.S. for the third time in September 2025. In November 2021, his license was revoked after being convicted of his second DWI. A Midland-Odessa man was arrested near Fort Hancock and charged with alien smuggling. USBP agents pulled over a blue Mazda CX-5 on Interstate-10 Westbound at mile marker 78. A criminal complaint alleges that the vehicle was driven by Eduardo Zepeda , who was transporting five illegal aliens. Zepeda had allegedly received a call at home from a friend in Mexico, recruiting him to pick up the illegal aliens and transport them to a hotel in El Paso for $500 per person. In San Antonio, Mexican national Gaspar Rodriguez-Garcia was transferred into ICE custody from the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, where he had been serving a three-year sentence for his third DWI conviction. Rodriguez-Garcia has twice been convicted of illegal re-entry. He now faces an illegal re-entry charge for the third time. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are 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. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Nurse Indicted and Arrested for Tampering with Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On May 28, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an 8-count indictment charging Jackeline Correa-Vázquez, 45 years old, with tampering with fentanyl, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. According to court documents, beginning on or about a date unknown but not later than March 28, 2023, defendant Jackeline Correa-Vázquez was licensed by the Puerto Rico Board of Nursing, Department of Health, as an Advanced Practice Nurse with a Clinical Concentration in Anesthesia. By virtue of her employment and position of trust within the medical field, Jackeline Correa-Vázquez engaged in a scheme where she repeatedly accessed and illegally obtained vials of Fentanyl Citrate, entrusted for legitimate patient care, tampered with those vials by removing the Fentanyl Citrate, and replacing it with clear liquid substances intended to conceal the theft. Through these acts, Correa-Vázquez abused her professional position, jeopardized patient safety, and falsified the integrity of controlled substances maintained by her employers. “The defendant betrayed the trust of patients and her employers by tampering with critical medicine,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Today’s charges reflect the seriousness of these offenses and should make clear that the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute anyone who endangers the safety of patients seeking medical treatment.” “The people of Puerto Rico place their trust in our healthcare institutions during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. When that trust is violated, the DEA will act decisively,” said Michael Mayer, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Caribbean Division. “This investigation demonstrates our commitment to protecting patients, safeguarding the integrity of controlled substances, and holding accountable anyone who abuses a position of trust for personal gain. Through our Fentanyl Free America initiative and the strong partnerships we maintain with healthcare providers and law enforcement agencies, we will continue to pursue those who jeopardize public safety and undermine confidence in our medical system.” “The FDA oversees the U.S. drug supply to ensure that it is safe and effective, and those who knowingly tamper with medicines put patients’ health at risk,” added Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berríos, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “The FDA will continue to hold accountable those who compromise the safety and security of our healthcare system.” Correa-Vázquez is charged with four counts of tampering with consumer products in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1365(a), which have a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. She is also charged with four counts of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, subterfuge in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(a)(3) which have a maximum penalty of four years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendant is scheduled for her initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos Vega of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Puerto Rico Police Department, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Puerto Rico Department of Health are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Myriam Y. Fernández-González, Chief of the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering & Transnational Organized Crime Section, and AUSA María L. Montañez-Concepción, Deputy Chief of Asset Recovery, Money Laundering & Transnational Organized Crime Section are prosecuting the case. 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: Ferguson, Missouri Man Admits Buying 27 Crime Guns Recovered in Three States

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

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Ferguson, Missouri on Tuesday admitted unlawfully purchasing firearms, including 27 guns that were later recovered during arrests in three states. Lamondre Haynes, 33, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. He admitted purchasing 27 firearms that have been recovered by law enforcement in Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri while in the possession of individuals being arrested for drug violations, violent assaults and gun possession crimes. Among those purchases were two Glock pistols Haynes bought from a St. Louis County firearms dealer on April 2, 2025, while accompanied by a convicted felon from Illinois. Haynes identified himself as the “actual transferee/buyer” of each gun on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Form 4473 - Firearms Transaction Record. At least some of the cash for the purchase came from the felon. On May 1, 2025, Haynes bought a Glock pistol and an AK-style pistol from a St. Charles, Missouri gun store and another Glock pistol and AK-style pistol from a different St. Charles, Missouri store. One of the Glock pistols was recovered in Columbia, Illinois after being used in a carjacking during which the victim was shot, Haynes’ plea agreement says. Haynes is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.


title: Washington Man Sentenced for Hate Crime Charge After Stabbing a Black Woman Metro Bus Passenger

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Washington man was sentenced today to a federal hate crime charge for violently assaulting and stabbing a Black female passenger because of her race. Adan Hernandez-Mayoral was sentenced to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for an incident in which he used a dangerous weapon, a knife, to cause bodily injury to the victim because of her race and color. According to court documents, Adan C. Hernandez-Mayoral boarded a King County Metro bus on March 7, 2024, and immediately began making racially charged comments about Black people. Hernandez-Mayoral started antagonizing the victim, a Black woman, and yelled, “I don’t like Black people, f***in’ hate ’em.” The defendant referred to the woman as “Rosa Parks” and told her to move to the back of the bus. When the woman attempted to move away from him, Hernandez-Mayoral followed her, while hiding a knife behind his back. When the bus doors opened at a stop, Hernandez-Mayoral grabbed the woman, pushing her off the bus and into a fence. He immediately began beating her all over her body. He stomped on her after she fell to the ground. He then used the knife to repeatedly and violently stab the woman. The victim was wearing a thick coat, sparing her from more serious injuries. Hernandez-Mayoral fled the scene but was located and arrested by officers from the Kent Police Department later that evening. “Today, we have delivered justice with the sentencing of Adan Hernandez-Mayoral for his brutal, racially motivated attack on the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Assaults like these destroy our communities by breeding fear and distrust of public places and facilities. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute such cases to restore safety and confidence in our cities’ streets and transit systems.” “Racially motivated attacks such as this one shock the conscience of our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington. “This office will join with our state and local partners to ensure these crimes are investigated and those who commit them will be held accountable. Such hate has no place here.” “The victim in this case was minding her own business on a familiar public transit route when a stranger made offensive comments about her race, threw her off the stopped bus, and then brutally assaulted her with a knife,” said Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “Together with our partners like the Kent Police Department, the FBI will hold accountable those like Mr. Hernandez-Mayoral who engage in violent hate crimes.” “This was a horrific and deeply disturbing racially motivated assault that targeted an innocent member of our community because of the color of her skin,” said Chief Rafael Padilla of the Kent Police Department. “I am pleased to have reached this conviction on her behalf. Hate-fueled violence has no place in Kent.” On Dec. 23, 2025, Hernandez-Mayoral pleaded guilty to Hate Crime Causing Bodily Injury. The case was investigated by the Kent Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica M. Manca for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, with valuable assistance from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.


title: Multiple Illegal Aliens Plead Guilty to Immigration Charges

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Multiple aliens, unlawfully in the United States, recently pled guilty to illegal immigration crimes. These prosecutions are in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America . Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty pleas with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. On May 5, 2026, Israel Reyes-Medina, 39, of Mexico, pled guilty to illegal re-entry by a previously deported alien. Prior to this prosecution, federal authorities convicted Reyes-Medina of illegal entry and removed him from the United States on four previous occasions. On January 8, law enforcement found the Mexican citizen in Middle River, Maryland, during an area enforcement operation. Then on May 27, Nery Adelso Asmen-Raymundo, 43, of Guatemala, pled guilty to illegal entry into the United States. Authorities removed Asmen-Raymundo from the U.S. on two prior occasions – once in November 2009, and again in March 2010. On April 23, law enforcement found the Guatemalan citizen and national in Baltimore. These cases are 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO and FBI for its work in these investigations. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who is prosecuting these federal cases. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Justice Department Secures Motion to Allow Continued Construction of Idaho Gold Mine Critical to National Defense

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho denied a motion for a preliminary injunction to halt construction of the Stibnite Gold Project. Among other things, the project will establish a domestic source of the mineral antimony, which has an essential use in a range of defense applications, including munitions and military-grade antimony trisulfide, lead-acid batteries, advanced sensor and radar materials, and flame retardants. Historically, the United States has been dependent on foreign sources of antimony. China is the largest historical supplier and has restricted exports to the United States. This has left the National Defense Stockpile depleted. “Antimony is among the minerals most vital to our national defense, and for too long the United States has relied on foreign adversaries to supply it,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This decision allows construction to move forward on the most significant domestic source of antimony, and it reflects the Department’s commitment to defending projects critical to America’s national security.” After years of environmental reviews, the U.S. Forest Service in January 2025 approved the Stibnite project, which is located in the Boise and Payette National Forests in central Idaho. A coalition of environmental groups challenged the approval and asked the court, before scheduled construction began, to halt work on the project’s access route and related facilities. The court denied that motion because plaintiffs had not made the required clear showing of imminent, irreparable harm. The ruling allows the authorized construction to proceed while the litigation continues. Defense officials have identified the Stibnite project as the only domestic mine source capable of producing antimony in sufficient quantities to meet U.S. defense requirements in the near term. Over its life, the project is projected to produce roughly 115 million pounds of antimony, along with 4.2 million ounces of gold and 1.7 million ounces of silver. It will also reclaim a site disturbed by more than a century of historical mining, removing legacy mine tailings and restoring fish passage on the East Fork of the South Fork Salmon River. Attorneys with ENRD’s Natural Resources Section and Wildlife and Marine Resources Section, together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho, are handling this matter.


title: Member of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 19 ½ Years in Prison for Fentanyl Analogue Distribution and Money Laundering

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 234 months in prison and five years of supervised release for the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues and money laundering. According to court documents, Thomas Padovano, 52, of Newark, New Jersey, admitted that from approximately January 2014 through September 2020, he and other members of the drug trafficking organization agreed to import and distribute various controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl-related substances, methylone, and ketamine. Members of the conspiracy placed orders with a source in China and agreed to distribute, and did distribute, the controlled substances and analogues in New Jersey, both in bulk and in the form of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that contained fentanyl analogues. Padovano additionally admitted to having engaged in financial transactions aimed at concealing the origin and true ownership of more than $300,000 in drug proceeds. “Mr. Padovano led a drug trafficking organization that imported and distributed massive amounts of dangerous opioids in New Jersey, and then he laundered the profits,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These illegal narcotics destroy families and wreak havoc in the community. The Criminal Division will actively pursue offenders who distribute such poison in our neighborhoods.” “Today’s sentence sends an important reminder: those who profit from trafficking deadly drugs and laundering the proceeds of their crimes will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “For years, Padovano helped lead an organization responsible for distributing massive quantities of fentanyl analogues and other dangerous controlled substances in New Jersey. This sentence — nearly twenty years in prison — reflects the devastating harm caused by that conduct and our office’s unwavering commitment to dismantling the organizations that fuel the illegal drug trade.” “Padovano is behind bars for his direct role in unleashing the deadly scourge of fentanyl across America,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark Field Division. “This decisive outcome underscores HSI Newark’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and our relentless pursuit of justice alongside our law enforcement partners.” The Newark Field Division of HSI led the investigation, with assistance from HSI in Philadelphia, the FBI Newark Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Newark Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New Jersey, New York and Kentucky, the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Chief Stephen Sola of the Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Hasapidis-Sferra for the District of New Jersey. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.


title: Navajo Nation Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Navajo Nation woman pleaded guilty to shooting and seriously injuring a man in 2024. According to court documents, on November 17, 2024, Beverleta Tayah , 54, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted John Doe at a residence on the Navajo Nation after she armed herself with a handgun and shot John Doe in the chest causing serious bodily injury. Tayah pleaded guilty to two federal felony offenses—Assault resulting in serious bodily injury and Assault with a dangerous weapon, each of which carries up to 10 years in prison at sentencing. Tayah will also be subject to up to three years of supervised release following any prison sentence, as well as victim restitution for monetary expenses encountered by the victim that are directly related to Tayah ’s criminality. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Time Served For Immigration Offense

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Luis Alfredo Meneses-Silva, 35 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Luis Alfredo Meneses-Silva was sentenced to time served followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term will go into effect if Meneses-Silva remains in, or returns to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings. “The Defendant does not believe our nation’s laws apply to him and has been previously removed twice from the United States in 2017. He also has prior convictions for public intoxication and interference with official acts. He needs to return home and not violate our nation’s borders again,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Wardrip.


title: Government Contractors Agree to Pay Over $3.6 Million to Settle False Claims Act and Contract Disputes Act Liability

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Officium Global LLC and Loyal Source Government Services LLC have agreed to pay a total of over $3.6 million resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and Contract Disputes Act, respectively. According to the settlement agreement, Officium Global allegedly submitted false or fraudulent claims for payment related to service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside contracts that were awarded between May 2017 and June 2018. During that period, Officium Global was allegedly awarded seven set-aside contracts to which it was not entitled because its management and daily business operations were not controlled by a service-disabled veteran. As stated in the settlement agreement, Officium Global submitted, or caused to be submitted, false certifications and statements representing it met all requirements to be a service-disabled veteran-owned small business when it did not. Officium Global will pay over $1.8 million as part of the settlement. Relatedly, Loyal Source Government Services allegedly violated the Contract Disputes Act by causing breaches of the seven contracts awarded to Officium Global, related to Officium Global’s representations that it met all requirements to be a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, when it did not. Loyal Source Government Services will pay over $1.8 million as part of the settlement. “Protecting the integrity of government contracts is a primary priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “This civil settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting service-disabled veteran and small-business grant programs.” “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by President Trump’s Small Business Administration, working with the Department of Justice and other federal law enforcement partners, to uncover misconduct in SBA’s contracting assistance programs and hold wrongdoers to account,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis. “This case demonstrates the VA OIG’s commitment to safeguarding programs designed to support legitimate service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Wentz with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Southeast Field Office. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue those who exploit VA programs and services.” The settlement concludes a lawsuit originally filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida by Relator Jeremy Lavin. Mr. Lavin sued under the qui tam , or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act permitting private citizens to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims and to share in the recovery. The Act also allows the United States to intervene and prosecute the action. The Relator will receive over $680,000.00 of the proceeds from the settlement with the Defendants. This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, and the Small Business Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Bloor led the investigation. The government’s action in this matter illustrates the emphasis on combating government contracting fraud, and one of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs OIG Hotline, at 1-800-488-8244. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Lavin v. Loyal Source Government Services, LLC et al. , Case No. 6:19-cv-958-ORL-41LRH. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims in that case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Two Mexican nationals indicted on cocaine charges

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Topeka returned an indictment charging two Mexican nationals with drug trafficking. According to court documents, Victor Alfonso Martinez-Hernandez, 36, and Cesar Alejandro Madrid-Candelas, 19, were each indicted on one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Martinez-Hernandez and Madrid-Candelas are accused of possessing cocaine on May 20, 2026, with the intention of distributing it. Both defendants are from the City of Juarez in Mexico. The Wichita Police Department is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Patricia Rodriguez-Chavez, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case. 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: Deadly Drug Trafficking Case in Del Rio Leads to Arrests of 2 Californians

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – Two Californians made their initial appearances in Del Rio for a number of drug-related charges including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and Xanax resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to an indictment filed April 22, Bertha Alisia Romo, 30, of Colton, and Rhemi Raymond Hernandez, 25, of Fontana, possessed and distributed at least 50 grams of Dihydrohydroxycodeinone, also known as oxycodone, and at least one kilogram of Alprazolam, otherwise known as Xanax, both of which resulted in the death of a purchaser. The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began in February 2023 and continued through the date of indictment. Also during the timeframe outlined in the indictment, Romo and Hernandez allegedly conspired to possess and distribute 500 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. They were arrested in California on April 30 and first appeared before a magistrate judge in the Central District of California before being transferred to the Western District of Texas. Romo and Hernandez are both charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone resulting in death; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Xanax resulting in death; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. If convicted, Romo and Hernandez face up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Warsame Galaydh is prosecuting the case. 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: Federal Correctional Officer Sentenced to Prison for Receiving a Bribe

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Karen Torres (50, St. Cloud) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber to one year and one day in federal prison for receiving a bribe as a public official. As part of her sentence, Torres is required to forfeit $43,550 to the United States, which represents the proceeds of her criminal offense. She pleaded guilty on February 4, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, Torres was a public official employed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, as a correctional officer. She worked at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County. Between May 2022 and March 3, 2025, Torres introduced contraband (marijuana, cigarettes, and K2) into FCC Coleman in exchange for $43,550 in bribes from inmates. This case was investigated by the United States Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.


title: Justice Department Secures Ruling to Allow Montana Vegetation Management Project to Proceed

body_text: Last week, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana upheld the Forest Service’s Mud Creek Project in the Bitterroot National Forest in southwest Montana. Continuing over the course of several years, the project will reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire affecting nearby communities through prescribed burns and other noncommercial fuel reduction treatments and by providing up to 13,700 acres of commercial timber harvest. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and Ravalli County, Montana, joined the federal government in the case to defend the project. In upholding the project, the district court ruled that it complied with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA). The court found 1) that the Forest Service has adequately considered the project’s potential effects on carbon stocks in the forest; 2) that the NFMA claim was procedurally barred and even if it were not, that it would not prevent the project from going forward because no forest stands from old growth status will be removed; and 3) that the project has sufficient mitigation measures to offset impacts to species listed under the ESA. The decision is subject to appeal in the Ninth Circuit. “Responsible forest management prevents wildfires, saves lives, produces timber we need to increase the supply of housing, and makes homes more affordable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Environment and Natural Resources Division is successfully combating efforts to weaponize procedural statutes against the responsible use of America’s vast natural resources. The District Court rightly held that the Forest Service’s assessment of environmental effects for a forest can apply to a particular project within that forest.” In March 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order to expand American timber production. One of the purposes of the executive order is to save American lives and communities through forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects. Senior Trial Attorney Shaun Pettigrew of ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled the case, with support from the Wildlife and Marine Resources Section.


title: Ohio Resident Pleads Guilty to Car Theft Conspiracy

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Souleymane Kah, 36, of Westerville, Ohio, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge to conspiracy and other charges arising from a scheme to steal and sell more than 20 rental cars. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in November of last year. As detailed in court filings and statements, from about December 2020 to December 2021, Kah and others conspired to rent vehicles from car rental companies throughout central and eastern United States by fraudulent means, transport the vehicles in interstate commerce, and sell the stolen vehicles to various purchasers, who then exported the vehicles overseas. Kah and others would rent the cars by obtaining and using genuine driver’s licenses belonging to third parties, who were not aware their licenses were being used for the scheme, or by causing fake driver’s licenses to be created and used. The defendant and co-conspirators frequently transported, and caused to be transported, the stolen vehicles across state lines to facilitate their sale. They received payment for the stolen vehicles by various means, including cash, electronic payments via money transfer apps, and in the form of a luxury vehicle. Kah is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22 and faces a maximum possible term of 25 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan Claiborne Bisio and Kara Traster.


title: Louisville Man and Nicholasville Woman Sentenced to  15 Years in Federal Prison for Online Enticement of Minors

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Jefferson County, KY –A Jefferson County man and a Nicholasville woman were sentenced on May 28, 2026, for attempted online enticement of minors. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. Charles O’Loan, 40, and Amber Warner, 36, were sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for one count of attempted online enticement of minors. The Court ordered O’Loan and Warner to pay $6,000 in restitution to the two victims. On or between January 11, 2024, and May 30, 2025, O’Loan and Warner communicated with each other to coordinate a plan to sexually assault Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2. O’Loan and Warner exchanged messages via their cell phones, to discuss their plans to engage in illegal sexual acts with the minor victims. O’Loan and Warner used grooming tactics as well as exchanged sexually suggestive videos with each other that depicted the minor victims. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “These defendants coordinated to sexually assault two minor victims. Their conduct is disgusting. Louisville is better for 15 years while they reside in federal prison.” There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by FBI and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Yannelli prosecuted 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” ###


title: Second Rikers Island Correction Officer Pleads Guilty To Making False Statements To Obtain Workers’ Compensation Benefits

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that JOVANNY CONCEPCION pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman to making false statements relating to healthcare matters in connection with use of force incidents that took place within Rikers Island. “As he has now admitted, Jovanny Concepcion fraudulently received hundreds of thousands of dollars from New York City taxpayers by falsely claiming injuries following incidents where force was used against an incarcerated person,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers pay way too much for government services. Our Office will continue to hold accountable those who violate public trust, especially when at the expense of personal liberties and taxpayer dollars.” According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court: The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (the “Board”) administers New York State’s no-fault workers’ compensation system, which guarantees medical care and cash benefits to people who are injured at work, including employees of the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”). Payments by the Board made to DOC employees are paid from the New York City Treasury. For years, CONCEPCION was employed by the DOC as a correction officer and was assigned to work at Rikers Island. During that time, CONCEPCION falsely claimed that he was injured while on duty at Rikers Island during incidents with incarcerated individuals requiring the use of force. In total, CONCEPCION received at least $232,427.97 in benefits to which he was not entitled. * * * CONCEPCION, 34, of New York, pled guilty to one count of making false statements related to health care matters, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. CONCEPCION is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Office of Inspector General, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit and the Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Sanford Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Terrence Denard Perkins (46, Sanford) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to 25 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The court also ordered Perkins to forfeit hundreds of rounds of ammunition and more than a dozen firearms, including AR-style rifles, handguns, and a machinegun. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. Perkins was found guilty by a federal jury on November 20, 2025. According to court documents and testimony and evidence presented at trial, agents with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office’s City/County Investigative Bureau (CCIB) were conducting a narcotics investigation when they learned of a planned narcotics robbery at Perkins’ stash house in a residential Sanford neighborhood. The agents obtained and executed a search warrant that same day for the stash house, which was occupied by Perkins’s elderly stepfather. Inside the house, agents located an electronic money counter, revolvers, and a loaded AR-15 semiautomatic rifle concealed behind a sofa cushion. In a backyard carport, agents located bags of cocaine along with a cocaine cutting, packaging, and distribution station. Next to the packaging station, on the hood of Perkins’s vehicle, was another loaded AR-15 and a MAC-10 handgun wrapped up in a t-shirt. Hidden inside one broken down car in the backyard, agents recovered more AR-15s, handguns, an AK-47 rifle, a machinegun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Inside another broken down car, positioned just outside the elderly stepfather’s bedroom window, agents located Perkins’s cocaine inventory—18 sealed and stamped kilogram bricks of cocaine. Through their subsequent investigation, federal and state agents and investigators uncovered witnesses, financial records, DNA evidence, videos saved on Perkins’s stash house surveillance system, and Perkins’s own social media posts which showed that Perkins has been trafficking and distributing kilogram-quantities of cocaine in Sanford for years using cartel-linked suppliers. Bricks of cocaine, firearms, and cocaine trafficking paraphernalia seized from Perkins’s house Perkins is a seven-time convicted felon, including convictions for conspiracy to traffic cocaine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and aggravating fleeing and eluding. “Central Florida residents are much safer with violent criminals like this individual behind bars,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Harrell. “This complex investigation is a direct result of the outstanding collaboration between the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office City County Investigative Bureau, the DEA and federal prosecutors.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office’s City County Investigative Bureau (CCIB), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Richard Varadan and Michael P. Felicetta.


title: United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida Supports Career Closets Through Freedom 250 Charity Drive

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – In celebration of Freedom 250 and America’s upcoming 250th birthday, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida proudly conducted a charitable donation drive to support local Career Closets charities throughout the district. In total, nearly 180 articles of professional attire were donated in Tallahassee and Pensacola. The Freedom 250 Charity Drive was organized as an opportunity for employees to give back to their communities while honoring the spirit of service, opportunity, and unity that defines our nation. Staff members across the district generously donated professional clothing, accessories, and workplace essentials to help individuals preparing to enter or re-enter the workforce. This year’s donations will benefit the Florida State University Professional Clothing Closet and the Pensacola State College PIRATE’s Care Career Closet . These programs provide professional attire and support resources to students preparing for interviews, internships, and employment opportunities, helping build confidence and remove barriers to career success. “The generosity shown by our employees reflects the ongoing commitment to public service and community engagement by the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. “As we celebrate Freedom 250 and America’s birthday, we are proud to support organizations that empower individuals and strengthen our communities.” Career Closets provides professional attire and resources to students and job seekers, helping individuals build confidence and prepare for interviews, internships, and employment opportunities. The donations collected through the drive will directly support members of the local communities that serve throughout North Florida. United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Two Defendants Convicted Of Engaging In A Massive Enterprise To Distribute Fake Pharmaceuticals Online That Resulted In Death

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that FRANCISCO ALBERTO LOPEZ REYES, a/k/a “Frank,” and EDWARD EUSTATE JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Chino,” were found guilty by a jury following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. LOPEZ REYES was convicted of being a principal administrator of a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, narcotics distribution, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. EUSTATE JIMENEZ was convicted of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and narcotics distribution. The defendants’ conspiracy was responsible for sending fake pharmaceutical pills that actually contained fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, which killed a victim. “A unanimous jury found that Francisco Alberto Lopez Reyes and one of his deputies, Edward Eustate Jimenez, ran a massive, predatory scheme to distribute pills containing fentanyl and other drugs through fake online pharmacies, including pills that tragically killed a United States Army veteran in February 2024,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “For years, Lopez Reyes was a one-man opioid crisis, duping thousands of victims by distributing millions of pills through the mail from what he thought was the safety of his home in the Dominican Republic. The pills were designed to look like real pharmaceuticals, but they actually contained deadly fentanyl and other controlled substances. The scale of Lopez Reyes’s distribution is staggering, as is the scale of the harm his shipments brought to our communities. A jury has now confirmed what New Yorkers know: if you deal in fentanyl, you deal in death.” As established during trial: For at least two and a half years, LOPEZ REYES ran an enterprise that distributed pills containing fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances via sales through purported online pharmacies. The pills LOPEZ REYES and his co-conspirators, including EUSTATE JIMENEZ, distributed were dyed, shaped, and designed to look indistinguishable from the prescription medications they were marketed as, including oxycodone and Adderall. The pills were shipped to thousands of victims in all 50 U.S. states. In order to manufacture the pills, from his home in the Dominican Republic, LOPEZ REYES oversaw a series of pill mills—or industrial scale pill-pressing facilities—located primarily in the basements of residential buildings in the Bronx and Washington Heights. In those mills, deputies working at LOPEZ REYES’s direction oversaw workers who mixed controlled substances with inert powders and dyes and then pressed those powders into millions of pills shaped and imprinted to match the design of the legitimate pharmaceuticals the purported online pharmacies had represented them to be. LOPEZ REYES’s deputies then transferred the pills to other members of the conspiracy—including EUSTATE JIMENEZ—for shipment to customers. LOPEZ REYES sent the shippers lists of customer orders and corresponding addresses. Those lists and other records maintained by the enterprise reveal shipments of more than one million pills to victims over a two-and-a-half year period. In addition, law enforcement officers seized another approximately 650,000 pills during the course of searches of mills and stash houses maintained by the enterprise. The drugs the defendants shipped were not only dangerous, but deadly. On February 25, 2024, a 45-year-old, female veteran of the United States Army (“Victim-1”) died of acute fentanyl intoxication after taking pills purchased from one of the enterprise’s pharmacies. Although Victim-1 had ordered oxycodone, what she actually received were round, blue pills marked with an “M” on one side and a “30” on the other that were merely designed to look like oxycodone. In actuality, the pills Victim-1 received contained the lethal mix of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl that resulted in her death five days after their arrival through the mail on her doorstep. * * * LOPEZ REYES, 46, of the Dominican Republic, was convicted of: (i) continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; (ii) conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; (iii) distribution of narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and (iv) conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. EUSTATE JIMENEZ, 24, of Washington Heights, New York, was convicted of: (i) conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison, and (ii) distribution of narcotics, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the Homeland Security Task Force, International Narcotics and Money Laundering within the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), which is comprised of law enforcement officers and investigators from the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office; Groups D-21 and D-25 of the New York Enforcement Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”); the Homeland Security Task Force, Seaport Contraband of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), New York Division, Contraband, Interdiction & Investigations Task Force, comprised of members from USPIS, NYPD Criminal Enterprise Investigations Section, and Customs and Border Protection; the Internal Revenue Service; and the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, HSI Santo Domingo, the DEA Dominican Republic Country Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service Dominican Republic Foreign Field Office for their assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Dominican authorities in securing Lopez Reyes’s arrest and 2024 extradition. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Cheng, Maggie Lynaugh, Chelsea Scism, and Adam Sowlati, as well as paralegal specialists Danielle Escamilla, Sophie Keegan, and Juan Munoz, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Osceola Man Sentenced to Nearly Two Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Levelle Joseph Harris (40, Kissimmee) has been sentenced by Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II to 21 months in federal prison for wire fraud. As part of his sentence, Harris is required to forfeit $640,911.85 to the United States, which represents the total amount of proceeds obtained by Harris from his scheme. Harris pleaded guilty on July 30, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, Harris committed COVID relief fraud in 2020 by fraudulently obtaining $1,283,029.81 in COVID relief funds. He used some of the funds to purchase a residential property. Harris was prosecuted for that conduct and ultimately convicted of 14 counts of wire fraud. When the United States sought the forfeiture of the residential property Harris had purchased with the stolen COVID relief funds, Harris sold the property and gave the proceeds to the United States. The sale, however, was unlawful. Investigators determined that between February 2022 and January 2023, Harris had devised a separate scheme to avoid paying his criminal forfeiture in the COVID relief fraud case. As part of that scheme, Harris obtained a mortgage through false representations and then used the proceeds to purchase the residential property and pay his criminal forfeiture. Through Harris’s mortgage fraud scheme, he fraudulently obtained a total of $640,911.85. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole M. Andrejko. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Ponchatoula Man Guilty Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – ROBERT HINES (“HINES”), age 47 of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, plead guilty on May 28, 2026, to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act before United States District Judge Barry Ashe, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. HINES pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 3, and 4 of a superseding indictment. Count One of the superseding indictment charged him with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, over 40 grams of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. Count Three charged him with knowingly using a telephone in committing the commission of a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 843(b) and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2. Count Four charged him with possession with intent to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). For Counts 1 and 4, HINES faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years and up to 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and at least 4 years of supervised release following imprisonment. For Count 3, HINES faces up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years supervised release following imprisonment. For each count, HINES also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court records, HINES conspired with co-defendants to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl in the Eastern District of Louisiana. An investigation revealed that, HINES discussed ordering fentanyl from his suppliers on multiple occasions. After observing HINES meet with his supplier, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of HINES and observed HINES throw fentanyl pills out of his car window. Law enforcement recovered the pills, and they tested positive for 341 grams of fentanyl. United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Hammond Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and Lauren Sarver of the Narcotics Unit. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Lexington County Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brittany Nicole Miles, 37, of Lexington, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department utilized a confidential informant to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine and a firearm from Miles. Miles agreed to sell approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine and a firearm to the informant. Miles directed the informant to meet her at her public storage unit in West Columbia. The informant arrived and Miles and her co-defendant arrived a short time later. Upon arriving, Miles provided the informant with 2 ounces of methamphetamine and a gun. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Miles to 60 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Miles will begin to serve her federal sentence after she is released from serving a state sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Convicted Felon Indicted for Gun & Drug Possession in Pensacola

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – EP Hall, 42, has been indicted in federal court for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a controlled substance. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Hall appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. Hall faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and up to three years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a controlled substance. The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Bronx Man Charged With Distributing Fentanyl That Caused The Fatal Overdoses Of Three Victims, Including A 12-Year-Old Child

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Task Force Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Christopher Roberts, and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging ARISTIDES CABRERA, a/k/a “Buddha,” with drug crimes resulting in the fatal poisoning of Alex DeFilippo and Kyla McCarthy on May 29, 2022. The Indictment previously charged CABRERA with drug crimes resulting in the fatal poisoning of a 12‑year-old child on June 28, 2022, and with having used, carried, and possessed firearms in connection with his drug trafficking crimes. On March 25, 2026, following the initial Indictment, CABRERA was brought into federal custody from New York State custody, where he had been serving state sentences for other firearm and drug crimes. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken. “As alleged, Cabrera’s drug dealing not only caused the death of a 12-year-old child but also the deaths of two adults,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This case shows: if you deal fentanyl, you’ve chosen to deal in death. And there is no place for you in New York.” “Today’s unsealing of a superseding indictment against Aristides Cabrera sends a clear and powerful message to those who continue to poison our communities with fentanyl and other illicit drugs: your day of reckoning is coming,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts. “This defendant’s alleged actions contributed to the tragic loss of three lives, including that of a young person whose future was senselessly stolen. The blatant and utter disregard for human life demonstrated in this case underscores the devastating toll drug traffickers inflict on our communities and families every day. Through the tireless work of our investigators and the close collaboration of our prosecutorial partners, we were able to pursue death-resulting charges that reflect the gravity of these allegations and the irreversible harm caused. While no investigation or prosecution can restore the lives lost, the DEA remains steadfast in its mission to ensure those responsible for fueling addiction, violence, and death are identified and brought to justice.” “Because of this defendant, three New Yorkers, including a 12-year-old child with disabilities, overdosed on drugs and lost their lives,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Despite knowing about these deaths, the defendant continued selling the same narcotics, showing a complete disregard for human life. This case is a devastating example of the danger fentanyl poses, especially when it is brought into a home with children. I thank the NYPD detectives, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, and our law enforcement partners for working to hold this criminal accountable.” As alleged in the Indictment and other public filings: From at least in or about November 2017 through in or about January 2024, CABRERA worked with others to sell, among other things, heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl in the Longwood neighborhood of the Bronx, New York. During a single-month span of that period, between on or about May 29, 2022, and on or about June 28, 2022, CABRERA’s drugs killed three people, including a 12-year-old boy with a history of autism spectrum disorder who had been residing with CABRERA and others in his Bronx apartment. Despite knowing about these deaths, CABRERA continued selling the same drugs, including during a later period in which he was detained at a state correctional facility. CABRERA led his drug trafficking operation, in part, from his Bronx apartment, where he stored firearms and significant quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, a deadly fentanyl analogue. CABRERA stored narcotics, including fentanyl-laced pills, in multiple locations in his apartment, including in a safe where he also kept firearms. CABRERA typically met and sold drugs to customers in the immediate vicinity of his apartment. On or about May 29, 2022, CABRERA met with and sold drugs to Alex DeFilippo (also identified in the Indictment as Victim-1) and a relative of DeFilippo. CABRERA knew DeFilippo and had previously engaged in narcotics transactions with him. CABRERA also previously discussed drug sales with DeFilippo’s intimate partner, Kyla McCarthy (also identified in the Indictment as Victim-2). After purchasing CABRERA’s drugs, DeFilippo returned to McCarthy’s apartment. Shortly thereafter that same day, McCarthy’s cellphone was used to conduct three internet searches, all of which related to the use of naloxone (commonly known as Narcan), a nasal spray used to reverse the deadly effects of overdoses from opioids like fentanyl. Approximately eighteen hours later, at the request of one of McCarthy’s family members, NYPD officers responded to the apartment to conduct a wellness check. Inside, NYPD officers discovered DeFilippo and McCarthy, both of whom had died after ingesting the fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl sold to them by CABRERA. One unused dose of Narcan was found at McCarthy’s feet. Less than a month after the fatal overdoses of DeFilippo and McCarthy, on or about June 28, 2022, at CABRERA’s apartment, a 12-year-old boy was found by a family member in his bed unresponsive and foaming at the mouth. The boy was transported to a Bronx County hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. * * * CABRERA, 35, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and three counts of distribution of narcotics resulting in death, all of which crimes carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. CABRERA is also charged with firearms use, carrying, and possession in connection with his drug trafficking crimes, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, DEA, and Drug Enforcement Task Force Division, as well as Special Agents, Task Force Officers, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for its assistance in the case. The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley C. Nicolas, Benjamin M. Burkett, Dana R. McCann, Lisa Daniels, and Amanda C. Weingarten are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Fugitive Who Stole Dead Man’s Identity for Four Decades Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A fugitive who lived for more than 40 years under the stolen identity of a deceased Arkansas man pleaded guilty to federal identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses. According to court documents, Stephen Craig Campbell , 73, assumed the identity of Walter Lee Coffman, who died in 1975 at the age of 22, just months after graduating from the University of Arkansas with an engineering degree in the early 1980s. Campbell first applied for a U.S. passport in Coffman’s name in 1984 and renewed it multiple times, always submitting his own photograph and current address. In 1995, he obtained a replacement Social Security card in Coffman’s name. Around 2003, he purchased property in Weed, New Mexico, under Coffman’s identity and continued renewing the fraudulent passport in 2005 and 2015. On September 4, 2019, Campbell knowingly presented a fraudulent U.S. passport bearing the name “Walter Coffman” to a New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division employee in Cloudcroft. He used the passport to renew a New Mexico driver’s license in Coffman’s name, knowing it was not legitimate. He continued to possess the fraudulent passport until it was seized on February 19, 2025. Campbell also admitted that he knowingly possessed a Social Security card not lawfully issued to him with the intent to defraud the United States. In 1992, he contacted the Social Security Administration in an attempt to remove Coffman’s death record. On October 15, 1995, he fraudulently applied for and received a replacement Social Security card in Coffman’s name. Using this identity, he applied for and received Social Security Title II Retirement Insurance Benefits beginning in 2015, ultimately receiving approximately $140,000 in fraudulent government benefits. On February 19, 2025, during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Weed, New Mexico, Campbell was in possession of a loaded rifle. He eventually set the weapon down after repeated commands from law enforcement. A search of the property recovered a total of 57 firearms and a large quantity of ammunition. Campbell acknowledged he was a fugitive from justice at the time and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. Campbell has an outstanding 1983 warrant from Wyoming for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Attempted First-Degree Murder. In 1982, he allegedly planted an explosive device at the home of his estranged wife’s boyfriend. The device detonated when his wife opened it, causing her to lose a finger and suffer additional injuries, while also starting a fire that damaged the residence and a neighboring unit. Campbell was arrested on February 19, 2025, after a standoff in which he was observed armed and partially concealed. He had been on the U.S. Marshals Most Wanted List for over 40 years. Campbell pleaded guilty to misuse of a passport, possession of false papers to defraud U.S., aggravated identity theft, and being a fugitive from justice in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He faces 12 years in prison at sentencing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the SSA OIG Emma Boston made the announcement today. This case was co-investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. It was originally initiated by the Diplomatic Security’s El Paso Resident Office and the National Passport Center’s Fraud Prevention Unit. Enforcement assistance was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, as well as the Otero County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara Nevarez Cobos.


title: Marion County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Jimmy Deon Lofton (46, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, on July 1, 2025, the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) executed a search warrant on Lofton’s residence where agents located numerous controlled substances including approximately 173 grams of fentanyl, 31 grams of methamphetamine, 260 grams of MDMA, and over 1,000 grams of cocaine. Some of the substances were buried in an ammunition can in the backyard. Agents also obtained a search warrant for a home security DVR system Lofton had installed at the home. The DVR system revealed numerous videos of Lofton packaging and dealing controlled substances at the residence. This case was investigated by the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Laboratory Executives, Marketers, and Physician to Pay Over $2M to Settle Allegations of Illegal Kickbacks to Doctors

component: Civil Division

body_text: Former laboratory CEO Susan Hertzberg, of New York, and former laboratory sales executive Matthew Theiler, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, have agreed to pay $1.2 million to resolve False Claims Act litigation with the United States alleging illegal payments to doctors for laboratory referrals in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. One doctor — Frederick Brown, of Missouri City, Texas — and six marketers — Thomas Gray Hardaway, of San Antonio, Texas; William Todd Hickman, of Anna, Texas; and Ginny Jacobs, Scott Jacobs, S&G Staffing LLC, and Jacobs Marketing Inc., all of Magnolia, Texas — have agreed to pay an additional $859,055 to settle the United States’ laboratory kickback allegations against them in the case. With these settlements, the Department of Justice has secured over $61 million in civil False Claims Act settlements since 2019 for kickbacks to healthcare providers disguised as managed service organization (MSO) investment distributions, including recoveries from over 50 physicians. “The Department of Justice is committed to rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse in federally funded healthcare programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Kickback schemes can waste taxpayer dollars, erode healthcare providers’ medical judgment, and result in patients being subjected to unnecessary medical treatments.” “Nearly every working American took time recently to pay their federal taxes. As we did so, we all hoped that our money was being used wisely, and we trusted that systems were in place to prevent the types of fraud and kickback schemes that this case uncovered,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “In the Eastern District of Texas, we mean to deliver on the promise of the President, the Vice President, and Acting Attorney General to aggressively combat the fraudulent use of tax dollars. The settlements today, along with the criminal convictions in the related case, show that we are delivering on that promise.” “Today’s settlement demonstrates that violations of the Anti‑Kickback Statute, such as alleged here, can undermine clinical judgment and erode trust in the health care system,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “HHS‑OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to make sure that anyone who uses kickbacks to compromise the integrity of medical decision‑making and generate unnecessary services is held accountable.” “By disrupting fraud and misconduct of this nature, we help to ensure TRICARE, the uniformed services’ primary health care program, is better positioned to deliver critical care to the warfighter,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southwest Field Office. “This result demonstrates the commitment of DCIS and our investigative partners to aggressively pursue those who seek to betray the American taxpayer and undermine our military’s healthcare system.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs. It seeks to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. Susan Hertzberg — the former CEO of Boston Heart Diagnostics Corporation (Boston Heart), a laboratory in Framingham, Massachusetts — agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve allegations that she caused false claims for laboratory testing to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE from 2015 to 2017. Likewise, Theiler, Boston Heart’s former VP of Sales, also agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve allegations that he caused false claims for laboratory testing to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE from 2015 to 2017. Hertzberg and Theiler allegedly agreed to a kickback scheme in which marketers, including Boston Heart’s own employees, offered and paid doctors kickbacks disguised as MSO distributions to induce the doctors’ referrals to Texas hospitals for laboratory testing performed by Boston Heart, including medically unnecessary testing. Hertzberg and Theiler allegedly knew that marketers using MSOs were recruiting doctors to order testing performed by Boston Heart for a hospital in Texas and were given a “strong recommendation” to “reel this in” and “stand down on all hospitals,” particularly in Texas. Nevertheless, Hertzberg allegedly approved, and Theiler allegedly implemented, an expansion of the Texas hospital arrangement to another hospital to continue working with many of the same marketers. In addition, the settlements announced today resolve the United States’ allegations in the lawsuit that Dr. Brown solicited and received kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute from laboratory marketers’ purported MSOs in return for laboratory testing referrals. Dr. Brown agreed to pay $309,055 to resolve allegations that from November 2015 to November 2017, he received thousands of dollars in payments from two purported MSOs, Ascend MSO of TX LLC and Indus MG LLC, in return for ordering laboratory tests from Little River Healthcare, a critical access hospital in Rockdale, Texas, and True Health Diagnostics LLC, a clinical laboratory in Frisco, Texas. Lastly, the following marketers and their associated entities agreed to pay a total of $550,000 to resolve the United States’ allegations in the civil litigation that they paid kickbacks disguised as MSO payments to doctors to induce the doctors’ laboratory testing referrals: Former MSO owner William Todd Hickman; Thomas Gray Hardaway, a former Boston Heart sales representative and co-owner of Texas marketing company LGRB Management Services LLC; and Ginny Jacobs and Scott Jacobs, co-owners of Texas marketing companies S&G Staffing LLC and Jacobs Marketing Inc. Hickman’s civil settlement amount was based on his ability to pay. The civil settlement amounts that Hertzberg, Theiler, Dr. Brown, Hickman, and Hardaway agreed to pay were in addition to amounts they were ordered to pay in a criminal proceeding captioned United States v. Susan Hertzberg, et al. , No. 6:22-cr-3-JDK (E.D. Tex.). The settlements announced today were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, with assistance from HHS-OIG and DCIS. They were handled by attorneys Christopher Terranova and Gavin Thole in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Gillingham and Betty Young in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of civil liability. Note : View the Hertzberg Settlement here , Theiler Settlement here , Brown Settlement here , Hardaway Settlement here , Hickman Settlement here , and Jacobs Settlement here .


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Recognizes FBI Special Agent Bobby Gutierrez as the Freedom 250 Hometown Hero

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is proud to announce FBI Special Agent Bobby Gutierrez as the Freedom 250 Hometown Hero. The prestigious national award honors individuals whose steadfast courage, generosity, and public service embody the enduring ideals of liberty and civic responsibility. The Freedom 250 initiative was created in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. It recognizes outstanding Americans who make lasting contributions to their local communities. SA Gutierrez was selected as the District of Oregon’s Hometown Hero because of his leadership, collaboration, and dedication to the joint downtown fentanyl enforcement missions. For the past two years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Portland Police Bureau have targeted fentanyl dealers in Portland, Oregon. SA Gutierrez works closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat the scourge of fentanyl. He has helped coordinate dozens of investigations focused on fentanyl distributors in downtown Portland. Through his leadership, nearly 100 fentanyl distributors have been federally charged for their unlawful conduct. “As we celebrate America’s 250 th birthday, I am honored to present Special Agent Gutierrez as Oregon’s Hometown Hero. Special Agent Gutierrez’s dedication, selfless service, and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Two years ago, Portland had notorious open-air drug markets, rising crime, and frequent overdoses. Thanks to Special Agent Gutierrez’s efforts, dedication, and coordination with local, county, and state partners, we are reducing fentanyl trafficking, violent crime, and overdoses downtown.” SA Gutierrez has proven to be a tireless investigator and steadfast partner in our efforts to restore downtown Portland to a safe and vibrant community. For more information on the award and the Freedom 250 initiative, visit the Department of Justice news page or White House Freedom 250 Page .


title: Brooklyn Man Charged with Threatening to Assault and Murder ICE Officer and His Family

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A Brooklyn man was charged today with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officer outside an ICE detention facility. Nicholas Matthew Scelfo, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested for influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat. Scelfo is scheduled to appear today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Newark federal court. “Federal law enforcement officers face danger with great courage, and they should be able to do their jobs without being threatened and fearing for their families’ lives,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We take such threats very seriously and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.” “This individual allegedly threatened violence toward one of our federal law enforcement officers and their family — and by using facial recognition technology, within 24 hours this FBI got him,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “In particular, I want to thank Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche who moved extremely quickly to locate, pursue, and bring the subject to justice — as well as our FBI Newark and New York teams who executed brilliantly. Let this be a message to any criminal actor who may try something similar: you touch a cop, and this FBI will put you down.” “This violent rioter who allegedly threatened to murder an ICE law enforcement officer and his family is being brought to justice,” said Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “Our ICE officers are facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists. Our officers have been assaulted, doxxed, their families threatened. This violence against law enforcement must end. President Trump and I will always stand with our law enforcement officers.” “As alleged, the defendant threatened a federal law enforcement officer and members of that officer’s family with violence and death,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “Threats against federal officers and their families are serious crimes and will not be tolerated. Federal officers serve our communities every day, often in difficult circumstances, and this office is committed to holding accountable those who, as alleged here, threaten violence against them or their loved ones.” “There is no place for the violent threats Scelfo allegedly screamed at law enforcement. Instead of protesting peacefully, there are groups and individuals targeting federal law enforcement agents who are carrying out their duties,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy for the Newark Field Office. “We will follow the law and hold anyone who chooses to break the law accountable.” “Calling for the murder of a federal law enforcement officer and his family is not speech safeguarded by the Constitution; it is a grave criminal offense that will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark. “Homeland Security Investigations remains resolute in ensuring that individuals who threaten or attack law enforcement face the full force of the law. We are grateful to our partners at the FBI for their outstanding work in helping us identify and locate this defendant so he can face justice.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, on or about May 27, during a demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, Scelfo threatened to assault and murder an ICE officer. According to a video posted to social media and other evidence obtained by law enforcement, Scelfo screamed toward the ICE officer: “I’ll kill your whole f------ family! Your whole f------ family is dead! Your children, your wife, all dead! I have your face, motherf-----! You’re dead! Dead!” During an interview with law enforcement after his arrest on or about May 29, Scelfo admitted to threatening to kill an officer and his family at the demonstration and that he later saw in the media a video of him making statements to law enforcement at the demonstration. If convicted, the threat charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI and task force officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, HSI Newark, and the New York Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camila A. Garces and Casey S. Smith for the District of New Jersey are prosecuting the case. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Sexually Exploiting Several Minors

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for more than two decades for committing child sex abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Isaiah Poole, 25, of Suitland, to 25 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for one count of producing child sexual abuse material. The charge is in connection with a sextortion scheme in which Poole met and sextorted young girls through social media platforms. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. According to court documents, Poole used Snapchat and other social media accounts to manipulate and coerce at least six girls — ranging from ages 9-14 — to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves. Poole, who pretended he was a teenage girl, manipulated the minor victims into producing and sending him sexually explicit images, often under the ruse of playing truth or dare. He also directed the minors to expose their genital areas and engage in sexual conduct. After some victims informed Poole that they no longer wished to send him sexually explicit images, he threatened to send the images to their families and friends if they did not continue to produce content. Additionally, Poole distributed the sexually explicit images he received from two minors. This case is 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 justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation, along with the Maryland State Police and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Treiger and Brooke Oki who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to SNAP and Social Security Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON - A Dominican national, unlawfully residing in Boston, has pleaded guilty in federal court to fraud and Social Security offenses. Victor Suazo Reynoso, 69, pleaded guilty on May 27, 2026 to illegal acquisition of supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026. Reynoso was charged and arrested in March 2026. Reynoso used the name, birthdate and Social Security number of a United States citizen to apply for and receive a Massachusetts driver’s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits. SNAP is a federal program administered by the states that provides funds for low-income individuals and families to purchase food. The charge of illegal acquisition of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250000, as well as restitution. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Hometown Hero Award Presentation

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: EDNC proudly honored its Hometown Hero during a special celebration ceremony, recognizing his outstanding achievements, dedication, and the positive impact made in our community. Thank you for representing our hometown with excellence.