title: Former CEO who Stole Over $600,000 Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A former Chief Executive Officer of a telecommunications provider in the Northern District of Iowa, who stole over $600,000, was sentenced on September 18, 2025, to more than three years in federal prison. Anthony James Lang, age 42, a resident of Jesup, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 9, 2025 guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. From January 2017 through January 2023, Lang devised and executed a scheme to defraud his employer, a telecommunication and internet service provider. At the time of the scheme, Lang was the CEO of the company and had access to their books and accounts. Over a six-year time period, Lang stole over $600,000 from the company. At sentencing, Chief Judge C.J. Williams described Lang’s conduct as the product of greed and waste. Lang was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Lang was sentenced to 38 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $662,736.00 in restitution. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Lang was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 2025-CR-2017. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Attorney Tom Albus Welcomes New Citizens at the Old Courthouse in St Louis

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. Attorney Tom Albus on Friday welcomed 29 new citizens from 19 different countries at a naturalization ceremony at the historic Old Courthouse in St. Louis. Rachel Marshall At the ceremonies, which are held dozens of time a year in and around St. Louis, new citizens take their oath and receive their Certificate of Citizenship. The U.S. attorney or an assistant U.S. attorney acts as the naturalization examiner. For more information about becoming a citizen, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at www.uscis.gov . For information about the ceremonies, click here .


title: District of Arizona Charges 274 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from September 13, 2025, through September 19, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 274 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 108 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 150 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 12 cases against 15 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement is a key part of border vigilance, and prosecutors also charged 1 individual for assaulting a federal officer. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Jessica Isabel Perez : On September 12, 2025, Jessica Isabel Perez crossed into the United States through the San Luis Port of Entry with two children. One of the children was Perez's 17-year-old daughter, who is a United States citizen, and the other was a six-year-old that Perez claimed to be her son. Perez presented a birth certificate for the six-year-old, which was inconsistent with the identity of the child she was presenting for entry. The child also appeared drowsy and could not keep his eyes open. At secondary inspection, agents observed that the child was struggling to walk and stumbling from side to side. Agents also located extra strength Tylenol PM inside the vehicle with two pills missing. Upon further investigation, agents learned that Perez had traveled to Mexico to pick up the child and bring him to the United States as a favor for someone. Perez was charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien, False Personation in Immigration Matters, and Aggravated Identity Theft. [Case Number: 25-MJ-01924] United States v. Juan Raul Angulo-Angulo : On September 15, 2025, Juan Raul Angulo-Angulo, a citizen of Mexico, was charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Bring an Alien into the United States Unlawfully and two counts of Bringing an Alien to the United States Unlawfully. On September 12, Border Patrol agents observed three subjects walking northbound in the remote desert approximately 20 miles south of Tacna, Arizona. Agents responded to the area and found Angulo-Angulo, who was wearing camouflage clothing and had carpet booties over his shoes. Agents also located two additional individuals who were wearing camouflage clothing and hiding in the nearby brush. All three subjects were determined to be citizens of Mexico without lawful authority to be in the United States, and agents learned that Angulo-Angulo was serving as the foot guide for the group. [Case Number: 25-MJ-01919] United States v. Edith Toledo, et al : On September 13, 2025, Edith Toledo, a citizen of the United States, crossed into the country through the San Luis Port of Entry with five passengers in her vehicle that she claimed to be her children and citizens of the United States. In support of this claim, Toledo provided five birth certificates and four Arizona identification cards. Three of the passengers were confirmed to be Toledo’s children and citizens of the United States, including two minors. However, the purported birth certificates for the remaining two passengers, Alfredo De La Cruz Gonzales and Reyna Lorenzo Chavez, were inconsistent with the people she was presenting for entry. At secondary, agents determined that De La Cruz and Chavez were citizens of Mexico without lawful authority to be in the United States. Agents also learned that De La Cruz coordinated with Toledo to smuggle himself and his wife, Chavez, from Mexico into the United States. Toledo and De La Cruz were charged with Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien, False Personation in Immigration Matters, and Aggravated Identity Theft. Chavez was charged with False Personation in Immigration Matters and Aggravated Identity Theft. [Case Number: 25-MJ-01923] 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-151_September 19 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 102 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 102 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On September 18, Ruben Castaneda, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found 15 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the spare tire well of Castaneda’s vehicle when he applied for entry into the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On September 18, Efrain Viveros Otero, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Viveros was intercepted by a Border Patrol agent while hiding near a bush about 1.5 miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, a half mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border. He had been previously deported in January through San Ysidro. Also recently, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here are a few of those cases: On September 18, Edgar Ramirez-Guzman, a Mexican national who was previously convicted twice for Inflicting Corporal Injury on Spouse (2013 and 2023) and being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm (2020), was sentenced in federal court to 12 months and 1 day of custody for attempting to enter the United States again after deportation. On September 19, Manuel Francisco Gallegos-Felix, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of conspiracy to possess narcotics with intent to distribute and found with 11 firearms (including a fully automatic machine gun located in his bedroom), was sentenced in federal court to 10 months in custody for again entering the U.S. illegally. On September 19, Andrew Aquarious Thomas, a United States citizen, was sentenced in federal court to 15 months in custody for importing 33 kilograms of methamphetamine into the United States from Mexico. On September 19, Erik Adrian Serveriano-Torres, a Mexican citizen who has seven prior immigration crimes, was sentenced in federal court to 19 months in custody for again entering the United States illegally. On September 19, Francisco Marvel Melchor Rosales, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of felony importation of methamphetamine in 2014, was sentenced to 140 days in custody for again entering the U.S. illegally. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. 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: Bogalusa Man with Multiple Prior Convictions Sentenced to Probation for federal Firearms Offense

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that OTRAVIOUS ROMEL HARRIS, SR. (“HARRIS”) , age 44, a resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana, was sentenced on September 9, 2025, to five years of probation, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). This statute carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years in a federal penitentiary, as well as up to 3 years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. According to court records, the United States Sentencing Guidelines called for a sentence of 70-87 months in prison, based on his significant criminal history, that included prior convictions and prison terms for Distribution of Cocaine, and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine in 2006, as well as Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Oxycodone, and Alprazolam, and Aggravated Flight from an Officer and Possession of Oxycodone in 2018. United States District Judge Darrell James Papillion granted HARRIS ’ motion for a downward departure and sentenced HARRIS to 5 years of probation. This sentence was imposed over the objection of the United States Attorney’s Office, who sought a jail sentence as called for by the Guidelines. HARRIS was charged in federal court with being a felon in possession of a firearm after he was the subject of a traffic stop on June 22, 2022. During the traffic stop officers observed that HARRIS was smoking marijuana. During a search of his vehicle officers located a loaded Glock 9mm handgun. DNA test of the firearm showed that HARRIS ’ DNA was on the firearm. HARRIS pled guilty as charged to this federal offense on November 5, 2024. As part of his probation, HARRIS must not violate any local, state, or federal laws, and he will have a curfew where he will have to remain in his house from 9:00 pm until 5:00 am. He will also have to report to his probation officer. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice E. Landrieu, Jr. of the Narcotics Unit. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Jefferson County Man Convicted on Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury has convicted a Jefferson County man on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. The jury returned a guilty verdict against Jaylin Artez Patton, 29, of Birmingham, Alabama, after three days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie C. Axon. Patton was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a machinegun, possession of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. According to evidence presented at trial, officers with the Birmingham Police Department, along with assistance from agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, attempted to make a traffic stop on Patton to execute an arrest warrant. Patton fled the scene and officers pursued him. Patton refused to stop his vehicle and drove off the interstate into a ditch and a fence. Patton exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Shortly after a foot pursuit, officers apprehended Patton. Officers recovered fentanyl and a Glock pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.” The ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. McComb and Darius Greene are prosecuting the case.


title: Nigerian Man Extradited to the U.S. After being Indicted for Sextortion and other Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: BOISE – Acting United States Attorney Justin Whatcott announced that Olamide Shanu, 34, of Lagos, Nigeria, made his initial appearance yesterday after his extradition to the United States from the United Kingdom. Shanu faces prosecution in an indictment for his role in several cyber-enabled schemes including “sextortion” and romance scams. Shanu made his initial appearance yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Juge Debora K. Grasham. Shanu is charged in an eight-count indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit interstate communications with intent to extort and cyberstalking, conspiracy to commit extortion, money laundering conspiracy, extortion, interstate communications with intent to commit extortion, and cyberstalking. Authorities in London arrested Shanu in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2023, based on the indictment filed in the District of Idaho. Shanu has remained incarcerated since the arrest. According to the indictment, Shanu and his conspirators posed as females on social media and persuaded their victims, typically males, to send sexual images of themselves. The indictment alleges that once the victims sent the explicit images, the conspirators threatened to send the explicit images to the victims’ friends and families unless the victim paid money. The indictment alleges that the conspirators engaged in this extortion of numerous victims across the United States, including a college student in Idaho. The indictment alleges the conspirators also perpetrated, among other cyber-enabled schemes, a romance scam scheme. Proceeds from the schemes were allegedly laundered using peer-to-peer payment applications and several cryptocurrency wallet addresses before allegedly being transferred to the scheme’s perpetrators in Nigeria. According to the indictment, Shanu fraudulently obtained at least $2,000,000 from the fraud schemes. If convicted of the charges, Shanu faces up to 20 years in federal prison. He also faces restitution for the losses incurred by the victims of the scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the U.S. State Department for their help in facilitating the arrest and extradition of Shanu. Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott also extends his appreciation and thanks to the National Extradition Unit of the United Kingdon’s National Crime Agency, who provided critical assistance with the arrest and extradition of Shanu. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Sean Mazorol and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Trial Attorney Vasantha Rao. 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: GUATEMALAN NATIONAL ILLEGALLY RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES INDICTED ON FRAUD CHARGES RELATED TO THE SPONSORSHIP OF UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILD

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: An indictment unsealed today in the Middle District of Louisiana charges a Guatemalan national residing illegally in the United States with fraud related to the submission of an application to sponsor an unaccompanied alien child (UAC). “As alleged, this defendant made fraudulent misstatements to the U.S. government to try to sponsor an unaccompanied child in the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Defendants who lie to secure the care and custody of an unaccompanied child threaten the government’s ability to ensure that the child is placed in a safe environment with a proper caregiver. The Criminal Division is fully committed to protecting vulnerable children and delivering justice to those who violate the law.” “I would like to thank our prosecutor and our partners for their tireless work on this matter,” said U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis. “We are committed to eliminating the exploitation of minors and their families by unscrupulous traffickers, and appreciate the resources which were brought to bear by federal authorities to bring this defendant to justice.” “Deliberately attempting to defraud a government program designed to safeguard vulnerable children is a reprehensible act that demands accountability,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to rigorously pursue those who attempt to exploit the Unaccompanied Alien Children’s program and ensure they are held fully accountable under the law.” According to court documents, Felix Coc Choc, 29, of Rogers, Arkansas submitted an application to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalty of perjury to sponsor and obtain custody of a UAC after the UAC entered the United States illegally. As alleged in the indictment, after a 16-year-old Guatemalan UAC entered the United States illegally in January 2023, Coc Choc submitted an application to sponsor the UAC. Coc Choc allegedly falsely claimed to be the UAC’s brother and asserted that his own name was J.C.J. as listed on a Guatemala national identification card that he submitted in support of the sponsorship application. After initially denying that he was using another individual’s identity, Coc Choc admitted to the misrepresentation. Coc Choc then filed a sponsorship application in his true name. ORR denied this application as a result of the alleged fraud. Coc Choc is charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the false statement count, and a mandatory consecutive penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count. These charges are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, and the Caribbean that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, the Northern District of New York, the District of Vermont, and the Southern District of Florida. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 415 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 355 U.S. convictions; more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General is investigating the case. Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Legal Attaché team in Guatemala, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance. JTFA Trial Attorneys Aaron Jennen and Nicole Lockhart, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Craig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from Samantha Usher of the Justice Department’s Healthcare Fraud Unit. 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 other 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Derry Man Indicted for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: CONCORD –A Derry man was indicted for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Joseph Baran, 55, was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint. He appeared in federal court on August 21, 2025. According to court documents, Baran was involved in the collection and distribution of CSAM as part of a technically sophisticated, anonymous, online group. The investigation was led by the FBI’s Headquarter-based Child Exploitation Operational Unit, with assistance from the FBI’s Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is prosecuting the case. Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon for the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section at the U.S. Department of Justice provided valuable assistance. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. ###


title: FORMER UNIVERSITY POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTION AND RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Dylan Kelby Rogers, 39, formerly of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These crimes deserve swift and severe punishment not only because they involve the sexual exploitation of minors, but because those minors continue to be re-victimized each time these horrific videos and images of their exploitation are shared. I am proud of the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners in this case, and my office remains committed to using the full force of the law to hold accountable the predators who victimize our children.” Court documents reflect that in December 2024, Rogers, a local university postdoctoral scholar, reported to the Tallahassee Police Department that he was extorted online. During an interview with a federal agent, Rogers explained that he and an individual had watched child pornography on an online application and showed the agent a folder on his cell phone that contained several child pornography videos. Law enforcement seized Rogers’s cell phone and conducted a forensic examination of it. A search of the phone revealed more than 30 illegal videos. Rogers’s cell phone also contained evidence of his communications with other online users about child pornography. “The exploitation of children is one of the most heinous crimes we face, and the Tallahassee Police Department remains dedicated to bringing offenders to justice, said Chief Lawrence Revell. “This case highlights the importance of strong partnerships in protecting our most vulnerable.” “Dylan Rogers’ actions represent a deeply disturbing betrayal of trust and highlight the alarming prevalence of child exploitation crimes in our society,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This is not just a law enforcement issue but a societal challenge that requires vigilance, education, and collaboration across all sectors to protect the most vulnerable among us. HSI, alongside our partners, remains unwavering in our efforts to tirelessly combat the scourge of child exploitation, bring offenders to justice, and safeguard our children from harm.” Rogers’ imprisonment will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. Additionally, Rogers was ordered to pay restitution to victims and he will be required to register as a sex offender. The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF A LOADED FIREARM

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Derek Samuel James Hunter, 37, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to a possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. According to court records, in October 2024, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Medical Services responded to a possible shooting in Penscaola. At the scene, Hunter was found in possession of a loaded semiautomatic handgun. Hunter has prior felony convictions for Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Cocaine. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the investigative assistance provided by our federal law enforcement partners, this violent felon has been taken off our streets and put back behind bars where he belongs. My office will not hesitate to aggressively prosecute these crimes to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the violent criminals who have victimized our communities for too long.” The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Turtle Creek Resident Sentenced to 11.5 Years in Prison for Narcotics Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 138 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute crack, cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Timothy Mollett, 35, on September 17, 2025. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Mollett conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of cocaine, 28 grams or more of a mixture of crack, and quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Mollett was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Further, in and around July 2021, Mollett unlawfully possessed a firearm as a convicted felon and did so in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Mollett. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach ththat leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Georgia Men Sentenced for Arrest Warrant Scam

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Four Georgia men were sentenced for their role in a nationwide fraud conspiracy. According to public court documents, between March 2022 and April 2024, Russell Tafron Weatherspoon, 26, Karl Andre Dieudonne, 23, Demonte Tequis Brazil, 32, and Gregory Lamar Scorza, 25, ran a multi-state fraud scam. The scammers led victims in several states across the United States, including Iowa, to believe that an arrest warrant had been issued for them for failing to appear in court. The scammers used names of local law enforcement officers and used an application that spoofed law enforcement phone numbers. The victims were told they would be arrested if a cash bond was not posted. The victims were directed to a bond company or other location to meet and pay a bond for failing to appear as an expert witness pursuant to a subpoena. The scam involved the use of legal terminology, purported court proceedings, and threats of arrest to authenticate the scam. Weatherspoon led and organized these activities from a Georgia state prison. A drone was used to fly over the prison and drop cell phones into the yard that were then utilized by inmates to make the scam calls. Weatherspoon was in prison following his 2020 convictions for aggravated assault and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Weatherspoon was sentenced on April 9, 2025, to 130 months in federal prison. Dieudonne was sentenced on May 13, 2025, to 36 months in federal prison. Brazil was sentenced on May 13, 2025, to 51 months in federal prison. Scorza was sentenced September 9, 2025, to 72 months in federal prison. One additional man has been charged in the conspiracy but has not yet been arrested. After completing their terms of imprisonment, each defendant will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Victim restitution was also ordered. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa City Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Iowa State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, and Eppley Airport Police.


title: Honduran National Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Laundering $12 Million In International Telemarketing Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that CESAR RAFAEL COELLO DOMINGUEZ was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. COELLO DOMINGUEZ previously pled guilty on May 21, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who imposed yesterday’s sentence. “Cesar Rafael Coello Dominguez helped steal millions from victims across the U.S.,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Yesterday, he learned that the women and men of our Office are committed to prosecuting those who defraud hard-working Americans.” According to the charging documents and other public filings and statements made in public court proceedings: COELLO DOMINGUEZ’s participated in a years-long scheme, primarily based in Costa Rica, which operated call centers that targeted and defrauded victims across the U.S. (the “Call Center Scheme”). From September 2019 to January 2023, COELLO DOMINGUEZ defrauded and laundered at least $12 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. Members of the Call Center Scheme intentionally targeted victims across the U.S. with promises that the victims had won a nationwide sweepstakes that required the victims to pre-pay certain taxes and fees. Once the members of the Call Center Scheme realized that the victims had become aware that the promised sweepstakes prize was a scam, they would often contact the same victims again—this time masquerading as lawyers or members of U.S. law enforcement—and attempt to trick the same victims into paying even more money into the scheme. DOMINGUEZ regularly traveled to the U.S. in order to set up dozens of shell bank accounts, which he used to collect millions of dollars of stolen victim funds on behalf of the scheme and transfer those funds back to Costa Rica. * * * In addition to the prison term, COELLO DOMINGUEZ, 39, of Heredia, Costa Rica, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. COELLO DOMINGUEZ was also ordered to forfeit $12 million and to make restitution to victims. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, who assisted in the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgia V. Kostopoulos is in charge of the prosecution.


title: United Kingdom National Charged in Connection with Multiple Cyber Attacks, Including on Critical Infrastructure

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A complaint filed in the District of New Jersey was unsealed today charging Thalha Jubair, a United Kingdom national, with conspiracies to commit computer fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, in relation to at least 120 computer network intrusions and extortion involving 47 U.S. entities. The complaint alleges victims paid at least $115,000,000 in ransom payments. “The charges against Jubair announced today are the result of a lengthy investigation into particular cyber threat actors, often referred to as Scattered Spider, who have victimized at least 47 U.S.-based entities, including in New Jersey,” said Alina Habba, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney for the District of New Jersey. “As alleged by the complaint, Jubair went to great and sophisticated lengths to keep himself anonymous while he and his criminal associates continued to attack these victims and extort tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments. But thanks to the relentless investigation of this Office and our FBI and CCIPS partners, Jubair could not remain anonymous and avoid justice indefinitely. Today’s charges demonstrate my Office’s determination to identify cybercriminals and bring them to justice, wherever they are in the world.” “Jubair is alleged to have participated in a sweeping cyber extortion scheme carried out by a group known as Scattered Spider, which committed at least 120 attacks worldwide and resulted in over $115 million in ransom payments from victims,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These malicious attacks caused widespread disruption to U.S. businesses and organizations, including critical infrastructure and the federal court system, highlighting the significant and growing threat posed by brazen cybercriminals. These charges underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to keeping pace with technologically savvy bad actors and holding accountable those who seek to profit from ransomware.” “Today’s charges make it clear that no cybercriminal is beyond our reach,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “If you attack American companies or citizens, we will find you, we will expose you, and we will seek justice. The FBI continues to deploy every investigative and technical resource available to dismantle criminal cyber networks and hold their members accountable. This means working with trusted international partners like the UK’s National Crime Agency, the West Midlands Police, and the City of London Police, as well as utilizing the capabilities of our state and local partners, who are valued members of FBI’s Cyber Task Forces.” “The arrest of Thalha Jubair underscores an undeniable truth: no matter how elusive or destructive these cyber-criminal syndicates are, we will continue to pursue those who allegedly extort our businesses and ensure they are held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy for the FBI. Today’s charges in both the U.S. and U.K. reflect extraordinary coordination with our foreign and industry partners and mark a decisive victory against cybercriminal gangs who thought they could cripple American industries, inflict hundreds of millions in losses, and hide behind a screen without consequence. The FBI remains relentless in protecting Americans and American businesses — detecting, deterring and diminishing the impact of cyber-criminal gangs.” According to the complaint, Thalha Jubair, also known as “EarthtoStar,” “Brad,” “Austin,” and “@autistic,” 19, of London, England, conspired with others to use social engineering techniques to gain unauthorized access into the computer networks of U.S. companies, steal and encrypt information, and demand ransom payments from victims in exchange for regaining control and preventing the dissemination of the exfiltrated data. Jubair also conspired with others to launder the funds obtained through this scheme. In October 2024 and January 2025, Jubair participated in a scheme to gain unauthorized access to the networks of a U.S.-based critical infrastructure company and the U.S. Courts. From as early as May 2022 to as recently as September 2025, Jubair and his associates were involved in approximately 120 network intrusions, including accessing the computer networks of at least 47 U.S.-based victims. Collectively, victims paid more than $115 million to Jubair and his associates in efforts to recover their data and prevent its disclosure. Portions of the ransom payments from at least five victims were sent to wallets on a server controlled by Jubair. In July 2024, while law enforcement was seizing that server — including successfully seizing cryptocurrency worth approximately $36 million at the time of the seizure — Jubair transferred a portion of cryptocurrency that originated from one of the victims, worth approximately $8.4 million at the time, to another wallet. The charges arise out of an investigation into a cyber threat group that has been referred to as “Scattered Spider,” “Octo Tempest,” “UNC3944,” and/or “0ktapus.” Scattered Spider has targeted victims throughout the United States, including in New Jersey. Jubair is charged with computer fraud conspiracy, two counts of computer fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 95 years in prison. On Tuesday, September 16, U.K. authorities arrested Jubair and a second individual in connection with a separate U.K. investigation related to a computer intrusion that targeted U.K. critical infrastructure. The FBI’s Newark Field Office is investigating the case. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and the City of London Police, the United Kingdom’s West Midlands Police, the National Police of the Netherlands, the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office, the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Brigade for Combating Organized Crime Targu Mures, Romanian National Police, Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Australian Federal Police have provided significant assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan for the District of New Jersey’s Cybercrime Unit and Assistant Deputy Chief Adrienne L. Rose and Trial Attorney George S. Brown of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### jubair.complaint.pdf


component: Criminal Division

body_text: A complaint filed in the District of New Jersey was unsealed today charging Thalha Jubair, a United Kingdom national, with conspiracies to commit computer fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, in relation to at least 120 computer network intrusions and extortion involving 47 U.S. entities. The complaint alleges victims paid at least $115,000,000 in ransom payments. “Jubair is alleged to have participated in a sweeping cyber extortion scheme carried out by a group known as Scattered Spider, which committed at least 120 attacks worldwide and resulted in over $115 million in ransom payments from victims,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These malicious attacks caused widespread disruption to U.S. businesses and organizations, including critical infrastructure and the federal court system, highlighting the significant and growing threat posed by brazen cybercriminals. These charges underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to keeping pace with technologically savvy bad actors and holding accountable those who seek to profit from ransomware.” “The charges against Jubair announced today are the result of a lengthy investigation into particular cyber threat actors, often referred to as Scattered Spider, who have victimized at least 47 U.S.-based entities, including in New Jersey,” said Alina Habba, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney for the District of New Jersey. “As alleged by the complaint, Jubair went to great and sophisticated lengths to keep himself anonymous while he and his criminal associates continued to attack these victims and extort tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments. But thanks to the relentless investigation of this Office and our FBI and CCIPS partners, Jubair could not remain anonymous and avoid justice indefinitely. Today’s charges demonstrate my Office’s determination to identify cybercriminals and bring them to justice, wherever they are in the world.” “Today’s charges make it clear that no cybercriminal is beyond our reach,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “If you attack American companies or citizens, we will find you, we will expose you, and we will seek justice. The FBI continues to deploy every investigative and technical resource available to dismantle criminal cyber networks and hold their members accountable. This means working with trusted international partners like the UK’s National Crime Agency, the West Midlands Police, and the City of London Police, as well as utilizing the capabilities of our state and local partners, who are valued members of FBI’s Cyber Task Forces.” “The arrest of Thalha Jubair underscores an undeniable truth: no matter how elusive or destructive these cyber-criminal syndicates are, we will continue to pursue those who allegedly extort our businesses and ensure they are held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy for the FBI. Today’s charges in both the U.S. and U.K. reflect extraordinary coordination with our foreign and industry partners and mark a decisive victory against cybercriminal gangs who thought they could cripple American industries, inflict hundreds of millions in losses, and hide behind a screen without consequence. The FBI remains relentless in protecting Americans and American businesses — detecting, deterring and diminishing the impact of cyber-criminal gangs.” According to the complaint, Thalha Jubair, also known as “EarthtoStar,” “Brad,” “Austin,” and “@autistic,” 19, of London, England, conspired with others to use social engineering techniques to gain unauthorized access into the computer networks of U.S. companies, steal and encrypt information, and demand ransom payments from victims in exchange for regaining control and preventing the dissemination of the exfiltrated data. Jubair also conspired with others to launder the funds obtained through this scheme. In October 2024 and January 2025, Jubair participated in a scheme to gain unauthorized access to the networks of a U.S.-based critical infrastructure company and the U.S. Courts. From as early as May 2022 to as recently as September 2025, Jubair and his associates were involved in approximately 120 network intrusions, including accessing the computer networks of at least 47 U.S.-based victims. Collectively, victims paid more than $115 million to Jubair and his associates in efforts to recover their data and prevent its disclosure. Portions of the ransom payments from at least five victims were sent to wallets on a server controlled by Jubair. In July 2024, while law enforcement was seizing that server — including successfully seizing cryptocurrency worth approximately $36 million at the time of the seizure — Jubair transferred a portion of cryptocurrency that originated from one of the victims, worth approximately $8.4 million at the time, to another wallet. The charges arise out of an investigation into a cyber threat group that has been referred to as “Scattered Spider,” “Octo Tempest,” “UNC3944,” and/or “0ktapus.” Scattered Spider has targeted victims throughout the United States, including in New Jersey. Jubair is charged with computer fraud conspiracy, two counts of computer fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 95 years in prison. On Tuesday, Sept. 16, U.K. authorities arrested Jubair and a second individual in connection with a separate U.K. investigation related to a computer intrusion that targeted U.K. critical infrastructure. The FBI’s Newark Field Office is investigating the case. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and the City of London Police, the United Kingdom’s West Midlands Police, the National Police of the Netherlands, the Dutch Prosecutor’s Office, the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, Brigade for Combating Organized Crime Targu Mures, Romanian National Police, Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Australian Federal Police have provided significant assistance. Assistant Deputy Chief Adrienne L. Rose and Trial Attorney George S. Brown of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Kogan for the District of New Jersey’s Cybercrime Unit are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Luzerne County Main Sentenced To 134 Months’ Imprisonment  For Drug Conspiracy Offense

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ryan Medar, age 38, of Jenkins Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 134 months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Medar previously pled guilty to conspiring with his co-defendants Jamie Smicherko, Patrick Russin, Carlos Laurel, and others to distribute controlled substances in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, between October of 2023 to April of 2024. Medar was responsible for distributing cocaine and over 50 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, law enforcement officers utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and a pistol from Medar. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), the Kingston Police Department, the Plains Township Police Depart, the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, the Pittston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted, and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Upper Darby Man Sentenced To 57 Months In Prison For Distribution Of Methamphetamine

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Sabeeh Daquan Goldwire, age 28, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday to 57 months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for distribution of methamphetamine. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Goldwire pleaded guilty on June 24, 2025, to distributing methamphetamine. Goldwire sold methamphetamine in Williamsport on seven occasions between February 28, 2024, and July 29, 2024, within 1,000 feet of public housing. Following an investigation, it was found that Goldwire was part of a drug distribution ring. The evidence included a FaceTime message from Goldwire to a buyer that he would be bringing “ice,” a street name for methamphetamine, from Philadelphia to Williamsport. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Cincinnati man pleads guilty to laundering proceeds of romance fraud conspiracy that scammed dozens of victims out of more than $2 million

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Richard Opoku Agyemang, 41, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to laundering the proceeds of a romance fraud conspiracy involving more than $2 million in loss to dozens of victims. As part of the romance fraud scheme, other individuals used stolen photographs and false information to create profiles on dating websites and establish online romantic relationships with victims. Victims were tricked into sending money under the false pretense that doing so would support a romantic partner they had met online for things like medical expenses. According to court documents, victims sent more than $2 million by either wiring money or depositing checks to accounts controlled by Agyemang. Agyemang was charged federally in April 2024. He pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering stemming from a transfer of $32,000 of fraud proceeds in 2022. His plea agreement recommends a sentence of up to 41 months in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the guilty plea entered on Sept. 17 before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie D. Garcia and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Missouri Man Indicted For Sex Trafficking A Minor

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jerome Anthony Oliver a/k/a “Daddy,” age 53, from Kansas City, Missouri, was indicted by a federal grand jury for sex trafficking a minor and related offenses. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that between November 1, 2024 and April 28, 2025, Oliver sex trafficked a minor by force, fraud, and coercion. The indictment further alleges on April 28, 2025, Oliver transported a minor and a second victim in interstate commerce with the intent for the victims to engage in prostitution. Pennsylvania State troopers arrested Oliver on that day, and he is currently in state custody on related charges. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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. The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is a lifetime term of imprisonment, with a minimum of 15 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: New Hampshire Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Tax Return

component: Tax Division

body_text: A New Hampshire woman pleaded guilty yesterday to filing a false tax return. The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Denise Thibodeau, of Berlin, owned and operated North Country Angels, a home health care business. Most of her clients were elderly individuals who needed frequent in-home health care assistance. To perform the work, Thibodeau hired caregivers and paid them using an under-the-table cash payroll. Specifically, Thibodeau required clients to pay her in checks made payable to cash. Thibodeau cashed the checks, kept a portion of the cash as her own income, and paid the remainder to the caregivers without withholding any Social Security, Medicare, or federal income taxes from the caregivers’ wages as required by law. She did this to conceal the wages paid to the caretakers and her own income. On Thibodeau’s individual income tax returns, Thibodeau significantly underreported the income she and her business earned. For 2018-2020, for example, Thibodeau reported on her returns that the business earned a total of $35,000 in gross receipts when it actually earned nearly $1.7 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2026. Thibodeau faces a maximum of three years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division is prosecuting the case.


title: Two North Dakota Men Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison  for Credit Union Robbery

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced two men from New Town, North Dakota, convicted of Credit Union Robbery. The sentencings took place on September 15, 2025. Jason Cook, age 40, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $99.91 in restitution, to be paid joint and several with DeMarce, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Conrad DeMarce, age 38, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $99.91 in restitution, to be paid joint and several with Cook, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Cook and DeMarce were indicted for Credit Union Robbery by a federal grand jury in April 2025. They pleaded guilty on June 12, 2025. The convictions stemmed from Cook and DeMarce traveling to Eagle Butte, South Dakota, on April 8, 2025, where they entered the Black Hills Federal Credit Union dressed in black with their faces covered. They were armed with BB gun pistols that appeared to be real firearms. Cook and DeMarce pointed the pistols at four employees and a customer. Using the pistols to threaten and intimidate the employees, the men demanded money and fled in a vehicle driven by Cook after forcing the employees and a customer into a bathroom and breaking the customer’s phone. Cook and DeMarce engaged Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Officers in a high-speed pursuit, reaching speeds of over 115 miles per hour. The men were arrested after their vehicle ran out of gas. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement located cash stolen from the credit union, clothing worn during the robbery, and the BB gun pistols used during the robbery. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case. Cook and DeMarce were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Justice Department Investigates Austin, Texas for Racially Discriminatory Employment Practices

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation into the City of Austin, Texas, to determine whether it engages in employment practices that discriminate based on race, sex, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964, as amended. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies, in Austin or other cities,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Such practices are illegal and un-American, and we will vigorously protect equal opportunity and hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate vestiges of outlawed discrimination.” According to its website, the City of Austin’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, Equity Division “works across all City departments . . . to build capacity and leadership in working from a racial equity lens.” The Equity Division publicly promotes City guidance that recommends delineating “clear racial equity expectations regarding hiring,” applying “stronger racial equity criteria to the design and execution of executive-level searches,” and using “racial equity tools” that are “designed to integrate explicit consideration of racial equity in decisions, including policies, practices, programs and budgets.” You can read the notice letter here .


title: Virginia Man Found Guilty of Repeat CSAM Offenses

body_text: A district court judge yesterday convicted a previously convicted sex offender of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while on supervised release. “This defendant continued to sexually exploit children online while on court-ordered supervision, following an earlier conviction for similar conduct,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the tireless efforts and enduring dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors, this defendant has been held accountable for his continued exploitation of children and now faces a fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence.” “Following his previous conviction for child sexual abuse material, Antonio Gonzalez knew what he was doing was illegal and knew the consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Instead of embracing a respect for the law and the vulnerable lives it protects, Gonzalez returned to his previous crimes with no regards for those harmed by sexual exploitation. We will tirelessly prosecute anyone engaging in these detestable crimes, and we will continue to pursue anyone who refuses to reform.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in April 2024, law enforcement began an investigation into a user who was reported to be distributing CSAM on Kik, a mobile-based messaging platform. Further investigation revealed that the user was Antonio Rudy Gonzalez, 41, of Alexandria, who sent dozens of images of children, including toddler-aged children, engaged in sexually explicit conduct to multiple other Kik users. His chat records revealed that he had written to another Kik user “[m]y two favorite things are rape and kids.” In 2013, Mr. Gonzalez had previously been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia of distribution of child pornography. Following a bench trial, Gonzalez was convicted on two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography for his 2024 conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27, 2026. Due to his prior conviction, Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Trial Attorney Nadia Prinz of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Strobbe for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated 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 epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Nigerian Man Charged with Unauthorized Computer Intrusion and Wire Fraud for Theft of over $235,000 from Western Pennsylvania University

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A Nigerian citizen residing in the United Kingdom has been arrested pursuant to a United States request for extradition following his indictment on charges of wire fraud and computer fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Farouk Adekunle Adepoju was arrested by U.K. authorities on September 15, 2025, and is currently awaiting extradition to the United States to face the seven-count Indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania. According to the Indictment, which was unsealed today, between March 2023 and April 2023, Adepoju remotely accessed a protected computer belonging to a Western Pennsylvania construction company that was performing work for a university also located in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Adepoju used this unauthorized access to create rule changes within the email account of an employee with the construction company, and then registered a spoofed domain and spoofed email account to assume the identity of another employee of that company. From that spoofed email account, Adepoju sent fraudulent emails to employees of the university, requesting that they update the construction company’s payment information to a fraudulent bank account. Relying upon the emails, the university updated the payment information to the fraudulent bank account that Adepoju provided and sent a payment of approximately $235,266.80 to that account, funds that the university has not recovered. “Adepoju is charged with using sophisticated cyber means to illegally access accounts belonging to a business in order to victimize one of our region’s universities,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “Even from halfway across the world, however, Adepoju was not beyond the investigative reach of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His arrest in the United Kingdom underscores our district’s unwavering commitment to aggressively locate and prosecute cybercriminals worldwide with the assistance of our law enforcement partners—both here and abroad.” “Criminals who think they can reach across the globe into the United States to line their pockets at the expense of the American public need know one thing: the FBI and our partners are not going to let you get away with it,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be. Email compromise schemes are not victimless crimes; they are one of the costliest threats large and small businesses, universities, and organizations face today.” Adepoju is charged with six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud offenses and up to five years in prison for the computer fraud offense. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States, with significant assistance provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Pittsburgh Field Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Illegal Alien and Arizona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Mailing Kilograms of Fentanyl to Atlanta

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Walter Alexander Argueta-Aguilar, an illegal alien from El Salvador, and Jorge Manuel Zamora Cano have been sentenced for their roles in shipping and distributing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription medication. “Argueta-Aguilar and Cano profited from the opioid epidemic and endangered thousands of lives by trafficking fentanyl-laced pills resembling actual medicine,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg “Thanks to collaboration among our law enforcement partners, these defendants, including an illegal alien, have been prevented from causing further harm in our community.” “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is committed to combating the deadly fentanyl crisis facing our nation by holding those accountable that believe they can misuse the U.S. Mail to traffic drugs,” said Tammy Hull, Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service. “Our special agents, along with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will always work together to aggressively investigate these federal crimes to ensure the integrity of the nation’s postal system. We appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta for their support and prosecution of this case.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In February 2024, federal agents began investigating Argueta-Aguilar, an illegal alien who was living in Norcross, Georgia, for receiving mail parcels containing counterfeit pills with the imprint M30, which is a common imprint on legitimate oxycodone tablets. On March 19, 2024, federal agents intercepted a package Cano shipped to Argueta-Aguilar from Arizona. The package contained more than 125 grams of fentanyl-laced blue M30 pills in a vacuum-sealed plastic baggie. The investigation revealed that, between July 2023 and March 2024, Cano mailed dozens of packages containing over 50,000 blue M30 fentanyl pills to the Atlanta area. Argueta-Aguilar received more than 28,000 of the pills. The pills were often concealed in items such as stuffed animals to avoid detection. Both defendants subsequently pled guilty to drug trafficking-related offenses and received the following sentences: Walter Alexander Argueta-Aguilar, 21, of Sonsonate, El Salvador, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl on March 5, 2025. He was sentenced to five years in prison on July 7, 2025, and will face deportation from the United States. Jorge Manuel Zamora Cano, 23, of Mesa, Arizona, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and unlawful use of a communication facility on May 8, 2025. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release on September 17, 2025. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, with support from Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Gwinnett County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamil A. Favors, Laurel B. Milam, and Benjamin Wylly prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at www.justthinktwice.gov and www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov. Additional resources on fentanyl and fentanyl pills, as well as prevention and treatment, are available at www.dea.gov/onepill. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Federal Inmate Serving Life Sentence Receives 30 More Years for Cellmate’s Murder

body_text: TERRE HAUTE- Jeremy Mack, 50, has been sentenced to 30 years and 5 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to murder in the second degree. Mack was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. According to court documents, in 2021, Jeremy Mack was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, serving a life sentence imposed by the Northern District of Ohio for Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking and Drug Trafficking, Sex Trafficking of Children by Force, Fraud or Coercion, Witness Tampering and Obstruction of Justice. On September 3, 2021, at approximately 9:28 p.m., correctional officers responded to an inmate duress alarm in the general population housing unit. Upon arrival, the officers found inmate Jeremy Mack standing near the door with the lights off. Officers instructed Mack to turn on the light and immediately observed blood on Mack’s hands and forearms. His cellmate, Stephen Cannada, was lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Officers attempted CPR and other life-saving measures on Cannada but were unsuccessful. He was later pronounced deceased by medical staff. The medical examiner ruled the official cause of death to be multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen. “This additional sentence underscores our office’s commitment to ensuring accountability, even within the walls of a federal prison. The sentence imposed reflects the gravity of this crime, and we hope it brings a sense of justice and closure to the family and loved ones of Mr. Cannada,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: violence within our correctional system will not be tolerated. Even individuals already serving lengthy prison terms are accountable under the law when they commit further acts of violence. The FBI remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure that every life is protected, and justice is upheld – no matter where the crime occurs,” said Timothy O’Malley, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Indianapolis. "Today's sentencing sends a clear message - those who threaten or harm others will be held accountable. The safety and security of our facilities will always be the BOP’s top priority in our mission to ensure public safety,” said a BOP Spokesperson. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Two Convicted of COVID Fraud in West Virginia

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Maryland woman and a New York woman have admitted to fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funding on behalf of a West Virginia resident. Kimberly VanKline, 56, of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Rhonda Brown-Moore, 65, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring to commit wire fraud related to the improper receipt of funds from the COVID Relief Act. According to court documents, VanKline and Brown-Moore worked together to create and submit falsified documents to obtain CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for others, including a resident of the Northern District of West Virginia. VanKline and Brown-Moore were compensated for their illegal actions from the fraudulent proceeds. VanKline and Brown-Moore face up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Conklin and Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government and the matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.


title: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS OVER $19 MILLION TO THE LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT

body_text: Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime has awarded $19,207,912 to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (“LCLE”) to provide resources to crime victims. $2,104,000 was awarded to support Louisiana’s VOCA (Victim of Crimes Act) Victim Compensation Program. This program assists state-administered victim compensation programs, helping to reimburse victims for expenses such as medical care, counseling, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs incurred due to a crime. $17,103,912 was awarded to provide subgrants to local community-based organizations and public agencies that provide services directly to crime victims, such as crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, shelter, therapy, and additional assistance. LCLE is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community. For more information about this award, please contact the OJP Office of Communications at 202-307-0703 or OJP.OCOM@ojp.usdoj.gov .


title: Norfolk dealer sentenced to 16 years in prison for  federal drug and firearms crimes

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced yesterday to 16 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute para-fluorofentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, in March and April 2024, narcotics investigators conducted three controlled transactions with Winston Jerome Perry, aka Chuck, 42. Investigators then conducted a search of Perry, his vehicle, and a residence associated with Perry. Perry was in possession of several small baggies of fentanyl and cocaine and investigators recovered a handgun from the vehicle. Inside the residence investigators recovered four handguns, digital scales, packaging materials, a suspected ledger, and narcotics including: 42.06 grams of cocaine base; 34.56 grams of cocaine hydrochloride; 69.1 grams of fentanyl; 242.42 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl; 255.31 grams of a mixture of heroin, para-fluorofentanyl, cocaine, and fentanyl; 554.86 grams of a mixture of para-fluorofentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl; 64.55 grams of a mixture containing para-fluorofentanyl, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and ketamine; and 197.11 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride. Perry was convicted previously for eluding a police officer, reckless driving, driving without a license, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. As a previously convicted felon, Perry cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Christopher Heck, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police; and Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Marek prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-139.


title: Defendants Charged in First Wave of  Housing Stabilization Fraud Cases

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Eight defendants have been federally charged with wire fraud for their roles in a massive housing stabilization fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Today we announce the first wave of charges in a massive fraud in Minnesota’s housing stabilization program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “I want to be clear on the scope of the crisis. What we see are schemes stacked upon schemes, draining resources meant for those in need. It feels never ending. I have spent my career as a fraud prosecutor and the depth of the fraud in Minnesota takes my breath away. The fraud must be stopped.” The Scheme to Defraud the Housing Stabilization Services Program As set forth in the charging documents, the defendants devised and carried out schemes to defraud federally funded health care benefits collected within Minnesota’s Housing Stability Services Program. The HSS Program dates back to July 2022, when Minnesota became the first state in the country to offer Medicaid coverage for Housing Stabilization Services. The Program was designed to help people with disabilities, including seniors and people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders, find and maintain housing. Rather than provide such help, the defendants obtained and misappropriated millions of dollars in program funds that were intended as reimbursements for services provided to those people. The Program permitted reimbursements for four principal kinds of services: (1) housing consultation; (2) housing transition services; (3) housing sustaining services; and (4) moving expenses. By design, the Program had low barriers to entry for new providers and for beneficiaries. The Program also had minimal requirements for reimbursement. The HSS Program’s low barriers to entry and minimal records requirements for reimbursement combined to make the Program susceptible to fraud. Before the Program’s inaugural year, the Program was predicted to cost about $2.6 million annually. That proved to be inaccurate. In 2021 alone, the Program paid out more than $21 million in claims. That figure ballooned in the following years: $42 million in 2022, $74 million in 2023, $104 million in 2024. In just the first six months of 2025, the Program paid out another $61 million. A federal investigation revealed that many Program providers defrauded the system. These providers acquired the names of Program-eligible beneficiaries from facilities like addiction treatment centers. They then used those individuals’ information to submit inflated and fake reimbursement claims. In this fashion, the providers acquired substantial pay-outs of taxpayer money to which they were not entitled. They used those ill-gotten gains for their own enrichment. United States v. Moktar Aden et al. , 25-cr-349 (MJD/JFD) (Brilliant Minds Services LLC) Defendant Moktar Hassan Aden, age 30 Defendant Mustafa Dayib Ali, age 29 Defendant Khalid Ahmed Dayib, age 26 Defendant Abdifitah Mohamud Mohamed, age 27 In April 2022, Aden and his co-defendants, Dayib and Ali completed paperwork to enroll Aden’s company, called Brilliant Minds Services LLC, as an HSS Provider. With Abdifitah Mohamed, those defendants then purported to service individuals in need through Brilliant Minds from an office suite in the Griggs-Midway Building in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mohamed also operated another program provider called Foundation First Services LLC, which has offices in the same building. Through Foundation First, Mohamed claimed to provide Program-reimbursable consultation services to other HSS providers, including Brilliant Minds. The defendants, along with their employees at Brilliant Minds, were supposed to provide housing consulting, transitioning, and sustaining services to qualifying people in need. Instead, the defendants caused the submission of fake and inflated bills and provided only a fraction of their claimed total. In all, between approximately September 2022 and April 2025, Brilliant Minds submitted reimbursement claims totaling about $2.3 million. From such claims, in 2024, Brilliant Minds LLC was one of the ten highest-billing HSS providers state-wide. The defendants diverted some of those taxpayer dollars to their conspirators, and they kept much for themselves. From about April 2023 through about May 2025, each of the defendants personally pocketed between about $300,000 and $400,000 from Brilliant Minds. The defendants also shared a Platinum American Express credit card, on which they accrued nearly half a million dollars in charges to fund and enhance their lifestyles. The defendants paid those charges using Brilliant Mind’s company accounts. United States v. Christopher Falade, et al. , 25-cr-351 (JMB/DJF) (Faladcare Inc.) Defendant Christopher Adesoji Falade, age 62 Defendant Emmanuel Oluwademilade Falade, age 32 Christopher Falade and his son, Emmanuel Falade, worked together to run Faladcare Inc. as a provider in the HSS Program. The Falades, along with their employees at Faladcare, were supposed to provide housing consulting, transitioning, and sustaining services to qualifying people in need. Instead, over the course of years, the Falades and their conspirators created and submitted Program reimbursement claims that were inflated and fraudulent. By doing so, Faladcare received Program payments far exceeding the HSS services they had actually provided. In all, the Falades claimed to service about 100 different beneficiaries and for such services claimed to be entitled to over $2.2 million. The Falades diverted much of their fraud proceeds to their conspirators, including to their Faladcare employees. United States v. Asad Ahmed Adow, 25-cr-354 (ADM) (Leo Human Services LLC) Defendant Asad Ahmed Adow, age 26 Asad Adow was the owner and principal of Leo Human Services LLC, a company based out of a business suite in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Adow operated Leo as an HSS Provider from a residence in Blaine, Minnesota and a business suite in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Asad Adow directed his employees at Leo Human Services to bill as much as they could. At the same time, Adow made clear to those employees that he would not scrutinize the purported billable hours his employees submitted. In this way, Asad Adow incentivized his employees, who were paid hourly wages, to inflate their hours. As the company owner and principal, Asad Adow made more money when his employees overrepresented their billings—which Asad Adow then submitted for Program reimbursement. Asad Adow also trained his employees at Leo to create notes detailing the purported services they provided. The HSS Program does not require providers to submit such notes to receive reimbursements. However, Asad Adow directed his employees to create service notes so that the company would have them in case DHS ever conducted an audit. Once again, Asad Adow knew that his employees were manufacturing notes that falsely represented their having provided Program services. Ultimately, based on inflated and fraudulent claims, Leo Human Services received about $2.7 million in Program funds based on the company’s claims to have provided services to about 250 beneficiaries. Asad Adow diverted much of those taxpayer dollars to his conspirators, including his employees at Leo and his brother, Anwar Adow. Asad Adow also spent proceeds from his scheme to invest in real estate in Kenya, to lease an apartment in Roseville, Minnesota and a 2024 BMW X4, and to fund his lifestyle. United States v. Anwar Ahmed Adow, 25-cr-353 (PAM) (Liberty Plus LLC) Defendant Anwar Ahmed Adow, age 25 Anwar Adow was the owner and principal of Liberty Plus LLC, a company based out of a business suite in Roseville, Minnesota. In April 2024, Anwar Adow applied to be an HSS provider. Anwar Adow thereafter purported to service individuals in need through Liberty from a business suite in Roseville, Minnesota. Anwar Adow directed his employees at Liberty Plus to bill as much as they could. At the same time, Anwar Adow made clear to those employees that he would not scrutinize the purported billable hours his employees submitted to him. In this way, Anwar Adow incentivized his employees, who were paid hourly wages, to inflate their hours. As the company owner and principal, Anwar Adow made more money when his employees overrepresented their billings—which Anwar Adow then submitted for Program reimbursement. Ultimately, based on inflated and fraudulent claims, Liberty Plus received more than $1.2 million in Medicaid funds for services purportedly provided to approximately 200 beneficiaries. Anwar Adow diverted much of those taxpayer dollars to his conspirators, including his employees at Liberty and his brother, Asad Adow. Anwar Adow also spent proceeds from his scheme to lease a 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLA, to make investments, and to fund his lifestyle. “Fraud in the Housing Stabilization Services program not only drains money from hardworking taxpayers, it also deprives vulnerable populations of resources to maintain safe housing," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Exploiting this program undermines the financial and physical security of the community amid a housing and addiction crisis. The FBI is relentless in working with our law enforcement partners to root out this fraud and prosecute those who enrich themselves at the expense of the community.” “The charges filed today represent another big blow to organized program fraud in Minnesota,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “The Minnesota Housing Stabilization Service program was supposed to be a groundbreaking resource to provide stability, assistance, and dignity to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Instead, program funds were diverted to the pockets of greedy opportunists. IRS-CI is proud to partner with our federal and state agencies in investigations like these and will continue to provide our expertise and resources to fight back against those who have chosen to make their living exploiting some of our most vulnerable citizens. The public has the right to expect their hard-earned tax dollars are being used judiciously.” “The fraud detailed in the criminal charges announced today reflects a calculated effort on the part of the defendants to significantly exploit a program designed to serve vulnerable populations and taxpayers at large” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Our agency remains committed to working together with our federal and state law enforcement partners to identify and bring to justice those who defraud our nation’s healthcare programs.” “Funding provided through Housing Stabilization Services is intended to help Minnesotans achieve a stable, housed future. When criminals selfishly defraud these programs they are not only committing a crime, but they are depriving others of services that can be life-changing, and defrauding all taxpaying Minnesotans,” Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.