title: Two Men Unlawfully Residing in the United States Face Federal Charges After Traffic Stop Yields More than 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and Cocaine

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—Two suspected drug traffickers face federal charges after they were caught transporting approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine on Interstate 5 in Linn County, Oregon. Jesus Campos Roman, 29, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Washington, and Eduar David Freites-Mosquera, 27, a Bolivian national unlawfully residing in Washington, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. According to court documents, on July 30, 2025, an Oregon State Police officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Roman and occupied by Freites-Mosquera. After a drug detection dog alerted to the presence of narcotics, investigators searched the vehicle and found numerous packages in the trunk containing more than 110 pounds of methamphetamine, five pounds of cocaine, and four pounds of fentanyl pills. Roman and Freites-Mosquera made their first appearances in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge and were ordered detained pending further court proceedings. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Joseph Huynh, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Watervliet Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Dealing Firearms Without a License

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Sean Patrick, age 46, of Watervliet, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 18 months in prison for dealing firearms without a license. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea , Patrick admitted that between June 2021 and November 2022, he built and sold four non-serialized, semi-automatic pistols without being licensed to do so, filling out any paperwork, or paying any taxes in connection with the sales. On November 10, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant on Patrick’s residence in Watervliet, and recovered four more privately manufactured, non-serialized, semi-automatic pistols, another semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, assorted gun kits and fabrication tools, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition of various calibers. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “People need to sell firearms the right way, in accordance with federal law. If you deal firearms without a license, be ready to spend time in federal prison. We will not tolerate the unlicensed sale of firearms in the Northern District of New York.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Patrick’s decision to bypass federal laws and manufacture and sell illegal weapons has landed him in federal prison. The FBI will continue to work with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to investigate anyone looking to push illegal firearms into our communities and ensure they are held accountable.” Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release, a fine of $7,500, and ordered the forfeiture of multiple firearms and ammunition. The FBI and its Capital District Safe Streets Gang Task Force — which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie and Watervliet Police Departments — investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey prosecuted the case.


title: Schenectady Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Drug Conviction

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Terrell Bell, age 28, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Bell previously admitted that he was on parole in January 2024 when law enforcement searched his home in Schenectady and discovered nearly 1,800 fentanyl pills in his bedroom and more than $90,000 throughout the home. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Bell didn’t learn his lesson after a prior felony conviction and term of parole, but he should learn it now: Dealing drugs in this District doesn’t pay. My Office will make sure of it.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli stated: “This sentence proves any criminal who chooses to profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable. The FBI remains deeply committed to working with our partners at every level of law enforcement to investigate and bring to justice these individuals trafficking dangerous drugs on our streets.” Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release. Bell has also consented to forfeiture of the money found in his home. FBI investigated this case with the assistance of the Schenectady Police Department, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted it.


title: Greensboro Woman Sentenced in Conviction with Multi-Million Dollar Urine Drug Testing Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: Greensboro, NC – A Greensboro woman was sentenced to 44 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release in connection with a scheme to submit claims for fraudulent urine drug testing screens to Medicaid, announced Clifton T. Barrett, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). Jasmine Hoyle, 35, pled guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of money laundering on April 9, 2025. In addition to prison time and supervised release, the court also ordered Hoyle to pay restitution totaling $6,299,738.89. According to court documents, Hoyle owned and operated two businesses located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Harvest Focused & Consulting Services, LLC and The Ultimate Sacrifice. Both of these businesses billed Medicaid for services that were not performed, including significant quantities of urine drug tests. For example, on 97 occasions between August 2020 and July 2022, Harvest Focused submitted claims to Medicaid for urine drug tests for a Medicaid beneficiary who had never heard of Harvest Focused or The Ultimate Sacrifice, never received services from those companies, and did not provide any urine for urine drug testing. Over the course of the scheme, Medicaid reimbursed Harvest Focused and The Ultimate Sacrifice over $6 million. Hoyle used the fraudulently proceeds on personal expenses, including the purchase a Dodge Challenger. “Stealing taxpayer dollars from a program that enables our most vulnerable citizens to access health care is reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Barrett. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting investigation and prosecution of Medicaid fraud. We thank the federal and state agencies that partner in this effort.” “Health care providers that fraudulently bill Medicaid for services not provided divert valuable taxpayer funds intended for some of the most vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs.” “Taxpayer’s money allocated to the Medicaid budget is used to provide healthcare services to our vulnerable populations,” said Special Agent-In-Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, together with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office will identify, investigate, and prosecute those who enrich themselves by stealing from the federal government and subsequently the taxpayers.” “This case is a great example of a successful joint investigation, where we followed the financial footprint of the defendant to uncover evidence and bring them to justice. The resulting prison sentence sends a strong message that we will continue to aggressively purse and investigate those who engage in fraudulent schemes,” said Acting U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge J. “Buck” Buckley, of the Atlanta Division. Hoyle’s former business partner, LaTameria Davis, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States on July 8, 2025. Davis’s sentencing is scheduled to take place on September 26, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Davis faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Investigations Division, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid and Special Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Spillman. ###


title: Armed Felon Indicted After Barricading Himself in Home with Over Ten Pounds of Methamphetamine and Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced today that Patrick Nowicke, 44, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, was indicted today with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. According to court documents, on July 13, 2025, law enforcement arrested Nowicke at his residence in Wahiawa, Hawaii for terroristic threatening in the first degree. The arrest followed a multi-hour armed barricade between Nowicke and law enforcement. During a subsequent search of Nowicke’s residence, law enforcement seized over ten pounds of methamphetamine, an illegal short-barreled rifle, a 9mm privately made firearm, ammunition, a suspected silencer, and a suspected smoke grenade. If convicted of the charged offenses, Nowicke faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, including a combined mandatory minimum of 25 years for the drug and firearm charges, and fines of up to $10 million. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Honolulu Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara D. Ayabe. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: Mobile Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm During a Botched Home Invasion

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon during a deadly botched home invasion. According to court documents, Okoye Jabrayll Day, 23, was arrested by Mobile Police Department officers who had responded to a call regarding a home invasion in progress at an apartment complex on April 16, 2024. During that 911 call, the victim reported that several individuals were attempting to break into his apartment and said that he had shot at the armed intruders before locking himself in his bathroom. Another resident of the complex called 911 to report hearing several gunshots and said that she had seen Day, who was in a wheelchair, fleeing the scene of the attempted burglary with a gun in his hand. When police arrived on-scene, they saw one of the suspected burglars lying dead on the ground from a gunshot wound outside the victim’s apartment. The doorjamb of the victim’s apartment had severe damage from the intruders kicking in the door, which was off its hinges. The apartment had several bullet hole defects in its walls and ceiling. After clearing the apartment, officers found Day and arrested him in the next building over. Day had thrown a loaded Glock .45 caliber pistol into nearby bushes. Ring doorbell camera video from the apartment complex showed Day, the deceased suspect, and two other unidentified males beating on the door of the victim’s apartment. In an interview with police following his arrest, Day admitted that he had a gun “for [his] protection” because he previously had been shot and paralyzed. Day further admitted that he threw the gun into the bushes because he was “on paper” for prior convictions and was still supervised. At the time Day possessed the Glock pistol, he had prior felony convictions for first-degree receiving stolen property and discharging a gun into an occupied building. Those felony convictions made Day’s possession of the Glock pistol illegal under federal law. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Day to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Day to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Day’s pistol and ammunition to the United States. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Two New York Men Sentenced in Multi-State Bank Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A New York man is the second individual to be sentenced to federal prison for his role in a multi-state bank fraud conspiracy that victimized at least 28 people and 20 businesses, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. JJaymark Larios, 23, of Bronx, NY, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and to pay restitution in the amount of $93,200. Larios pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Another member of the conspiracy, Paul Keenan, 54, of Bronx, NY, was sentenced on June 23, 2025, to a term of incarceration of 24 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty on February 27, 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Court documents reflect that members of the conspiracy traveled to multiple states in 2023 and early 2024 to recruit and organize individuals and obtain their photographs and personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and banking information. Additionally, conspirators obtained business names and banking information of nearly two dozen business entities. The information collected was used to create fraudulent IDs and checks. According to information presented to the court, members of the conspiracy traveled with their recruits to banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, and elsewhere to cash fraudulent checks created by members of the conspiracy. At least 28 individuals and 20 businesses were victimized Through the scheme, conspirators attempted to defraud banks of a total of approximately $143,000, successfully defrauding 22 banks of a total of approximately $93,200. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christine Lowell. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the East Providence Police Department, with the assistance of the Portsmouth Police Department.


title: Dominican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national deported in 2021 after being convicted in federal court on a heroin trafficking charge and serving a 60-month prison sentence has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rhode Island on a charge of illegal reentry, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Wandy Alcibiades Diaz-Diaz, 45, most recently came to the attention of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through an automated biometric fingerprint match of fingerprints entered into the National Crime Enforcement Center in January 2025, following his arrest on multiple state drug charges. Subsequently, Diaz-Diaz was convicted in Rhode Island Superior Court on multiple drug charges and is currently at the ACI serving a term of 66 months of incarceration. The current case in federal court is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Ronald R. Gendron. The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Indicted For  Using The Internet To Access Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Matthew Eric Baumgardner (49, Jacksonville) has been arrested and charged by indictment for using the internet to access child sexual abuse materials. If convicted, Baumgardner faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. He was arrested on July 28, 2025, and has been ordered detained pending trial. Baumgardner is a registered child sex offender who was convicted in 2017 of possessing photographs depicting the sexual performance by a child, traveling to meet a minor for unlawful activity, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Shulte, has sentenced a man from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, who had been convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 29, 2025. Stuart Dion, age 41, was sentenced to time served through August 4, 2025, equal to 11.5 months in custody, followed by five years of supervise release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Dion was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on July 14, 2025. Dion is required to register as a sex offender under federal law due to a prior federal conviction for Sexual Abuse of a Minor. Dion has been convicted of Failure to Register in the past. Following his release from prison on the most recent conviction, Dion registered an address in Ft. Thompson, SD, on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation in March 2024. On April 11, 2024, Dion moved from his registered address and knowingly failed to update his registration with authorities as required by law. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.


title: Newark Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Julianne E. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Joshua Lewis, 37, of Newark, Delaware, was sentenced last week to 84 months in prison for robbing two Delaware banks and possessing ammunition as a person with previous felony convictions. The Honorable Gregory B. Williams of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware pronounced the sentence. According to court documents, Mr. Lewis robbed banks in Wilmington and Dover in February 2023, stealing over $6,000 between the two incidents. When law enforcement officers later approached him at his home, Mr. Lewis attempted to flee but was apprehended. In the car Mr. Lewis was driving, officers found a loaded, unserialized privately manufactured firearm, or “ghost gun,” and additional rounds of 9mm ammunition. U.S. Attorney Murray stated, “Mr. Lewis’s brazen robberies instilled fear in his victims and served only to undermine the security of our financial system. His possession of ammunition within an untraceable gun—despite multiple prior felony convictions—only added to the danger he posed to society. This sentence reinforces the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protecting the public and keeping guns out of the hands of people who fail to follow the law.” “Considering this offender’s felony criminal history, he should have never been in the position to start robbing banks. But that is a discussion for another day.” said Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson. “Bottom line - this is another example of great collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement partners working together to stop dangerous people from posing a threat to innocent people. Rock solid investigative work that is buoyed by Federal prosecution almost always leads to the best long-term results for public safety. Hats off to everyone involved in the case.” “The Delaware State Police is grateful for the strong partnership with the Dover Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing this case to a successful conclusion,” said Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “Violence in our communities is unacceptable. This sentencing sends a clear message that law enforcement agencies will stand united in support of victims and will ensure that those who commit violent crimes are held accountable. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and arrest individuals who compromise public safety and victimize Delawareans.” “Multiple bank employees, who were simply doing their jobs, must now deal with the pain and trauma inflicted on them by Joshua Lewis. He threatened violence without regard for who he hurt and how,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “May this sentence be a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do all we can to protect the safety and security of our communities while holding violent offenders accountable.” This case was investigated by the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Robbery Unit, Dover Police Department, and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-13-GBW.


title: Titusville Resident Indicted on Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Titusville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The four-count Indictment named David Garrett Struchen, 20, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, in and around June and July of 2024, Struchen induced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a depiction of such conduct. Struchen also possessed these depictions and distributed them to the minor victim. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. 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 Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Titusville Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former Manager Charged with Embezzling $500,000 from Gainesville Trucking Company

body_text: GAINESVILLE, Ga. – A former operations manager at Tribe Transportation, Dustin Jarrard, was arraigned on federal charges after he allegedly embezzled more than half a million dollars from the company. “Jarrard allegedly stole more than $500,000 that was intended to help truckers on the road,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will hold accountable those who abuse their positions of trust and embezzle funds for their personal use.” “This case is a clear example of financial fraud fueled by greed,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Jarrard allegedly manipulated internal processes to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars. The FBI is committed to uncovering and stopping this kind of corporate theft.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From May 2018 through May 2024, Dustin Jarrard served as an operations manager for Tribe Transportation, a large trucking business located in Gainesville, Georgia. As an operations manager, Jarrard had the authority to request expense reimbursements on truck drivers’ behalf. To submit a request, Jarrard would send the company’s accounting department the driver’s name, the reason for the expense, and the amount of the reimbursement. Over the course of more than three years, Jarrard sent fraudulent reimbursement requests to Tribe Transportation. In certain cases, Jarrard requested reimbursement for drivers who were not actually employed by the company, which resulted in payments Jarrard personally redeemed for his own use. In other cases, Jarrard enlisted Tribe Transportation drivers in his scheme and falsely submitted payment requests for expenses never incurred and layover bonuses that were not earned. After receiving funds that were not owed to them, the drivers transferred some of the money to Jarrard for his personal use. Dustin Jarrard, 38, of Gainesville, Ga., was arraigned yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Anna W. Howard after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 22, 2025 for wire fraud. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case. 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: Navy Petty Officer sentenced to six years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class in Norfolk was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, on Nov. 13, 2024, the Norfolk Police Department (NPD) received a complaint that Robert Henry, 43, possessed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his personal laptop. The witness lawfully provided NPD with Henry’s laptop and two hard drives. Henry’s devices, including his cellphone, contained 176 CSAM videos and 119 CSAM images depicting at least 27 minor victims. Henry searched online for groups on messaging apps, using keyword searches of “Teens and Schoolgirls” and “Teen XXX Groups.” Henry used the messaging apps to request CSAM and to find additional groups that shared CSAM. At one point, Henry deleted one of the messaging apps because “There are people looking for predators.” Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Emily Schmid, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-22.


title: Canadian cybercriminal sentenced to a year in prison for NFT theft scheme

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Canadian was sentenced yesterday to a year in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, in May 2022, Cameron Albert Redman, 22, of Mississauga, Ontario, formed a scheme to steal non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by gaining unauthorized access to the X accounts of various digital artists. The conspirators used the artists’ online identities to direct the artists’ followers to fraudulent websites. There, victims would seek to claim new NFTs from the digital artists. Though victims thought they were authorizing a transaction to receive NFTs into their digital wallets, they unknowingly enabled the conspirators to remove cryptocurrency and NFTs from their wallets. Within a few days, Redman and his co-conspirators defrauded over 200 victims and profited over $794,000. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance to secure the arrest and March 2025 extradition from Portugal of Redman. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cybercrime Investigation Team, Central Region, provided valuable assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell 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. 1:25-cr-129.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Dillan Hafer, 26 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Scott J. Frankel after pleading guilty to theft from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Hafer was sentenced to 6 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Hafer walked into the Four Winds Casino in South Bend and stole six bottles of alcohol from an unattended bar at the event center in the casino, which is owned and operated by the Pokagon Band. Pokagon Band tribal police successfully identified Hafer after reviewing casino security camera footage that captured the crime. Hafer has a significant criminal history, including convictions for drug possession, auto theft, and robbery. “We in the Northern District of Indiana value our federal partnership with the Pokagon Band,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “Today’s sentence illustrates our office’s commitment to aggressively prosecuting crime committed on Pokagon trust land.” “The Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department is grateful for the strong collaborative relationship with our federal and local law enforcement partners. Safeguarding Pokagon Band Tribal lands and holding individuals accountable for crimes committed on them remains a top priority of the Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department,” said Pokagon Band Tribal Police Chief Douglas Callahan. This case was investigated by the Pokagon Tribal Police Department, the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Airport Authority Police Department, the University of Notre Dame Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.


title: Marietta Man Convicted of $9.6 Million PPP Loan Fraud and $3.4 Million Tax Fraud Schemes

body_text: ATLANTA - Following a weeklong trial, Carl Delano Torjagbo, a/k/a Karl Lucius Delano, was convicted by a federal jury of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering after obtaining a fraudulent $9.6 million Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan and filing fraudulent tax returns that generated a $3.4 million IRS refund. “This defendant’s massive PPP fraud abused a valuable program intended to assist struggling Americans during a global pandemic. The defendant then compounded his harm by claiming a fraudulent $3.4 million tax refund,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Torjagbo’s conviction signals my office’s relentless pursuit and prosecution of those engaged in fraud, waste, and abuse at the expense of honest taxpayers.” “Legitimate PPP loans saved small businesses across our country,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “Torjagbo chose greed over compassion. He will now be held accountable for his actions.” “Torjagbo defrauded a federal loan program of which its intended use was to assist businesses in covering rent, utility payments, and other job saving needs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Taxpayers’ money that should have gone to these businesses instead went to Torjagbo, who then used it to fund his lavish lifestyle. IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, along with our federal and state law enforcement partners, will continue identifying, investigating, and bringing to prosecution individuals and companies who took advantage of a program Americans desperately needed during a period of economic hardship.” “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) aggressively pursues those who abuse the tax administration process for unlawful purposes,” said TIGTA Special Agent-in-Charge Joel Weaver. “We appreciate the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure individuals engaged in such criminal activity are held accountable to the American people." According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and information presented at trial: On February 13, 2021, Torjagbo submitted two individual tax returns to the IRS. Each tax return was submitted using a different social security number and associated date of birth. The tax returns falsely alleged that Torjagbo had millions of dollars in losses that offset earnings from his purported African gold mine business, Kremkov Industries. The false representations resulted in a U.S. Treasury check being issued to Torjagbo in the amount of $3,366,240.76. Just days later, on February 16, 2021, Torjagbo signed a PPP loan application requesting a $9,554,425 PPP loan for Kremkov Industries. He falsely certified that Kremkov Industries was in operation on February 15, 2020, which was required for a company to be eligible for a PPP loan; that he had 493 employees whose principal places of residence were in the United States; and that the company had an average monthly payroll of nearly $4 million. Torjagbo also falsely certified that all loan proceeds would be used only for business-related purposes and submitted fraudulent documents to the bank, including false tax returns and fake payroll reports that listed nearly a dozen celebrities and fictional characters as purported employees of Kremkov Industries. On March 29, 2021, Torjagbo received approximately $9.6 million in PPP loan proceeds. Instead of using it for purposes consistent with the PPP, he commingled the funds with the fraudulently obtained $3.4 million tax refund and paid personal debts and expenses, including the following: $1,677,861.01 for his personal residence; $332,999.80 for a 2014 Lamborghini Aventador; $120,799.79 for a 2022 BMW M850xi; $90,520 for a 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar; $51,000 for the downpayment on a 72-foot yacht; over $1,000,000 for real estate, trucks, and trailers to start a new business; and more than $15,000 for plastic surgery. On July 25, 2025, a jury convicted Torjagbo, 49, of Marietta, Georgia, of bank fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. He faces a maximum of 170 years of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. before United States District Judge Michael L. Brown. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General provided considerable assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Connors and Nicholas L. Evert are prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . 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: Peñasco Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder in 2022 Fatal Stabbing

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Peñasco man has pleaded guilty to second degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of another man. According to court records, on December 25, 2022, Byron Sanchez , 48, an enrolled member of the Picuris Pueblo, was involved in an altercation with John Doe at his residence in Peñasco, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Picuris Pueblo. During the altercation, which occurred while both individuals were under the influence of alcohol, Sanchez stabbed John Doe, killing him. Law enforcement officials discovered John Doe’s body at the residence on January 11, 2023. Sanchez pleaded guilty to second degree murder. At sentencing, Sanchez faces any term of years up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Sanchez will be subject to up to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families. View the Plea Agreement (Sanchez)_0.pdf


title: Bulgarian arms trafficker and three others indicted for conspiring to supply military-grade weaponry to Mexican drug cartels

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In an indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia, the United States charged a Bulgarian arms trafficker and three other foreign nationals with conspiracy to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess firearms, including machineguns and destructive devices, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. As alleged in the indictment, since at least September 2022, Peter Dimitrov Mirchev, along with Kenyan national Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, Ugandan national Michael Katungi Mpeirwe, and Tanzanian national Subiro Osmund Mwapinga conspired to illegally supply military-grade weaponry to Mexican drug cartels, and in particular, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most violent and prolific transnational criminal organizations. The weaponry included machineguns, rocket launchers, grenades, night vision equipment, sniper rifles, anti-personnel mines, and anti-aircraft weapons. The defendants allegedly believed that the CJNG intended to use these weapons in furtherance of the illegal trafficking of large shipments of cocaine into the United States. On Feb. 20, 2025, the CJNG was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224 . Arms sales to transnational criminal organizations like the CJNG are prohibited by virtually every country. In a series of meetings with individuals claiming to represent the CJNG, Mirchev allegedly agreed to arrange, coordinate, and participate in illegal arms transactions while avoiding detection by international and U.S. law enforcement. Mirchev allegedly recruited Asumo to corruptly obtain an End-User Certificate (EUC) from a nation that would falsely claim a different end-user for the weapons. Asumo recruited Mpeirwe, who recruited Mwapinga. Together, they allegedly obtained an EUC from the United Republic of Tanzania authorizing the importation of AK-47s. As a test shipment, Mirchev and others then exported 50 AK-47 automatic assault rifles and accompanying magazines and ammunition from Bulgaria, using the EUC provided by Asumo, Mpeirwe, and Mwapinga, and intending that the weapons were actually received by the CJNG. The defendants allegedly continued to conspire to supply drug cartels with even more weaponry, potentially including surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft drones, and the ZU-23 anti-aircraft weapon system. Mirchev allegedly created a list of weaponry for the CJNG totaling approximately 53.7 million Euros (approximately $58 million U.S.). Asumo, Mpeirwe, and Mwapinga allegedly agreed to again provide arms control documents designed to obscure that these weapons were intended for the CJNG. According to court records, Mirchev was previously implicated in supplying arms to Viktor Bout , who was convicted at trial of conspiring to kill U.S. nationals, conspiring to kill U.S. officers and employees, conspiring to acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles; and conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization in case 1:08-cr-365 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Mirchev was arrested by Spanish authorities in Madrid on April 8 and is currently pending extradition to the United States. Asumo was arrested by Moroccan authorities in Casablanca on April 8 and is currently in extradition proceedings. Mwapinga was arrested by Ghanaian authorities in Accra on April 8 and was extradited to the United States on July 25. Mpeirwe remains at large. If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Louis A. D’Ambrosio, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Special Operations Division, made the announcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided invaluable assistance in securing Mwapinga’s extradition, working in cooperation with the DEA Attaché to U.S. Embassy Accra and key Ghanaian partners, including the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice of Ghana, the Ghana Police Service, and Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission. This case was investigated by the DEA’s Special Operations Division – Bilateral Investigations Unit. The Hellenic National Police (HNP) in Greece provided substantial assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony T. Aminoff and Edgardo J. Rodriguez are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-CR-102. An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Attachments: mirchev_unsealed_indictment.pdf


title: Upper Darby Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding a Religious Organization and a Political Organization

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Willie Jordan, 68, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Harvey Bartle III to two counts of wire fraud. Jordan was charged with those offenses in an information unsealed today, in connection with two separate fraud schemes he conducted. As detailed in court filings and statements made in court, the defendant was a deacon and trustee for Religious Organization #1, located in Philadelphia, Pa. Jordan was responsible for managing and overseeing various financial matters involving Religious Organization #1, including collecting funds for the organization, depositing those funds in the organization’s bank accounts, and paying the organization’s expenses. Religious Organization #1 placed defendant Jordan in a position of trust and allowed him to exercise almost total control over its funds. The defendant did not receive a salary from Religious Organization #1. Rather, he received his salary from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he was a Director of Operations for a state senator. From at least in or about January 2020 through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan exploited Religious Organization #1 for his personal financial benefit. On a regular basis, the defendant improperly issued checks to himself from Religious Organization #1’s business checking account, and made it appear that such checks were to reimburse him for expenses that he incurred on behalf of Religious Organization #1. In fact, Jordan did not incur those expenses and simply issued those checks for his personal benefit. The defendant engaged in this activity fraudulently and without the knowledge or permission of Religious Organization #1, its trustees, or members. As part of this scheme, Jordan issued approximately 82 fraudulent checks to himself totaling approximately $57,384, resulting in significant losses to Religious Organization #1. As presented in court filings and statements, Political Organization #1 was one of 66 wards in Philadelphia and a subdivision of Political Organization #2, which represented the interests of a political party in the City of Philadelphia. From in or about 1996 through in or about April 2025, the defendant was the elected leader of Political Organization #1 and controlled and managed the organization’s finances. Jordan did not receive a salary from Political Organization #1. From at least in or about January 2020, through at least in or about January 2024, Jordan exploited Political Organization #1 for his personal financial benefit. He opened two bank accounts in name of Political Organization #1, made himself the sole signatory on the accounts in the name of Political Organization #1, and obtained, for both accounts, debit cards that he controlled. On a regular basis, the defendant improperly conducted financial transactions, through debit card charges, checks, and ATM cash withdrawals, using Political Organization #1’s bank accounts to transfer the funds of Political Organization #1 to himself or others, for his personal benefit. Jordan used Political Organization #1’s funds for personal purchases at airlines, car dealerships, furniture stores, grocery stores, and other retail establishments. He also used those funds to pay his personal credit card bills, utility bills, and cellular telephone bills. In or about the summer of 2023, Jordan used the funds of Political Organization #1 to pay more than $12,500 in expenses for a family member’s funeral. The defendant engaged in these personal financial transactions without any benefit flowing to Political Organization #1 and without the knowledge or permission of any of its members. As part of this scheme, Jordan defrauded Political Organization #1 and its members of at least $85,607. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19 and faces a maximum possible term of 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen and Special Assistant United States Attorney James E. Price.


title: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man pleaded guilty to federal charges for engaging in sexual acts with a 14-year-old child. According to court records, in February 2019, Daniel Washburn , 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in sexual act with a 14-year-old minor when he was 24 years old. Washburn pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. At sentencing, Washburn faces up to 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Washburn will be subject to not less than five years and up to life of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Jesse Pecoraro and Mia Ulibarri-Rubin are prosecuting the case.


title: Dermatology Providers Agree to Pay Nearly $850,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Wound Repair Claims

component: Civil Division

body_text: Forefront Dermatology S.C. and Henghold Surgery Center LLC, have agreed to pay $847,394 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly causing the submission of falsely coded claims to Medicare for wound repair procedures. Forefront owns and operates a dermatology practice in Florida doing business as Henghold Dermatology. Henghold Surgery Center is an ambulatory surgery center that closed in 2023, and is wholly owned by William B. Henghold, M.D. Both the practice and surgery center performed wound repair procedures following Mohs micrographic surgery, a method of skin cancer removal. The United States alleged that Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by using inaccurate wound repair billing codes for which Medicare paid more money than it would have paid for the wound repairs that were actually performed — a practice known as “upcoding.” Specifically, Henghold Dermatology and Henghold Surgery Center falsely coded linear repairs as if they were flap repairs and falsely coded smaller flap repairs as if they were larger flap repairs. “Improperly billing Medicare depletes valuable government resources that provide necessary medical care to millions of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who enrich themselves by defrauding federal health care programs.” “This office will continue to aggressively root out fraud, waste, and abuse in our healthcare system by pursuing providers who submit false claims to Medicare,” said U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida. “We will hold those who attempt to defraud the federal government accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” “Schemes that cause Medicare to pay for costlier services than were actually performed waste taxpayer funding, threatening the integrity of this federal health care program,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working together with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to investigate allegations of improper billing schemes to protect taxpayer-funded health care programs and the people served by them.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Christopher Wolfe, M.D., a former Forefront employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Wolfe v. Henghold et al. , No. 3:23-cv-21624 (N.D. Fla.). Dr. Wolfe will receive $152,531 in connection with the settlement. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matter was investigated by Trial Attorney Colin Shannon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Spaccarotella, Mary Ann Couch, and Marie Moyle for the Northern District of Florida. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced To More Than 15 Years For Trafficking Methamphetamine

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Kevin Ray Marcano (37, Cambridge, MA) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Marcano pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025. According to court documents, in March 2022, Marcano began supplying methamphetamine across the country by shipping multi-pound packages to known customers, including an individual in Jacksonville. From March 2022 to July 2023, Marcano sent approximately 5 packages each containing about 10 pounds of methamphetamine to the Jacksonville customer. In September 2023, the same individual called Marcano and ordered another shipment of four pounds of methamphetamine in exchange for $4,900. Within five days of placing the order from Marcano, the four-pound shipment of methamphetamine arrived. “This criminal was responsible to shipping large quantities of methamphetamine across the country, fueling addiction and poisoning communities far beyond his own,” said Homeland Security Investigations Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of HSI and FBI special agents, this individual’s nationwide narcotics distribution network has been dismantled.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Milliron.


title: St. Johns County Man Indicted For $2 Million Fraud Scheme

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Eric James Stone (42, St. Augustine) with 10 counts of fraud (wire and mail) and 5 counts of money laundering. If convicted, each fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and each money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. According to court documents, Stone was fired from Fidelity Investments in June 2021 due to allegations that Stone had solicited and obtained loans from his clients. After Stone was terminated, he began to solicit money from his former clients by way of personal loans. Stone promised to repay the loans but never did. After one victim provided loan proceeds to Stone, she was advised that there was an investigation into the funds and Stone had incurred costs and fees that also needed to be paid before Stone could repay her. Stone created fake email accounts, sent fake text messages, and pretended to hire attorneys to further defraud the victim. In total, the victim paid Stone more than $2 million that he used to fund gambling activities, personal travel, and satisfy personal debts. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Corrections. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. If you believe that you may have been victimized by Eric Stone, please contact the FBI-Jacksonville Office at 904-248-7000 or visit https://tips.fbi.gov/home . Indictment


title: Grayson County man sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Sherman man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Ryan Deshaun Edd, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 30, 2025. According to information presented in court, in November 2022, law enforcement received information that Edd was trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine in the Grayson County area. On November 16, 2022, Edd’s vehicle was stopped for traffic violations on U.S. Highway 75 in Sherman. Zacheriah Alexander, of Denison, was driving the vehicle and Edd was a backseat passenger. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement officers located a large plastic bag containing 1.22 kilograms of methamphetamine and a loaded revolver. Further investigation revealed that Alexander had been working with Edd to sell methamphetamine for approximately six months before being arrested. Alexander was previously sentenced by Judge Mazzant to 135 months in federal prison for his role in the offense. Edd will begin serving his federal prison sentence after he completes a 45-year state sentence for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon committed in Sherman in January of 2023. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sherman Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Collin County felon sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations

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

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Princeton man has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Larry Wayne Culverhouse, 39, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 30, 2025. According to information presented in court, on August 30, 2023, Culverhouse was found in possession of 504.3 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Further investigation revealed Culver was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. ###


title: Gregg County man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Longview man who sold fake prescription drugs has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Kym Andrew Wallace, also known as Trigga, 28, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 30, 2025. According to information presented in court, Wallace admitted to selling what were supposed to be prescription pills, which a 17-year-old juvenile consumed them and died from a fentanyl overdose on May 29, 2024. Following the overdose of the juvenile victim, investigators analyzed pills purchased from Wallace and determined they contained fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid commonly used as an analgesic or anesthetic that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The pills purchased from Wallace were round and light blue, bearing the markings “M” and “30,” which are the same manufacturer’s markings for 30 milligram tablets of generic oxycodone. “Thirty years in a federal prison cannot compare to the lifetime sentence of grief that the victim’s family faces as the result of Wallace’s actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Wallace deserves every day of this 360-month sentence. Our office, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively work to protect our communities from drug traffickers like Wallace.” This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Gregg County Sheriff’s Office; and Longview Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek. ###


title: Justice Department Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice released Guidance to ensure that recipients of federal funding do not engage in unlawful discrimination. In particular, it clarifies that federal antidiscrimination laws apply to programs or initiatives that involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) programs. Entities that receive federal funds, like all other entities subject to federal antidiscrimination laws, must ensure that their programs and activities comply with federal law and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics—no matter the program’s labels, objectives, or intentions. “This Department of Justice will not stand by while recipients of federal funds engage in illegal discrimination,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This guidance will ensure we are serving the American people and not ideological agendas.” “The federal government must ensure that taxpayer money is used lawfully and for the public good,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The very foundation of our anti-discrimination laws rests on the principle that every American deserves equal opportunity, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics.” This new Guidance emphasizes the significant legal risks of initiatives that involve discrimination based on protected characteristics and offers non-binding best practices to help entities that receive federal funds avoid the risk of violations and the revocation of federal grant funding. Read the Guidance HERE .


title: Newport Man Indicted on Enticement, Child Pornography Charges

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Newport man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly enticing a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity on two separate occasions, for allegedly receiving child sexual abuse material, and separately for possessing it, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. The indictment charges Kyle Patrick Tomey with coercion and enticement of a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Charging documents reflect that Tormey allegedly repeatedly communicated with a minor female on various social media platforms, enticing the young girl to meet with him to engage in illicit sexual activity. Court documents show that, during court-authorized searches, law enforcement allegedly discovered multiple images of the minor victim in various stages of undress stored in a social media account belonging to Tormey; numerous communications with the girl that led up to the alleged sexual encounter; and multiple images of other minors that constituted child sexual abuse material. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Milind M. Shah. The matter was investigated by the FBI and West Warwick Police Department. Acting United States Attorney Sara M. Bloom thanks the Newport Police for their assistance during the investigation and arrest of the defendant. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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 To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/ ###


title: Warwick Man Admits to Trafficking Two Kilos of Cocaine

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man has been convicted in federal court for trafficking two kilos of cocaine, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Manuel Jose Miranda, 36, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. In September 2024, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package addressed for delivery to Miranda’s residence that was found to contain two kilos of cocaine. The package was resealed and delivered to the residence by an undercover Postal Inspector and remained under law enforcement surveillance until Miranda retrieved the package from outside the front door. As law enforcement began to close in on the residence, Miranda was heading down the driveway on a motorcycle. He was ordered to stop and get off the motorcycle. The parcel containing the two kilos of cocaine was located inside Miranda’s backpack. Miranda is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan. The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigation, and the Warwick Police Department. ###


title: Ecuadorian National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national was sentenced today for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Luis Ernesto Caguana-Caguana, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to time served (approximately 37 days in prison). Caguana-Caguana is now subject to deportation proceedings. Earlier in the hearing, Caguana-Caguana pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Caguana-Caguana was most recently deported from the United States on March 6, 2014. Sometime after his March 2014 removal, Caguana-Caguana illegally reentered the United States without permission. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Floridians sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas for conspiring  to defraud military retail exchanges across the nation

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – Two Floridians have been sentenced to federal prison in a fraud scheme targeting military retail exchanges, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Gilda Rosenberg, 60, of Golden Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 30, 2025. Judge Mazzant also ordered Rosenberg to pay restitution of over $1.6 million. Amit Biegun, 46, of Aventura, Florida, was also sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant on June 24, 2025. According to information presented in court, Rosenberg was the president and owner of Gilly USA, Inc., GBR Enterprises, Inc., and Gilly Vending, Inc., and Biegun was the chief financial officer of Gilly Vending. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is a government entity under the Department of Defense (DoD), responsible for operating stores located on U.S. Army bases, known as Post Exchanges (PX), and U.S. Air Force bases, known as Base Exchanges (BX). These stores provide retail services to military service members, veterans, and their families. AAFES is self-funded, operating mostly through the revenue of its sales of goods and services. AAFES stores and locations typically host a variety of vendors, also called concessionaires. Beginning in 2016, AAFES awarded Gilly Vending over 20 contracts to provide vending services, snack contracts, beverage contracts, and micro-markets at military installations in California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. Depending on the size and location, these individual contracts generated anywhere from $24,000 to $1 million annually. As part of the contracts, Gilly Vending paid commissions to AAFES based on those sales. Rosenberg and Biegun conspired to defraud AAFES by significantly underreporting sales figures resulting in a loss of commissions fees to AAFES. “The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is an integral part of the Department of Defense, providing vital services to our military service members, veterans, and their families,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “By stealing from AAFES, the defendants have stolen from the United States taxpayer and those who served their country with honor and distinction. This sentence sends a strong message that this kind of fraud and abuse will not be tolerated.” “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners will methodically investigate allegations of fraud and corruption that impact the DoD and America’s warfighters,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, DCIS Southwest Field Office. “Today’s outcome reflects our unwavering commitment to ensuring the integrity of the DoD contracting process and holding accountable those who illegally enrich themselves at the taxpayer’s expense.” “Today’s sentencing should serve as a stark reminder that our agents, and those of our partner law enforcement agencies, are relentless in their pursuit of those who choose to defraud the government,” said Special Agent in Charge John McCabe of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Mid-Central Field Office. “Army CID remains committed to protecting the resources that support our service members and their families.” “The Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is undeterred from hunting down fraud impacting the goods and services supporting our military community worldwide” said Special Agent in Charge Nicholas J. Groesbeck, OSI Procurement Fraud Detachment 3, San Antonio, TX. “We appreciate the efforts of our joint partners who ensure those violating the law are held accountable.” This case was investigated by the Department of Defense (DoD); Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS); the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (DACID); the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI); and Army Air Force Exchange Services – Office of General Counsel. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Two Sentenced in Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been sentenced for their roles in an Eastern Panhandle drug trafficking organization. The indictment, returned in January 2024 against Gary Brown, Jr. and eighty-one others, charged that the defendants caused substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine to be distributed in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. Darien Jacob Horton, also known as “Dee Jae,”, age 25, of Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison. Horton was one of the distributors in the operation, purchasing large quantities of fentanyl capsules and other drugs for redistribution. Horton has prior convictions of attempted murder, firearms violations, and domestic battery. Jennifer Nicole Barthlow, age 41, of Charles Town, West Virginia, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison. Barthlow was one of Brown’s distributors. Of the 82 defendants, 81 have been convicted. Including this week’s two, 74 defendants have been sentenced. Brown, Jr. was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison in May 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided. Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office (Virginia). This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Smith County man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Tyler man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Enrique Adrian Gomez, 29, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 30, 2025. According to information presented in court, Gomez met two minor victims online in September 2021 and continued communicating with them through November 2021. Both minors were less than 13 years old at the time. Gomez communicated with the victims through text messaging and social media applications. During these real-time online conversations, the victims were persuaded to engage in prohibited sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. “The ease with which Gomez was able to communicate with the minor victims here is a reminder of the constant threat that social media applications can pose to children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Under the guise of online friendship, Gomez persuaded these children to engage in adult acts that no child should be doing, let alone be doing online. Our office is committed to stopping criminals like Gomez in their tracks, but the most important tool to stop online predators is an active and engaged parent. Nothing protects children better than a parent who sets and enforces limits on a child’s online activities and actively monitors their social media presence.” This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security—Homeland Security Investigations and the Ilion, New York Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells. ###


title: Mexican Man Sentenced for Falsely Claiming U.S. Citizenship in Passport Application

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: GAINESVILLE, Ga. - German Madrigal, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison following his conviction at trial for falsely claiming that he was a U.S. citizen in an application for a U.S. passport. “Because Madrigal lied about his foreign citizenship and used a fake birth certificate to try to obtain a U.S. passport, his next trip will be to a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Madrigal’s sentence sends a message to those who would use fraudulent identity documents to conceal their nationality: you will be caught, prosecuted, and punished.” “The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to investigating and pursuing anyone who applies for or obtains a United States passport using false documents,” said Acting Director of Diplomatic Security Service Domestic Operations Gregory Batman. “The U.S. passport is the most coveted travel document in the world. There are foreign nationals who attempt to fraudulently acquire U.S. passports to carry out criminal activities, including terrorism, inside our borders. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 1976, Madrigal was born in Jalisco, Mexico. The following year, Madrigal and his parents crossed into the United States illegally. In the 1990s, Madrigal and his family relocated to Hall County, Georgia, where Madrigal was later arrested for statutory rape and multiple drug trafficking offenses. At the time of those arrests, Madrigal reported Jalisco, Mexico as his place of birth. On December 9, 2021, Madrigal fraudulently applied for a U.S. passport at a Gainesville, Georgia post office, posing as a U.S. citizen by presenting a Georgia driver’s license and a fraudulently obtained California birth record. Madrigal’s parents obtained the fake birth record to hide Madrigal’s lack of American citizenship, and Madrigal had used the same document in 2010 to evade deportation proceedings. On April 29, 2025, following a two-day jury trial, Madrigal was convicted of passport fraud. On July 29, 2025, United States District Judge Steve C. Jones sentenced German Madrigal, 49, of Jalisco, Mexico, to 18 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Pearce prosecuted the case. 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: Three-Time Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Cory Todd Cox, 38, of Noblesville, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, on November 28, 2023, Cox sent and received multiple images of child sexual abuse material via text message. The images contained graphic depictions of prepubescent minors. On December 6, 2023, Noblesville Police Officers executed search warrants for Cox’s residence. During the search, officers recovered three cellular devices he used to transmit, view, and store child sexual abuse material. Cox further admitted he possessed a Dropbox account, which is a cloud-based storage website, that contained approximately 5 videos and 31 images of child sexual abuse material. At the time of this arrest, Cox was on probation for a 2017 offense and was a registered sex offender. He had been previously convicted of multiple sexual abuse crimes, including sexual misconduct with a minor in 2007, sexual battery in 2008, and child solicitation in 2017, in which he was caught soliciting sex from a thirteen-year-old via Facebook Messenger. “Despite his history as a dangerous contact sex offender, the defendant chose to reoffend. His actions ensure that images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children will circulate in perpetuity, which unequivocally contributes to the trauma experienced by the abused children depicted in his collection,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “He has no place in civilized society and will spend the next 15 years in federal prison where he belongs, thanks to the important work of the U.S. Secret Service and Noblesville Police Department.” “The U.S. Secret Service is dedicated to protecting children from sexual predators and will vigorously pursue repeat offenders. This defendant’s lengthy criminal history and propensity to reoffend is beyond disturbing,” said Special Agent in Charge Ike Barnes, of the U.S. Secret Service’s Indianapolis Field Office. “I commend the work of the Noblesville Police Department, our partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for bringing this man to justice.” The U.S. Secret Service and Noblesville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Haney and MaryAnn T. Mindrum, who prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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. If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood .


title: Deming Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A police officer from Deming has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor. According to court records, between March and November 2024, Jesus Lopez, Jr. , 35, a Deming Police Department officer, engaged in illegal sexual conduct with a minor, Jane Doe. Despite knowing Jane Doe was under the age of 18, Lopez participated in and recorded sexually explicit acts with her on multiple occasions. The investigation revealed that Lopez received more than ten images and videos of child pornography from Jane Doe. Lopez pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. At sentencing, Lopez faces between five and 15 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Lopez will be subject to not less than five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson K. Dering V is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.


title: Dauphin County Man Sentenced To 115 Months’ Imprisonment For Firearm Offense

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Philip Shearer, age 49, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 14, 2025, to 115 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Shearer previously pled guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm—specifically, a privately-manufactured short-barrel rifle. Shearer further admitted to possessing over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, several high-capacity magazines, and other tactical gear including night vision goggles and a ghillie suit, all of which were found in Shearer’s Harrisburg home. Shearer had 14 prior criminal convictions, including five driving under the influence convictions, an indecent assault conviction, and a domestic violence conviction. Shearer also attempted to purchase a firearm twice but was denied based on his background check. He then turned to making the firearms himself. "The sentencing of Philip Shearer emphasizes the serious dangers posed by felons who unlawfully possess and manufacture firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to collaborating with our law enforcement partners, like ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, to ensure that dangerous criminals with a history of violence are not allowed to possess firearms." “Protecting our communities from dangerous criminals like Philip Shearer is a top ATF priority,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Philadelphia Field Division. “With 14 criminal convictions, including multiple driving under the influence, indecent assault, and a domestic violence conviction, the law duly prohibits him from owning the unregistered short-barrel rifle he manufactured for himself after he was prevented from buying a firearm. Working with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Attorney’s Office, we are making our communities safer one case at a time.” The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Dukes prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # #