title: Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national deported in 2015 after being convicted for trafficking heroin pleaded guilty today to illegally reentering the United States, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Kelvin Roberto Feliz, 54, who has been detained at the Adult Correctional Institution in an unrelated matter since June 2024, today admitted in federal court that he illegally reentered the United States after he was convicted in September 2014 and deported in July 2015. Feliz is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.


title: Scranton Man Charged with Trafficking Cocaine

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lee Wood, age 48, of Scranton, Pennsylvania was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that from May 28, 2024 through August 17, 2024, Wood conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. The indictment further alleges that on August 8, 2024, Wood distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute, cocaine. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Federal Inmate Charged with Possession of a Weapon in Prison

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marco Deputy, age 30, of Frederick, Maryland, was indicted on August 12, 2025 by a federal grand jury for possession of a weapon in a federal correctional facility. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on December 2, 2024, Deputy, an inmate at the Schuylkill Federal Correctional Facility, possessed a prohibited object, a sharpened aluminum weapon. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Three Philadelphia Men Arrested in Connection With June Armored Car Robbery

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Daishaun “Daisha” Hughes-Murchison, 30, Brian Wallace, 31, and Trayvine Jackson, 31, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery) and use of a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, in connection with the June 21, 2025, armed robbery of a Brink’s armored car, in which they stole more than 2 million dollars. The defendants had their initial appearances in court last week. Jackson has been ordered detained, Wallace and Hughes-Murchison will have detention hearings later this week. As presented in the criminal complaints and other filings, on June 21, 2025, at approximately 8 a.m., a Brink’s armored car driver was nearing a Home Depot on the 2500 block of Castor Avenue in Philadelphia, as part of his scheduled route. The driver was walking down the rear alley of Home Depot, when two men armed with AR-style rifles approached him from behind. The men forced the driver to the ground, disarmed him of his company-issued firearm, and took his keys. One of the robbers stayed with the driver, while the other entered the armored vehicle and stole a significant amount of cash belonging to Brink’s Inc. The two men then fled in a black Hyundai Sonata bearing a Virginia temporary tag, with a third man following in silver Ford Fusion with a Pennsylvania tag. As alleged, investigators determined that the Ford Fusion belonged to Hughes-Murchison, and the Hyundai Sonata had been rented by Wallace, who returned the car a few hours after the robbery. Video surveillance footage obtained by law enforcement showed that, after returning the Sonata, Wallace walked to Hughes-Murchison’s Fusion, got into the passenger side, and the vehicle left. Cell records place the phones of defendants Wallace and Jackson in the area of the car rental site at that time, the complaints allege, and place Wallace’s and Hughes-Murchison’s phones in the area of the Home Depot at the time of the robbery. As detailed in court filings, Brink’s advised investigators that Jackson had been a Brink’s employee, until he was suspended and then terminated after an internal investigation. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz. The charges and allegations contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Devin Lopez-Dominguez, age 25, an inmate at the Schuylkill Federal Correctional Facility, Minersville, PA, was indicted on August 12, 2025 by a federal grand jury for possession of a weapon in a federal correctional facility. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on December 22, 2024, Lopez-Dominguez possessed a prohibited object, a sharpened aluminum weapon. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Federal Inmate Charged with Possession of a Weapon and Controlled Substances in Prison

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Juawan Davis, age 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, was indicted on August 12, 2025 by a federal grand jury for possession of a weapon and controlled substances while an inmate in a federal correctional facility. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on November 14, 2024, Davis, an inmate at Schuylkill Federal Correctional Facility, possessed a sharpened plexi-glass weapon with a tape handle, THC, and Buprenorphine. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (“FBI”). Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for possessing contraband in prison is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Tech Company CEO Charged With Securities And Wire Fraud After Gambling Away Seed Round Funding

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of an Indictment yesterday charging RICHARD KIM, the former Chief Executive Officer of Zero Edge Corporation (“Zero Edge”), with engaging in a scheme to defraud investors and prospective investors of Zero Edge by making false and misleading statements regarding the use of investor funds and subsequently misappropriating those funds. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield. “As alleged, Richard Kim misled investors by promising that he would build a blockchain-based casino gaming app, but ironically Kim turned around and gambled away the very funds he said he would use to build a better casino,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Founders who abuse the trust of their investors threaten the integrity of our important and uniquely American venture capital market.” “Richard Kim allegedly misappropriated millions of investors’ dollars intended to develop his online casino company by redirecting these funds for personal gambling and trading ventures,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “Kim allegedly hedged his bets that false assurances would induce more investments and conceal the true nature of his spending. The FBI remains committed to apprehending any individual who leverages executive positions to defraud others for selfish purposes.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] KIM founded Zero Edge in March 2024, purporting to build an app-based casino using blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies. KIM represented to prospective investors that Zero Edge would develop on-chain games beginning with craps, and later offering roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. KIM also represented to investors that their funds would be used to build the business and its technology. Instead, KIM misappropriated the proceeds of the company’s seed round to make speculative cryptocurrency trades and gamble at an online casino. Shortly after closing on the approximately $4.3 million seed financing round, KIM diverted approximately $3.8 million of investors’ funds first into a personal cryptocurrency account held at Coinbase and then sent approximately $1 million on to a variety of other crypto exchanges, including Binance, Kraken, and Backpack. Between in or about June 21, 2024, and June 27, 2024, KIM made transfers of approximately $7 million, and net transfers of approximately $1 million, from Coinbase and Kraken to a personal account held at Shuffle.com, which advertises itself as a “VIP Crypto Casino and Sportsbook.” KIM also directed a net sum of approximately $450,000 to other cryptocurrency wallets with unknown owners and transferred approximately $145,000 more from Kraken to a personal checking account. In e-mails KIM later sent to investors, KIM admitted to misappropriating the investors’ funds, writing that he was “solely responsible for the loss of $3.67m of the Company’s balance sheet” following “leveraged trading losses from seed round financing proceeds” and that the company had lost nearly all its money. But even as KIM admitted to some investors that he had misappropriated funds, he continued to conceal the true nature of his conduct, telling investors that he had lost the money as a result of a “treasury management strategy” rather than personal gambling. At the time of his arrest, KIM admitted to the FBI that he knew what he did “was clearly wrong from the beginning” and “completely unjustifiable.” * * * KIM, 39, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents from the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a parallel civil action. The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan T. Nees is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._kim_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Pike County Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, AL – Today, Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced that a federal jury in Montgomery has convicted 52-year-old Jeffery Wayne Parker, of Troy, Alabama, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The jury returned its verdict on August 12, 2025. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on October 10, 2023, deputies with the Pike County Sheriff’s Office went to Parker’s residence to execute a search warrant. When law enforcement arrived, Parker quickly exited through the back door and began running but stopped when ordered to do so by deputies. As law enforcement approached, they observed a handgun in a holster on Parker’s waist. A subsequent search of Parker’s vehicle, which was parked on the property, uncovered an additional 21 firearms stored in the trunk, including 14 shotguns and rifles, and seven handguns. Parker has prior felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Following this conviction, Parker faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Paul Markovits and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.


title: TALLAHASSEE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO INTERNATIONAL CHILD EXPLOITATION CRIMES

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Austin Keith Hibbert, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempting to travel for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct, and transferring obscene material to a person less than 16 years of age. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am incredibly grateful for the tireless efforts of our international and domestic law enforcement partners to investigate and intervene in cases like this, particularly because predators like this defendant are relentless in committing these disgusting crimes. This case represented one of parents’ worst nightmares – the targeting, grooming, and attempted exploitation of their child – but thankfully that nightmare did not become a reality for this family. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting offenders like this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.” Court documents reflect that between May 2023, and August 2024, Hibbert communicated almost daily through multiple social media platforms with a 13-year-old child from Estonia, a country in Northern Europe. Hibbert met the child through a popular Internet game. The communications between Hibbert and the child quickly became sexual in nature. Hibbert told the child that he intended to travel to Estonia to meet and to engage in sexual activity. Additionally, Hibbert sent the child more than twelve explicit videos. In August 2024, law enforcement officials learned that Hibbert had applied for a U.S. passport and had booked an international flight from Tallahassee to Estonia. On August 12, 2024, law enforcement officials intercepted Hibbert as he attempted to board his flight at the Tallahassee International Airport. A search of Hibbert’s person and carry-on bags revealed items indicative of his intent to travel to meet with the child, including his U.S. passport, a bracelet, and a box of condoms. A later search of Hibbert’s electronic devices confirmed Hibbert’s communications with the child, his travel plans, and showed that he reserved lodging near where the child lived. Hibbert faces a minimum mandatory of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release. The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tallahassee Police Department, with assistance from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2025, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Erin Creegan Appointed Interim United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – Erin Creegan has been appointed as the Interim United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. United States Attorney Creegan was appointed to the position by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi on August 11, 2025, effective today. As Interim United States Attorney, Ms. Creegan is the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in New Hampshire. She supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters for the United States within the district. She leads an office of approximately 54 prosecutors, civil litigators, support personnel and professional staff members. “Extraordinary work is already being done across New Hampshire to protect our communities and uphold the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “As someone who calls the Granite State home, my focus will be on building on that foundation and marshaling every available resource to ensure New Hampshire continues to receive the full measure of federal support it deserves.” U.S. Attorney Creegan has years of experience as a prosecutor in the United States Department of Justice having served in roles including as an Associate Deputy Attorney General and a prosecutor in the Counterterrorism Section in Washington D.C. Immediately prior to her appointment as the United States Attorney, Ms. Creegan served as the General Counsel for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch where she advised on all legal matters affecting the state judiciary. For more information on the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nh . ###


title: West Columbia Man Sentenced to More than 8 Years in Federal Prison for Gun Charge

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

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kendolius Cortez Jones, 32, of West Columbia, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence presented to the court showed that from April through June 2023, Jones sold 13 firearms to undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The firearms sold consisted of stolen firearms and firearms capable of accepting large capacity magazines. Jones was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions for criminal conspiracy, assault and battery, failure to stop for blue light, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, forgery, driving under suspension, and multiple drug related offenses, including distribution of crack cocaine. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 107 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case. ###


title: Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 71 Months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Noah Lee Craddock, age 33, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 12, 2025, to 71 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, in November 2020, the Pennsylvania State Police stopped a vehicle Craddock was driving on Interstate 83 in Harrisburg. During the stop, police recovered a 9mm Glock pistol and a loaded magazine from the vehicle. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli. # # #


title: Registered Sex Offender from Waushara County Indicted for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Adam A. Juslen (age: 41), a registered sex offender from Waushara County, Wisconsin. Juslen was charged with possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252A(b)(2). According to the indictment, Juslen possessed several sexually explicit images depicting children under the age of 8 years old. Juslen was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in three state cases in Calumet County (2010), Waushara County (2014), and Outagamie County (2015). If convicted of the federal charge, he would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander E. Duros. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. 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.projectsafechildhood.gov. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Drug Courier Arrested in Orange Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHRISTIAN ANDRES TEJADA SEGURA, 26, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in West Hazelton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by 18 months of supervised release, for a fentanyl trafficking offense. Judge Oliver also ordered Tejada to pay a $20,000 fine. According to court documents and statements made in court, as part of an undercover investigation, the DEA arranged a fentanyl purchase with an individual. On May 24, 2023, Tejada was arrested in Orange after he had traveled to Connecticut and was found in possession of approximately 473 grams of the drug. On April 4, 2025, Tejada pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Tejada, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 11. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, the West Haven Police Department, and the New Haven Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe.


title: Mexican National Charged with Assault on a Federal Officer and Destruction of Government Property

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Rolando Nava PACHECO, a Mexican National, was charged in federal court today for assaulting a federal officer and damaging government property. According to a complaint, on August 11, 2025, agents assigned to the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) conducted a joint operation to arrest an individual, suspected of immigration violations. During their operation, federal agents conducted a traffic stop on a white truck. Agents wearing visible law enforcement identifiers verbally announced themselves as federal agents and requested identification from vehicle’s driver. The driver of the white truck attempted to flee by accelerating the truck and striking a federal agent and federal government vehicle. As the white truck recklessly tried to flee the area, a federal agent driving a government vehicle attempted to block the path of the white truck. The driver of the white truck proceeded to strike the federal agent’s vehicle head on. Shortly after, the driver of the vehicle was arrested and identified as Rolando Nava Pacheco. “Our office is committed to protecting our federal law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “Put plainly, those who attempt to injure or evade law enforcement will face federal charges.” “This operation demonstrates the commitment of ERO officers to enforcing federal immigration laws and protecting public safety,” said ERO San Diego Field Office Director Patrick Divver. “Despite the challenges encountered, our officers remain dedicated to carrying out their duties with professionalism.” DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr-MJ-04358 Rolando NAVA PACHECO Age: 19 Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Assault on a Federal Officer – Title 18, U.S. C., Section 111 (a)(1) Maximum penalty: 8 years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine Assault on a Federal Officer resulting in bodily injury – Title 18, U.S. C., Section 111 (b) Maximum penalty: 20 years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine Destruction of Government Property – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1361 (Felony) Maximum penalty: 10 years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Federal Jury in Lafayette Convicts Former Abbeville Resident on Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury in Lafayette has found a former Abbeville resident, David Lee Fail , 43, guilty of transportation and possession of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. According to information presented in court, while living in Abbeville in 2021, Fail uploaded pornographic images of prepubescent children into a popular cloud-based storage platform account. The investigation into Fail’s illicit activities began in December 2021 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) received a cybertip reporting that images depicting child sexual abuse material had been uploaded onto a cloud-based platform using a unique IP address. Agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“HSI”), investigated the case and learned that Fail had two previous convictions for similar child exploitation offenses. Further investigation revealed that the online storage account was registered in Fail’s name in Abbeville and had recently been disabled. Agents learned that after the account was disabled, Fail left Abbeville and relocated to the Denver, Colorado area. Agents obtained search warrants for Fail’s accounts and found more than 150 images containing child sexual abuse material. Many of the images found depicted prepubescent females with adult males. Fail faces a sentence of 40 years in prison as to the transportation of child pornography conviction, and 20 years in prison for the possession of child pornography conviction, in addition to a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing has been scheduled for December 9, 2025. The case was investigated by Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and HSI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Craig R. Bordelon and J. Luke Walker. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . # # #


title: Connecticut Lab, its Owners and Officers, to Pay More Than $1.2 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that GENCO LAB, LLC and its owners and officers, PAUL CONROY, TRICIA CONROY, and CHARLES OREFICE, have entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and agreed to pay more than $1.2 million to settle allegations that they submitted false and fraudulent claims to government health care programs for medically unnecessary urine drug tests. Genco Lab (“Genco”) is a reference laboratory with offices in Branford. Paul Conroy is the majority owner, Orefice is a part owner, and Tricia Conroy is the Chief Operating Officer. The government alleges that Genco and its owners and officers committed fraud in two ways. First, they submitted claims for medically unnecessary urine drug tests for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries residing in sober homes solely for the purposes of “residential monitoring,” which was explicitly prohibited. Second, they submitted claims for medically unnecessary duplicative urine drug testing. There are several different types of urine drug testing. A screening test, also called a “presumptive” test, detects the presence or absence of certain classes of drugs, such as opiates, cocaine, and amphetamines. A screening test does not measure the specific amount of the drug present in the patient’s urine sample, but provides only a positive or a negative result, indicating the presence or absence of a detectable drug. A confirmation test, also known as a “definitive” test, is a more precise and more expensive test that determines not only whether a particular drug is detectable in a patient’s urine sample, but also the specific quantity of the drug that is detected. The government alleges that Genco and its owners and officers routinely conducted testing on Medicaid and Medicare patients using both types of tests, at the same time, on the same day. No practitioner reviewed the results of the screening test first to determine if it was medically necessary to also utilize the more expensive and precise definitive test. Accordingly, government health care programs were routinely billed for both types each time a Medicaid or Medicare patient was tested. To resolve the governments’ False Claims Act allegations, Genco and its owners and officers have agreed to pay $1,255,825, which covers the time-period from September 2021 through December 2023. This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Molot and by Assistant Attorney General Christine Miller of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.


title: Toppenish Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for Shooting at Law Enforcement

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington –United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced Leland James Vijarro, age 26, was sentenced after pleading guilty to assaulting federal officers and firearm charges. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 198 months to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on February 8, 2024, Vijarro broke into his brother’s home in Toppenish, Washington, and stole thirteen firearms and a suppresser. Then, on February 10, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a report of gun fire coming from the Vijarro’s vehicle in Toppenish. During the stop of the vehicle, the Vijarro fled the scene and barricaded himself inside a nearby home. After law enforcement officers set up a permitter around the vicinity of the home, Vijarro went into the backyard of the home and fired six shots from a handgun that had been stolen from his brother. The majority of the shots fired by Vijarro were aimed at law enforcement officers, who had set up a permitter across the street from the defendant’s location. Two Yakima County Sheriff’s Office marked police vehicles in the permitter, which law enforcement officers were shielding themselves behind, sustained damages from the shots. The Vijarro ultimately retreated to another residence and surrendered a few hours later. At sentencing, Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse noted that the defendant “possessed over a decade of criminal convictions and arrests characterized by assaults, arson, firearm offenses, thefts, and domestic violence crimes.” In asking for the 198-month sentence, AUSA Black Horse argued “the defendant’s criminal history, gang affiliation, and the circumstances surrounding the offense demonstrate that the defendant is a clear threat to public safety on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation.” AUSA Black Horse observed that it was “fortunate in this case that no law enforcement officers were injured or killed as a result of the defendant’s conduct” and that a significant custodial sentence “will ensure the public is protected as long as possible from further violent crimes perpetrated by the defendant.” In imposing the 198-month sentence, the Court highlighted the history of escalating violent behavior perpetrated by the defendant and explained the significant custodial sentence was necessary to protect the community from the defendant. The Court also thanked the YCSO officers who were present at sentencing for their service and continued efforts to keep the community safe despite incidents like the one perpetrated by the defendant. “Mr. Vijarro’s actions were violent and reckless. I am grateful for the brave men and women in law enforcement who put their own lives at risk to arrest him,” said U.S. Attorney Serrano. “I’m grateful to AUSA Black Horse’s great work on this case; this is another example of the men and women of our office holding violent offenders accountable who are a danger to our community.” “During two days of volatile and dangerous activities, Mr. Vijarro entered several houses that did not belong to him, including his own brother’s, to steal firearms and evade capture by law enforcement,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle. “Even worse, he used one of the stolen guns to shoot at law enforcement officers attempting to contain the situation. This case is an example of the FBI’s commitment to combatting violent criminals and gangs, as emphasized in Operation Summer Heat, a nationwide initiative targeting violent criminals and restoring safety in our communities.” “On Feb 10, 2024, law enforcement officers and deputies were lucky to escape injury when they encountered Mr. Vijarro. A violent offender whose actions were without regard to anyone’s safety, we are grateful for the successful prosecution by AUSA Black Horse and her team,” said Sheriff Robert Udell. “Our partnership with federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Washington, continues to be a significant boon to Yakima County public safety.” This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse. 1:24-cr-2055-MKD


title: Plymouth Man Indicted for Embezzling More than One Million Dollars

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Christopher Erik Septon, age 52, of Plymouth, Minnesota, was indicted on charges relating to his embezzlement of more than $1 million from his former employer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Fraudsters never stop inventing new ways to steal, and Septon’s crime—posing as government agencies in his scheme to embezzle more than a million dollars—was no exception,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “The fraudsters of Minnesota should understand this: no matter how clever the con, we are coming for you, and you will face federal justice.” According to the indictment, Septon worked for Ellis Properties, a family-run commercial real estate business located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Septon worked for the company from 2010 until 2024, when his embezzlement was discovered. Septon and was trusted with authority to use company funds to pay vendors, contractors, and other third parties. Septon abused his position of trust to embezzle from the company. He improperly charged more than $800,000 on the company credit card, directing the payments to his own payment-processing accounts. He hid the fact that these payments were to his own accounts by writing false statements in the transaction memo lines, misrepresenting that the transactions were business-related and with third parties, when, in fact, they were transfers to Septon. Septon also fraudulently obtained “reimbursement” checks from the company for business expenses he claimed he had paid personally, when, in fact, he had not. He used fake invoices, fake emails, and other lies to induce company personnel to issue the unwarranted reimbursement checks. As part of the scheme, Septon also impersonated government agencies. Without their knowledge, Septon used the names of the City of Minneapolis, the Metropolitan Council, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to fraudulently obtain money from Ellis Properties, falsely claiming Ellis Properties owed certain payments to those agencies and instead directing the funds to himself. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits from the fraud were transferred from account to account, then retained by Septon. In total, Septon embezzled more than $1 million from Ellis Properties. Septon made his initial appearance yesterday. He is charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Minneapolis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Forbes is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Guy A. Van Baalen Appointed as Acting U.S. Trustee for Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands

component: U.S. Trustee Program

body_text: Guy A. Van Baalen has been appointed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi as the Acting U.S. Trustee for Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Region 21). Van Baalen replaces Mary Ida Townson, who is resigning August 16 after four years of distinguished service to the U.S. Trustee Program (USTP). Van Baalen joined the USTP in 1989 as an attorney in the field office in Buffalo, New York, and has held several leadership roles. Since 2019, he has served as the Assistant U.S. Trustee in charge of the office in Tampa, Florida, and he will remain in that position while overseeing Region 21. For the previous 23 years, he was the Assistant U.S. Trustee in charge of the office in Utica, New York, and he has held the same position in an acting capacity in other USTP offices in Florida and New York. In addition to his other duties, Van Baalen serves on a working group supporting the USTP’s oversight and supervision of small business reorganizations filed under subchapter V of chapter 11. Van Baalen received a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and a law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. The Executive Office for U.S. Trustees made the announcement. The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 88 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust .


title: Knoxville Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 12, 2025, Nathan Hart, 24, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 70 months in prison by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. He was also ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution to his victims. Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 20 years and will be required to register with the state sex offender registry and comply with special sex offender conditions. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Hart agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with, one count of possession of and access with intent to view child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B). According to filed court documents, in May of 2023, after receiving tips of child pornography being distributed on the internet by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, investigators determined that the computer and internet service used belonged to Nathan Hart at his residential address. Investigators conducted a search of Hart’s residence and electronics, finding multiples files of child pornography, including at least twenty-four videos containing sexually explicit material. One video was over an hour long. A search of Hart’s electronics revealed numerous saved images of child pornography depicting known and unknown victims throughout the world that Hart obtained from online sources. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge, Rana Saoud, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States. The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Knoxville Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, HSI, and Knox County Sheriff's office. The investigation was led by HSI Task Force Officer Thomas Evans. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.” ###


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of Glock While on Supervised Release for Assault

body_text: WASHINGTON – Lamaas Lowery-Bey, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 70 months in prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun while he was still on supervision following his incarceration for assault, announced U.S Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Lowery-Bey pleaded guilty on Apr. 18, 2025, before Judge Dabney L. Friedrich to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In addition to the 70-month prison term, Judge Friedrich ordered Lowery-Bey to serve three years of supervised release. Joining in the announcement were FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to court documents, law enforcement was focused on the Fairlawn neighborhood in the area of 19th Street SE and Minnesota Ave SE, following a series of five homicides in 2023. On Sept. 14, 2023, Lowery-Bey was observed pulling a black semi-automatic handgun out of the front of his pants in the 1900 block 18th Street SE. From the way he held the gun, it appeared to have an extended magazine. On Oct. 4, 2023, MPD officers executed a search warrant at Lowery-Bey’s residence. Behind a canvas painting which hung above a bathroom toilet, officers recovered a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine. As they removed the canvas, the loaded firearm fell onto the toilet tank. The firearm, loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition, was also equipped with a “switch,” which would have enabled it to fire like a machine gun if it was operable. A check revealed that the gun had been reported stolen. Lowery-Bey has been held since his arrest in November 2024. Prior to the arrest in this case, Lowery-Bey was detained in June 2023 for unlawful possession of a 9mm Taurus Millenium handgun loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition and a 50-round drum magazine. He was charged in D.C. Superior Court. The counts were dismissed. Lowery-Bey was previously convicted for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon (gun), possession of a firearm (prior conviction), and felony contempt that stemmed from an incident of domestic violence on Aug. 6, 2019. He threatened to shoot his then-girlfriend, her daughter, and the daughter’s friend. He then barricaded himself in the bathroom and did not surrender to police until three hours later. Investigators believe he attempted to flush a black Velocity 9mm semiautomatic firearm down the toilet. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Iris McCranie. 24cr502


title: 11 Charged in Federal Indictment Alleging Extensive Sex Trafficking of Minors and Young Women Along South L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Federal and local law enforcement today arrested six members and associates of the South Los Angeles-based Hoover Criminal Gang charged in a 31-count indictment that charges them with racketeering conspiracy including sex trafficking of children and adults through force, fraud, or coercion – including runaways and children from the foster care system – on the Figueroa Corridor of Los Angeles, recruiting victims through social media and branding them with tattoos. Today’s takedown is the first major takedown of a sex trafficking operation on the Figueroa Corridor, which is an area notorious for prostitution. The following defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act: Amaya Armstead, 25, a.k.a. “Lady Duck,” of South Los Angeles, the case’s lead defendant and the de facto leader of the 112 set of the Hoover Criminal Gang and who is accused of sex trafficking a 14-year-old girl; Kenyondre Young, 22, a.k.a. “Yunkg Poke,” of South Los Angeles; Naziz Harris, 19, a.k.a. “N4,” of South Los Angeles; Avery Amoako, 27, a.k.a. “Handz,” of Long Beach; Jared Evans, 29, a.k.a. “Jmoney,” of the Mid-City area of Los Angeles; Mathew Brooks, 22, a.k.a. “Vermont Star,” of Riverside; Derail Robinson, 22, a.k.a. “Popkorn,” of South Los Angeles; Jalon Phillips, 22, a.k.a. “Chop Em,” of South Los Angeles; Bryan Isrel, 31, a.k.a. “4Loc,” of South Los Angeles; Tejohn Gray, 25, a.k.a. “Tiny3,” of South Los Angeles; and Tommy Crockham, 30, a.k.a. “Tommy Gunz,” of South Los Angeles. The defendants are charged with various other crimes, including sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion; transportation of a minor for sex trafficking; sexual exploitation of a child; drug trafficking conspiracy; money laundering to promote specified unlawful activity; and conspiracy to straw purchase firearms. Amoako, Evans, Brooks, Phillips, and Crockham were arrested this morning and are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in federal court in downtown Los Angeles. Armstead was transferred from state custody to federal custody and is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in Los Angeles federal court. Law enforcement is looking for Isrel. “The U.S. Department of Justice, under the leadership of Attorney General Pamela Bondi, is making Los Angeles safer by arresting prolific gang members who are viciously trafficking young woman and children for sex,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “There are no meaningful consequences for their conduct under state law, so the federal government – aided by its local law enforcement partners – will step in to make sure these criminals face lengthy prison sentences. Today’s operation is the first step in returning the Figueroa Corridor – long known as prostitution haven – back to its residents who have suffered for too long while criminals were allowed to run amok.” “Human trafficking is among the most heinous crimes perpetuated throughout the world,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “No human should be for sale – not here in Los Angeles or anywhere in our society. Today’s operation is a result of our commitment to identify and rescue victims of trafficking and to hold accountable these criminal organizations exploiting them.” “These violent gang members profited from horrific crimes and used online apps to move their money and further their criminal enterprise,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office. “Special Agents at IRS-CI are experts in tracing illegal funds and linking criminals to their illegal acts. IRS-CI is committed to protecting victims and prosecuting criminal offenders involved in money laundering, sex trafficking, and other violent crime.” “The exploitation of vulnerable women and children through sex trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes our society faces,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell. “The victims in this case – many of them minors, runaways, or from the foster care system – were preyed upon by individuals who sought to profit from their pain. The Los Angeles Police Department remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our federal partners to dismantle these criminal networks, bring their perpetrators to justice, and ensure survivors receive the protection and support they deserve.” According to the indictment, from February 2021 to August 2025, the Hoovers largely controlled sex trafficking and prostitution in the Figueroa Corridor of South Los Angeles. Members and associates of the gang acted as pimps to promote and manage sex trafficking. The defendants facilitated each other’s pimping by managing and monitoring their victims, pooling resources to rent several motel rooms for commercial sex dates, disciplining each other’s victims, driving each other’s victims to and from the street where victims solicited commercial sex work, sourcing third parties to create online profiles for sex advertisements, and sending each other money via Cash App and Apple Pay. Victims were required to remit all proceeds from commercial sex dates to the pimp. A victim who refused or who otherwise disobeyed a pimp faced discipline, including assaults, berating, public humiliation, and withholding of affection, drugs or food. Victims also were branded with tattoos of a defendant’s moniker. The defendants also worked together to recruit new victims via social media or in person, focusing on vulnerable minor girls and young women, particularly those with financial or emotional struggles or who had run away from home. Pimps also plied their victims with drugs ranging from oxycodone to amphetamines. Victims were recruited via false promises of a luxurious lifestyle, intimidation, and actual or threatened violence. For example, in April 2022, Gray and two accomplices drove to an area of San Bernardino which is notorious for prostitution activities and attempted to force two female victims into their car, grabbing them. Ultimately, both victims broke free. In April 2024, Armstead and Evans utilized rooms at the Stadium Inn, a South Los Angeles motel, to traffic their victims. One victim included a 14-year-old girl. Armstead gave the victim – who was sex trafficked for at least three consecutive days – condoms to use for commercial sex dates with “Johns” or sex buyers. Some members of the Hoovers criminal enterprise produced rap music and videos, which often glorified the gang, sex trafficking, drug sales, and firearms possession. Members of the gang also posted videos and photographs of their assaults on others to social media, in order to intimidate their victims and ensure their compliance in performing commercial sex work for the enrichment of their pimps and the Hoover gang itself. An indictment contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, some defendants would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and would face a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office are investigating this matter. The investigation was supported by the Nebraska State Patrol, Keith County Attorney’s Office, Nebraska Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and Saving Innocence. Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Norell of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Mirelle Raza of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Offense

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Keith Edmonds, age 30, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty yesterday to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. Edmonds admitted that on April 24, 2025, he possessed 425 pills containing methamphetamine that he intended to sell. Edmonds also admitted that between October 2024 and March 2025, he sold more than 1,300 pills containing either methamphetamine or benzodiazepine to buyers in the Capital Region. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Edmonds brazenly sold poisonous pills in this District and faces a serious term of imprisonment as a result. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to disrupt, arrest and prosecute drug dealers in the Northern District of New York.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III said: “Keith Edmonds’ guilty plea is the result from the unity the DEA and our law enforcement partners show when successfully targeting those individuals who are causing the most harm to our families, friends, and neighbors. Illicit drugs have no place in our communities and the DEA is committed to apprehending those who distribute counterfeit pills and inflame the ongoing opioid crisis.” Sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025. Edmonds faces a prison term of at least 5 years and up to 40 years, as well as a supervised release term of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. DEA investigated the case with assistance from the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting the case.


title: Saratoga County Man Charged with Cyberstalking Family Member of Slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Shane Daley, age 40, of Galway, New York, was charged with cyberstalking and arrested today for sending harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a family member of murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A criminal complaint alleges that between December 4 and 7, 2024, beginning just hours after Thompson’s murder in midtown Manhattan, Daley placed multiple calls to a work phone line used by a member of Thompson’s family. In a series of voicemail messages, Daley used threatening and harassing language that focused on, among other things, Thompson’s killing, expressed satisfaction over the fact and manner of his death, and stated that the victim and Thompson’s children deserved to meet the same violent end. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Brian Thompson was gunned down in midtown Manhattan. Daley, as alleged, gleefully welcomed this tragedy and did all that he could to increase the Thompson family’s pain and suffering. My office and its partners will now do all that we can to hold him accountable for this vicious and outrageous conduct.” Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: “As alleged, Daley threatened and harassed a grieving family in the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s murder. These selfish, harmful, and callous actions undermine public safety and will not be tolerated. This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will pursue and prosecute those who seek to intimidate victims and their families. We are grateful to be working on this case alongside the Northern District of New York.” Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), said: “Shane Daley allegedly repeatedly harassed the grieving family of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare gunned down in New York City. The recurrent calls and messages in the days following Brian Thompson’s murder were more than callous and cold-hearted harassment – they were threatening and terrified a family already suffering following the violent death of their loved one. The FBI will continue to bring to justice any individual attempting to stalk and harass innocent Americans.” The charge filed against Daley carries a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Daley will be arraigned today at 2 p.m. in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal of the Northern District of New York, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile and Jun Xiang of the Southern District of New York, are prosecuting the case.


title: GAINESVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO OVER 35 YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRUG-TRAFFICKING, FIREARM, AND MACHINEGUN OFFENSES

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Lagarius Joseph Johnson, 21, was sentenced to 35 years and 3 months’ imprisonment in federal court for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances, and possession of a machinegun, and possession of a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America is a promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will do everything in our power to stop those who pose a danger to our communities. Keeping a dangerous offender like this one off our streets is yet another step in fulfilling that promise. I am proud of the work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners who investigated this case, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.” Evidence at trial demonstrated that law enforcement conducted surveillance of the Majestic Oaks apartments due to reports that Johnson and others were in possession of firearms, including a machinegun. Johnson was prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm due to his prior criminal history. Officers identified Johnson and tried to approach him, but Johnson spun around and pointed with his hand inside his jacket pocket, making officers believe he was armed with a pistol. As officers identified themselves as police, Johnson ran. Officers were able to apprehend Johnson with a police canine. As Johnson fled, he threw a cellphone, backpack, and pistol. Officers discovered a distribution-quantity of marijuana, empty baggies, and a digital scale, in Johnson’s backpack. Examination of the discarded pistol revealed a machinegun conversion device, rendering the pistol fully automatic. Officers obtained search warrants and reviewed material from Johnson’s cellphone, as well as his social media accounts, and found dozens of pictures of Johnson posing with guns, large amounts of cash, and advertising marijuana for sale, including on the day of his arrest. “The combination of illegal narcotics and illegally possessed firearms, especially a machine gun, presents an extreme threat to public safety,” said Police Chief Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department. “I commend our officers and federal partners for their dedicated work in bringing this case to justice. We will continue to stand firm against those who choose to endanger lives through criminal activity.” “Drug trafficking is a dangerous endeavor and leads to increased violence in our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, Miami Field Division. “Law enforcement agencies in Florida continue to work together to get these armed and dangerous criminals off our streets and behind bars.” “This sentence sends a clear message: if you bring violence, drugs and illegal guns into Florida, you will be met with the full force of local, state and federal law enforcement,” said Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass. “Working side-by-side with our partners, FDLE will continue to track down dangerous offenders and dismantle the criminal networks that put our communities at risk.” “This is an incredible public safety win for residents of North Central Florida,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “We’re proud to have leveraged our expertise to help our local, state and federal partners bring this dangerous suspect to justice.” Johnson received a sentence of 35 years and 3 months in prison, which will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Johnson was also ordered for forfeit the firearm and conversion device seized. Johnson also faces unrelated charges of attempted first degree murder involving a machinegun in the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in and for Alachua County where he has entered a plea of not guilty and is presumed innocent. This conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Gainesville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Eric Welch 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). As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Middle School Librarian Arrested for Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A middle school librarian for the Longmeadow Public Schools in Massachusetts was arrested today for allegedly distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Children’s underwear, bedding, a Santa costume, diapers, diaper cream and other items allegedly recovered in a locked case during a residential search. Scott McGinley, 55, of Holyoke, Mass. is charged by criminal complaint with one count of distribution of child pornography. He will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson at 3:00 p.m. today. The defendant is employed as the school librarian for Williams Middle School and Glenbrook Middle School in Longmeadow. It is alleged that, in July 2025, McGinley distributed CSAM to a group called, “Little boyz only,” on an encrypted messenger application. When contacted by undercover law enforcement posing as a fellow user on the app, McGinley allegedly disclosed his sexual preference for “boys age 2-12” and “especially 4-7.” It is further alleged that, in the conversations with undercover law enforcement, McGinley stated he had “students” who were “11-14 years old” but, “ha[d]n’t touched them sexually,” and that he sat “hot boys strategically so [he could] see under their desks, and close to [him],” and made graphic sexual statements about the boys. On Aug. 8, 2025, searches of McGinley’s person and residence allegedly resulted in the recovery of various electronic devices – including two iPhones, an Apple Watch, a tablet and two laptops. A locked Pelican case was recovered in the basement which is alleged to have contained a medley of items for children approximately five to seven years old – including but not limited to, assorted children’s clothes, a Santa costume, diapers, diaper cream and apple sauce packets. The Pelican case also allegedly contained a toolbox with boys’ underwear and bedding stuffed inside. According to the charging documents, a forensic examination of McGinley’s phone revealed over 100 files depicting CSAM. Further review of McGinley’s devices remains on-going. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Division and the Longmeadow and Holyoke Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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 . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Brookfield Surgeon Indicted for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Calvin M. Eriksen (age: 47) of Brookfield, Wisconsin, with distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(2)(A) and 2252A(b)(1). If convicted, Eriksen would face a mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. He could also be fined up to $250,000 and would be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal 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 U.S. Department of Justice. 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.projectsafechildhood.gov . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and West Palm Beach, Florida, and by the City of Brookfield Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan J. Thomas. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Fort Campbell Soldier Arrested on Child Exploitation Charges

body_text: NASHVILLE – A criminal complaint was unsealed today in the Middle District of Tennessee charging U.S. Army Soldier Robert Cecilio, 39, of Clarksville, Tennessee, with child sexual exploitation offenses, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Cecilio was arrested today by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents, from May 1, 2024, to the present, Cecilio has been communicating with at least three minor female victims, using the Snapchat app to get the victims to send him nude photos and videos of themselves. Snapchat records obtained through a search warrant show more than 8,400 contacts, including messages, images and videos, that were exchanged between Cecilio and one of his victims. Cecilio was detained by Army CID Special Agents and Military Police Officers as he entered Fort Campbell on August 8, 2025. After waiving his Miranda rights, Cecilio stated that he used the Snapchat account that law enforcement had previously searched as well as other Snapchat accounts that include some variation of the name “Gabe” in the account name when communicating with minors. He confessed to having engaged in inappropriate sexual communications with many minor girls for an extended period of time, and that he had received many images and videos of minor females that he understood to be child pornography. If convicted, Cecilio faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, Clarksville Resident Agency and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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 www.justice.gov/psc . A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # # # #


title: Marietta Man Sentenced for Using a BB Airsoft Gun During Two Robberies and One Attempted Robbery

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Marietta man was sentenced today for Attempted Robbery in Indian Country and two counts of Robbery in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Scott Thomas Balch, 50, to 63 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2020, Balch entered a convenience store, wearing a mask, brandished a BB airsoft pistol, and told the store clerk he would shoot them if they didn’t comply. The employee complied, opened the register, and gave Balch money. A few weeks later, Balch entered the same convenience store and attempted to rob it again with the same BB airsoft pistol. After the employee ran in fear, Blach is seen on surveillance camera, going behind the counter and stealing several scratch-off lottery tickets. In November 2020, Balch entered a different convenience store, brandished the same BB airsoft pistol, and demanded money. The clerk complied and gave Balch the contents of the register. Court records show that Balch was previously convicted in tribal and state courts for more than 11 felonies and three misdemeanors. Balch is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Sand Springs Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn prosecuted the case.


title: VENEZUELAN NATIONAL INDICTED FOR  CHILD EXPLOITATION AND OBSCENITY OFFENSES

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that a federal grand jury recently returned a two-count indictment charging Kleider Enrique Garcia Ochoa, age 30, a Venezuelan national who is present in the United States without authorization, with attempted enticement of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Ochoa appeared for his arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges. According to the indictment, on or about March 31, 2025, Ochoa used social media applications and the name “Conociendo” to attempt to convince someone he believed was a 15-year-old male in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to engage in an illegal sexual relationship. Ochoa is also alleged to have transferred obscene material to the supposed 15-year-old male. If convicted, Ochoa faces a minimum of ten years and up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and sex offender registration requirements. He is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completing his sentence. This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner, who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Allen Ross. 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 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc . This case is also 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). An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.


title: Savannah Man Convicted at Trial for Possession of Ammunition Following Shooting

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been found guilty at trial for possession of ammunition by a prohibited person following an October 2021 shooting. Charlie Sapp, 58, of Savannah, was convicted after a two-day trial in U.S. District Court on the charge of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The conviction subjects the Defendant to 10 years imprisonment, followed by a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. As described at trial, on October 8, 2021, Sapp pointed a firearm at another individual and pulled the trigger three times. An eyewitness to the shooting immediately called 911. Savannah Police Department officers responded within five minutes and located two 9mm Luger shell casings at the scene. An expert with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives analyzed the shell casings and determined they qualified as ammunition under federal law and that they were not manufactured in the State of Georgia, making this a federal crime. The United States was able to prove that the shell casings found at the crime scene were fired from the firearm Sapp used during the shooting. Sapp was prohibited from possessing ammunition because of previous felony convictions in the Superior Court of Chatham County. Sapp was previously tried for this conduct in November 2022 by the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office. That trial did not result in a conviction. ATF SAC Benjamin Gibbons stated, “Our commitment to public safety is unwavering. The prosecution of individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and ammunition is critical in our efforts to reduce gun violence in our communities." “This is a win for all law enforcement involved,” said Lenny B. Gunther, Savannah Chief of Police. “I would like to especially thank the men and women of the ATF for their hard work and diligence in this 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. The case was being investigated by the ATF, Savannah Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Bondura.


title: Baltimore Felon Convicted By Jury of Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Crimes

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury found Anthony Nichols, 43, of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the verdict with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). During the four-day trial, the United States presented evidence that Nichols dealt drugs in the 500 block of Cumberland Street, Baltimore, Maryland, on May 1, 2023. BPD officers witnessed Nichols engaging in hand-to-hand drug transactions via CitiWatch camera. Then BPD deployed officers to the 500 block of Cumberland Street to arrest Nichols, but he fled on his bicycle along West North Avenue. After a short pursuit, law enforcement arrested and searched Nichols. Then law enforcement recovered a loaded Glock firearm strapped to Nichols’ torso, glass vials of cocaine, plastic gel capsules containing a fentanyl and cocaine mixture, and $567 in drug trafficking proceeds. Nichols was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to numerous prior convictions, including for first degree assault, armed robbery, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Nichols is facing up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The drug trafficking count is punishable up to 20 years and the unlawful firearm and ammunition count is punishable up to 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, November 21, at 10 a.m. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari D. Evans and Calvin C. Miner, who are prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Drew Murray for his assistance and legal support. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Settlement With Members-Only Social Club For Covid Relief Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Regional Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (“SBA-OIG”), Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, announced today that the United States has settled a civil fraud lawsuit against TCC INTERNATIONAL LLC, CORE GRAVITY LLC, and CORE CLUB MEMBERS CORP. (collectively, the “Defendants”), for falsely certifying to the SBA that they were eligible to receive two Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and have those loans forgiven, as well as a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (“RRF”) grant in violation of the False Claims Act. Under SBA rules and regulations, private clubs were ineligible for PPP loans and restaurants that were either not-for-profits or did not primarily serve the public (such as restaurants operating within private clubs) were ineligible for RRF grants. The settlement resolves claims that TCC International LLC and Core Gravity LLC falsely certified that they were eligible to receive and have forgiven two PPP loans despite being ineligible because TCC International LLC and Core Gravity LLC intended to, and did, use the PPP funds to operate a private club; and Core Club Members Corp. falsely certified that it was eligible to receive a RRF grant despite being ineligible because it was a not-for-profit organization with no food or beverage sales to the public. Under the settlement approved today by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, the Defendants will pay the United States a total sum of $360,000. The settlement amount is based on the Office’s assessment of the Defendants’ ability to pay, as reflected in financial information they provided. The Defendants have also executed a Consent Judgment in the amount of $8,189,172.10, which may be enforced if they do not make the payments required under the settlement agreement. Additionally, the Defendants have admitted and accepted responsibility for conduct alleged in the Government’s Complaint. “The Paycheck Protection Program and Restaurant Revitalization Fund were intended to assist small businesses suffering the financial impacts of a pandemic-related lockdown,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers supported these programs to protect their neighbors and their community. New Yorkers also want those who abused the programs held accountable. Our Office and the SBA are committed to doing so.” “Falsely certifying eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants undermines critical relief programs designed to support small businesses and public-facing restaurants,” said SBA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “OIG remains dedicated to protecting the integrity of SBA’s programs and holding accountable those who exploit them for personal gain.” As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court: Under the PPP, eligible businesses could obtain SBA-guaranteed loans; however, before receiving a PPP loan, businesses were required to certify that they were, in fact, eligible for the loan. By regulation, certain businesses, such as private clubs, were ineligible for PPP loans. The SBA also allowed for forgiveness of PPP loans. To receive forgiveness, businesses were required to submit signed loan forgiveness applications in which they certified that the PPP funds were used for eligible expenses. Under the RRF, qualifying bars and restaurants could apply for grants to offset pandemic-related revenue losses. Per the RRF rules, certain businesses were ineligible for funding, including not-for-profit entities and restaurants and bars where on-site sales to the public comprised less than 33% of gross receipts in 2019. TCC International LLC and Core Gravity LLC applied for and received two PPP loans totaling approximately $2.3 million and the SBA ultimately forgave all but $514,176.45 of those funds. Core Club Members Corp. received an RRF grant of more than $2.3 million and did not repay any of that amount. However, TCC International LLC and Core Gravity LLC were ineligible to receive their PPP loans or have them forgiven because they intended to, and did, use the funds for the benefit of a private club. Additionally, Core Club Members Corp. was ineligible to receive its RRF grant because none of its gross receipts in 2019 were derived from on-site sales to the public and it was not-for-profit. As part of the settlement, the Defendants admit, acknowledge, and accept responsibility for the following conduct: TCC International LLC d/b/a Core Gravity, through its authorized representative, certified in a first-draw PPP loan application seeking $960,400 that it was eligible for funding and that the funds would be used in accordance with PPP rules. However, TCC International LLC d/b/a Core Gravity was not eligible for a PPP loan, as it intended to, and did, use the funds to fund payment of employees of a members-only club. Core Gravity LLC sought and obtained partial forgiveness for the first-draw PPP loan in the amount of $446,223.55, after its authorized representative falsely certified in a loan forgiveness application that the funds as to which forgiveness was sought were used to pay business costs that were eligible for forgiveness. TCC International LLC d/b/a The Core Club, through its authorized representative, certified in a second-draw PPP loan application seeking $1,344,675.50 that it was eligible for funding and that the funds would be used in accordance with PPP rules. However, TCC International LLC d/b/a The Core Club was not eligible for a PPP loan, as it intended to, and did, use the funds to fund payment of employees of a members-only club. TCC International LLC sought and obtained full forgiveness for the second-draw PPP loan, after its authorized representative falsely certified in the forgiveness application that the funds as to which forgiveness was requested were used to pay business costs that were eligible for forgiveness. Core Club Members Corp. submitted an application to SBA to obtain a grant of $2,303,687.00 through the RRF, in which its authorized representative certified the applicant’s eligibility for funding and that the funds would be used in accordance with RRF rules. However, Core Club Members Corp., a not-for-profit company that did not serve food or drink to the public, was not eligible for an RRF grant. In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act. * * * Mr. Clayton thanked the SBA-OIG for its assistance with this case. The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica F. Rosenbaum is in charge of the case. u.s._v_tcc_international_llc_et_al_complaint_in_intervention.pdf u.s._v_tcc_international_llc_et_al_settlement_agreement.pdf