title: Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices Reach $3 Million Settlement with Georgia Professional Licensing Boards for Alleged Violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into an agreement with 42 Georgia state licensing boards (“Georgia Boards”) to resolve allegations that the Georgia Boards failed to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”). This settlement is the first of its kind and will provide up to $3 million in compensation to servicemembers and military spouses whose applications for licensure were improperly denied or delayed. The settlement also requires the Georgia Boards to adopt new policies that comply with the SCRA and provide a streamlined application process for servicemembers and military spouses who are already licensed in another state. “Members of the military and their families already make great sacrifices to defend our nation – they should not have to sacrifice their professional careers or financial well-being because the military requires them to move,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This groundbreaking settlement ensures that servicemembers and their spouses stationed in Georgia can have their out-of-state licenses recognized without facing unnecessary hurdles. Licensing authorities in other states should take note of this settlement and ensure they comply with the SCRA.” “The agreement we are announcing today allows servicemembers and their spouses to focus on what is most important when military service sends them to Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Federal law requires every state to recognize hard-earned professional licenses when our warfighters must uproot their families in service to our country. This settlement ensures that servicemembers and military spouses can work in their chosen and trained professions free from bureaucratic hurdles, unnecessary costs, and burdensome waits. I am proud that my office, alongside the Justice Department and the two other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Georgia, worked together with our state partners in the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office, and the Governor’s office to make it easier for our brave fighting men and women to call Georgia home.” “As a U.S. Army veteran and reservist, it is a particular honor to announce that our servicemembers are guaranteed the full protections of the SCRA,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes of the Middle District of Georgia. “I am grateful for our strong partnership with state officials in reaching this resolution, which ensures that servicemembers and their spouses with professional licenses can relocate to Georgia and continue their careers and lives here more smoothly.” “This settlement will provide monetary relief to military spouses whose professional employment opportunities have been limited because of the state of Georgia’s unnecessary delays and red tape,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret “Meg” Heap of the Southern District of Georgia. “More importantly, this settlement clears a path now and in the future for military spouses to pursue continued employment when they move with their servicemember to our community. We are grateful for the work of our staff in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and to the staffers in the Northern and Middle Districts and the Civil Rights Division for their tireless, detailed work on reaching this settlement. All of our communities are stronger today because of their efforts.” An investigation led by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Georgia and the Southern District of Georgia, uncovered multiple complaints from servicemembers and military spouses regarding the Georgia Boards’ previous refusal to recognize out-of-state professional licenses. As a result, servicemembers’ spouses were unable to work in their professional fields or earn money for their families after relocating to Georgia on military orders. One military spouse, for example, had to drive to a neighboring state to work because the Georgia Board did not recognize her professional license as required by federal law. Since January 2023, the SCRA has required state licensing authorities to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and military spouses who relocate to a new state due to military orders. The law is intended to remove barriers to employment and improve the financial readiness of military families. Many military spouses work in fields that require licenses and must move across state lines every two to three years due to their spouses’ military orders. The SCRA provides that if a servicemember or military spouse holds a covered license, the new state must recognize the license as valid and may not impose requirements beyond those set forth in the statute. The United States estimates that up to 5,000 servicemembers and military spouses may be entitled to compensation under this settlement. The professions covered by this settlement include teachers, nurses, electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, barbers, opticians, massage therapists, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and many more. The investigation and resolution of this matter were led by attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica and Aileen Bell Hughes of the Northern District of Georgia in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia. Any servicemember or military spouse who applied for a professional license from one of the Georgia Boards after January 2023 and who may have been wrongfully denied rights guaranteed by the SCRA should contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at USAGAN.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-4626. The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $487 million in monetary relief for over 149,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov .


title: Justice Department and U.S. Attorney's Offices Reach $3 Million Settlement with Georgia Professional Licensing Boards for Alleged Violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into an agreement with 42 Georgia state licensing boards (“Georgia Boards”) to resolve allegations that the Georgia Boards failed to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”). This settlement is the first of its kind and will provide up to $3 million in compensation to servicemembers and military spouses whose applications for licensure were improperly denied or delayed. The settlement also requires the Georgia Boards to adopt new policies that comply with the SCRA and provide a streamlined application process for servicemembers and military spouses who are already licensed in another state. “The agreement we are announcing today allows servicemembers and their spouses to focus on what is most important when military service sends them to Georgia,” said Theodore S. Hertzberg, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “Federal law requires every state to recognize hard-earned professional licenses when our warfighters must uproot their families in service to our country. This settlement ensures that servicemembers and military spouses can work in their chosen and trained professions free from bureaucratic hurdles, unnecessary costs, and burdensome waits. I am proud that my office, alongside the Justice Department and the two other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Georgia, worked together with our state partners in the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office, and the Governor’s office to make it easier for our brave fighting men and women to call Georgia home.” “Members of the military and their families already make great sacrifices to defend our nation – they should not have to sacrifice their professional careers or financial well-being because the military requires them to move,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This groundbreaking settlement ensures that servicemembers and their spouses stationed in Georgia can have their out-of-state licenses recognized without facing unnecessary hurdles. Licensing authorities in other states should take note of this settlement and ensure they comply with the SCRA.” “As a U.S. Army veteran and reservist, it is a particular honor to announce that our servicemembers are guaranteed the full protections of the SCRA,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes of the Middle District of Georgia. “I am grateful for our strong partnership with state officials in reaching this resolution, which ensures that servicemembers and their spouses with professional licenses can relocate to Georgia and continue their careers and lives here more smoothly.” “This settlement will provide monetary relief to military spouses whose professional employment opportunities have been limited because of the state of Georgia’s unnecessary delays and red tape,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret “Meg” Heap of the Southern District of Georgia. “More importantly, this settlement clears a path now and in the future for military spouses to pursue continued employment when they move with their servicemember to our community. We are grateful for the work of our staff in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and to the staffers in the Northern and Middle Districts and the Civil Rights Division for their tireless, detailed work on reaching this settlement. All of our communities are stronger today because of their efforts.” An investigation led the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Georgia and the Southern District of Georgia, and the DOJ Civil Rights Division uncovered multiple complaints from servicemembers and military spouses regarding the Georgia Boards’ previous refusal to recognize out-of-state professional licenses. As a result, servicemembers’ spouses were unable to work in their professional fields or earn money for their families after relocating to Georgia on military orders. One military spouse, for example, had to drive to a neighboring state to work because the Georgia Board did not recognize her professional license as required by federal law. Since January 2023, the SCRA has required state licensing authorities to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and military spouses who relocate to a new state due to military orders. The law is intended to remove barriers to employment and improve the financial readiness of military families. Many military spouses work in fields that require licenses and must move across state lines every two to three years due to their spouses’ military orders. The SCRA provides that if a servicemember or military spouse holds a covered license, the new state must recognize the license as valid and may not impose requirements beyond those set forth in the statute. The United States estimates that up to 5,000 servicemembers and military spouses may be entitled to compensation under this settlement. The professions covered by this settlement include teachers, nurses, electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, barbers, opticians, massage therapists, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and many more. The investigation and resolution of this matter were led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica and Aileen Bell Hughes of the Northern District of Georgia in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia and attorneys from the DOJ Civil Rights Division. Any servicemember or military spouse who applied for a professional license from one of the Georgia Boards after January 2023 and who may have been wrongfully denied rights guaranteed by the SCRA should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at USAGAN.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-4626. The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $487 million in monetary relief for over 149,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Final defendants convicted at trial in south Georgia drug trafficking conspiracy

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

body_text: WAYCROSS, Georgia: The final two of 35 defendants in a south Georgia drug trafficking operation have been convicted after a four-day trial in federal court. Marquan Jenkins, aka “Anna Brooke,” aka “Mary Thompson,” 31, and Christopher Hawkins , aka “Rayshon Hawkins,” 30, of Douglas, Georgia, were convicted in a jury trial in U.S. District Court in Waycross, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Jenkins was convicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, and one count of Distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to life. Hawkins was convicted on a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute, and to Distribute, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, 11 counts of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to two life sentences. There is no parole in the federal system. “These drug traffickers operated inside and outside Georgia’s prison system, distributing dangerous, illegal drugs throughout communities in rural Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “These guilty verdicts confirm our commitment to the relentless pursuit of drug traffickers, whether they are in big cities or small towns, and keeping our neighborhoods safe.” Jenkins and Hawkins were the remaining defendants in USA v. Brinson et al. , a sweeping, 60-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in January 2025. The indictment alleged the participation of 37 defendants in a conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia, community and in surrounding counties during a roughly four-year period from early 2021 through the time of the indictment. Much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones, and the indictment included a notice of seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms. Testimony during the trial before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood showed that Jenkins led the drug conspiracy from inside the walls of the Georgia State Department of Corrections where he has been serving a custodial sentence for Georgia state robbery convictions since 2012. Hawkins was identified as a major distributor in the drug conspiracy. Of the other defendants, 35 were convicted or entered guilty pleas to various drug- and gun-related charges, with 17 of them sentenced to terms of up to 126 months in prison and the others awaiting sentencing. One defendant passed away before adjudication; and another was acquitted at trial. Judge Wood will schedule sentencings for Jenkins and Hawkins after completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners uncovered a dangerous drug trafficking network that brazenly operated both on the streets and from inside a prison cell, fueling the spread of methamphetamine across rural Georgia,” said Brad Snider, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Georgia’s Savannah office. “These convictions send a clear message that no matter where offenders attempt to hide or operate – from behind bars or within our communities – the FBI remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations and protecting the public from the violence and addiction they drive.” “A person in possession of a firearm with the intent to distribute illegal drugs is a serious threat to public safety,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “ATF and our law enforcement partners are focused on stopping those who endanger our communities, and we’ll continue to utilize every resource we have to keep our streets safe.” Agencies conducting the investigation in USA v. Brinson et al . include the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia State Patrol, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office. The case is prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Ryan E. Bondura and Joshua K. Davis.


title: Former congressional staffer pleads guilty to using access to Congressperson’s bank account to pay her own credit card bills

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria woman pled guilty today to wire fraud after misusing the financial information of her former employer, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. According to court documents, Courtney Melissa Hruska, 40, was employed on the member’s staff from August 2015 to January 2022. To fulfill part of Hruska’s official duties and responsibilities, the member entrusted Hruska with the member’s personal credit card and bank account information. On Jan. 30, 2022, Hruska left the office for a new position with a federal agency. Without authorization, Hruska retained the member’s personal credit card and bank account information. Between Aug. 19, 2023, and July 30, 2024, Hruska used the member’s bank account information to make payments towards the balance of Hruska’s own personal credit card bills on 10 separate occasions. The member did not use electronic banking and did not receive immediate alerts from the bank. Because more than a year had lapsed between Hruska’s first fraudulent transaction and the member’s discovery of the theft, the member recovered less than nine percent of the stolen funds in fraud compensation. In total, Hruska caused a loss to the Representative of at least $22,865.07. Hruska is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake Drucker is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-57.


title: Two Foreign Nationals Sentenced to Prison in March for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced to prison this month. Jorge Adalberto Dejesus Rondon , aka Jorge Garcia, Henry Matos, and Edwin Carrillo, 38, a Dominican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh to 40 months in prison for illegal reentry. Upon completing his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Dejesus had previously been removed from the U.S. three times: in February 2011, following his conviction and sentencing on drug charges in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas; in June 2015, after serving the sentence imposed for his first illegal reentry conviction in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and in August 2019, after serving sentences for illegal reentry in the Southern District of Texas and violating his supervised release in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. After Dejesus eluded an attempted arrest in April of last year, law enforcement officers located and arrested him in June in a Philadelphia residence. The defendant was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in July and pleaded guilty in November. Warlin DeJesus Arnaud-Salcedo , 41, a Dominican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Costello to 14 months in prison for illegal reentry. Upon completing his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Arnaud-Salcedo had previously been removed from the U.S. in May 2016. In May of last year, ICE encountered the defendant on the 6100 block of Hegerman Street in Philadelphia, while searching for other individuals. He provided identification and was permitted to leave the area. Shortly thereafter, ICE personnel determined that Arnaud-Salcedo had reentered the country illegally. They located and took him into custody the following day. Arnaud-Salcedo was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in June of last year and pleaded guilty in October. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Dubnoff and Mark Sendek.


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office Welcomes New Members of the Civil Division CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces a number of new additions to the United States Attorney’s Office Civil Division. Sam Martin joined the Civil Division for the District of New Hampshire in January 2026 as an Assistant United States Attorney. He previously worked at the Portsmouth office of a national labor and employment law firm. In this role, he represented public and private employers in state and federal courts in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. He also represented employers before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state EEO agencies. The cases he handled included claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. Sam has also served the people of New Hampshire as the Chair of the Executive Branch Ethics Committee. He has also served as a Director of the New Hampshire Bar Foundation, a charitable foundation established by the New Hampshire Supreme Court and affiliated with the New Hampshire Bar Association, which supports civil legal aid and education throughout the state and administers the New Hampshire IOLTA program. He is a graduate of Boston College Law School and Fordham University, where he earned a degree in Political Science and Theology and practiced debate. Bridget Davidson joined the Civil Division for the District of New Hampshire in February 2026 as an Assistant United States Attorney. Before joining the District of New Hampshire, Bridget worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Boston in the litigation division. There, Bridget defended the City and its employees in numerous cases that involved torts, negligence, employment, civil rights, and wrongful convictions in both the federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies. She is a graduate from Suffolk University Law School and earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Mount Ida College. Bridget is currently a First Circuit Representative for the Young Lawyers Division of the National Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Jesse Renauld-Smith joined the Civil Division for the District of New Hampshire in February 2026 as a Special Assistant United States Attorney from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where he serves as Assistant Chief Counsel. Prior to joining DHS, Jesse was a Juvenile Justice Legal Supervisor at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. He has also served as an Assistant Concord City Prosecutor and a prosecutor for the Tilton and Sanbornton police departments. Prior to his legal career, Jesse served as a police officer for the Plymouth State University and Tilton Police Departments. He is a graduate of University of New Hampshire School of Law and Plymouth State University, where he earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Spanish Language and Literature. AUSAs Martin and Davidson and SAUSA Renauld-Smith join Civil Division Chief Raphael Katz and fellow AUSAs Anna Dronzek and Kasey Weiland to complete the office’s team of civil litigators. “Our civil litigation team is a dream team,” said U.S Attorney Creegan. “These litigators represent the United States in protecting the public fisc, reclaiming taxpayer dollars, defending federal law and civil liberties such as religious freedom, and preserving the immigration system established by Congress. New Hampshire is a better place because these advocates stand and represent their country in our court system.”


title: Suburban Chicago Woman Indicted for Allegedly Defrauding Multiple Victims out of $3.5 Million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a woman on fraud charges for allegedly swindling multiple victims out of at least $3.5 million by falsely claiming their money would be used to support immigration services, projects in Ukraine, and other supposed needs. TATIANA BAZER falsely represented to victims that their money would be used in various ways, including, among things, projects in Ukraine, immigration services, or as loans to Bazer to help resolve her purported arrest for shoplifting, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Some of the victims entrusted Bazer with hundreds of thousands of dollars, the indictment states. Bazer spent much of the victims’ money in a manner other than what she had represented, including for her own personal use, the indictment states. Bazer concealed the fraud by sending the victims false records, including bogus wire transfer receipts and fraudulent checks, the indictment states. Furthermore, after learning that federal law enforcement was investigating her fraud scheme, Bazer pretended to be FBI agents, a prosecutor, and a criminal defense attorney to lull victims into believing that her case would be resolved and that victims would receive their money back, the indictment states. Bazer, 40, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. Bazer pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing is scheduled for April 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Illinois Secretary of State’s Securities Department provided valuable assistance. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each count of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to three years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. If you or someone you know may be a victim of fraud allegedly committed by Tatiana Bazer, you are encouraged to report it to the FBI by clicking here . bazer_indictment.pdf


title: Jefferson County Woman Indicted for Distribution of Illegal Drugs

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Jefferson County woman on drug charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby A three-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Lekeria Antionette Toles, 26, of Mount Olive, Alabama, with distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The incidents allegedly occurred between October 2024 and January 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The FBI investigated the case along with the Bessemer Police Special Operations Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Alan S. Kirk is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Lena Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on the Choctaw Indian Reservation

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Lena man pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026, to the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon and use of a firearm during a crime of violence on the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Jackson Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents, Jarvis Ficklin, 37, of Lena, used a shotgun to shoot a tribal member on the Choctaw Indian Reservation which resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim. In March of 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Ficklin on the assault and firearms charges. Ficklin pleaded guilty to the charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2026. Ficklin faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the assault charge and not less than 10 years on the firearms charge. The sentence for the firearms charge will be served consecutively to the sentence for the assault charge. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.


title: Closing the National Center for Disaster Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department announced the closure of the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), effective March 31, 2026. The NCDF was established in the fall of 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to coordinate disaster fraud complaints from victims across the country. Since its founding, the NCDF processed more than a million complaints, and served as a national hub for disaster fraud referrals to federal, state, and local law enforcement. Over the past two decades, the law enforcement landscape has evolved significantly. Following a 2023 program review, the Criminal Division determined that the NCDF’s intake function was no longer the most effective avenue for pursuing disaster fraud. Many of the NCDF’s original agency partners now operate their own dedicated hotlines, and advances in data analysis have given federal investigators powerful new tools to identify and pursue fraud at scale – particularly the large, multi-district schemes that represent the highest enforcement priorities. This closure will save the Department more than $600,000 per year. Fraud targeting Americans in their most vulnerable moments, whether following natural disasters or during public health crises, is a serious federal crime that the Department of Justice will continue to investigate and prosecute vigorously. Victims of disaster fraud should report their complaints to the appropriate law enforcement agency based on the type of fraud. Reporting information can be found at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud .


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison for Threats to Kill Election Official

component: Criminal - Public Integrity Section

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine on his conviction of threatening to kill a Pennsylvania poll watcher from the Western District of Pennsylvania, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on John Courtney Pollard, 63, also ordering Pollard to serve one year of supervised release following his prison term. According to information presented to the Court, on September 6, 2024, Pollard sent Victim 1, a Regional Election Integrity Director, four iMessages over the course of about 10 minutes. Victim 1 had previously posted online, in Victim 1’s capacity as an employee of a state political party, that Victim 1 was recruiting volunteers to help “observe at the polls on Election Day” and included Victim 1’s phone number. Pollard texted Victim 1 that he was “interested in being a poll watcher” and included Victim 1’s first name. Pollard then texted Victim 1 three threats: • “I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!” • “Your days are numbered, B****!” • “GONNA F***ING FIND YOU AND SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN FOR F***ING TOILET PAPER, YOU F***ING KKK**T!” “This prosecution, and the Court’s sentence of incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons, sends a clear and unmistakable message that threats against election workers and other public servants will be met with swift, certain, and just punishment,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Our office and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting free and fair elections.” “Among the FBI’s highest priorities is protecting the freedom and integrity of our election system,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec. “Threatening those tasked with upholding this process by weaponizing fear carries very real consequences. Our country relies on free and fair elections, and the FBI and our partners will hold accountable anyone who thinks they can impact it.” An impact statement from Victim 1 read in Court detailed how Pollard’s “threatening texts began a year-long ordeal filled with fear and constant vigilance” for the victim, and urged the Court to “send a strong message to the country—that there is zero tolerance for making death threats against anyone, especially those serving in political or civic roles. Many of us are simply fulfilling our civic duty, yet we are becoming targets of a kind of hatred that is difficult to describe.” Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Bissoon noted that the victim suffered greatly as a consequence of what Pollard did and that the sentence balanced the defendant’s lack of criminal history and acceptance of responsibility with the very serious nature of his action and the need to protect the public. Judge Bissoon firmly rejected the defense request for a sentence of probation, stressing that “political violence is real,” and that “death threats” such as those made by the defendant will not be tolerated. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States, with valuable assistance from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN). PIN oversees the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials, election crimes, and other related offenses. PIN handles cases independently but also often works in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices on investigating and prosecuting these crimes. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Pollard.


title: CEO Of Credit Monitoring Company Pleads Guilty In Connection With Nationwide Online Marketing Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea of MICHAEL BROWN for his operation of a nationwide online marketing scheme to make money by posting fake advertisements for rental properties across the United States on a classified advertisements website. The purpose of the scheme was to fraudulently induce potential renters to enter their credit card information on credit monitoring websites owned by BROWN and pay for a credit report under false pretenses, including by automatically enrolling the customers in a paid monthly membership for credit monitoring services. BROWN pled guilty on Monday, March 30, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. “Many Americans rely on online websites to safely and securely search for housing,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “For years, Michael Brown perpetrated an online scam by tricking ordinary Americans looking for housing, including here in New York, into paying for services they did not need and did not want. The defendant’s company made millions from over 160,000 victims. Mass online fraudsters try to hide by hitting each victim for a small amount. As demonstrated in this case, that will not work.” According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: BROWN owned and operated Credit Bureau Center, LLC, formerly known as MyScore LLC (“MyScore”), a company that provided credit reports and credit monitoring services via the websites eFreeScore.com, FreeCreditNation.com, and CreditUpdates.com, among other sites (collectively, the “MyScore Websites”). In order to drive potential customers to the MyScore Websites, BROWN employed the use of affiliate marketers. In affiliate marketing, a seller of goods or services such as MyScore uses other firms or individuals known as “affiliates” to market the seller’s goods or services by attracting customers to the seller’s websites. From at least in or about 2014 through at least on or about January 10, 2017, BROWN and his affiliate marketers engaged in a nationwide online marketing scheme to post fake advertisements for rental properties across the United States on a classified advertisements website (the “Advertising Website”). The purpose of the scheme was to fraudulently induce prospective renters to enter their credit card information on the MyScore Websites and pay for a credit report under false pretenses in order to automatically enroll them in paying for a monthly membership for credit monitoring services. The advertisements used in the scheme typically contained photos of the supposed rental properties and showcased properties in desirable locations for below-market prices in order to attract interest. The advertisements were posted for rental properties in metropolitan areas across the United States, including, among other locations, New York City, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Diego. In actuality, the rental properties did not exist as advertised or were not actually available for rent through the posts on the Advertising Website. The advertisements also did not disclose the specific address of the rental properties but instead contained a contact email address inviting prospective renters to contact the property owner if they were interested in the rental property. When prospective renters inquired about the rental properties posted on the Advertising Website by responding to the advertisements, they received a form email purporting to be from the property owner requiring the prospective renter to obtain a copy of their credit report, and referring the prospective renter to one of the MyScore Websites to obtain a credit report, before scheduling a tour of the property. The form email typically described purported features of the advertised property and falsely informed the prospective renter, in substance and in part, that he or she was the second person to respond to the advertisement, that the first responder no longer needed the property, and that the property owner was ready to lease the property to the prospective renter with flexible terms and had just completed all new renovations. Once a prospective renter clicked on the hyperlink in the form email from the purported property owner to obtain a copy of their credit report, the prospective renter was directed to the “landing page” of one of the MyScore Websites. The landing page of the MyScore Websites typically featured a large banner that stated, in substance and in part, “Get Your Free Credit Score and Report” with significantly smaller text referencing an unspecified “7-day trial” and a “Monthly membership of $29.94 automatically charged after trial.” In order to get the credit report, prospective renters were required to enter identifying information and credit card information through a series of webpages. Once the prospective renter entered credit card information, the prospective renter was charged $1.00 and was automatically enrolled in a monthly membership for credit monitoring services with recurring charges of typically $29.94 per month until the membership was canceled. When prospective renters responded to the purported property owner asking to schedule a tour of the advertised property now that they had a copy of their credit report, there was typically no response, as the property was not actually available for rent as advertised and the scheme had succeeded in fraudulently generating a monthly membership subscription for MyScore. Many prospective renters who obtained a credit report from the MyScore Websites as a result of the scheme did not realize that they had been automatically enrolled in MyScore’s membership until they discovered the monthly charges on their credit card statements. Some prospective renters also had difficulties canceling the membership when they contacted MyScore’s customer service department. BROWN continued to execute the scheme through at least on or about January 10, 2017, despite numerous complaints during the course of the scheme from customers and consumer organizations about the fraudulent nature of the rental advertisements on the Advertising Website, the automatic enrollment of customers in MyScore’s monthly membership with recurring charges without their knowledge, and the difficulties in cancelling the monthly membership. In total, the scheme caused over approximately 2.7 million unique visits to the MyScore Websites and generated at least $6.8 million in revenue from at least 169,000 customers who were automatically enrolled in MyScore’s monthly membership for credit monitoring services through the scheme. If you believe you may be a victim of the conduct described in this press release, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or use the online tips page: https://tips.fbi.gov . * * * BROWN, 41, of Indian Trail, North Carolina, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, for a total maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. BROWN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Failla on September 1, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Trade Commission for their assistance with the case. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connie L. Dang, Matthew Weinberg, and Shaun E. Werbelow are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Felon Gang Member Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A prior felon and gang member was the last of three defendants sentenced today for working with others to distribute methamphetamine around Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Kenneth Lee Camp , 44, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell ordered Camp to serve 180 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. In 2022, law enforcement began investigating methamphetamine being trafficked over state lines into Tulsa. Law enforcement discovered that Camp is a high-ranking member of the Indian Brotherhood and was conspiring with other gang members, and his co-defendants, Jeremiah Jacob James Harper and Billy Gene Talley, to distribute methamphetamine. When law enforcement served a search warrant on Camp and Harper’s home, they found more than two pounds of methamphetamine, $2,800 in cash, firearms, ammunition, and several cellphones. Agents reviewed the cellphones and found drug-related conversations between the defendants and others. Court records show that Camp has a lengthy criminal history. While being investigated for this crime, Camp was charged with beating up a pregnant woman and obstructing a police officer. Previously released on bond, Camp was taken into custody following today's sentencing and will remain pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Camp’s co-defendant, Jeremiah Jacob James Harper , 31, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Distribution of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Use of Communication Facility. He was sentenced on March 2 and was ordered to serve 60 months imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release. Camp’s second co-defendant, Billy Gene Talley , 44, of Hutchinson, Kansas, pleaded guilty to Drug Conspiracy. He was sentenced on March 16 and was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.


title: Jefferson Parish Man Sentenced After Pleading Guilty to Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHARLES WHITE (“WHITE”) , age 34, a resident of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, was sentenced on March 12, 2026 by U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to time served, three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, in June 2022, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents initiated a joint investigation into WHITE as a member of a cocaine distribution organization with co-conspirators. As part of the investigation, agents utilized multiple controlled purchases of cocaine through an intermediary WHITE believed was a legitimate seller. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit. * * *


title: Former Board Chairman and Executive Director of Healthcare Non-Profit Indicted for Embezzlement, Bribery, and Kickback Schemes

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Jean Ronald Tirelus and Roberto Samedy for embezzling more than $1.3 million from a Brooklyn-based non-profit organization that provided home care services and operated homeless shelters in New York City. Tirelus was the former chairman of the organization’s board of directors, and Samedy was the executive director of the organization. In addition, the indictment charged Tirelus, Samedy, Edouardo St. Fort and Miguel Jorge for their roles in a related scheme in which Tirelus and Samedy steered business to companies controlled by St. Fort and Jorge in exchange for bribes and kickbacks. Tirelus and Samedy were each charged with wire fraud, embezzlement, and bribery-related offenses, and conspiracy to commit the same, as well as money laundering conspiracy. St. Fort and Jorge were charged with federal program bribery and related charges. Tirelus, Samedy and Jorge are being arraigned this afternoon before United States Chief Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. St. Fort was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts and will be arraigned in Eastern District of New York at a later date. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Christopher Ryan, Acting Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI); and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the arrests and indictment. “As alleged, the defendants used their leadership positions to loot public funds from an organization devoted to serving vulnerable New Yorkers,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Rooting out corruption is a priority for our Office, and we will hold accountable anyone who exploits charitable trust for private gain.” “As charged, these defendants devised a scheme that siphoned more than $1.3 million from a publicly-funded nonprofit that provided home health care services and received City homeless shelter contracts. Two of the defendants were leaders at the nonprofit who capitalized on the City’s urgent need for homeless shelter providers by allegedly steering business to favored vendors in exchange for bribes and kickbacks, according to the indictment. Those who exploit the City’s need for homeless shelters endanger the very programs meant to help unhoused people. I thank the City Department of Social Services for originally referring issues related to this nonprofit to DOI; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Easten District of New York and the FBI for their partnership on this investigation and their commitment to protect precious tax dollars,” stated Acting DOI Commissioner Ryan. "Jean Tirelus and Roberto Samedy allegedly stole more than $1.3 million from their nonprofit through fabricated investment opportunities, while separately steering contracts to other co-defendants. Tirelus and Samedy allegedly abused their executive positions to selfishly enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable citizens and taxpayer dollars. The FBI is committed to protecting charitable organizations and public funds from illicit corruption and greed," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. As set forth in court filings, the charges arise from an investigation of a Brooklyn-based nonprofit organization that provided home care services to elderly New Yorkers and individuals with acute medical needs and also operated homeless shelters (the Public Interest Organization, which operated two charitable entities known as Nonprofit #1 and Nonprofit #2). The Public Interest Organization received millions of dollars in Medicaid payments and has been awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from New York City. As a result of their leadership positions at the Public Interest Organization, Tirelus and Samedy exercised significant control over its operations and finances. Between August 2020 and January 2024, Tirelus and Samedy exploited their positions, stealing more than $1.3 million from the Public Interest Organization through several forms of embezzlement and fraud. For example, in May 2023, Tirelus and Samedy fraudulently induced the board of directors to authorize an $800,000 payment that went to a shell company controlled by Tirelus. Tirelus and Samedy falsely advised the board of directors that the Public Interest Organization had been approached by a bank regarding a joint venture to invest in affordable housing. After the board approved a proposal authorizing the Public Interest Organization to invest, Tirelus and Samedy caused Nonprofit #1 to wire $800,000 to a bank account controlled by Tirelus, who diverted the funds to the benefit of himself and Samedy. Separately, St. Fort and Jorge controlled several vendor companies that provided private security services, facilities maintenance, and furniture to homeless shelters operated by the Public Interest Organization. Between February 2023 and January 2024, Tirelus and Samedy steered millions of dollars of the Public Interest Organization’s business towards the companies controlled by St. Fort and Jorge in return for bribes and kickbacks. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Tirelus and Samedy each face up to 20 years in prison, and St. Fort and Jorge face each face up to 10 years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Public Integrity Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Daniel Arakawa. The Defendants : RONALD JEAN TIRELUS Age: 50 Brooklyn, New York ROBERTO SAMEDY Age: 50 Brooklyn, New York EDOUARDO ST. FORT Age: 47 Taunton, Massachusetts MIGUEL JORGE Age: 52 College Point, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-69 (RER)


title: Former Secretary of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Take Illegal Kickbacks to Award Government Contracts

body_text: LAFAYETTE– On March 31, 2026, former Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (“LDWF”) Jack Montoucet pled guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by corruptly soliciting and accepting kickbacks in return for being influenced in awarding state contracts and committing wire fraud. Montoucet faces up to five years in federal prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. “The citizens of Louisiana deserve and demand honesty and integrity from those entrusted with public office, including when they contract for services on behalf of our Louisiana communities,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Officeholders like Mr. Montoucet who abuse that trust undermine confidence in government and the public contracting process, and our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute these abuses and see that offenders face justice.” "Mr. Montoucet helped a co-conspirator get a lucrative state contract to provide online courses for kickbacks," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "Thankfully, there are still good people out there who reached out to the FBI and local law enforcement to report this illegal activity. The FBI and our partners will continue to ensure public officials honor the public’s trust." “Public officials are entrusted with serving the people – not enriching themselves. Today’s guilty plea makes clear that the defendant abused that trust by engaging in a scheme to manipulate the contract process and steer contracts for personal gain,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge Demetrius D. Hardeman. “We will continue to work in concert with our partner organizations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold accountable those who exploit their official positions for personal profit.” According to court documents, Montoucet agreed, while Secretary of the LDWF, to steer a LDWF contract to a company called DGL1, LLC, in exchange for one-third of the profit that would result from the contract, with the other two-thirds divided between Montoucet’s two conspirators, Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques. On January 27, 2021, Montoucet caused LDWF to award a no-bid contract to DGL1 to provide online hunter and boater education courses. Then, when the Louisiana Department of Administration, Office of Special Procurement raised concerns about the no-bid contract, the LDWF put out a public bid for the contract that Montoucet influenced for DGL1 to win. Then, on October 8, 2021, Montoucet acted on behalf of LDWF as Secretary to sign a contract with DGL1 to provide the hunter and boater classes, knowing he was to receive bribery kickbacks from the contract. A month later, Montoucet met with Franques and Guidry to discuss how to conceal and disguise the source, ownership, and payout of these kickbacks, with the parties agreeing that Franques would hold Montoucet’s portion until after he’d departed LDWF and then pay it to him as a “signing bonus” to Montoucet for consulting work. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Myers P. Namie, Lauren L. Nickel, and LaDonte A. Murphy, along with Trial Attorney Alex Dempsey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice and with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 25-cr-00134. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Materials

body_text: WASHINGTON – Christopher Young, 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 78 months in prison in connection with distributing thousands of files of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Young, aka “Topher Young,” pleaded guilty on May 27, 2025, before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, Judge Sooknanan ordered Young to serve 10 years of supervised release. “Christopher Young distributed more than 1,600 videos of children—some as young as infants—being sexually abused, and he did it, hoping people were watching, but thinking he would never get caught,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office will use every tool to identify those who exploit the most vulnerable and ensure they face serious consequences. Today's sentence sends a clear message: there is no anonymity for those who exploit children.” According to court documents, on Oct. 4, 2024, Young, identifying himself as “too Nasty,” sent a private message on a mobile messaging application focused on dating and sexual encounters, to another online user, who was located in Washington, D.C. In the message, Young indicated his sexual interest in young children and asked the other user to contact him on the messaging platform Telegram. On Oct. 7, 2024, Young and the online user communicated on Telegram using Young’s “Mrnunyab” Telegram handle. During the chat, Young stated that he was from Baltimore, reiterated his sexual interest in children, and asked if the other online user wanted to exchange pictures. On Oct. 15, 2024, Young sent a link to a file that contained 1,616 videos depicting children as young as infants engaged in sexual conduct with adults. On Dec. 13, 2024, Young sent the online user a picture of himself, which law enforcement used to identify him as the individual who distributed child pornography. Law enforcement arrested Young on Feb. 13, 2025, in Baltimore. A forensic examination of Young’s iPhone revealed two videos and three images depicting child pornography. This case was investigated by the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen and was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov 25cr50 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Former Boston Housing Secretary Pleads Guilty to Falsifying Overtime Forms

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former executive secretary at the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to falsifying overtime forms. The defendant lied about working overtime and forged her supervisor’s signature on the overtime forms. Helen Murray, 41, of Malden, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 7, 2026. From 2017 to 2024, Murray worked as an executive secretary at BHA. As an executive secretary, Murray was responsible for collecting weekly BHA timesheets, as well as overtime forms from other BHA employees. Murray was also eligible to work overtime and receive overtime pay. To collect overtime, Murray’s overtime work had to be pre-approved by her senior management. Specifically, Murray would have to perform the overtime work, accurately and truthfully fill out an overtime form and submit it to her immediate supervisor via email to be approved electronically. However, in January 2023, Murray began submitting false overtime forms to BHA payroll. Instead of submitting the forms to her supervisor for approval, Murray entered overtime hours that Murray had not worked and then falsified her supervisor’s signature on the form, without her supervisor’s knowledge nor permission. Murray would then submit the falsified overtime forms directly to BHA Payroll via email, after which BHA payroll would include Murray’s fraudulent overtime pay in her weekly paycheck. In total, Murray submitted over 100 falsified overtime forms between January 2023 to August 2024 – ultimately collecting approximately $72,131 in fraudulent overtime pay. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The Boston Housing Authority provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit, is prosecuting the case.


title: Hartford, Connecticut Men Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Cocaine, and Fentanyl

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on March 26, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Harold Sterling, 33, and Isaias Ramos, 31, both of Hartford, Connecticut with possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, specifically, more than 28 grams of cocaine base, cocaine, and fentanyl. The indictment additionally charged Ramos with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Sterling and Ramos entered pleas of not guilty to the charge during an arraignment on March 30, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle had previously ordered that Sterling and Ramos be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, on March 12, 2026, U.S. Border Patrol spotted the vehicle Sterling and Ramos were driving in at approximately 11:45 p.m. near North Troy, Vermont. The Border Patrol agent suspected the vehicle to be involved in potential human smuggling across the Canadian border into the United States. When the Border Patrol agent activated his lights to initiate a stop, the vehicle sped away. As the vehicle sped away, a plastic bag was thrown out of the vehicle’s window. Border Patrol later recovered the bag and found it to contain, with packaging, approximately 82 grams of fentanyl, 23 grams of cocaine powder, and 107 grams of cocaine base. Border Patrol also later found the vehicle, which Sterling and Ramos had abandoned in a nearby parking lot. Inside of Ramos’s backpack in the vehicle, Border Patrol found a .22 caliber revolver. Border Patrol tracked footprints from the vehicle to a residence in North Troy, Vermont. On March 13, 2026, law enforcement from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, and the Newport Police Department assisted Border Patrol to locate and arrest Sterling and Ramos at that residence. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Sterling and Ramos are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Ramos faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment, and as a result of a prior conviction for a serious drug felony, Sterling is expected to face up to life imprisonment. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the U.S. Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, and the Newport Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Ramos is represented by Sarah Puls, Esq., and Sterling is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Samuel Ansell. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Federal Court sentences foreign national drug trafficker who moved thousands of kilograms of cocaine

body_text: DETROIT – U.S. District Court Judge Denise Page Hood sentenced an Albania national, Ylli Didani, 48, to 25 years in prison. A federal jury recently convicted him of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. and Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon, Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA Detroit Field Division. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Marty Raybon, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and Chief John Piggott, Farmington Hills Police Department. Evidence at trial proved Didani was a leader of an international drug trafficking organization with ties to the United States, South America, and Europe. Didani and other unindicted co-conspirators planned and financed the distribution of cocaine from several locations including the Eastern District of Michigan. Didani arranged the distribution of enormous shipments of cocaine from South America to Europe, where the cocaine was seized by law enforcement. As a result of this investigation, in 2019 and 2020, law enforcement seized over 4300 kilograms of cocaine Didani’s organization loaded onto five different containerships that were bound for international ports. The seized cocaine has a street value of over $100,000,000.00. The evidence at trial proved Didani and other members of his organization planned the design of an underwater drone that would be utilized to transport large quantities of cocaine to Europe. The drone, which was going to be equipped with an underwater modem and GPS antenna, would transport the cocaine while attached to the bottom of a commercial containership. The drone would then be remotely released from the containership off the shore of Europe. The drone and cocaine would then be picked up by a fishing boat controlled by Didani’s organization. “The interagency collaboration on this case is a prime example of how the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) is designed to combat transnational criminal organizations just like this one. We thank our partners for sinking this operation and bring justice to a foreign national who was poisoning our friends abroad,” said Gorgon. “This sentencing sends a clear message that no drug trafficking organization is beyond our reach,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Dixon. “The DEA works side-by-side with our local, state, federal, and international partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global criminal networks. The seizure of more than 4,300 kilograms of cocaine during this investigation demonstrates what we can achieve when we stand united in protecting the public from those who profit from addiction.” “The laws governing the trafficking of drugs in the United States are very clear, there is no separate set of rules if the drugs are trafficked by land or sea,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentencing sends a direct message to drug traffickers globally that they will he held accountable for drug trafficking and the money laundering that comes with it. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to be on the team with our law enforcement partners, keeping illicit drugs off our streets and out of America.” “Today’s sentencing marks a definitive victory in our ongoing mission to dismantle transnational criminal organizations that profit from the scourge of dangerous drugs in our communities,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon. “This outcome is the result of seamless cooperation between CBP and our law enforcement partners and this sense of collective vigilance remains our strongest tool in protecting our communities and securing our borders.” This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Detroit comprises agents and officers from numerous agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service and the Farmington Hills Police Department provided critical assistance in this investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Bilkovic and Tim McDonald.


title: Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices Reach $3 Million Settlement with Georgia Professional Licensing Boards for Alleged Violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

body_text: ATLANTA, Ga. – The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into an agreement with 42 Georgia state licensing boards (“Georgia Boards”) to resolve allegations that the Georgia Boards failed to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”). This settlement is the first of its kind and will provide up to $3 million in compensation to servicemembers and military spouses whose applications for licensure were improperly denied or delayed. The settlement also requires the Georgia Boards to adopt new policies that comply with the SCRA and provide a streamlined application process for servicemembers and military spouses who are already licensed in another state. “As a U.S. Army veteran and reservist, it is a particular honor to announce that our servicemembers are guaranteed the full protections of the SCRA,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes of the Middle District of Georgia. “I am grateful for our strong partnership with state officials in reaching this resolution, which ensures that servicemembers and their spouses with professional licenses can relocate to Georgia and continue their careers and lives here more smoothly.” “Members of the military and their families already make great sacrifices to defend our nation – they should not have to sacrifice their professional careers or financial well-being because the military requires them to move,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This groundbreaking settlement ensures that servicemembers and their spouses stationed in Georgia can have their out-of-state licenses recognized without facing unnecessary hurdles. Licensing authorities in other states should take note of this settlement and ensure they comply with the SCRA.” “The agreement we are announcing today allows servicemembers and their spouses to focus on what is most important when military service sends them to Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Federal law requires every state to recognize hard-earned professional licenses when our warfighters must uproot their families in service to our country. This settlement ensures that servicemembers and military spouses can work in their chosen and trained professions free from bureaucratic hurdles, unnecessary costs, and burdensome waits. I am proud that my office, alongside the Justice Department and the two other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Georgia, worked together with our state partners in the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office, and the Governor’s office to make it easier for our brave fighting men and women to call Georgia home.” “This settlement will provide monetary relief to military spouses whose professional employment opportunities have been limited because of the state of Georgia’s unnecessary delays and red tape,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret “Meg” Heap of the Southern District of Georgia. “More importantly, this settlement clears a path now and in the future for military spouses to pursue continued employment when they move with their servicemember to our community. We are grateful for the work of our staff in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and to the staffers in the Northern and Middle Districts and the Civil Rights Division for their tireless, detailed work on reaching this settlement. All of our communities are stronger today because of their efforts.” An investigation led by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Georgia and the Southern District of Georgia, uncovered multiple complaints from servicemembers and military spouses regarding the Georgia Boards’ previous refusal to recognize out-of-state professional licenses. As a result, servicemembers’ spouses were unable to work in their professional fields or earn money for their families after relocating to Georgia on military orders. One military spouse, for example, had to drive to a neighboring state to work because the Georgia Board did not recognize her professional license as required by federal law. Since January 2023, the SCRA has required state licensing authorities to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and military spouses who relocate to a new state due to military orders. The law is intended to remove barriers to employment and improve the financial readiness of military families. Many military spouses work in fields that require licenses and must move across state lines every two to three years due to their spouses’ military orders. The SCRA provides that if a servicemember or military spouse holds a covered license, the new state must recognize the license as valid and may not impose requirements beyond those set forth in the statute. The United States estimates that up to 5,000 servicemembers and military spouses may be entitled to compensation under this settlement. The professions covered by this settlement include teachers, nurses, electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, barbers, opticians, massage therapists, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and many more. Any servicemember or military spouse who applied for a professional license from one of the Georgia Boards after January 2023 and who may have been wrongfully denied rights guaranteed by the SCRA should contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at USAGAN.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-4626. The investigation and resolution of this matter were led by attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica and Aileen Bell Hughes of the Northern District of Georgia in partnership with Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor McNeill of the Middle District of Georgia and Civil Division Chief Bradford C. Patrick of the Southern District of Georgia. The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $487 million in monetary relief for over 149,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov .


title: Federal Judge Revokes Naturalization of Married Couple Who Conspired to Steal Medical Trade Secrets and Share Them with China

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: On March 30, Judge James E. Simmons Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California entered an order revoking the naturalized U.S. citizenship of husband and wife Li Chen and Yu Zhou, finding they illegally procured their naturalization. Chen and Zhou each previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which the court determined constituted crimes involving moral turpitude that prevented them from having the good moral character necessary to naturalize. The court additionally found that both Chen and Zhou were ineligible to naturalize because they committed unlawful acts that adversely reflected on their moral character for which there were no extenuating circumstances. “Gaining citizenship after committing serious crimes against the American people is an unacceptable abuse of our immigration system,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “These latest denaturalizations illustrate this Department of Justice's focus on ensuring that citizenship remains a privilege to obtain, not a right to abuse.” “Naturalization is not a right — it’s a privilege given by the generous people of this nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Divison. “When the generosity of America’s immigration process is abused, our system works to correct such abuse. Full stop.” Chen, a Chinese national, entered the United States in 2007 on an H-1B Specialty Occupation visa sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH). In 2011, after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker as an alien of extraordinary ability, Chen adjusted her immigration status to permanent resident. Zhou, also a Chinese national, entered the United States in 2005 as an exchange visitor. In 2008, Zhou arrived in the United States again on an H-1B Specialty Occupation visa sponsored by NCH, and he adjusted his immigration status to permanent resident in 2011 as the derivative spouse of his wife, Chen. Chen naturalized in 2016, and Zhou naturalized in 2017. In 2019, both Chen and Zhou were arrested for criminal conduct involving the theft of medical trade secrets used in the course of their employment as NCH research scientists focused on exosome isolation. Each indictment alleged that the couple personally benefitted from their theft and sale of NCH trade secrets by establishing their own company and by acquiring shares in another company that utilized the stolen trade secrets. In addition, both Chen and Zhou received funding from the People’s Republic of China’s State Administration of Foreign Expert Affairs. In total, Defendants jointly received nearly $1.5 million in transactions resulting from their exchange of exosome isolation intellectual property. Chen was subsequently sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and Zhou was sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release, with over $2.6 million in restitution ordered to be paid jointly and severally between them. The court held that the couple’s wire fraud — and thus their conspiracy to commit wire fraud — constituted a crime involving moral turpitude that warranted the revocation of Defendants’ naturalization. The court additionally determined that, given the lack of any extenuating circumstances, Zhou and Chen’s crimes of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit trade secret theft constituted unlawful acts that reflected adversely on their moral character, and therefore these crimes represented a separate basis to revoke their U.S. citizenship. These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the ICE Office of the Principle Legal Advisor (OPLA). The cases were litigated by the Affirmative Litigation Unit of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation. The underlying criminal cases were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.


title: Two Illegal Aliens Arrested with More than 100 Pounds of Methamphetamine

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Two illegal aliens were arrested and charged with conspiring with a cartel to distribute more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine in the Northern District of Oklahoma. Perfecto Alejandro Lopez, 33, a Guatemalan national, and Christian Bernardo Zamora, 26, a Mexican national, are charged with Drug Conspiracy and Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. During an investigation, DEA agents obtained two search warrants. One was for a home, and the second was for a vehicle. On March 28, the vehicle was pulled over for a traffic violation. DEA agents notified the law enforcement officer that they had a search warrant authorizing a search of the vehicle. When agents searched the vehicle, they found approximately 105 pounds of methamphetamine. Shortly after the traffic stop, agents executed the search warrant on the home in east Tulsa. Inside the home, agents recovered a large amount of cash, a loaded firearm, and a digital scale. Lopez and Bernardo Zamora were both arrested and admitted that they entered the United States illegally. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Sudbury Man Pleads Guilty to Carrying Out $7.8 Million Embezzlement Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Sudbury man, formerly of Hudson (Mass.), pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to carrying out a scheme from at least 2015 to 2024 to steal money from his two former employers, both medical practices. Adam Gentile, 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2026. Gentile was charged in December 2025. In or around 2014, Gentile was hired as an administrative assistant for a medical practice. He was promoted to the role of office manager shortly thereafter. In his capacity as office manager, Gentile processed payroll and oversaw other recordkeeping and administrative responsibilities for the practice. Beginning in or around 2015 and continuing through November 2020, Gentile embezzled more than $4.5 million from his employer by issuing himself extra paychecks, sometimes labeling the payments as “bonuses.” Gentile also paid off personal credit cards with the practice’s bank account. In 2021, Gentile was hired as an officer manager for a second medical practice, for which he similarly had sole responsibility for processing payroll. From in or around April 2021 through May 2024, Gentile executed a similar scheme in which he caused extra payroll payments to be issued to himself – sometimes recording these payments as “bonuses.” Gentile used the employer’s bank account to pay off his personal credit cards; purchase and upgrade his home in Hudson; and put toward a side business he ran while employed by the medical practice. Gentile embezzled more than $3.3 million from his second employer. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross loss involved. 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 Leominster Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown is prosecuting the case.


title: Nigerien National Indicted In Connection With Role In Romance Fraud Scheme

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced today, that a federal grand jury indicted a Nigerien national, residing in Frederick, Maryland, in connection with a romance fraud scheme. Ali Habou Maman, 58, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and wire fraud. Maman and his co-conspirators allegedly assumed fictitious identities, posed as love interests, and developed what victims believed were romantic relationships to further the scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the indictment, beginning in October 2022, Maman and his co-conspirators allegedly colluded to commit wire fraud to personally enrich themselves. Maman and co-conspirators attempted to fraudulently obtain money and property from victims for their own personal benefit through romance, investment, and other fraudulent schemes. Maman and co-conspirators exchanged messages via WhatsApp about creating accounts with U.S. banks to receive funds from the victims. On January 5, 2023, Maman filed articles of organization with the Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation for DDK Logistics LLC. In the articles of organization, Maman identified himself as the only authorized person and resident agent for DDK, and provided his Frederick, Maryland, home address as DDK’s business address. Maman opened 13 bank accounts for DDK at multiple different financial institutions. Additionally, Maman identified himself as DDK’s owner, or chief executive officer, who had 100-percent beneficial ownership interest in the company. When financial institutions inquired, Maman told them DDK provided computer chips for vehicles and engaged in trading automotive parts. But DDK did not have significant physical operations, engage in legitimate business activities, earn gross revenues, incur costs for goods sold, incur administrative expenses associated with business operations, report wages for employees to the State of Maryland, nor employ a significant number of workers. Through the conspiracy, Maman and co-conspirators used DDK’s bank accounts to receive funds from victims. Co-conspirators used email, phone, and messaging applications to induce victims to turn over money and property. While posing as romantic partners, co-conspirators told victims that they suffered various crises that required urgent financial assistance. Then the co-conspirators used other ruses, such as false investment and business opportunities, to fraudulently obtain funds from victims. Maman and his co-conspirators created fictitious documents, websites, and other records to support the claims they made to their victims. Co-conspirators then directed victims to send money to Maman via the DDK Accounts, including by personal check, cashier’s check, and wire transfer. After Maman received the victims’ funds, he made outgoing wire transfers from DDK’s accounts to bank accounts belonging to third parties in several different countries, including the United States, China, India, and Indonesia. Maman retained a portion of the funds as a fee. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Maman faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each of the charged counts. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended HSI and the FBI for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and Adeyemi Adenrele who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Lexington Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Ronald Jerome Woolfolk, Jr., 27, was sentenced on Tuesday to 34 months by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Woolfolk was employed as a licensed mortician apprentice at a funeral home in Fayette County. In his position, Woolfolk had access to the personal identifying information of clients and deceased persons, as well as the funeral home’s email address. According to his plea agreement, from on or about August 15, 2022, through October 16, 2023, Woolfolk defrauded a charity that financially supported families affected by the tragedy of losing a child. Using the funeral home’s email address, Woolfolk submitted approximately 23 requests to the charity seeking financial assistance on behalf of both real and fictitious deceased persons and their families. The requests contained false information and fictitious documentation to support the requests for funding, including fake invoices for funeral expenses, fake cremation certificates, and fabricated letters using the funeral home’s letterhead. Woolfolk directed the payments to a fake company he created. Of the approximately 23 fraudulent requests for assistance, Woolfolk sought assistance with funeral expenses for three real deceased babies/toddlers and two young adults. Neither the funeral home, nor the family members of the deceased, knew of Woolfolk’s actions. In total, Woolfolk fraudulently obtained $11,929.49 from the charity. Under federal law, Woolfolk, Jr., must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison under Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Mexican national illegally living in the United States has been sentenced to five years in federal prison under the Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Sergio Uriel Munoz-Rodriguez, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on March 31, 2026. According to information presented in court, in 2020 federal agents identified Munoz-Rodriguez while investigating drug trafficking activity in the Metroplex area. Munoz-Rodriguez admitted to being involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing at least 15 kilograms of a substance containing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. It was also determined during the investigation that Munoz-Rodriguez is a citizen of Mexico and illegally in the United States. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###