title: Huntington Park Medical Practice and Doctor to Pay More Than $6.7 Million to Settle Allegations of Billing Medicare for Unnecessary Procedures

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Huntington Park-based medical practice and its physician have agreed to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for medically unnecessary vascular interventional procedures on 20 Medicare beneficiaries. The United States alleged that, from 2016 to 2024, Dr. Feliciano Serrano of Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center performed medically unnecessary dialysis access interventions, including angioplasty and stent procedures, on 18 patients, purportedly to treat stenosis in patients’ dialysis segments. Dr. Serrano scheduled interventions on a routine basis, without waiting for complications to present, and he frequently repeated procedures on patients every few days or weeks despite that the procedures were not effective and did not result in any clinical benefit. One Medicare patient received approximately 42 stents in the dialysis segment between 2016 and 2023, including during a period when Dr. Serrano informed the patient he did not need dialysis. The United States also alleged that from 2019 to 2024, Dr. Serrano performed medically unnecessary peripheral artery disease interventions, including stent and atherectomy procedures, on 17 patients, purportedly to treat stenosis in patients’ legs. Dr. Serrano performed interventions on patients who had only mild or no stenosis and who had only minor symptoms. Although patients complained of pain only in one leg, he performed procedures on both legs and then repeated procedures on both legs every few months. Dr. Serrano told patients that if they did not receive the procedure, their legs would need to be amputated, when, in fact, there was little risk of amputation for mildly symptomatic peripheral artery disease. One Medicare patient received approximately 16 atherectomies in his legs between 2019 and 2023. The United States alleged that across both categories of procedures, Dr. Serrano performed interventional procedures on vessels that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice; overstated the degree of stenosis to make the procedures appear to meet generally recognized medical standards when, in fact, they did not; falsely documented patient symptoms and conservative therapy measures in medical records to justify the procedures; and performed procedures in excess of accepted standards of medical practice. As a result of the settlements, Dr. Serrano will pay nearly $6.51 million to the United States and nearly $229,000 to the State of California. “False claims to Medicare and Medicaid cause millions of dollars in losses to the government,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bilal A. Essayli of the Central District of California. “This settlement sends a clear message to physicians that the United States will zealously pursue appropriate action against those who submit false claims for taxpayer funds.” “Physicians should not be performing and billing for unnecessary and excessive medical interventions. False documentation of symptoms compromises the integrity of our federal health care programs and the well-being of beneficiaries,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Physicians who place their own profit over patient needs will be held accountable.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by Lincoln Analytics, Inc. under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and State of California ex rel. Lincoln Analytics, Inc. v. Dr. Feliciano Serrano, et al. , Civil Action No. 23-cv-04178 (C.D. Cal.). Lincoln Analytics, Inc. will receive approximately $976,000 as its share of the federal recovery. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the California Department of Justice, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. Assistant United States Attorney Karen Y. Paik of the Civil Frauds Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney Tiffany L. Ho of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section handled this case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Niagara Falls man pleads guilty to attempting to disable a CSX railroad switch

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Charles Wilson, 66, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to damaging or impairing the operation of a train control system, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. CSX uses railroad switches to control the movement of trains throughout the CSX Railyard. On June 29, 2025, Wilson entered the CSX Railyard, removed a 102 switch lock, and replaced it with a different lock. By replacing the lock, Wilson impaired the operation of the railroad switch by preventing CSX personnel from operating the railroad switch in a timely manner. Previously, on June 22, 2025, Wilson replaced a 102 switch lock on a railroad switch at the CSX railyard with a different type of lock. This delayed an Amtrak passenger train because the railroad switch could not be unlocked. In addition, on July 1, 2025, Wilson moved a railroad switch at the CSX railyard into a new position after a train carrying hazardous materials had passed the switch. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly. The plea is the result of an investigation by the CSX Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Douris, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Phillip Tejera. Sentencing is scheduled for September 14, 2026, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Waynesville Woman Pleads Guilty to Importing and  Selling Counterfeit Luxury Goods Online

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Waynesville, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to importing and selling counterfeit luxury goods, apparel, and other items online. Mary A. Lecena, 32, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to three counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods. Lecena operated Bali Rattan LLC, an online boutique store selling various goods, which Lecena operated out of her residence in Waynesville and in Chicago, Illinois. Bali Rattan LLC was registered with the State of Wyoming. By pleading guilty today, Lecena admitted she sold various counterfeit purses, jewelry, phone cases, handbags, shoes, clothing, and other counterfeit products through Bali Rattan LLC from March 2022 to December 2024. The counterfeit goods and apparel were typically manufactured in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China and shipped to the U.S. for distribution. Numerous shipments were delivered from these countries to Lecena during this time. Lecena specifically admitted to ordering over 2,100 counterfeit goods, at an aggregate market value of over $2.3 million, with the intent to sell, and admitted to selling various counterfeit goods during this time. Lecena admitted that she continued to import and sell counterfeit goods even after she received notices from United States Customs and Border Protection that she was importing counterfeit goods, and such conduct was illegal. Under federal statutes, Lecena is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole for each count to which she pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Jiaan Cao (33, China) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Cao faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, beginning in at least October 2024 and continuing through December 12, 2024, Cao conspired with others to commit wire fraud by gaining access to a victim’s computer, fraudulently posing as a representative of a victim’s financial institution, and informing the victim their account had been subjected to fraudulent criminal activity. A member of the conspiracy then directed the victim to withdraw money from their account and purchase gold. Afterward, the victim was instructed to provide this gold to a “federal agent” for safekeeping. In actuality, the “federal agent” was another member of the conspiracy. Conspiracy members often exchanged electronic communications with each other, including the location details of the victims, for this purpose. On December 12, 2024, Cao was arrested at a victim’s residence in Marion County when he arrived to pick up gold that had been purchased in this manner. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.


title: Mexican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry into the United States

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican National was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday for illegally reentering the U.S. after being removed multiple times. The defendant was originally charged through a criminal complaint on April 27, 2026. Victor Rubio-Trejo, 48, was charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry. On April 10, 2026, Rubio-Trejo was arrested by the St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department. The next day, Rubio-Trejo was identified by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and transferred into ICE’s custody. ICE determined that Rubio-Trejo has been removed from the U.S. on five separate occasions and has a prior felony conviction for illegal reentry. The charges contained in the criminal complaint and indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty it is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas P. Heberle. It was investigated by ICE with assistance from the St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America 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: ‘GothFerrari’ Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Role in Massive Cryptocurrency Heist

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON - Marlon Ferro, 20, of Santa Ana, California, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 78 months in prison in connection with his role in a sprawling social engineering conspiracy that stole well over $250 million in cryptocurrency from victims across the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Marlon Ferro served as the criminal enterprise’s instrument of last resort. When his co-conspirators couldn’t deceive victims into handing over access to their cryptocurrency or hack their way into digital accounts, they turned to Ferro to break into homes and steal hardware wallets outright,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This scheme blended sophisticated online fraud with old-fashioned burglary to drain victims of millions of dollars in digital assets. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: cryptocurrency fraud is not a victimless, consequence-free crime carried out safely behind a screen—it is serious criminal conduct that will lead to federal prison.” Ferro, aka “GothFerrari,” pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2025, before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization. In addition to the 78-month prison sentence, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Ferro to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $2.5 million in restitution. According to court documents, a multi-year federal investigation uncovered a social engineering enterprise that defrauded victims of more than $250 million in cryptocurrency between late 2023 and early 2025. Members of the enterprise — based in California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and abroad — played specialized roles that included database hacking, target identification, fraudulent phone calls, money laundering, and residential burglary. Members and associates of the social engineering enterprise used stolen virtual currency to purchase, among other things, nightclub services ranging up to $500,000 per evening, luxury handbags valued in the tens of thousands of dollars which were given away at nightclub parties, luxury watches valued between $100,000 up to over $500,000, luxury clothing valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, rental homes in Los Angeles, the Hamptons, and Miami, private jet rentals for travel, a team of private security guards, and a fleet of exotic cars, ranging in value from $100,000 up to $3,800,000. The conspiracy’s operatives typically targeted individuals believed to hold significant cryptocurrency holdings. Its members manipulated victims into surrendering access to their digital wallets through elaborate fraud schemes. When victims stored their cryptocurrency in hardware wallets, physical devices that cannot be accessed remotely, the enterprise turned to Ferro. In February 2024, Ferro traveled to Winnsboro, Texas, broke into a victim’s home, and stole a hardware wallet containing about 100 bitcoin, at the time valued at more than $5 million. He then laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency exchanges. After relocating to California in early 2024, Ferro connected with enterprise members and ingratiated himself with his co-conspirators, including the leaders of the racketeering conspiracy, offering his residential burglary services for future cryptocurrency thefts. Surveillance photo of Ferro after he used a brick to break into a victim’s home in New Mexico. In July 2024, Ferro flew to New Mexico, where he surveilled a residence for several days, positioning a cell phone outside the home to monitor the victim’s movements. When co-conspirators tracking the victim’s location through his iCloud account indicated he had left, Ferro broke into the home by smashing a window with a brick and searched for the target hardware wallet. He was captured on the victim’s home surveillance camera. Ferro was not only the enterprise’s burglar, he was also a key money launderer. He used fraudulent identification documents obtained from a foreign national to open a digital payment card account at a geo-blocked platform, allowing enterprise members to spend stolen cryptocurrency at retail locations and nightclubs in Miami and elsewhere. He purchased more than $255,000 in designer clothing on behalf of his co-conspirators using stolen funds. One of the Hermès Birkin bags Ferro obtained for a co-conspirator's girlfriend. After a leader of the conspiracy was arrested and jailed in September 2024, Ferro continued to assist him from the outside. He collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency from other enterprise members, converted it to cash through illicit exchanges, and used the proceeds to pay the conspiracy leader’s attorneys. Ferro also arranged the purchase and shipment of Hermès Birkin bags for the co-conspirator's girlfriend. Ferro was arrested on May 13, 2025, and found to be in possession of two firearms and a fake identification document. Law enforcement recovered this 9mm black rifle from Ferro. The Glock 19 9mm pistol that law enforcement recovered from Ferro. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI Washington Field Office, and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington Field Office. Significant investigative and operational support was provided by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Miami field offices. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Howland and David Liss. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart provided valuable assistance. 24cr417


title: Virginia Man Charged with $6.6 Million Wire Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A dual national of the United States and the Philippines has been charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly stealing more than $6.6 million from his employer over the course of a decade. Ricardo Fontanilla, 66, of Fairfax, Va., was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud. Fontanilla was arrested at his home on May 3, 2026 and made his initial appearance yesterday in federal court in Arlington, Va. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the allegations in the complaint, between 2013 and December 2025, Fontanilla worked at the Victim Company, a global financial services company which had its U.S. headquarters in Massachusetts, as a Security Administration Services employee. Fontanilla’s role allegedly gave him access to the Victim Company’s financial systems, which tracked borrowers’ mortgage payments in connection with residential mortgage-backed securities—a kind of financial instrument that allows investors to purchase ownership in a pool of residential mortgage loans. Beginning at least as early as 2016, Fontanilla allegedly altered the Victim Company’s records to make it appear that the Victim Company was receiving excess payments from mortgage servicing companies that were collecting borrower payments. As alleged, Fontanilla fraudulently transferred these supposedly “excess” payments back to one mortgage servicer (Company A), and then falsely informed Company A representatives that the Victim Company had mistakenly refunded these amounts. In directing Company A to return the mistaken refunds to the Victim Company, Fontanilla allegedly directed Company A to wire the funds to a personal bank account he controlled at Wells Fargo. Records for the Wells Fargo account show Fontanilla received more than $6.6 million in wires from Company A between 2016 and 2025 and that Fontanilla allegedly made payments from the account for more than $3.2 million in personal credit card payments to Capital One, JPMorgan Chase and American Express; $778,000 in mortgage and loan payments; more than $200,000 in cash and cash-equivalent withdrawals; spent more than $70,000 at Cartier locations in Italy, Spain, the Philippines and the United States; and purchased a vehicle for approximately $77,000 —amounts far exceeding the approximately $83,000 annual salary Fontanilla received from the Victim Company. 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 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office and Brian Tucker, Special Agent in Charge, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Frauds Unit, is prosecuting the case. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Fourth Illinoisan Sentenced After Cashing Out Stolen Government Money at a Dubuque Casino

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman from Northwest Illinois who fraudulently obtained approximately $100,000 in pandemic-era unemployment benefits, which she then converted to cash at a Dubuque casino, was sentenced on May 5, 2026, to more than three years in federal prison. Jackie L. Smith, age 39, from Galena, Illinois, received the prison term after a November 4, 2025, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. Evidence at Smith’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings established that Smith orchestrated a scheme to defraud various states out of approximately $100,000 in federally subsidized unemployment insurance (“UI”) benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith filed a false UI application in her own name, recruited others into the UI fraud scheme in exchange for a share of the fraud proceeds, and stole others’ personally identifiable information and pocketed the UI moneys for herself. Smith then made cash withdrawals at a Dubuque casino. Smith is a felon with an extensive criminal history. Smith has convictions in Illinois, Texas, and Wisconsin for bail jumping, methamphetamine possession, burglary, theft, resisting a law enforcement officer, receiving stolen property, and operating under the influence. Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $95,708 in restitution to three states. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Smith is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. Smith is the fourth Illinoisan whom Chief Judge Williams has sentenced for making cash withdrawals at a Dubuque casino from stolen UI fraud money during the pandemic: In April 2026, Jeffrey Alan Edmonds, age 58, from Galena, Illinois, was sentenced to four months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release after he pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. Edmonds was ordered to pay $10,923.30 in restitution to one state. In January 2026, Michael Angelo Martinelli, age 35, a self-employed gambler from Galena, Illinois, was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release after he pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. Martinelli was ordered to pay $170,144.70 in restitution to two states. In September 2024, Dezaray Elizabeth Seitz, age 35, from Galena, Illinois, was sentenced to 78 days in jail and three years of supervised release after she pled guilty to one count of wire fraud. Seitz was ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution to one state. In December 2025, after Seitz violated the terms of her supervised release, Chief Judge Williams sentenced Seitz to nine additional months in federal prison. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file numbers are 24-CR-1019 (Smith), 25-CR-1032 (Edmonds), 25-CR-1025 (Martinelli), and 23-CR-1024 (Seitz) Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Independence Man Charged for Trafficking Fentanyl

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been charged with distributing fentanyl. Mark A. Foster, 32, was charged by a federal grand jury on April 15, 2026, with distribution of a controlled substance. The indictment was unsealed on Monday following Foster’s initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge. According to court documents, the distribution of fentanyl that Foster has been charged with is connected to an overdose death in Jamesport, Mo. A Jackson County medical examiner determined that the cause of death of the associated victim was “fentanyl and mitragynine toxicity.” The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Mexican man sentenced for using fraudulent immigration documents

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who used fake immigration documents was sentenced today to time served, 62 days, and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Salvador Santiago-Lopez, 33, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to one count of use and possession of fraudulent immigration documents. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on March 6, 2026, law enforcement stopped a car near Malta in which Salvador Santiago-Lopez was a passenger. During the stop, law enforcement discovered he is a Mexican citizen without papers to be in the United States legally. Santiago-Lopez was informed of his Miranda rights, acknowledged understanding them, and continued to answer questions. He admitted to being a citizen and national of Mexico without legal documentation to enter, pass through, or remain in the United States. He further admitted to crossing the international boundary illegally without inspection by an Immigration Officer at a designated Port of Entry. Santiago-Lopez claimed ownership over $18,000 of US currency found in his duffle bag and said the purpose of his travel was to borrow $12,000 from his brother in Washington so he would have $30,000 to pay to have his sister smuggled into the United States. Santiago-Lopez was found to be in possession of a fake social security card and a fake I-551 card. He said he used the fake documents to gain employment. Santiago-Lopez also acknowledged using the fake documents when he was arrested for DUI. DHS records indicate that Santiago-Lopez entered the United States illegally on August 20, 2017. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol and Phillips County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Illegal Mexican National with Sinaloa Cartel Connections Sentenced

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jose Alberto Camarena Rocha has been sentenced for his role in a drug trafficking organization that sold cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Jose Alberto Camarena Rocha, 32, was sentenced to 159 months in federal prison for a drug conspiracy involving over one kilogram of heroin and reentering the country illegally. Rocha, living in Phoenix, Arizona, was a supplier for this drug organization, using his connections with the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico, traveling across the country to pick up supply and deliver it to others who would then sell cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. Total drug weights for Rocha’s involvement is one and a half kilograms of heroin. “Rocha thought he could get away with bringing this poison from California to the Mountain State. He was wrong and will now spend more than 13 years in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Make no mistake. We will eliminate these ruthless cartels and will not tolerate their presence in our home.” The operation, led by Juan Suarez-Lugo, involved 18 defendants. Suarez-Lugo, Rocha, and 10 others have admitted their guilt. Nine, including Rocha, have been sentenced so far. Four defendants are scheduled for trial in June 2026, and two are still pending arrest on this Indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force was the lead investigative unit. Other investigative agencies that assisted include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, San Juan, and Philadelphia Field Offices; United States Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Service; Drug Enforcement Administration, Louisville and Chicago Divisions; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; West Virginia State Police; Martinsburg Police Department; Ranson Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; West Virginia Air National Guard; Mineral County Sheriff's Office; Grant County Sheriff's Office; Hampshire County Sheriff's Office; Keyser Police Department; Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia; Pennsylvania State Police; Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania; Winchester Police Department, Virginia; Frederick County Sheriff's Office, Virginia; Virginia State Police; Sunnyvale Police Department, California. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided. Find the related press release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/twenty-five-charged-drug-trafficking-eastern-panhandle ]


title: Hartford Man Charged with Drug Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the FBI, today announced that KENNY LAPORTE, 39, of Hartford, has been charged by indictment with drug distribution and firearm possession offenses. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation determined that Laporte was distributing large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics to customers and other drug sellers in the Hartford area and was using a residence on Amity Street in Hartford to store the drugs. In April and May 2025, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Laporte. Laporte was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 29, 2025. On that date, a search of the Amity Street residence and a garage behind the residence revealed approximately 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 150 grams of powder cocaine, 25 grams of crack cocaine, 22 grams of heroin, nine handguns, ammunition, jewelry, and $21,000 in cash. Laporte possessed an additional $1,675 in cash at the time of his arrest. Laporte’s criminal history includes felony convictions for narcotics, firearm, and assault offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. On April 28, 2026, a grand jury in New Haven returned a seven-count indictment charging Laporte with five counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and one count unlawful possession of firearms by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Laporte appeared today in Hartford federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending trial. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel. 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: Kansas City, Missouri, Man Pleads Guilty to  Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo, man pleaded guilty in federal court today for felon in possession of a firearm that was a part of Operation Spring Cleaning. Mitchell D. Gibbs, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr. to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, Joplin, Missouri Police officers responded to a report of gun shots. Upon arrival, officers conducted a traffic stop in the parking lot of a local storage facility. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Mitchell D. Gibbs. As officers investigated the shots fired report, they located an empty shell casing near the storage unit owned by Gibbs. Officers then observed a handgun that was partially underneath the driver’s seat of Gibbs’ vehicle. Gibbs was found in possession of two firearms, At the time of his plea, Gibbs admitted that he knew he was a convicted felon and that he knowingly possessed firearms in violation of federal law. Under federal statutes, Gibbs is subject to sentences of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Joplin, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced for Unprovoked Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man who stabbed an individual three times in the back without provocation was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on April 19, 2025, Matthew David Charley , 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, approached John Doe and his friends near a roadside area in Shiprock and introduced himself. After John Doe’s friends briefly left the area, Charley remained with John Doe, who had no prior interaction with him and did not provoke him. As John Doe began walking away to meet his returning friends, Charley stabbed him three times in the back without warning. John Doe sustained lacerations to his upper back and flank and required emergency medical treatment. After the attack, Charley fled the scene. When later interviewed by the investigators, he initially denied being in the area. After being confronted with surveillance footage, he admitted he was present but continued to deny the assault. Charley pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon his release from prison, Charley will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.


title: Vascular Practice and Physician Agree to Pay More Than $6.73M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Unnecessary Vascular Interventional Procedures

component: Civil Division

body_text: Serrano Kidney & Vascular Access Center, a physician practice based in Huntington Park, California, and physician Dr. Feliciano Serrano have agreed to pay more than $6.73 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for medically unnecessary vascular interventional procedures on 20 Medicare beneficiaries. “Physicians should not be performing and billing for unnecessary and excessive medical interventions. False documentation of symptoms compromises the integrity of our federal health care programs and the well-being of beneficiaries,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Physicians who place their own profit over patient needs will be held accountable.” “False claims to Medicare and Medicaid cause millions of dollars in losses to the government,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill A. Essayli for the Central District of California. “This settlement sends a clear message to physicians that the United States will zealously pursue appropriate action against those who submit false claims for taxpayer funds.” The United States alleged that from 2016 to 2024, Dr. Serrano performed medically unnecessary dialysis access interventions, including angioplasty and stent procedures, on 18 patients, purportedly to treat stenosis in patients’ dialysis segments. Dr. Serrano scheduled interventions on a routine basis, without waiting for complications to present, and he frequently repeated procedures on patients every few days or weeks despite that the procedures were not effective and did not result in any clinical benefit. One Medicare patient received approximately 42 stents in the dialysis segment between 2016 and 2023, including during a period when Dr. Serrano informed the patient he did not need dialysis. The United States also alleged that from 2019 to 2024, Dr. Serrano performed medically unnecessary peripheral artery disease interventions, including stent and atherectomy procedures, on 17 patients, purportedly to treat stenosis in patients’ legs. Dr. Serrano performed interventions on patients who had only mild or no stenosis and who had only minor symptoms. Although patients complained of pain only in one leg, he performed procedures on both legs and then repeated procedures on both legs every few months. Dr. Serrano told patients that if they did not receive the procedure, their legs would need to be amputated, when, in fact, there was little risk of amputation for mildly symptomatic peripheral artery disease. One Medicare patient received approximately 16 atherectomies in his legs between 2019 and 2023. The United States alleged that across both categories of procedures, Dr. Serrano performed interventional procedures on vessels that did not qualify for treatment under accepted standards of medical practice; overstated the degree of stenosis to make the procedures appear to meet generally recognized medical standards when, in fact, they did not; falsely documented patient symptoms and conservative therapy measures in medical records to justify the procedures; and performed procedures in excess of accepted standards of medical practice. As a result of the settlements, Dr. Serrano will pay nearly $6.51 million to the United States and nearly $229,000 to the State of California. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by Lincoln Analytics Inc. under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States and State of California ex rel. Lincoln Analytics Inc. v. Dr. Feliciano Serrano, et al. , Civil Action No. 23-cv-04178 (C.D. Cal.). Lincoln Analytics Inc. will receive approximately $976,000 as its share of the federal recovery. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the California Department of Justice, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. Trial Attorney Tiffany L. Ho of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Paik for the Central District of California handled this case. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Polk County Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) has pleaded guilty to attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Wimberly faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly communicated online with someone he believed to be 13 to 14-year-old girl. He repeatedly asked the minor to produce sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. Wimberly was actually communicating with an undercover special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Jury Finds Maryland Man Guilty of 2022 Vehicular Homicide and Assault

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Spiro Stafilatos, 38, of Silver Spring, MD, was found guilty today by a jury in D.C. Superior Court, for the vehicular death of pedestrian, Shuyu Sui, in December 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Stafilatos was found guilty of one count each of second-degree murder, aggravated assault while armed and fleeing. The Honorable Rainey Brandt scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2026. According to court documents, at approximately 4:28 p.m., on December 30, 2022, Stafilatos was driving a dark Buick LeSabre sedan along the 700 block of 14 th Street, NW, near the White House. Uniformed U.S. Secret Service agents, on mountain bikes, observed that the vehicle’s front tag was missing and the Maryland hard tag in the rear had no sticker. The Buick was then observed turning right into the 1400 block of G Street, NW and proceeded to the 700 block of 15 th Street, NW, where it stopped and let a passenger out. Officers positioned themselves behind the vehicle and ran the tags through dispatcher, who advised that the tag belonged to a 2016 Chevrolet. As officers approached the vehicle, identified themselves, and made contact with the defendant, they advised Stafilatos of his infraction, to which the defendant asked if he was going to get a ticket. Officers asked for the defendant’s license, which he did not provide. Also, during the stop, officers noticed what they believed to be an open beer container to the right of the driver. While conducting the traffic stop, the officers noticed that the vehicle was still in drive and instructed Stafilatos to put the car in park. Instead, the defendant fled the scene, travelling north on 15 th Street, NW before turning onto the 1400 block of New York Avenue, NW. As the vehicle entered an intersection on a solid red traffic signal, it was struck by another vehicle who was driving on a green traffic signal and the impact caused the Buick to rotate counterclockwise and strike two pedestrians, who were walking nearby in the crosswalk. Both pedestrians were thrown and fell into the road in the middle of New York Avenue, NW. Both victims were transported to local hospitals. Despite all life-saving measures, one victim, Shuyu Sui, was pronounced dead at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. The second victim, Jiahui Wang, was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where she was treated for trauma to the body and head. Stafilatos was transported to Howard University Hospital for complaints of pain in the head and back. He was placed under arrest and has been in custody since. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Carter and Will Lawrence. 2022 CF1 007710


title: Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced in Another Operation Sweet Silence Case

component: Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A member of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced to prison today because of Operation Sweet Silence, a campaign targeting violent crime and drug trafficking tied to criminal organizations in the Columbus region. Juan Carlos Torres-Arzapalo, 41, of Mexico and in the United States illegally, was sentenced to serve 135 months in prison on May 6, after he previously pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy on Oct. 27, 2025. Torres-Arzapalo is subject to deportation upon completion of his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. “We are focused on dismantling cartels and armed criminal organizations terrorizing our communities and bringing them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “Those who cross the border illegally to commit violent crimes, distribute dangerous drugs and spread chaos in the Middle District of Georgia will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Operation Sweet Silence demonstrates the strength of law enforcement collaboration.” “Criminal street gangs were responsible for a wave of violent crime in and around Columbus,” said Rich Bilson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Columbus is a safer place now that the FBI and our partners have effectively dismantled this armed drug trafficking organization. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to keep our streets safe.” “This investigation represents the very best of law enforcement collaboration,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Federal, state and local partners worked side by side for years to uncover the full scope of this criminal enterprise and ensure every individual responsible faced justice. With the conviction of this defendant, we are getting closer to holding all individuals involved accountable. Our communities are safer today because of the dedication and teamwork of the investigators and prosecutors, and we are committed to bringing this case to a successful conclusion.” “We won't stop until the criminal activity stops,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “There is strength in collaboration when we combine our resources to go after criminal enterprises involving street gangs, drug dealers and convicted felons. We will continue this fight for safer streets and a safer community.” According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal and local law enforcement conducted Operation Sweet Silence from August 2022 until May 2024, an extensive investigation into the illegal activities of the Zohannon criminal street gang and other criminal street gangs in Columbus—including US World, the Crips, the Bloods, and the Gangster Disciples—involving armed drug trafficking with ties to two Mexican cartels. The operation dismantled the Zohannon Street Gang and severely impacted other gangs, especially US World, a hybrid criminal organization in Columbus. Specifically, co-defendant Ulises Cervantes was identified by federal agents as a multi-kilo level cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana dealer who sourced drugs from the Sinaloa Cartel, although he does not identify as a member. Cervantes was based out of Sacramento, California, but had residences in both Columbus and Phenix City, Alabama. Agents learned Torres-Arzapolo, a confirmed Sinaloa Cartel member, was working with Cervantes to distribute these drugs in the Middle District of Georgia. Over a court-authorized wiretap, agents heard Cervantes contract one of his California drug suppliers for kilogram pricing of drugs on Sept. 27, 2023, with Torres-Arzapolo in the background discussing the purchase, requesting information from the caller for the cost of around “fifty” of the “hielo,” which refers to 50 kilograms of methamphetamine. The next day, on Sept. 28, 2023, agents intercepted a call between Torres-Arzapolo, Cervantes and a third party discussing a large marijuana deal. Agents intercepted additional calls between Torres-Arzapolo, Cervantes and a third person arranging a cocaine transaction. Cervantes provided codefendant Derrick Porter's Columbus address to Torres-Arzapolo for the delivery of 26 "zips" of cocaine to Porter. On Oct. 11, 2023, Torres-Arzapolo and another individual delivered a kilogram of cocaine to Porter. Porter later called Cervantes to complain that he had been shorted on the deal. Cervantes stated that he had weighed it the day before, but would contact Torres-Arzapolo to address the problem. The next day, Oct. 12, 2023, intercepted calls showed Cervantes asking Torres-Arzapolo his estimated arrival time to Porter's residence. Agents then observed Torres-Arzapolo and another individual arrive in an SUV and were assisted by Porter to remove a cooler and suitcase from the vehicle. Connected to this operation, a total of $270 million in drugs were seized, including $20 million in cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana from the streets of Columbus and $250 million of marijuana from a California supplier. 119 firearms, including machineguns, rifles, shotguns, high-capacity magazines and stolen weapons were seized and removed from the streets of Columbus. A total of 31 defendants including Torres-Arzapolo were indicted across nine separate indictments, and 30 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial, with some already sentenced by the court. Operation Sweet Silence defendants, all of Columbus unless otherwise indicated, are: Freddie Bowens , also known as “Profit,” 27, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for the illegal possession of a machine gun. Fernando Brown , also known as “Nino,” 33, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine, cocaine, and more than 100 pounds of marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking and is awaiting sentencing. LaBrandon Brown , 31, was sentenced to four years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense. Jantzen Carter , 40, of Waverly Hall, GA, was sentenced to ten years in prison for drug conspiracy. Ulises Cervantes , 33, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Anthony Champion , 46, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for drug conspiracy. Trenton Clemons , 48, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Dequindre Dawson , 33, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Nicholas Fitzpatrick , 30, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison for drug conspiracy. Terry Gash , 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Undrae Hayes , 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison for drug conspiracy. Roderick Hicks , 59, was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison for drug conspiracy. Christopher Hill , 36, was sentenced to two years in prison for using a phone to facilitate a drug offense. Marquez Holloway , 32, was found guilty at trial of drug conspiracy and drug distribution and is awaiting sentencing. Darius Jenkins , 24, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Jeffrey Kimbrough , 29, was sentenced to three years of probation for drug conspiracy. Hykeem Lomax , 33, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Quadarius Lusk , 30, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Aundray Morgan , 39, pleaded guilty to using a phone to facilitate a drug offense and is awaiting sentencing. Tommie Mullins , Jr., also known as “TJ,” also known as “Bo,” also known as “Mini,” 31, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Javonta Paden , 25, was sentenced to five years and 11 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Adrian Palmer , also known as “AP,” 25, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Adrian Pleasants , 29, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for drug conspiracy . Derrick Porter , 54, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. Dahvontay Richardson , 28, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for drug conspiracy. Trenton Thomas , also known as “Bubble,” 25, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for drug conspiracy. Corey Turner , also known as “Lito Red,” 33, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drug conspiracy. Jhy’Keith Williams , 24, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for illegally possessing a machine gun. Malik Williams , 27, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for drug possession with intent to distribute. Leonard Campbell , 37, of Columbus, is charged by federal indictment with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He is facing a maximum of life in prison. An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. District Judge Clay Land is presiding over the cases. There is no parole in the federal system. 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 case was investigated by FBI Georgia, the DEA, and the Muscogee County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Ofﬁce with critical assistance from the Harris County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; the Coweta County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office; and the Muscogee County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Matthew Mattis of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man pleaded guilty to assault after assaulting a woman at her residence. According to court documents, on September 16, 2024, Kendrick Harvey , 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, went to the home of Jane Doe while intoxicated. There, Harvey assaulted Jane Doe and the assault resulted in serious bodily injury to Doe. Harvey pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.


title: Raleigh County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Nathaniel Wilburn, 34, of Ghent, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Wilburn’s residence and found a Hi-Point JCP .40-caliber pistol, a Charles Daily 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger EC9 9mm pistol, and a Taurus 12-gauge shotgun. As part of his guilty plea, Wilburn admitted to possessing the firearms. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Wilburn knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for breaking and entering in Raleigh County Circuit Court on November 15, 2023. Wilburn is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-67. ###


title: Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy and Unlawfully Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States pleaded guilty today for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that lead to a fatal fentanyl overdose and for unlawfully possessing firearms as an illegal alien. Cristhian Martinez, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and alien in possession of a firearm. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Martinez also admitted as part of the conspiracy to distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of an adult victim. According to court documents, in September 2023, members of the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) were called to investigate a fatal overdose in Clackamas County. While processing the scene, investigators discovered numerous counterfeit M30 Oxycodone pills believed to be manufactured with fentanyl, as well as fentanyl powder. Martinez was soon identified as the person who sold fentanyl to the deceased victim’s dealer. On November 16, 2023, investigators located Martinez traveling north from California into Oregon, followed his vehicle, and conducted a traffic stop in Gladstone, Oregon. During a K-9 sweep of Martinez’s vehicle, investigators found multiple concealed packages containing more than one kilogram of compressed fentanyl: Later the same day, investigators executed a search warrant on Martinez’s Gladstone apartment where they seized more fentanyl, a 20-ton shop press used to produce “bricks” of fentanyl powder, multiple firearms, ammunition, and other materials consistent with drug trafficking: Martinez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a $10 million fine, and five years of supervised release. The government will seek a sentence of 210 months’ imprisonment. Martinez will be sentenced on August 4, 2026, before a U.S. District Court judge. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford of the District of Oregon made the announcement. This case was investigated by the FBI, CCITF, and Westside Interagency Narcotics team (WIN). It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. CCITF, led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around Clackamas County, and reduce illegal drugs and related crimes throughout the community. The task force is comprised of members from the Canby Police Department, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, the FBI, and the Oregon National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. CCITF is supported by our community with the passage of the Public Safety Levy and grant funding from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. WIN is a Washington County-based interagency drug interdiction task force that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, FBI, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and HSI. This arrest 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. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.


title: Nonprofit Health Care Provider Agrees to Pay $750,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Involving Misbranded Contraceptives

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Salud Para La Gente, a nonprofit network of primary care clinics serving low-income individuals and families in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County, has agreed to pay a total of $750,000 to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims for payment to the Medicaid program in connection with its purchase and administration of misbranded contraceptives. Among the services it provides, Salud offers contraceptive care, including etonogestrel marketed under the brand name Nexplanon, to Medicaid beneficiaries. Nexplanon is a thin rod that is inserted under the skin of a patient’s upper arm that, once implanted, works to prevent pregnancy. The United States alleged that between May 17, 2017, and Sept. 11, 2020, Salud purchased misbranded Nexplanon from an unlicensed wholesaler and administered the misbranded Nexplanon to Medicaid patients. According to the United States, Salud knowingly submitted false claims for payment to Medicaid by using incorrect National Drug Code numbers, unique drug identifiers used by the FDA for reporting and patient safety purposes, for the misbranded Nexplanon and for its administration. “Patient safety must be at the forefront of medical decision-making,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Using misbranded drugs jeopardizes public health and constitutes a serious False Claims Act violation. We will continue to hold violators accountable.” “It’s clearly dangerous and unethical for health care providers to administer misbranded drugs obtained from unlicensed sources to their patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “Working with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to aggressively protect the health and well-being of patients and the integrity of federal health care programs.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Lo handled this matter. The resolution resulted from a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, HHS-OIG, and FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability .


title: Firearms Violators Sentenced to Decades in Prison

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three firearms violators have been sentenced across the Northern District of West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Zachary Mongold, 37, of Moorefield, West Virginia, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. Mongold was the subject of another investigation into a violent crime, and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office stopped his vehicle. A search of the car recovered a firearm with ammunition. Mongold is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior domestic battery conviction. Mongold’s brother, Jeremy, was convicted at a trial of three charges related to purchasing the firearm for Zachary. He is scheduled to be sentenced in June 2026. Jason Gordon, 39, of Baker, West Virginia, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Officers responded to a domestic violence call at Gordon’s residence. A consent search of the home recovered firearms in the attic of the home. Gordon admitted they were his. He has prior felony and domestic violence convictions, prohibiting him from having firearms. Montez Taryle Lincoln, 41, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. West Virginia State Police were investigating a report of a marijuana grow operation on a property in Martinsburg. A search warrant was executed, and officers seized two pistols and some crack cocaine from Lincoln’s bedroom. Lincoln, also known as “Fatz,” was prior felony drug convictions, prohibiting him from having firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eleanor Hurney, Andrew Cogar, and Stephen Warner prosecuted the cases on behalf of the United States. Investigative agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the West Virginia State Police; and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided over the Mongold and Gordon sentencings. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the Lincoln sentencing.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Being a  Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – JONATHAN BURDEN , 53, from New Orleans, was charged in a recently unsealed indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the indictment, on or about February 4, 2024, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, BURDEN , knowing that he had been previously convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, was found in possession of two firearms. BURDEN faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). U. S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Dominican Republic Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy in Connection with International Grandparent Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of the Dominican Republic illegally residing in Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Engels Guillermo Almengot Valerio, 26, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer on May 4, 2026. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Valerio was a participant in a conspiracy that targeted elderly individuals, often referred to as a grandparent fraud scheme, from which he then laundered the fraud proceeds. In this scheme, conspirators living in the Dominican Republic called elderly individuals and impersonated the victims’ grandchildren or other relatives, falsely claiming that they were involved in a crisis such as an accident and/or arrest and needed immediate financial assistance, then handing the phone over to someone posing as a lawyer or bail bondsman seeking payment. The scammers then arranged for unwitting rideshare drivers to pick up cash from the elderly victims, who were located throughout the United States, including in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The drivers drove the stolen money to a location where they met with a member of the conspiracy and handed over the cash. Using a variety of investigative techniques, law enforcement identified Valerio as a participant in the scheme, determining that the defendant ordered the rides that picked up the cash, collected the fraud proceeds from the rideshare drivers, and further laundered the fraud proceeds once received through various bank accounts. He operated not just in the Western District of Pennsylvania, but also in New York, California, and Nevada. A search of his New Jersey residence uncovered further evidence of his participation in the conspiracy, including $12,000 in cash. Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for September 8, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with numerous other federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the New York City Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Valerio.


title: Pine Bluff Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Theft of More Than $400,000 from Bank's Customers

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Laura Parrish, who was employed by the bank for more than seven years before her termination, will spend the next thirty-six months in federal prison for bank theft. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today, by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller. On December 4, 2025, an Information was filed with the federal district court charging Parrish, 59, Pine Bluff, with one count of bank theft. Parrish pleaded guilty that same day to the charge in the Information. Judge Miller also sentenced Parrish to three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that between November 2016 and January 2024, Parrish was an employee of a local bank and used customer funds to make payments on her personal credit cards and transfer funds to her external online financial account. Parrish also opened personal credits cards in the names of other people and used the accounts of the bank’s customers to make payments on those credit cards. An investigation further revealed that between August 31, 2021, through April 18, 2023, Parrish embezzled funds from one family, including one family member who was deceased, in the approximate amount of $364,000. Parrish used these funds to make payments on her personal credit cards and loans to benefit herself, her business, Southern Roots and Blooms, or accounts held in the names of her husband, daughter, and other family members. On January 24, 2023, Parrish submitted a credit card application for a retail credit card using the name, date of birth, and social security number of one of the bank’s customers. Parrish placed her address and phone number on the application and between February 2023 and January 2024, made payments totaling $15,000 on the credit card. This bank customer passed away in March 2023, and Parrish continued to embezzle funds from this account. Between July 2021 and January 2024, Parrish embezzled approximately $413,871.40 from eight bank customers. “This individual abused a position of trust to steal from hardworking Arkansans, including some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Jason Van Goor, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “The FBI will continue working with our partners to hold fraudsters accountable and pursue justice for victims.” “Laura Parrish abused her bank position to embezzle funds from innocent customers for her own benefit and has now been brought to justice,” said John T. Perez, Special Agent in Charge, Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-CFPB OIG). “This sentence should serve as a warning that we will vigorously pursue bank insiders who defraud financial institutions regulated and supervised by the Federal Reserve Board. We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to achieve this result.” “It is especially concerning when bank insiders abuse their positions of trust to victimize unwitting bank customers, as was the case with Ms. Parrish” said Jeff Thomson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General’s (FDIC OIG) Dallas Region. “The FDIC OIG will continue to join with our colleagues in ensuring that those who selfishly steal for personal gain are held accountable.” “Laura Parrish took advantage of her position at the bank to take money that did not belong to her and caused significant damage to the bank and its most vulnerable customers impacted by her brazen act of theft,” United States Attorney Ross said. “Our office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to see that employees like Parrish who elect to violate their fiduciary obligations are held accountable for their criminal acts that negatively and significantly impact bank operations and its customers.” The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Guilty Verdict for California Biolab Operator

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Following a two-week trial, a jury found Jia Bei Zhu, 64, a Chinese national, guilty of fraudulently selling more than a million COVID tests for nearly $4 million through his Fresno-based company Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), to customers across the United States and of lying to the FDA about his identity and role with UMI, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. “This verdict holds the defendant accountable for actions that exploited a public health crisis for his own gain. He flouted the lawful authority of the FDA and deliberately deceived the public by repackaging low-quality, foreign-made test kits at a time when accuracy and reliability were critical,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “This conduct, tied to the unlawful operations uncovered at the Reedley laboratory, put lives at risk. Our office remains committed to prosecuting those who endanger the public through fraud, especially in matters affecting the health and safety of our communities.” “The defendant’s scheme to distribute medical devices that were misbranded and falsely represented as FDA-approved undermined public health during a critical time,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office. “The FDA works closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which is designed to ensure, among other things, that medical devices are safe and effective. We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who threaten the health of consumers by evading FDA requirements.” "Mr. Zhu saw a public health crisis and chose to profit from it by misrepresenting the origin, quality, and FDA approval status of his tests with the intent to flood the market with misbranded medical devices," said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. "This verdict is the result of diligent investigative work, the courage and cooperation of the witnesses, and our strong partnership with the FDA. The FBI is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the medical supply chain that Americans depend on." Zhu was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of substantive wire fraud, two counts of distributing adulterated and misbranded medical devices, and one count of making a false statement to the FDA. His romantic partner Zhaoyan Wang is also charged in the case. She fled the United States shortly before Zhu’s arrest and remains a fugitive from justice in China. Importantly, the FDA, CDC, and FBI determined that the vivarium and fridges with pathogens and toxins in inappropriate containers were part of a failed effort by UMI to manufacture the COVID tests at its Fresno facility. They did not pose any risk to humans. According to the evidence presented at trial, Zhu founded UMI with Zhaoyan Wang and hired inexperienced employees who would not ask any questions. The employees were cellphone salespeople, supermarket workers, childcare workers, and stay-at-home parents before starting at UMI. Some of the employees were hired through the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation, which is a public organization that helps find jobs for unskilled workers and provides significant subsidies to employers that hire them. From approximately August 2020 through March 2023, Zhu, Wang, and others at UMI conspired with each other to import faulty COVID tests from China and then sell them to customers based on several different false representations. The false representations included that the tests: (1) were authorized by the FDA, (2) were made in the USA, (3) were made in connection with a certified medical lab, and (4) worked. False Representation on Internet re: FDA Approval, Made in USA, and Test Accuracy Several of the employees testified at trial. They explained that Zhu instructed them to make false representations to customers. The employees explained that they knew what they were doing was wrong but went through with it because they did not want to lose their jobs. They also explained that they feared Zhu would physically hurt them if they defied his orders. Many of the victims also testified at trial. They explained how the tests they received from UMI were missing basic parts and could not even detect COVID. Zhu’s scheme was first revealed in mid-2022 when one of the victims filed a civil lawsuit against UMI and performed a court-ordered inspection of UMI’s Fresno facility. The inspection showed that UMI lacked the ability to manufacture COVID tests and that it was nothing more than an unsanitary warehouse that was far below established quality standards for facilities that house medical devices. For example, there was vivarium that was not sealed off from the rest of the facility and multiple fridges with pathogens and toxins in juice, soda, and other inappropriate containers. A vivarium is supposed to be a dedicated space for housing and studying living animals in controlled environments. Pathogens and Toxins in Inappropriate Containers The inspection also showed hundreds of boxes of COVID tests from China. Boxes of COVID Tests from China Zhu tried to escape the civil lawsuit by moving UMI from Fresno to Reedley, a neighboring town, and changing its name to Prestige Biotech Inc. (PBI). This tactic, however, did not work and the FDA began investigating him. Zhu subsequently met with investigators from the FDA and CDC in May 2023 and falsely claimed to be a different person, Qiang “David” He, who had just recently come to the United States from China on an asylum application. He also falsely claimed that he did not know anything about UMI or PBI’s background. The evidence showed that Zhu was previously an executive at the company IND in Canada in the early 2000s and that IND had gotten into trouble with the Canadian equivalent of the FDA for misconduct like the misconduct at issue in this case. He then came to the United States unlawfully, founded UMI, and began fraudulently selling COVID tests shortly thereafter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arelis Clemente and Joseph D. Barton are prosecuting the case. Zhu is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on Aug. 24, 2026. Zhu faces maximum statutory penalties of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and each of the wire fraud charges, three years in prison for each of the distribution of adulterated and misbranded medical device charges, and five years in prison for the false statements charge. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Iron Pursuit

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG — The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement effort to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. All 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys' offices around the country participated in the coordinated takedown effort. The operation commenced April 1 and ended April 30. The Administration for Children and Families recognizes April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month . “This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.” “Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.” Victims recovered include a 10-year-old from Utah who was flown from Cuba to home and the child’s biological mother. The child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, partner, and another child. The group instead flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba; concerns existed that the 10-year-old child was taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted with the recovery of the children, providing crisis support and stabilization. Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, abuse, kidnapping, and possessing, distributing, or receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Some of the alleged offenders include: A Columbus, Ohio, man who pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material of adults and children and to cyberstalking exes; A District of Columbia man charged with producing child pornography; A New York man charged with sexually exploiting a child; and A Pennsylvania man and former felon charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a gun. The Middle District of Pennsylvania charged two individuals relating to Operation Iron Pursuit: Christopher Vuiller, age 38, of York, PA, was charged for child pornography offenses. The indictment alleged that Vuiller knowing received dozens of images and videos containing the sexual exploitation of children. It was further alleged that Vuiller possessed several devices that contained child pornography depicting the exploitation of prepubescent children and children younger than 12 years of age. John Rivera Pesante, age 25, of York, PA, was charged with sexual exploitation of children offenses. The indictment alleged that Rivera Pesante coerced and enticed a minor to engage in prostitution and other sex offenses. Rivera Pesante is also charged with several counts of receiving child pornography. This effort follows three other successful operations last year. Operation Relentless Justice , concluded in December 2025, resulted in the rescue of 205 children and arrests of 293 offenders. Operation Enduring Justice, concluded in August 2025, resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. And Operation Restore Justice , concluded in May 2025, resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders. The FBI’s VSD assisted victims during Operation Iron Pursuit and provided services such as forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience. The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org . The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov , or by calling your local FBI field office. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. -###-


title: Two Huntington Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Two Huntington men were sentenced to prison on Monday, May 4, 2026, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area. Earl Michael Myers, also known as “Mike,” 46, of Huntington, was sentenced to 10 years and 11 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Maurice Kelly Johnson, also known as “Reese,” 58, of Huntington, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2025, Myers sold a quantity of crack in exchange for $170, a Taurus model Public Defender Judge .410-gauge/.45-caliber LC revolver in exchange for $400, and a Smith & Wesson model SD9VE 9mm pistol in exchange for $600 to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, Myers admitted to conducting the transaction at his Huntington residence and to arranging it on June 22, 2025, when he showed the confidential informant the two firearms and discussed the different amounts of crack he could sell and at what prices. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory confirmed the 3.5 grams of controlled substance Myers sold to the confidential informant contained 1.5 grams of crack. On May 22, 2025, Johnson provided a Smith & Wesson model M&P Shield M2.0 9mm pistol that was sold to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Johnson admitted to possessing the firearm and to providing it to Myers, who conducted the transaction. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Johnson knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base on November 23, 1999, and conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base on September 4, 1992, both in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Myers and Johnson are among four defendants indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they conspired to distribute fentanyl, crack, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area from at least in and around March 2025 to in and around August 2025. All four pleaded guilty. Three other individuals pleaded guilty after they were indicted separately as a result of the same investigation. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-161. ###