title: Hanford Contractor, Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS), Agrees to Pay $3.45 Million to Resolve Allegations of Fraud

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney S. Peter Serrano announced that on February 2, 2026, federal contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) paid $3,450,000 to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a settlement agreement resolving allegations that HMIS fraudulently overcharged the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for millions of dollars in labor hours. This settlement with HMIS resolves allegations under the False Claims Act that HMIS’ management was aware of and failed to prevent inflated labor hours being charged to DOE. These hours were paid to HMIS by DOE from federal funds and included payment for labor hours for which HMIS employees were not scheduled or assigned sufficient work to perform. Since 2020, HMIS has had a multi-billion dollar performance-based prime contract with DOE for infrastructure and site services which are integral and necessary to accomplish the environmental cleanup mission. Under its prime contract with DOE, HMIS receives reimbursement for its claimed allowable costs, including labor. According to the allegations filed in court, HMIS fraudulently inflated reimbursable costs by failing to provide its employees with work assignments sufficient to fill an entire shift and then directed those same employees to record their time as if they had worked the entire shift. This false recording of time resulted in HMIS knowingly submitting false claims for the payment of those labor hours. Under the settlement agreement entered into with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HMIS admitted that between August 17, 2020, and September 30, 2025, it sought and received reimbursement from DOE for labor hours made up of unallowable excessive idle time. HMIS has further admitted in the settlement agreement that, at times, it did not schedule or assign sufficient work to be performed by its personnel. HMIS has paid a total settlement amount of $3,450,000, of which $1,725,000 is restitution. “Corporate fraud perpetrated upon the taxpayer at Hanford distracts from DOE’s vital clean up mission,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Serrano. “This resolution shows our continuing commitment to fighting fraud at Hanford and to ensuring that those tasked with the responsibility of essential environmental cleanup do not abuse our trust in them. I am grateful that HMIS ultimately did the right thing by admitting its conduct and paying back twice what it took from the taxpayers. I hope every individual and business that contracts with the federal government sees this settlement and knows there’s a real risk of prosecution when the United States is defrauded.” In December 2021, a HMIS employee came forward with allegations of labor mischarging by filing a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court (EDWA) under the False Claims Act. In May 2024, the same individual, a whistleblower known as a “Relator” under the False Claims Act, came forward with a second qui tam complaint, also filed under seal, making additional allegations of HMIS’ fraud. When a relator files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act requires the United States to investigate the allegations and elect whether to intervene and take over the action or to decline to intervene and allow the relator to go forward with the litigation on behalf of the United States. The relator is generally able to then share in any recovery. This settlement resolves both qui tams filed by the relator. As part of the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $793,500 of the settlement amount and is entitled to have HMIS pay the relator’s attorney fees. “I thank and commend the relator-whistleblower for bringing serious and credible allegations of fraud to our attention” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Serrano. “Through the relator’s information and the years’ long investigation, we are able to uncover fraud and hold HMIS accountable. I hope the public sees this and understands that when viable information is reported to law enforcement, whether that’s through the filing of an under seal qui tam complaint or stepping forward as a witness, they allow the Department of Justice to do its job and hold fraudsters accountable” continued Serrano. “The Office of Inspector General remains committed to ensuring the integrity of the Department’s contractors by detecting and holding accountable those who engage in schemes to defraud the Government. The American taxpayers should never be responsible for the costs associated with work that was not performed. This settlement is the result of a collaborative effort with our Office of Investigation’s team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who have repeatedly demonstrated their dedication to ensure public funds are used for the mission-related purposes for which they are intended,” stated Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions. “I would like to extend my deep gratitude to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for pursuing this matter as we remain devoted to partner with them to aggressively investigate those who seek to defraud Department programs and American taxpayers.” The settlement was the result of an investigation jointly conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General. The USAO’s investigation and prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman, Jacob E. Brooks, Molly M.S. Smith, and Tyler H.L. Tornabene. The Relator was represented by the law firms of Smith & Lowney, PLLC, Mehri & Skalet PLLC, and Hanford Challenge. Settlement Agreement 4:24-CV-05051-SAB 4:21-CV-05156-SAB


title: Fully Suspended Sentences Handed Down for Armed Carjacking in September 2024

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Julan Byrd, 18, of Temple Hills, MD, was sentenced Friday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, stemming from an armed carjacking in September 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Byrd, who was seventeen years old at the time of the offense and who was charged pursuant to Title 16, pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025, to one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. At Byrd’s sentencing on February 27, 2026, the United States requested a sentence of seven years of incarceration, the top of his sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The Honorable Jennifer DiToro sentenced Byrd to a fully-suspended sentence of 60 months, with 12 months of supervised probation. The Court’s sentence was entered pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, over the government’s objection, which permits a sentence beneath the mandatory minimum term of five years of incarceration for armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Byrd’s co-defendant, Antonio Kent, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on January 14, 2026 by Judge DiToro on one count of armed robbery and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. At Kent’s sentencing, the United States requested a sentence of seven years of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The Court also sentenced Kent pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act, over the government’s objection, and gave Kent a fully-suspended sentence of 48 months, with two years of probation. Byrd was in custody from his September 30, 2024, arrest until October 4, 2024, when he was released on electronic monitoring, over the government’s objection. Kent was in custody in Washington, D.C., from February 28, 2025, until January 14, 2026. Neither defendant will have to serve the remainder of his suspended sentence if he satisfactorily completes his term of probation. According to the proffer of facts, on September 1, 2024, Byrd, Kent, and a third suspect approached the victim in the 5500 block of Jay Street NE, as he was washing his car. One of the suspects brandished a gun and took the victim’s car keys, and the suspects drove off in the victim’s vehicle. Byrd drove the vehicle to the Pentagon parking lot where the suspects bailed out and fled on foot. Byrd and Kent each discarded handguns while fleeing. When stopped by police, Byrd was wearing the victim’s key lanyard around his neck. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. In addition, they thanked the Arlington County Police Department, Pentagon Force Protective Agency, and the Virginia State Police who made the arrests. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Roberts and former Assistant United States Attorney Luca Winer, who prosecuted the cases. 2024 CF3 009865; 2025 CF3 002116


title: Judge Finds Probable Cause in Recording Studio Shooting

body_text: WASHINGTON – Keyonte Johnson, 16, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged as an adult with the first-degree murder while armed for shooting and killing 20-year-old D.C. resident Roy Bennett, Jr. on the evening of December 5, 2025, in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. On February 27, 2026, Judge Michael Ryan found probable cause for the charge of first-degree murder while armed and ordered Johnson held pending trial. Johnson will next appear before Judge Ryan for a status hearing on March 26, 2026. According to court documents, Johnson, the victim, and several other people were present in an apartment located in The Gantry – a luxury apartment building - near Union Market that was being used as a recording studio. As the victim was recording a song, Johnson, who was seated behind him on a sofa, began shooting. Johnson shot the victim seven times, including twice in the back of the head and twice in the chest. Johnson left the scene in a rideshare. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 2025 CF1 017939


title: Leader of Capital District Drug Trafficking Organization  Admits Guilt in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Felix Arencibia, age 40, of Amsterdam, New York, pled guilty on February 27, 2026, to conspiracy and methamphetamine distribution charges in connection with his distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and fentanyl. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, acting Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Arencibia admitted that between November 2022 and July 2023, the defendant received through the United States mail at least 5,615 grams of pure methamphetamine from Christian Mur-Santana, his Nevada-based drug supplier. Thereafter, Arencibia distributed the methamphetamine to drug re-distributors in the Capital District. For example, Arencibia admitted that on April 4, 2023, he sold 55.6 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for cash. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Large-scale drug trafficking operations like this one are a scourge on society, fueling addiction, violence, and despair in our communities. By dismantling this organization and holding its leader accountable, we are sending a clear message that those who profit from poisoning our neighborhoods will face serious federal consequences.” DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam stated: “Once again, we see the extreme lengths individuals will go to as they exploit our mail system to conspire, distribute, and profit from the sale of methamphetamine and fentanyl, poisons capable of single handedly devastating families across New York’s Capital Region and beyond. DEA remains steadfast in its commitment to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who distribute these deadly substances.” Acting Inspector in Charge Nicholas Bucciarelli stated: “This case highlights the misuse of the U.S. mail system to facilitate the distribution of dangerous drugs. The Postal Inspection Service will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the mail and to ensure that those who attempt to exploit it for criminal gain are held accountable.” Arencibia was the leader of the organization comprised of eight additional defendants charged in this investigation. The following defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced or are pending sentencing: Andrew Deleon was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release Stefanie Plass was sentenced to 24 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release Ahmad Burke was sentenced to 14 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release Todd Austin was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release Kevisha Duboise is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14, 2026. Flor Arencibia is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2026. Melissa Karwan is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2026. Christian Mur-Santana is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26, 2026. At sentencing, Arencibia faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years imprisonment, a maximum term of life imprisonment, and a term of post imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. He will be sentenced on June 25, 2026 before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. These cases are being investigated by the DEA and USPIS. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashlyn Miranda and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the cases. These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: GAINESVILLE FELON FACES FEDERAL FIREARM CHARGES

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

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Curtis Lee Smith-Carter, 27, of Gainesville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Smith-Carter appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida. Smith-Carter faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: PENSACOLA MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR NARCOTICS AND FIREARM CHARGES

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Timothy Lamar McGee, 43, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, and marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution and substantial prison sentence is yet another win under Operation Take Back America , which was launched by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing the peddlers of deadly drugs and violence from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and my office remains committed to delivering on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions like this one.” According to court records, in July, August, and September of 2024, the defendant sold crack cocaine during a law enforcement undercover operation. On September 25, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on North 6 th Avenue in Pensacola, Florida. During a search of the residence and the defendant’s vehicles, investigators located over 500 grams of cocaine, over 350 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, over 1,000 grams of marijuana, four firearms, over $32,000 in United States currency, and other drug distribution related items. “This drug trafficker poisoned Florida Panhandle communities for some time,” said DEA Tampa Field Division Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar. “I am proud of how our agents and local police officers worked together to bring this criminal to justice.” The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Pensacola Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Etherton. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Software Distributor Sentenced To 22 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic in Illicit Microsoft Certificates of Authenticity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Heidi Richards (52, Brandon) has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison after a jury found her guilty of conspiring to traffic in illicit Microsoft certificate of authenticity (COA) labels. The Court also ordered Richards to pay a $50,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Richards, doing business as Trinity Software Distribution, paid co-conspirators millions of dollars for thousands of genuine, standalone Microsoft COA labels at prices significantly lower than the retail price of the associated software. Richards and her employees harvested product key codes from the labels, then sold them in bulk to her customers. Federal law prohibits the trafficking of standalone COA labels separate from the software programs they were intended to accompany. COA labels authenticate Microsoft software, assist customers in identifying genuine software, and bear security features intended to dissuade counterfeit duplication. There is an illicit, secondary market for COA labels because they bear product key codes used to activate Microsoft software. COA labels are not to be sold separately from the license and hardware that they are intended to accompany, and they hold no independent commercial value. Homeland Security Investigations (Kansas City Field Office) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Risha Asokan of the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jared Hosid of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) prosecuted the case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.


title: Tampa Auto Dealer Sentenced to 54 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Exporting Stolen Vehicle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Mohamad Jihad Fakih (Tampa, 27) has been sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to four and a half years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and attempting to export a stolen motor vehicle. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $378,886.96, the proceeds of the conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fakih was found guilty on August 21, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Fakih conspired with others to commit wire fraud by obtaining fraudulent loans from automotive financing companies. Because of Fakih’s role as a car dealer and wholesaler, he had access to a dealership website through which automobile financing applications could be submitted. To facilitate the scheme, Fakih and his coconspirator would identify straw purchasers and submit falsified loan applications to the victim companies on their behalf, misrepresenting that a vehicle was being purchased by the straw purchaser. In reality, there was no vehicle for sale. After the financing loans were approved, the loan amounts would be disbursed to Fakih as the seller of the vehicle, and his coconspirator and straw purchasers would receive a cut from the proceeds. It was also part of Fakih’s scheme to file false insurance claims for the vehicles, reporting them as stolen. In other instances, Fakih attempted to export vehicles for which he had fraudulently obtained financing and for which the financing company held a lien. In total, Fakih repeated this scheme for at least six vehicles in the amount of at least $372,000. Additionally, Fakih engaged in more straightforward theft, attempting to export stolen cars overseas. Fakih, using one of the straw purchasers, procured a stolen Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV. He arranged for the Cullinan to be shipped in a container out of the Port of Savannah, the manifest for which had been falsified so as not to alert law enforcement as to its true contents. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the container and assessed that the stolen Cullinan’s MSRP was approximately $460,000. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan.


title: Fort Eustis woman pleads guilty to neglecting children, assaulting husband

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A woman residing on Fort Eustis pled guilty today to assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, and felony child neglect. According to court documents, Rachel Lorane Pendergrast, 30, lived with her husband and children in military housing on Fort Eustis. On Dec. 3, 2025, she was responsible for the care of her three minor children while her husband was away from the home; the oldest child was at school/childcare and the younger two children were home with Pendergrast. Pendergrast began drinking vodka that morning. When she left her house to pick up her oldest child, she took her one-year-old with her and left her three-year-old alone at home. Law enforcement received a call from Pendergrast’s neighbor reporting that the three-year-old was standing at the edge of the roadway near the home, crying, and attempting to cross the street. The outside temperature was 48℉ and the child was wearing only a diaper and a t-shirt. Approximately 10 minutes later Pendergrast arrived with the other two children in the vehicle. When law enforcement arrived, they noted that she seemed disoriented and had glossy eyes and a strong smell of alcohol. Two preliminary breath tests registered .304 and .298 for Pendergrast’s blood alcohol concentration. A test performed approximately five hours after driving showed Pendergrast’s blood alcohol level was still .18. On the morning of June 17, 2025, Pendergrast repeatedly struck her husband in the immediate presence of their five-year-old. The incident was captured on video. When responding officers arrived at the home, Pendergrast was passed out on the couch, intoxicated. Pendergrast is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 and faces up to seven years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Washington Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Black is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-6.


title: Seven Defendants Sentenced for Trafficking Thousands of Fentanyl Pills into Minnesota

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Seven defendants have been sentenced in United States District Court for drug-trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. According to court documents, Latre Lamont Anderson (28), Khianna Rose Clark-Strong (23), Jacquez O’Neal Fondern (22), Rozell Antonio Grainger (27), Issac Oneal Maiden (32), Olivia Mae Erin Martineau-Johns (21), and Jeremy James Nelson-Caban, Jr. (22) were members of a drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills throughout Minnesota, including the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation. Between approximately the summer of 2022 and the summer of 2023, Anderson, Grainger, and Maiden frequently traveled from Minneapolis to Phoenix, Arizona, where they would obtain multi-pound quantities of fentanyl, which they would then mail to various addresses in the Twin Cities area, often concealing thousands of fentanyl pills in toys or household items. They would travel back to Minneapolis, and then distribute the fentanyl through various drug-traffickers, including Martineau-Johns. Martineau-Johns also obtained fentanyl for distribution from Nelson-Caban and Fondern, and Clark-Strong assisted Martineau-Johns with distributing the fentanyl. The investigation resulted in the seizures of approximately 200,000 fentanyl pills (over 14 kilograms of fentanyl), four firearms (some with high-capacity magazines and/or switches), and thousands of dollars of cash. “As a direct result of this investigation, DEA and our law enforcement partners across the region prevented thousands of deadly doses of fentanyl from hitting the streets,” Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “If these deadly counterfeit pills had spread into our Minnesota communities, lives would have been lost and families broken. Our agency remains committed to disrupting the fentanyl supply chain and our enforcement efforts will not let up until the entire global distribution network has been dismantled and brought to justice.” “This [drug-trafficking] organization pumped significant quantities of dangerous narcotics into Minnesota communities and fueled violence in the process,” said Joseph Persails, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF special agents and our task force officers, working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, committed months of work to dismantling this network and stopping the damage it was causing. These sentences hold the defendants accountable and send a clear message that those who profit from addiction and violence will face consequences.” “Cases like these run deep into our neighborhoods and affect all those who live, visit and work in Saint Paul. We’re now able to hold these people accountable for their actions, thanks to the joint effort with our long-standing partnerships with the ATF, DEA, USPIS, and local law enforcement agencies. We’re proud of this investigation and of all those involved in this case,” said Saint Paul Police Chief Axel Henry. The following sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis over the prior several weeks: Latre Lamont Anderson, of Minneapolis, was sentence to 156 months followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Issac Oneal Maiden, of Saint Paul, was sentence to 156 months followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Rozell Antonio Grainger, of St. Paul, was sentence to 120 months followed by 5 years of supervised release. Jeremy James Nelson-Caban, Jr., of Duluth, was sentenced to 36 months followed by 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Olivia Mae Erin Martineau-Johns, of Cloquet, was sentenced to 9 months followed by 2 years of supervised release for violating her condition(s) of supervised release. Jacquez O’Neal Fondern, of Duluth, was sentence to time served followed by 3 years of supervised release for distribution of fentanyl. Khianna Rose Clark-Strong, of Duluth, was sentenced to time served followed by supervised release until October 23, 2027, for violating her condition(s) of supervised release. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspector’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Saint Paul Police Department, and other state and local law enforcement counterparts in northern Minnesota. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas M. Hollenhorst prosecuted the case.


title: Wichita business owner indicted for trafficking marijuana from his stores

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas businessman made his initial appearance after a federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging him with trafficking marijuana from his commercial properties and charging him with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. According to court documents, Justin Lane, 36, of Maize was indicted on the following charges: • One count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, • Six counts of using or maintaining drug premises, • Two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, • Six counts of distribution of marijuana, • One count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and • Eight counts of possession of an unregistered firearm. Lane is owner of High Hopes ICT, a business with multiple locations in the Wichita area. Starting on a date unknown and continuing through November 2025, Lane allegedly distributed marijuana from his stores on North Mead Street, West 13th Street North, West Street, West Douglas Avenue, North Maize Road, and South Greenwich Road. Lane is also accused of having firearms and silencers that he is not allowed by law to possess. Another defendant in this case, Sauntsye D. Love, 40, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: United States Attorney’s Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Involved in Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 327,829.720952 USDT (Tether), a form of cryptocurrency, alleged to be involved in a money laundering scheme to conceal funds that originated from an online romance fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. The cryptocurrency currently has an estimated value of approximately $327,829. In Fall 2024, an investigation began into an online romance fraud scheme. According to court documents, in November 2024, a Massachusetts resident was approached on an online dating application. After communicating for several weeks, an individual going by the name “Linda Brown” explained she had a cryptocurrency investment opportunity. Under the guise of legitimately investing the victim’s money, Brown instead tricked the victim into sending funds to wallets controlled by Brown and/or their co-conspirators. The victim found out that the investment was a scam when they unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw their money. The complaint alleges that victim funds were transferred through multiple intermediary wallets and the cryptocurrency was converted from one type of cryptocurrency to USDT, tactics typically used by money launderers to conceal the true origin of victim funds and ill-gotten gains. Some of the victim’s funds were traced to multiple unhosted cryptocurrency wallets, which were seized in August 2025. The complaint alleges that all cryptocurrency associated with those wallets was property involved in money laundering. It is a violation of federal law to conduct a financial transaction knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of criminal proceeds. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims. This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims. Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the case. The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.


title: Long Island Medical Doctor Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Operating Oxycodone Pill Mill Out of her Great Neck Office

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Dr. Roya Jafari-Hassad was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 7 years’ imprisonment for prescribing oxycodone pills without a legitimate medical purpose and fraudulently billing insurance providers for procedures which were never performed. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Brown imposed a fine of $150,000, and ordered Jafari-Hassad to pay restitution in the amount of $152,765. The defendant was convicted at trial in December 2024 of eight counts of prescribing oxycodone pills without a legitimate medical purpose. The defendant subsequently pleaded guilty to health care fraud in April 2025. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, Associate Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Northeast Region, and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations, New York Region (HHS-OIG), announced the sentence. “Dr. Jafari-Hassad used her medical practice to deal drugs, a disgraceful betrayal of her doctor’s oath to do no harm,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s sentence holds her accountable for capitalizing on her patients’ dangerous opioid addictions to enrich herself. A jail term and serious financial penalties should serve as a warning to other healthcare professionals, that when they unlawfully prioritize profit over patient well-being, they will be brought to justice.” United States Attorney Nocella also expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department for their assistance in this case. “Today’s sentencing is a significant step for the DEA and our law enforcement partners pursuit of those health care professionals who exacerbate the ongoing healthcare crisis by prescribing dangerous and addictive opioids just for profit” stated DEA Associate Chief of Operations Tarentino. “Dr Jafari-Hassad knew the harmful effects opioids could have on her patients and yet she chose to jeopardize their health by turning her medical office into a modern-day pill mill.” “The illegal prescribing practices for which this doctor was convicted and sentenced, were especially egregious and contributed to fueling the opioid epidemic,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure health care providers involved in schemes that threaten patient safety are held accountable.” As proved at trial and set forth in court filings, the defendant was a licensed physician who provided medical services to patients from offices located in Great Neck, Forest Hills, Queens and Manhattan, New York. From approximately January 2019 through May 2022, the defendant charged her patients hundreds of dollars in cash in exchange for monthly prescriptions of oxycodone – a potent, highly addictive and frequently abused controlled substance – with no legitimate medical purpose. At times, the defendant provided these prescriptions to patients without even seeing them for an appointment; rather, their payment information would be obtained, and their prescription immediately refilled. The defendant made an estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, solely from these payments. She also submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and private benefit programs for medical services that were not rendered, and charged insurance companies – and was, in turn, paid for – services that she did not provide. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Katherine Onyshko are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder and Victim-Witness Specialist Stephanie Marroquin. The Defendant : ROYA JAFARI-HASSAD Age: 59 Bayside, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-545 (S-2) (GRB)


title: Guatemalan National Arrested and Charged for Employing Illegal Aliens at Caldwell Business

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: BOISE – Brayan Adiel Gramajo-Reyes, 31, of Guatemala, was arrested Saturday on federal immigration charges, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. A federal grand jury in Pocatello returned an indictment charging Gramajo-Reyes with two counts of encouraging illegal entry of aliens to enter the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(a); eight counts of using false statements for employment verification by attesting that social security numbers were genuine and that the employees were authorized to work in the United States, knowing that was false, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1546(b)(3); and one count of unlawful employment of aliens, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A). The charges stem from allegations that Gramajo-Reyes persuaded two unaccompanied alien children to travel from Guatemala to the United States with prospects of opportunity, only to require them to work long hours of physical labor after arriving in Idaho. The other charges stem from allegations that Gramajo-Reyes employed numerous illegal aliens at his business. Gramajo-Reyes is scheduled for an initial court appearance on March 5, 2026 at 10am before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco of the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. If convicted of counts one through ten, Gramajo-Reyes faces a maximum of five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 for each count. If convicted of count eleven, he faces up to six months in prison and a $3,000 fine for each alien that he unlawfully employed. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Enforcement and Removal Operations), which led to the charges. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case was investigated and prosecuted by Idaho’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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). ###


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: United States Attorney Erin Creegan Announces Her Senior Leadership Team CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan has announced appointment and onboarding of her leadership team for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. USAO - NH Leadership Team: Ryan Martin; Raphael Katz; Erin Creegan; Jennifer Cole Davis; Kiersten Korczynski; John Kennedy Kiersten Korczynski – First Assistant United States Attorney . U.S. Attorney Creegan has appointed Kiersten Korczynski to serve as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire. Ms. Korczynski formerly served as a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section where she managed high-profile international terrorism prosecutions, coordinated the investigative efforts of federal and state law enforcement agents, and developed strategies to protect classified information at trial. Before the Department of Justice, Ms. Korczynski served ten years in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps as a defense counsel representing servicemembers in military courts-martial and as a prosecutor in the Guantanamo Bay trial of the five al-Qaeda members accused of orchestrating the September 11, 2001 attacks. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Korczynski worked as in-house counsel for Exxon Mobil Corporation, recently serving as General Counsel for its Indonesian operations. She is a graduate of the Catholic University Columbus School of Law. Jennifer Cole Davis – Chief of the Criminal Division . U.S. Attorney Creegan has asked Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Davis to continue her service as Criminal Division Chief for the District of New Hampshire after her initial appointment in February of 2024. A 32-year veteran of the office, Ms. Davis has conducted numerous complex long-term narcotics investigations as the District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and National Opioid Coordinator. She has also served as Criminal Division Deputy Chief and a mentor to her colleagues as Senior Litigation Counsel. Ms. Davis has prosecuted a broad range of federal offenses, including firearms violations, drug trafficking crimes, immigration offenses, and complex white-collar matters. Earlier in her career, Ms. Davis was detailed as an Assistant Director for Criminal Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Education, where she oversaw the implementation of criminal trainings for the country’s federal prosecutors. She is a graduate of the Marquette University Law School. John Kennedy – Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division . U.S. Attorney Creegan has asked AUSA John Kennedy to continue his service as Criminal Division Deputy Chief for the District of New Hampshire after his initial appointment in December of 2024. Mr. Kennedy has more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor in New Hampshire, serving as both an Assistant United States Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General. In these roles, Mr. Kennedy has led investigations into a variety of federal and state crimes, including homicide, voter fraud, drug and firearm offenses, and complex financial fraud. He is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School. Raphael Katz – Chief of the Civil Division . U.S. Attorney Creegan appointed AUSA Katz to serve as Civil Division Chief for the District of New Hampshire in December of 2025 following his initial appointment as Acting Chief in May of 2025. Mr. Katz also serves as the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator. He has successfully resolved healthcare fraud, customs fraud, and financial fraud cases, as well as drug diversion and civil rights enforcement matters, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of the United States. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2019, Mr. Katz worked in private practice for more than thirteen years handling False Claims Act cases and other complex litigation. He is an Honors graduate of Emory University School of Law. Ryan Martin – Administrative Officer . U.S. Attorney Creegan appointed Ryan Martin as the Administrative Officer for the District of New Hampshire in January of 2026. He is responsible for supervising the budget, facilities, procurement, human resources, IT, and records management resources for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Since joining the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022, Mr. Martin has served as the Administrative Services Specialist, Contracting Officer, and District Office Security Manager. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Martin had a 23-year law enforcement career, where he earned the rank of Captain in the Tilton Police Department. “I am so pleased to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of public servants,” said U.S Attorney Creegan. “Since 1789, when President George Washington appointed the first U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, this office has served the people of this state. Every person in the U.S. Attorney’s Office works tirelessly to uphold the rule of law and keep New Hampshire safe, free, and prosperous. These leaders have accepted the responsibility of serving both their colleagues as well as their fellow Granite Staters. They represent our fulfillment of a 237-year old promise. New Hampshire is fortunate to have their leadership, and I am grateful for their service.”


title: Defendant Charged with Damaging the Brooklyn Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Dan Sohail with intentionally damaging religious property, specifically the global headquarters for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement (Chabad Headquarters) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Sohail was taken into federal custody earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky. “Americans should be free to practice their faith without fearing defacement of their sacred places,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, and will vigorously prosecute those who carry them out.” “As alleged, the defendant’s conduct — driving his vehicle back and forth into an entrance of the synagogue five times — caused damage to a sacred religious institution,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Nocella for the Eastern District of New York. “Our Office will not tolerate conduct that endangers the safety of that community or any of our diverse communities. We will continue to protect religious gathering spaces to ensure worshippers are free to safely congregate.” “Dan Sohail allegedly rammed his vehicle five times into the Chabad Headquarters during a packed memorial service,” said Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle of the FBI New York Field Office. “Sohail allegedly jeopardized dozens of lives and damaged one of our city’s sacred synagogues. The FBI and the NYPD will continue to protect our community’s religious institutions to ensure a safe place for all worshippers.” “Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe city where they can practice their faith freely and without fear,” said Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch of the New York Police Department. “The Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn is a sacred place for many Jews in New York City and around the world, and the purposeful destruction of this property is unacceptable. We will always work to ensure that those who violate the law are held accountable, and I thank our NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's office for working swiftly to pursue justice in this case.” As alleged in the complaint, on the evening of Jan. 28, Sohail drove to the Chabad Headquarters located on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. The Chabad Headquarters was hosting an event that evening which was attended by dozens of people, marking the anniversary of the death of the movement’s leader. When Sohail arrived at the side entrance of the building, he exited his vehicle and moved barriers that were set up to protect the building, which includes a synagogue and religious gathering spaces. After gesturing for various congregants to move away, Sohail returned to his vehicle and drove his car into the building’s side entrance. He then reversed his vehicle and accelerated into the entrance four additional times. The impact knocked the entrance door off its hinges. No one was injured in the incident. The charge in the complaint is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, Sohail faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights and General Crimes Sections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Silverberg and Brachah Goykadosh are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Marlane Bosler.


title: Riverside and Colorado Women Found Guilty of Stalking ICE Officer Home from Work and Livestreaming the Pursuit on Social Media

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Two women – one from the Inland Empire and the other from Colorado – have been found guilty by a jury of a felony stalking charge for following a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officer home and livestreaming their pursuit on social media, the Justice Department announced today. Cynthia Raygoza, 38, of Riverside, and Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado, were found guilty late Friday of one count of stalking. “Justice has been served against two agitators who stalked a federal employee, livestreamed it on social media, and traumatized both the victim and his family,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Our Constitution protects peaceful protest – not political violence and unlawful intimidation.” According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, on August 28, 2025, the defendants – while dressed in black and concealing their faces with black masks – followed the victim from a federal building in downtown Los Angeles to his personal residence. The victim was heading home to his family for an outing that included a surprise for his sons, ages three and seven. The defendants livestreamed on their Instagram accounts their pursuit of the victim and provided directions as they followed the victim home, encouraging their viewers to share the livestream. The Instagram accounts they used to livestream the event were “ice_out_of_la,” “defendmesoamericanculture,” and “corn_maiden_design.” Upon arriving at the victim’s neighborhood, the defendants shouted to bystanders while livestreaming on Instagram that their “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.” Raygoza also threatened to “pop” the victim. Both the victim’s wife and a concerned neighbor called 911 in response to the defendants’ actions. Brown then publicly disclosed on Instagram an address approximately 100 feet from the victim’s home and told viewers, “Come on down.” In response, several individuals – also wearing masks – appeared outside the victim’s home. The victim’s wife – whom the defendants targeted with racial slurs – and children witnessed the incident and suffered emotional distress. The increased traffic from onlookers in the ensuing weeks caused the victim and his family to relocate to a different county. The forced move significantly disrupted the education of the victim’s children. The victim’s 3-year-old son, who has a disability, lost several social and health care benefits that were tied to his former county. United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson scheduled a June 8 sentencing hearing, at which time Raygoza and Brown will face up to five years in federal prison. The jury found Raygoza and Brown not guilty of one count of conspiracy to publicly disclose the personal information of a federal agent. The jury also acquitted Samane Sandra Carmona, 25, of Panorama City, of both charges she faced: conspiracy and stalking. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren E. Border of the General Crimes Section and Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Armed Career Criminal faces 15 Years to Life in Prison for Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Cortez Williams, 36 , of Memphis, was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm and will face an enhanced penalty of 15 years to life imprisonment for being an Armed Career Criminal. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today. According to the evidence presented at trial, on June 11, 2024, officers with the Memphis Police Department pulled over a black Nissan Z for displaying tags belonging to a different car. The defendant, Cortez Williams, was driving the car. Instead of pulling over to the side of the road, he pulled into a gas station and began pretending he was putting air in one of the car’s tires. On recorded body camera, the jurors were able to see the two police officers park and approach Williams’s vehicle. The first officer immediately saw a Glock 17 with a large 30-round extended magazine and a tactical light attached to it wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. The officers asked Williams if he was a convicted felon. He said yes and was then arrested. Williams then also admitted to knowing the gun was in the car. The defendant’s girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter was in the front passenger seat of the car and was within inches of the loaded firearm. The jury returned a verdict of guilty after about two hours of deliberation. The jury found that Williams had 4 previous convictions for violent felonies on different occasions including Facilitation of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Burglary. This finding will lead to Williams being sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, and he will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Williams is set to be sentenced on June 11, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "THIS is how we reduce violent crime in Memphis and prevent the next homicide – Remove dangerous and repeat offenders from the community BEFORE they pull the trigger again. We will restore Law and Order in Memphis by imposing real consequences – aggressively and unapologetically.” The case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Cohenmeyer of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Dan Sohail with intentionally damaging religious property, specifically the global headquarters for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement (Chabad Headquarters) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Sohail was taken into federal custody earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Clay H. Kaminsky. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charge. “As alleged, the defendant’s conduct—driving his vehicle back and forth into an entrance of the synagogue five times— caused damage to a sacred religious institution,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will not tolerate conduct that endangers the safety of that community or any of our diverse communities. We will continue to protect religious gathering spaces to ensure worshippers are free to safely congregate.” “Americans should be free to practice their faith without fearing defacement of their sacred places,” said Assistant Attorney General Dhillon. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate attacks on houses of worship, and will vigorously prosecute those who carry them out.” “Dan Sohail allegedly rammed his vehicle five times into the Chabad Headquarters during a packed memorial service. Sohail allegedly jeopardized dozens of lives and damaged one of our city’s sacred synagogues. The FBI and the NYPD will continue to protect our community’s religious institutions to ensure a safe place for all worshippers,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe city where they can practice their faith freely and without fear," stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn is a sacred place for many Jews in New York City and around the world, and the purposeful destruction of this property is unacceptable. We will always work to ensure that those who violate the law are held accountable, and I thank our NYPD investigators, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's office for working swiftly to pursue justice in this case.” As alleged in the complaint, on the evening of January 28, 2026, Sohail drove to the Chabad Headquarters located on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. The Chabad Headquarters was hosting an event that evening which was attended by dozens of people, marking the anniversary of the death of the movement’s leader. When Sohail arrived at the side entrance of the building, he exited his vehicle and moved barriers that were set up to protect the building, which includes a synagogue and religious gathering spaces. After gesturing for various congregants to move away, Sohail returned to his vehicle and drove his car into the building’s side entrance. He then reversed his vehicle and accelerated into the entrance four additional times. The impact knocked the entrance door off its hinges. No one was injured in the incident. The charge in the complaint is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge, Sohail faces up to three years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Human Trafficking and Civil Rights and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Silverberg and Brachah Goykadosh are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Marlane Bosler. The Defendant : DAN SOHAIL Age: 36 Carteret, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-MJ-41 sohail_complaint.pdf


title: Bond County meth dealer sentenced to federal prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced a Bond County man to 151 months’ imprisonment after he sold meth and engaged in a three-hour standoff with police. Johnathan Joiner, 46, of Greenville, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of controlled substance: meth. Following imprisonment, he will serve three years of supervised release. “Not only was the defendant guilty of selling meth in Bond County, but he endangered the lives of the law enforcement personnel assigned to his arrest by engaging in a standoff,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. According to court documents, Joiner sold a total of 62 grams of pure meth in two law enforcement coordinated sales in July 2024. He was arrested in January 2025 following a three-hour standoff with police. Evidence at the sentencing hearing indicated that Joiner hid from law enforcement inside a self-made hiding hole. “This sentence reflects the price criminals will pay if they put our citizens and law enforcement partners in danger,” said FBI-Springfield Acting Special Agent in Charge Ruben Marchand-Morales. “The FBI remains committed to aggressively investigating and stopping criminals from bringing dangerous drugs into our communities.” The judge also ordered Joiner to pay a $5,000 fine. The FBI Springfield Field Office and the TOC-West Task Force led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson prosecuted the case.


title: Birmingham Man Charged with Impeding the Arrest of an Illegal Immigrant

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has charged a Birmingham man with interfering in the arrest of an illegal immigrant, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Cesar Acosta, 34, with impeding a federal officer. According to court documents, Acosta interfered with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the performance of official duties while the officer was attempting to arrest an illegal alien. The incident occurred on February 16, 2026, in Blount County. 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. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alan S. Kirk is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Child

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a recidivist sex offender pled guilty in federal court to more child sex abuse crimes. Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, of Pasadena, Maryland, is charged with the sexual exploitation of a child as he persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police (AACOPD). According to the guilty plea, McKernan exploited the minor child for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. In November 2023, McKernan produced sexually explicit images of the minor and distributed them on the internet. The images were found on the dark web, operated by the Tor Network, in a group messaging app related to child sexual abuse material. In 2016, McKernan was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland. McKernan faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox scheduled sentencing for Friday, May 22, at 3 p.m. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and AACOPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Harlingen man sent to prison for 168 months for possessing sexually explicit images and videos of children

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 57-year-old man has been sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Todd Edward Ellison pleaded guilty Dec. 17, 2024. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Ellison to serve 168 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. At the hearing, the court heard that Ellison was previously convicted of child exploitative offenses on two separate occasions. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date. In May 2020, authorities suspected Ellison was using social media to impersonate and harass a female victim and obtained a search warrant for his residence. At that time, they located and seized numerous digital media devices. The evidence showed Ellison had knowingly possessed child sexual abuse material across multiple digital devices. Forensic analysis revealed he possessed over 1,500 images and 21 videos of child pornography. Ellison will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitations Investigations Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ana C. Cano and Jose A. Esquivel prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Mother And Son Plead Guilty To $5 Million Tax Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman and her son pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to themselves. According to court documents and statements made in court, Iris Hondermann owned and operated a tax preparation business in Las Vegas. Her son Ivan Odiaga, also of Las Vegas, worked for the business. From approximately 2017 through 2021, Hondermann and Odiaga prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including business profits and losses, COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits. Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann and Odiaga prepared false tax returns with the IRS seeking a total of more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive. At times, Hondermann and Odiaga also diverted portions of client tax refunds without their clients’ knowledge or consent. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in false tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled. Finally, Odiaga filed approximately 279 tax returns using the unique identifier of another tax preparer without permission, even though the IRS had issued multiple letters warning him against such misuse. Hondermann and Odiaga are scheduled to be sentenced on June 8, 2026. Both face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They also face periods of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory for the IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. ###


title: St. Clair County Man Sentenced to More than 13 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

body_text: ANNISTON, Ala. – A St. Clair County man has been sentenced on charges related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, announced Acting United States Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Tyler Robert Curtis, 34, of Pell City, Alabama, to 162 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release. Curtis was also ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In September 2025, Curtis pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, on September 4, 2024, the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Kik, a social media provider, reported to NCMEC that Curtis had uploaded images of child pornography to his account. During the investigation, the SBI determined that the IP address used to access the account originated from a residence in Pell City, Alabama. On September 11, 2024, SBI executed a state search warrant on the residence. The agents searched Curtis’s bedroom and seized his cell phone. A forensic examination of the device revealed images of child pornography. Curtis also searched for and downloaded child pornography on the cell phone. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org . The Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (AVAA) created new penalties and made several changes to existing child pornography laws. In the passage of this legislation, Congress intended for victims of child pornography to be compensated for the harms resulting from every perpetrator who contributes to their anguish. The amounts received as AVAA special assessments are deposited in the Child Pornography Victims Reserve to pay defined monetary assistance to victims. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.


title: Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child-exploitation charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. The following defendants were indicted: A two-count indictment charges Steven Roshee Powell, also known as “Champ G,” 35, of Birmingham, Alabama, with sex trafficking of children and attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The incidents occurred between October 2, 2025, and October 29, 2025, in Jefferson County, Alabama. A two-count indictment charges Adam Joseph Hegler, 46, of Hueytown, Alabama, with distribution and possession of child pornography. The incidents occurred between November 2024 and April 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama. If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Homeland Security Investigations investigated the cases along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the cases. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Scott Burd, 60, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 6, 2025, Burd sold approximately 29 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,000. As part of his guilty plea, Burd admitted that his co-defendant, Adrian Demetrius Ludaway, arranged the transaction beforehand and met with the confidential informant at Burd’s Huntington residence, where Burd distributed the fentanyl to the confidential informant. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Taylor and Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case. Ludaway, also known as “A1,” 35, of Wayne, Michigan, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, to nine years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas. 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-103. ###


title: Rockford Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possessing child pornography. A jury last year convicted STEPHEN CANFIELD, 54, of two counts of possession of child pornography. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Canfield to six years and three months in federal prison. According to evidence presented at trial, Canfield knowingly possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone and in a Dropbox account. The investigation began when the U.S. Department of Homeland Security received a cyber tip that the Dropbox account contained suspected child pornography. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Ladd and Andrew M. Rosati. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, while also providing critical services to victims. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15.5 Million to Compensate Victims of Massive Global Securities Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund has begun distributing more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also distributed an additional $3.1 million related to the securities fraud scheme to these victims. Knox, with others, operated the Swiss-based asset management firm Silverton, which was later renamed Wintercap. Through the business, Knox facilitated pump-and-dump schemes by selling massive quantities of microcap securities on behalf of undisclosed control groups who secretly owned the stock through nominee entities formally owned by third parties. The shares were generally held by the nominees in blocks of less than 5% of the issuer’s total outstanding shares in order to evade the disclosure obligations and sale limitations in the federal securities laws. To generate investor demand for the shares, the undisclosed control groups simultaneously orchestrated promotional campaigns to artificially inflate the price and trading volume of the shares. Knox then funneled the proceeds of the pump-and-dump schemes — totaling over $137 million between 2016 and 2018—to co-conspirators in the United States and around the world through a complex money transfer system that disguised the source and nature of the funds. In January 2020, Knox pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges that he engaged with others in a massive global securities fraud scheme. In October 2023, Knox was sentenced to 36 months in prison, and in January 2024, he was ordered to pay over $58 million in restitution to more than 8,000 victims. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case. The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has successfully used its specialized expertise to return more than $12 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Brittany R. Van Camp with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the compensation process.


title: Miami-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Videos Depicting Sexual Torture of Baby Monkeys

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Note: the press release has been updated to include a quote from U.S. Attorney Quiñones. Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, of Coral Gables, Florida, pleaded guilty today to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys, in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute. Ravelo was charged in October 2025. According to court documents, Ravelo created some and administered some online chat groups dedicated to the distribution and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and burned, including baby and adult monkeys. Ravelo personally distributed more than 40 of these obscene crush videos. “In his first term, President Donald J. Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law to end animal crushing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If you are involved in this sadistic activity, we will prosecute you.” “This case is deeply disturbing,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “As a former state court trial judge who presided over domestic violence cases, I was trained to recognize lethality factors, warning signs that violence is escalating. Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags. It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture, and inflict suffering without remorse. The defendant didn’t merely view this material. He created and administered online groups devoted to it and distributed dozens of obscene animal torture videos. That conduct fuels a market built on brutality. Animal crushing is a serious federal crime. In the Southern District of Florida, we will enforce that law firmly and without hesitation.” “Our team worked diligently to ensure Ravelo was held accountable for his egregious crimes and to prevent further harm,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “We are grateful for the collaboration that brought this case to resolution and Ravelo to justice.” Ravelo faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. HSI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: Parkersburg Man Admits to Methamphetamine Charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wood County, West Virginia man has admitted to possessing methamphetamine in Ohio County, WV with the intent to distribute the drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Jarrett Aaron Moran, 31, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Moran was traveling from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to deliver drugs to someone in West Virginia. The vehicle Moran was riding in was stopped by law enforcement, and officers seized 26 grams of methamphetamine, along with a small amount of cocaine and fentanyl. Moran faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the West Virginia State Police investigated. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided. 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.


title: United States Attorney David C. Waterman Highlights National Leadership  and Key Achievements at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers Seminar

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – On February 27, 2026, United States Attorney David C. Waterman presented at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers’ 63rd Annual Seminar. His presentation outlined the mission, priorities, and recent accomplishments of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. During the presentation, U.S. Attorney Waterman highlighted the office’s national leadership in several enforcement areas, including ranking second in the nation in overdose-related drug-trafficking prosecutions and among the top five districts nationwide in human-trafficking enforcement. He also discussed recent successes in complex litigation, including major RICO prosecutions involving the Fifth Street and OMB gangs , and significant white-collar cases focused on protecting vulnerable victims. “Our office is committed to protecting the public through strong enforcement and close partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Waterman. “These recent results reflect the dedication, professionalism, and excellence of our federal prosecutors and law enforcement partners.” U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa presents at the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers on February 27, 2026.


title: Louisville Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Defrauding Customers

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville woman pled guilty on February 19, 2026, to defrauding over 50 customers in connection with her pool business. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement. According to court documents, Tracy Davenport, 51, of Louisville, and others working at her direction, engaged in a scheme to induce customers into signing a contract for a pool installation and paying a large down payment up front. Davenport used those funds for purposes other than what was agreed upon. Davenport pled guilty to wire fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and money laundering in a nineteen count Indictment. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Additionally, Davenport will be required to pay not less than $3,398,536.75 in restitution. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “This fraudulent conduct had a significant financial and emotional impact on many people. This defendant created numerous truly innocent victims who worked hard and, in some cases, worked their entire lives to be able to purchase a pool only have their money stolen. I am thankful to our law enforcement partners for everyone’s contributions toward attempting to right this wrong.” “I want to applaud the extensive and outstanding work of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. The continued support of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners towards this case is a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnerships. These collaborations were all instrumental in this case’s resolution,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers. “I also want to particularly commend Commonwealth Attorney’s Detective Michael Smithers, who was instrumental in ensuring justice was served. His pursuit of this effort was over and beyond his day-to-day duties with us. His dedication to the victims in this case ensured the tools were there for this prosecution to be done at the federal level.” There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the FBI Louisville Office and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, and the United States Trustee’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Elver, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Caldwell Woman Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Drug Crime

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BOISE – Kimberly Lee Freeman, 60, of Caldwell, Idaho, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. According to court filings, on December 27, 2023, Ms. Freeman delivered 192 grams of methamphetamine to another person in exchange for $1,200. On November 18, 2024, another person met with Ms. Freeman at her residence in Caldwell, Idaho. Ms. Freeman weighed out and delivered 226 grams of methamphetamine to this person in exchange for $1,300. On January 27, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ms. Freeman’s residence. Ms. Freeman admitted that there were several ounces of methamphetamine inside her purse. Law enforcement found 190 grams of methamphetamine in her purse. Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ms. Freeman to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence. U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of the City-County Narcotics Unit (comprised of the Caldwell Police Department and Canyon County Sheriff’s Office), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Idaho State Police which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kane Venecia prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with funds provided by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives, including the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney position. ###


title: Two Men Indicted for Targeting Senior Citizens Across Four States in Money Laundering and Gold Bars Scheme

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – Two men have been charged for their involvement in a scheme to deceive senior citizens into giving them cash and gold bars amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 19 charging Tejas Bhupendrabhai Patel, 31, a resident of Toledo, and Navya Umeshkumar Bhatt, 22, a citizen of India registered to study at the University of Toledo on an F1 visa, with the following: Money Laundering Conspiracy, Concealment Money Laundering, and Promotion Money Laundering. Over the course of an ongoing wire fraud and money laundering investigation, federal agents discovered a scheme in which victims were falsely made to believe that they were communicating with their bank or federal agents from the FBI, Social Security Administration, and Federal Trade Commission. The victims were manipulated through fear tactics – including in some cases threats that they faced criminal charges. Once misled, victims were directed to withdraw funds from their savings and retirement accounts, convert it to cash and/or gold bars, and provide it to scheme participants posing as bank employees or federal agents. The defendants and their co-conspirators physically traveled hundreds of miles to the victims’ locations to pick up the cash and the gold. U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84 U.S. v. Patel et al., case# 3:26cr84 According to the criminal complaint and underlying affidavit, the defendants and/or their co-conspirators drove from Toledo to victims residing in Toledo, Hudson, Sylvania, and Columbus, Ohio; Oscoda and Ann Arbor, Michigan; West Newton, Pennsylvania; and South Bend, Indiana. The investigation in this case is being conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Melching for the Northern District of Ohio. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.