title: Two Plead Guilty and Executive of Maryland IT Companies Charged for Conspiracy to Defraud the Federal Government

body_text: On Dec. 17, a federal grand jury in Baltimore returned a superseding indictment charging Victor Marquez, a Maryland resident and owner of two IT companies, with a scheme to defraud the federal government that included rigging bids for IT contracts and receiving kickbacks in exchange for influence over IT procurements. The superseding indictment charges Marquez with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and major fraud. “As the superseding indictment shows, defendant Victor Marquez and his co-conspirators broke trust with our military and stole millions of dollars from an agency that defends our homeland,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Two of the defendant’s co-conspirators have already pled guilty, and the Antitrust Division will not rest until Marquez is imprisoned.” “These bad actors attempted to enrich themselves by using privileged inside access to defraud the federal government,” said U.S Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “This kind of corruption distorts the competitive process, wastes taxpayer dollars, and undermines public trust in government contracting. This office, along with our law-enforcement partners, will continue to pursue and prosecute corruption while holding those accountable who dare to try to steal from our government.” “The charges announced today should stand as a reminder that those who defraud the Department of Defense will be held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the DoD Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to protecting the integrity of the DoD procurement process and will pursue all available remedies to root out fraud.” “The defendants leveraged personal relationships to make corrupt, under the table deals that enriched themselves at the taxpayers' expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will follow every investigative lead to ensure all those cheating the system are brought to justice.” “Ensuring the integrity of federal contracting is critical for an efficient and effective government,” said Deputy Inspector General Kevin Gerrity of the National Security Agency. “I commend our team, our law enforcement partners, and the Justice Department for their dedication and collaboration.” As alleged in the superseding indictment, Marquez and his co-conspirators used his access to sensitive procurement information to rig bids for procurements for large U.S. government IT contracts. Marquez and his co-conspirators concealed Marquez’s role in the scheme to ensure his continued access to sensitive procurement information, and Marquez received compensation in form of kickbacks for steering procurements to his co-conspirators, who referred to the payments to Marquez as the “Vic tax.” As a result of the scheme, Marquez obtained over $3.8 million in funds that were built into the government’s purchase price. James Briar, an IT sales representative, and Robert Fay, an IT sales executive, pleaded guilty in related cases. On Aug. 11, Briar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks. On Oct. 1, Fay pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks and to violating the Anti-Kickback Act. Sentencing hearings will be set at a later date. Briar faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and Fay faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. If convicted, Marquez faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each conspiracy and wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for the major fraud charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DoD Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, and NSA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Elizabeth French, Anna Wang, and Ronald Fiorillo for the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean M. Delaney and Darren Gardner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards .


title: Justice Department announces results of Operation Relentless Justice

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders from Dec. 3-17. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country. “We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes." “Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.” “Sex offenders disgrace our communities, preying on the innocence of vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Through Operation Relentless Justice, the Southern District of Illinois condemns these heinous acts and stands resolute with our law enforcement partners to eradicate this evil, protect our children, and deliver unwavering justice to those offenders.” "During this operational time frame, FBI Springfield made multiple arrests in the Southern and Central District of Illinois," said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge, Christopher J.S. Johnson. "These operations are successful due to a combination of local and state partnerships, the relentless work of our investigative bodies, and the commitment we have to keeping our local neighborhoods safe." The four facing charges in the Southern District of Illinois are: Zachary R. Jones, 38, of Johnston City, Illinois, on three counts of distribution of child pornography in Williamson County, Nicholas R. Emper, 43, of Sea Isle City, New Jersey, on one count of attempted solicitation of child pornography in Williamson County, Matthew A. Nevle, 27, of Allen, Texas, on one count of interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of enticement of a minor and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor in St. Clair County, and Robert Jackowski, 31, of Granite City, Illinois, a former Marissa Police Officer, on one count of transportation of child pornography in St. Clair County. This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, including four from the Southern District of Illinois , and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. The FBI's Victim Services Division assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience. These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc . The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org . The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov , or by calling your local FBI field office. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Ambush Killing Leads to 22-Year Prison Term for District Man

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Maurice Corbin, 47, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 22 years in prison for shooting Daquan Garner on North Capitol Street in Washington DC, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Corbin pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed in October 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Judge Michael Ryan sentenced Corbin on December 19, 2025. According to the government’s evidence, Corbin approached the unsuspecting victim on April 30, 2024 in the vicinity of 1501 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC, while the victim was seated in the driver's seat of a parked vehicle. Corbin discharged his firearm at the trapped victim multiple times through the front passenger window, causing the victim to sustain multiple gunshots wounds which ultimately caused his death. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alyssa Schroeder, and Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen. Finally, she commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shauna Payyappilly who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Undocumented Immigrant Admits Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: ST. LOUIS – An undocumented immigrant living in St. Charles County, Missouri has admitted being caught in possession of child sexual abuse material when he was arrested for another offense, U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus announced Monday. Francisco J. Ocana-Talamantes, 47, pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted that after he was arrested on March 8, 2024, for abusing a child for years, a court-approved search of his phone uncovered 338 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Ocana-Talamantes is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2026. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Ocana-Talamantes will be deported after his release from prison, as he is in the United States illegally. The FBI, the St. Charles Police Department and the St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Bristol, Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, who conspired with others to distribute more than 600 fentanyl pills, pled guilty last week to federal gun and drug charges. Briar Stephens, 24, pled guilty last week to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, between September 2024 and October 2024, Stephens, Bobby Arnett, and others, conspired to distribute fentanyl. Specially, over the course of the conspiracy, Stephens purchased fentanyl pills that he and Arnett further distributed in Washington County, within the Western District of Virginia, and elsewhere. On October 16, 2024, Stephens possessed approximately 600 fentanyl pills with the intent to further distribute them. Stephens also possessed a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol in his waistband in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. At sentencing, Stephens faces up to life in prison. Arnett pled guilty in July and will be sentenced in January 2026. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Washington Division, made the announcement. The Elizabethton Tennessee Police Department, Washington County Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Holston River Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter in Connection With Fatal Crash

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Kamel Hay, 26, of Houston, Texas, to two years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for involuntary manslaughter. The sentence is in connection with a fatal car crash on the Baltimore-Washington (BW) Parkway, resulting in the death of a 33-year-old man. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Chief Scott Brecht, United States Park Police (USPP). On February 5, 2022, Hay was driving his vehicle northbound on the BW Parkway at a high rate of speed as he wove through traffic. Eventually, Hay lost control of his car, striking two other vehicles, before his car left the roadway and struck a tree. His front-seat passenger (Victim 1), who was wearing a seatbelt, died after Hay’s car stuck the tree. An autopsy performed by Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Victim 1’s cause of death was multiple injuries sustained in the crash. First responders transported Hay to Capital Region Medical Center, where he told an USPP officer that he was drinking at the Cuba Libre night club in Washington, D.C. After taking Hay’s blood sample, the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner analyzed it and determined it was positive for an alcohol level of 0.12 milligrams; Hay was therefore under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, so it was unsafe for him to operate a motor vehicle. USPP subsequently examined the car’s event data recorder, which revealed that Hay traveled 117 mph in a 55-mph zone shortly before the crash, with almost no use of the vehicle’s brakes. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPP for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Nazmy and Joshua Rosenthal who prosecuted this 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: Citizen of Ghana sentenced on extortion charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Cross Abu Cole, 21, a citizen of Ghana, who was convicted of interstate communications with intent to extort, was sentenced to time served (approximately seven months) by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo and turned over to the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that on October 30, 2022, Cole improperly accessed an individual’s (Victim) Snapchat account and obtained nude photographs that the Victim had stored in his Snapchat account. Cole sent a text message to the Victim, utilizing a Google Voice telephone number, demanding payment of $200. If payment was not made, Cole threatened to damage the reputation of the Victim by releasing the nude photographs to family and friends of the Victim. An initial payment of $200 via CashApp was made by the Victim as instructed but then he cancelled the payment. Subsequently, the Victim learned that some of his Snapchat contacts had received the nude photographs. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. # # # #


title: Bookkeeper of Local Business Indicted on Wire and Mail Fraud Charges

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A federal grand jury sitting in Abingdon returned an indictment last week charging the bookkeeper for a Bristol, Virginia-based business with several counts of mail fraud and wire fraud after she allegedly stole more than $200,000 from the business to pay her bills and buy more than 400 items from Amazon. In an indictment returned last week and unsealed following her arrest, Angela Sue Conley, 60, of Bristol, Virginia, is charged with five counts of wire fraud and five counts of mail fraud. According to the indictment, Conley worked as the bookkeeper for a Bristol, Virginia-based business (Company A) for more than 40 years. As Company A’s bookkeeper, Conley was responsible for, among other duties, Company A’s payroll. As such, Conley had access to bank accounts and was issued a company credit card. The indictment alleges that beginning in January 2020 and continuing through February 2025, Conley devised a scheme to personally enrich herself through fraud by obtaining funds that belonged to Company A. Conley is accused of using her authority as bookkeeper to send wire transfers of funds from Company A’s bank account to Conley’s personal Capital One credit card account, her personal checking account, and to make hundreds of purchases from Amazon. These 474 items included high heel shoes, pool covers, and earrings. All of the items were delivered via the U.S. Postal Service or commercial interstate carrier. Conley is accused of sending 38 payments totaling $139,246 from Company A’s bank account to her personal credit card account without authorization. In addition, the indictment alleges that Conley transferred funds from Company A’s bank account to Verizon, BVU Authority, and the Virginia Department of Taxation as payment for Conley’s personal bills. These alleged payments were also made without authorization. Conley is also alleged to have used her position as bookkeeper to transfer funds from Company A’s bank account to her own personal bank accounts and 401K accounts. Conley altered her paycheck, causing 29 fraudulent payments to be sent from Company A’s bank account to her personal bank account. In all, between January 2020 and February 2025, Conley caused $205,889 in fraudulent transactions to be made. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting 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: Jefferson Parish Man Guilty of Firearm and Narcotics Violations

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on December 16, 2025, MICHAEL FEAST (“FEAST”), age 29, of Metairie, Louisiana, pled guilty to Counts 2 and 3 of the three-count indictment pending against him. Count 2 charged FEAST with distribution of crack cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Count 3 charged FEAST with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(A)(1)(i). Sentencing is set for March 31, 2026, before the U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long. FEAST faces up to twenty (20) years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release for Count 2. FEAST also faces a mandatory minimum of five (5) years up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release for Count 3. FEAST also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee as to each count. According to court documents, on or about September 18, 2024, a confidential informant met FEAST in the courtyard of the Bellemont Apartments in Metairie. FEAST then led the informant to a first floor unit, and sold a quantity of crack cocaine and a silver and black Metro Arms model American Classic Amigo, .45 caliber pistol, bearing serial number A12-05380 to the informant. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Senior Vice President of Atlanta Housing Authority Charged with Housing Assistance Fraud and Pandemic Relief Fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Tracy Denise Jones, a Senior Vice President at the Atlanta Housing Authority, has been charged with engaging in a scheme to fraudulently collect Section 8 housing assistance payments for her own rental property and family members. She was also charged with making fraudulent applications to collect pandemic relief funds and committing mortgage fraud when refinancing her rental property. “A long-time senior executive of one of the largest housing authorities in the nation, Jones was entrusted to deliver vast sums of government assistance to our community’s neediest members,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “But Jones allegedly exploited a variety of assistance programs and chose to line her own pockets using an alternate identity, multiple business entities, a false affidavit, and a cadre of associates willing to lie on her behalf.” “Tracy Jones’s alleged actions not only showed a blatant disrespect for the law and multiple federal programs, but also jeopardized the availability of HUD-assisted housing for those in our most vulnerable communities who rely on housing assistance programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who seek to profit by abusing HUD-funded programs.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Since April 2017, Jones has served as Senior Vice President over the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Atlanta Housing Authority, overseeing one of the largest Section 8 programs in the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds Section 8 programs, including rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of low-income families and individuals. Section 8 funds are limited, and there is often a long waiting list of low-income families seeking acceptance into the program. Housing authority staff are generally prohibited from receiving Section 8 payments for their own properties, and Section 8 landlords are typically prohibited from leasing to their own family members. Instead of upholding the integrity of the housing assistance program, Jones allegedly defrauded the program by using a series of falsified forms to have her family members admitted to the Section 8 program and then to receive Section 8 payments for them to live in her own rental house. To conceal her identity, Jones allegedly used a fake name and a shell business entity to execute housing authority documents. As a result, she improperly obtained more than $36,000 of Section 8 funds. Jones then allegedly obstructed subsequent investigations by submitting a false affidavit and convincing friends to lie and present false documents on her behalf. At the same time, Jones allegedly used her shell business and another business to collect more than $27,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s COVID-19 pandemic relief programs, falsely claiming that the businesses were functioning, had multiple employees, and received over $56,000 of gross revenues in 2019. When the SBA denied one of Jones’s applications, she allegedly appealed the denial, pleading for the SBA to approve her request, stating: “I am truly a[n] honest business owner[.]” “I hear the stories how people abused the PPP loans to establish a lavish lif[e] style. That is not me. My business is small and is growing, but I [am] one of the legitimate and honest business that can use all the help I can.” “I also serve a community of low income families in my business, renting one of my three homes to a low income family as well as serve other owners of low income rental properties.” Jones also allegedly committed mortgage fraud when she refinanced her Section 8 rental property, falsely claiming on her application for a $219,780 loan that the property was her primary residence, that the residence was not a rental property, and that she did not own any other property. On December 19, 2025, Tracy Denise Jones, 61, of Atlanta, Georgia, was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III on a criminal information containing federal charges of conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, wire fraud, and credit application fraud. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal information only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Garrett L. Bradford is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Hartford, Vermont Man Charged with Production of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on December 18, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Brian Wood, 23, of Hartford, Vermont, with Production of Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM, also known as child pornography) and Possession of CSAM. Wood entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on December 19, 2025 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Wood be detained pending a detention hearing currently scheduled for December 24, 2025. According to court records, defendant Wood was arrested in February 2025 for Luring a Child after a Hartford Police Department undercover operation. Wood’s cellular phone was seized at the time of this February 2025 arrest. A forensic review of the contents of the cellular phone revealed that between March and May 2023, Wood was messaging with a 14-year-old victim, persuading her to create CSAM of herself, and sending it to Wood. Law enforcement interviewed this victim, who confirmed the messaging, and disclosed that Wood had sexually abused her at a New England Christian music festival the two had attended. Wood’s unlawful interactions with minors remains the focus of a continued law enforcement investigation. Anyone with information should contact the Hartford, Vermont Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Wood is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Wood faces up to 30 years of imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Hartford, Vermont Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Wood is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. 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 .


title: Easton Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Fairfield Police Officers

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that on December 18, 2025, RAYMOND NEUBERGER, 41, of Easton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to threatening Fairfield Police officers. According to court documents and statements made in Court, on April 24, 2025, Neuberger sent text messages to an individual in which he threatened to kill Fairfield Police officers. Later, Neuberger stopped his vehicle in the middle of Post Road in Fairfield and screamed profanities and made an obscene gesture at a Fairfield Police officer. He then drove to the Fairfield Police Department, encountered the same police officer, and again yelled profanities and made an obscene gesture. After these incidents, Neuberger continued to make threats in calls to the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center and to the Fairfield Police. Neuberger then sent several threatening text messages to another individual, including messages stating “I’m going to kill all the Fairfield cops,” “Tell Fairfield PD I’m close to snapping,” and “I’m armed.” Neuberger pleaded guilty to transmitting interstate communications containing a threat to injure, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. A sentencing date is not scheduled. Neuberger was arrested on related state charges on April 29, 2025, and is currently detained in federal custody. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fairfield Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.


title: USAO Announces Guilty Pleas,  Sentencing for Immigration Violations

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) has announced immigration enforcement actions in the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division. These are separate cases and not related. The following individuals have pleaded guilty to illegal reentry (Title 8 U.S. Code 1326), after being found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. Ruben Luis-Garcia, 40, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 6, 2017. He was found in Sandusky (Erie County) on Oct. 30, 2025. Sentencing is set for Feb. 5, 2026. Ismael Ruiz-Sebastian, 34, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 26, 2010. He was found in Sandusky (Erie County) Ohio on Oct. 30, 2025. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27, 2026. Erick Ventura-Castellanos, 35, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being June 5, 2018. He was found in Danbury Township (Ottawa County) on Oct. 29, 2025. Sentencing is set for Jan. 27, 2026. Additionally, Bersain Alvarez-Lopez, 37, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty to possession of fraudulent identification documents, misuse of a social security number, and illegal reentry. He was previously removed from the United States on at least three occasions with the most recent being Jan. 15, 2019. He remains in federal custody pending deportation. The investigations in these cases leading to the indictments were conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Gene Crawford , Tracey Tangeman and Ava Rotell Dustin for the Northern District of Ohio. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and to protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Bolton Resident Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, and Vernon Police Chief Marc Petruzzi today announced that RICHARD BURRIS, 22, of Bolton, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in September 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) made a CyberTipline report to the Vernon Police Department involving a child exploitation video that was shared via the Kik messenger application on September 7, 2025, using an IP address subscribed to a restaurant in Vernon. The report also relayed that the same IP address was connected to a CyberTip submitted by the X social media platform involving a child exploitation video shared using the platform on March 20, 2025. An investigation determined that Burris was the only employee of the restaurant who worked on both of those dates. It is further alleged that on December 12, 2025, investigators executed a state search warrant at Burris’s residence and seized his iPhone and other items. Preliminary analysis of the phone revealed numerous child sex abuse images and videos, including images and videos that Burris recorded of a prepubescent minor victim. Investigators also accessed Burris’s Telegram account, which he used to share child sex abuse images and videos with another Telegram user. Burris was arrested on December 19. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained. The complaint charges Burris with production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of 30 years of imprisonment; receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by HSI and the Vernon Police Department, which the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Racially Motivated Violent Extremist Charged For Possessing An Unregistered Firearm And Child Sexual Abuse Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Lucas Alexander Temple (20, Sarasota) for possessing an unregistered firearm, possession of a firearm with a removed serial number, and receipt of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Temple was previously arrested on a criminal complaint. According to the indictment and criminal complaint, while executing the search warrant at Temple’s home in Sarasota on November 20, 2025, federal agents recovered a shotgun with sawed-off barrel that was not registered to Temple. Federal law prohibits the possession of shotguns with barrels fewer than 18 inches in length without registration in National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Agents also found evidence that Temple had been plotting a racially motivated act of violence, including pipe bombs, multiple firearms, ammunition, a pressure cooker, literature on how to manufacture explosives, and a written plan as to his intentions: Temple also possessed a variety of Nazi and mass shooting propaganda materials, including the Journals of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, and a large flag bearing the Atomwaffen Division symbol: The Atomwaffen Division (AWD) is a US-based racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist group. The group’s targets have included racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQ community, the United States Government, journalists, and critical infrastructure. AWD’s ideology largely focused on accelerationism, meaning the goal was to push society into armed conflict in an effort to create a radical social transformation. As part of its investigation, federal agents learned that Temple had been communicating with other ideologically aligned individuals online about conducting violence against minorities and providing instructions on how to manufacture explosives. Agents also discovered that, on at least two occasions, Temple received images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from the Sarasota County’s Sheriff’s Office and the Sarasota Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stoia and Risha Asokan. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Former Nonprofit CEO Heads to Federal Prison for 33 Months  for $2 Million Embezzlement Scheme

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Theresa Szwast, 58, of Fishers, Indiana has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Szwast has also been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and $2,172,679.87 in restitution. According to court documents, Szwast systematically embezzled more than $2 million from her employer, a non-profit insurance statistical agent based in Indianapolis, over the course of 17 years. From 2008 to 2022, Szwast served as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), granting her access to its banking and accounting systems. Szwast diverted company funds to pay personal expenses, such as credit card bills, golf equipment, wine, and luxury travel, including an 11-day stay at the Four Seasons in Hawaii. She carried out the scheme through 13 fraudulent wire transfers to herself, averaging more than $33,000 per transaction and reaching as high as $66,000 in a single transfer. She also wrote 219 checks to herself. This theft occurred despite her annual salary of approximately $188,000. As part of her responsibilities, Szwast oversaw the company’s annual audits conducted by a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm. In 2008, she began falsifying audit reports using the firm’s letterhead and forging a CPA’s signature. She then presented the fabricated financial statements to the Board of Directors to conceal her theft. “Theresa Szwast’s conduct was not only criminal, but it was also profoundly greedy and selfish. She betrayed the trust placed in her and created an illusion of stability for investors. Her deception forced dedicated employees to reconstruct accurate records and restore funds, disrupting their work on the core mission, all while enjoying her own lavish lifestyle,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of her crimes and the lasting harm she inflicted, showing once again that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will be held accountable.” “Diverting funds for personal luxuries is a serious abuse of trust. The defendant chose to take funds meant to support the organization and use it for her own benefit,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI will continue to investigate and disrupt financial fraud schemes and hold accountable those who misuse their positions.” The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Wood, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Members and Associates of Violent Chicago Street Gang for Racketeering Conspiracy Involving 13 Murders

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted six alleged members and associates of a Chicago street gang for participating in a criminal organization that murdered rivals, committed armed robberies and carjackings, and violently protected their perceived territory on the South Side of Chicago. The indictment alleges that members of the Faceworld street gang engaged in numerous acts of violence, including 13 murders and numerous attempted murders, assaults, armed robberies, and carjackings in Chicago. Among the violence charged in the indictment were shootings at passengers aboard a Chicago Transit Authority bus and at mourners attending the funeral of a rival gang member allegedly killed by Faceworld members. The defendants and other Faceworld members and associates used threats and intimidation to prevent victims and witnesses from cooperating with law enforcement, the charges allege. Faceworld members allegedly promoted their violent enterprise on social media, posting comments, photos, and videos to proclaim membership in the gang, taunt rivals, and boast about murders and other acts of violence. The defendants and other Faceworld members and associates also trafficked cocaine and heroin in Chicago and Iowa, the indictment states. The indictment was unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. It charges all six defendants with racketeering conspiracy. Three of the defendants are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering. Arraignments were held Friday in federal court for three of the defendants, while three others will be arraigned on a later date. All six defendants are currently in law enforcement custody. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Substantial assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department, Romeoville, Ill. Police Department, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Corrections, and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia Schwartz, Sushma Raju, and John “L.J.” Pavletic. Charged with racketeering conspiracy are Chicago residents DONTAE HARPER, 28, TYRONE FOY, 31, TYJUAN TAPPLAR, 25, ROBERT LEE THOMAS, 22, DAVION HARRIS, 28, and DEAVEAN MCCLURE, 26. Racketeering conspiracy generally carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, but a life sentence is possible for certain underlying charged activities. Harper, Foy, and Tapplar also face a maximum of the death penalty if convicted of certain murders charged in the indictment. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. harper_et_al_indictment.pdf


title: Jury Convicts Chinese National For Role In Unlicensed Firearms Dealing And Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Jincheng Shi (St. Cloud, 28) guilty of aiding and abetting unlicensed firearms dealing and possession of a firearm as an alien admitted under a nonimmigrant visa. Shi faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 9, 2026. Shi was indicted on September 3, 2025. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Shi was admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant work visa in 2022, placing him in a prohibited class of persons not legally allowed to possess firearms. Since then, Shi operated a firearms parts business through which he sold various firearms parts and accessories at gun shows and out of a rented storage unit. Codefendants Victor Lafontaine and Jose Maldonado were among his customers, who then assembled the parts into completed firearms and sold them without the required Federal Firearms License. The evidence at trial showed that Lafontaine sold firearms to prohibited persons, including convicted felons. When executing a search warrant at Shi’s home on February 20, 2025, federal agents found multiple firearms, including the Ruger rifle depicted below: Trial evidence showed that Shi knew that his customers were assembling the firearms parts into completed firearms for sale. Shi was originally charged with six other individuals, including Lafontaine and Maldonado, as part of a gun trafficking operation. Shi’s six codefendants pleaded guilty and either have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the Winter Garden Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Apopka Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless Justice

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney offices around the country. “We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes." “Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.” “This office will seek clear and relentless justice against child sex offenders in the Western District of Virginia,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I applaud our law enforcement partners for their tireless commitment to enhancing the safety of our communities and security of our children.” The Western District of Virginia arrested two offenders pursuant to Operation Relentless Justice. Kenneth Melvin Doss Jr., 33, of Huntsville, Alabama, was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. In early July this year, Doss used Facebook Messenger to convince his 13-year-old relative in Danville, Virginia, to send him sexually explicit images and video of herself. When the minor victim hesitated, saying Doss was her cousin, Doss responded it could be their secret, and they could delete the chats. Doss also sent video of himself masturbating to the minor victim. Kevin Michael Robinson, 28, of Wirtz, Virginia, was charged with receipt of child pornography. Robinson was on federal supervision after serving a prison sentence for various child pornography-related convictions by court-martial. In late June 2025, less than a month into supervision, monitoring software on Robinson’s cellphone alerted for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A U.S. probation officer seized Robinson’s phone, and following an analysis, investigators discovered that the phone contained thousands of images and video of CSAM, including depictions of prepubescent minors and sadomasochistic behavior. Some of the CSAM appeared to have been generated by artificial intelligence. The FBI is investigating the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the cases. Those arrested by other districts are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of CSAM; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material, as well as Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan National who was previously deported in 2011, and has previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon. As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online to include the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself. This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, including X from the District of X, and Operation Enduring Justice in August which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders, including X from the District of X. The FBI's Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience. These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/psc. The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Sues the District of Columbia for the Unconstitutional Ban of Semi-Automatic Firearms

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department sued the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), alleging that the District government and MPD unconstitutionally ban the AR-15 and many other firearms protected under the Second Amendment. The District’s gun laws require anyone seeking to own a gun to register it with D.C. Metro Police. However, the D.C. Code provides a broad registration ban on numerous firearms — an unconstitutional incursion into the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens seeking to own protected firearms for lawful purposes. MPD’s current pattern and practice of refusing to register protected firearms is forcing residents to sue to protect their rights and to risk facing wrongful arrest for lawfully possessing protected firearms. “Today’s action from the Department of Justice’s new Second Amendment Section underscores our ironclad commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Washington, DC’s ban on some of America’s most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment — living in our nation’s capital should not preclude law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms.” “This Civil Rights Division will defend American citizens from unconstitutional restrictions of commonly used firearms, in violation of their Second Amendment rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division. “The newly established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to ensure that the very rights D.C. resident Mr. Heller secured 17 years ago are enforced today — and that all law-abiding citizens seeking to own protected firearms for lawful purposes may do so.” In 2003, a D.C. special policeman named Richard Heller sued Washington, D.C. because the laws at the time prevented him from owning a handgun and keeping it in his home for self-defense. In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark decision Heller , held that the Second Amendment does, in fact, protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own a semi-automatic weapon in their homes for lawful purposes, such as self-defense. Unfortunately, today, the District still prevents ownership of these very same weapons through a pattern and practice of broadly blocking gun registration. Law-abiding citizens throughout our nation’s capital are facing wrongful arrests due to the enforcement of unconstitutional laws. The Civil Rights Division enforces the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), and Executive Order 14206. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe you are being prevented from registering or owning a lawful firearm, please submit a complaint through https://www.justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section .


title: United States Files Complaint Against Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Alleging Delay in Reporting Hazardous Utility Bars and Miter Saws

body_text: The Justice Department, together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced the filing of a civil enforcement action against Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (Black & Decker) for alleged violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Black & Decker is a global provider of hand tools, power tools, outdoor products and related accessories. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, alleges that Black & Decker knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC information about potential hazardous defects or unreasonable safety risks associated with certain of its utility bars and miter saws. As to the utility bars, which are multi-functional tools used for ripping, prying and wrecking, the complaint alleges that soon after Black & Decker began manufacturing the utility bars in December 2015, it began receiving numerous reports directly from consumers and through a national retailer that the bars had broken unexpectedly during use, snapping back at the users and in some cases causing serious injuries. Despite notice of these incidents, Black & Decker failed to report this information to CPSC until May 2019. As to the miter saws, which are power tools designed to cut various materials, the complaint alleges that, between 2019 and 2022, Black & Decker received hundreds of reports of its miter saws’ rear protective guards and plastic deflectors breaking, including reports of injuries such as lacerations to consumers’ faces and fingers. Despite notice of these incidents, Black & Decker failed to report this information to CPSC until June 2022. The complaint, filed by the Justice Department, seeks monetary civil penalties and injunctive relief to prohibit the company from engaging in future violations of the CPSA. The CPSA requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products to report “immediately” to CPSC information that reasonably supports the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or that it creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Black & Decker has previously resolved other government allegations of failure to timely report to CPSC, including through a stipulated order entered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in 2015. “The Justice Department, together with CPSC, is committed to enforcing consumer protection statutes protecting Americans from hazardous products,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Companies must report safety issues in consumer products immediately, as the law requires, to prevent unnecessary injury or death.” “Companies must not put consumers in harm’s way by failing to immediately report a defective product to the proper authorities,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We’re committed to holding accountable those who fail to properly comply with safety laws that ultimately protect consumers.” “This coordinated federal action will protect consumers,” said Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman of CPSC. “We will not hesitate to use the full weight of our authorities, especially when dealing with repeat offenders.” This matter is handled by Assistant Director Zachary Dietert, Senior Trial Attorney Joshua Fowkes, and Trial Attorneys Paulina Stamatelos and Nicole Frazer of the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Koch of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, in coordination with CPSC staff. The claims made in a complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence. For more information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit https://www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch.


title: Nigerian Man Convicted On Multiple Charges Including Wire Fraud, Conspiracy To Commit Money Laundering, And Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Ikponmwosa Erhinmwinrose, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, was convicted by a federal jury on six counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the evidence presented at trial, Erhinmwinrose and other conspirators in his fraud ring stole more than $7.6 million in government benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, multiple state unemployment insurance programs including from the state of Colorado, and tax refunds. The economic relief programs were launched by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain these benefits, Erhinmwinrose and other conspirators in his fraud ring used the stolen identities of more than 1,000 victims. As a result of Erhinmwinrose’s actions, identity-theft victims never received IRS stimulus payments, received letters in the mail stating that they had to start repaying loans that Erhinmwinrose had taken out in their names, and faced backlash on social media because others thought they had taken out large loans that in fact went to Erhinmwinrose and other members of his fraud ring. To facilitate the criminal activity, Erhinmwinrose created dozens of email accounts under false names to impersonate real individuals and businesses, worked with conspirators to submit fraudulent applications for benefits, and then instructed a network of conspirators to launder the proceeds through multiple bank accounts before converting the money to cash or transferring it overseas. United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the trial. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, FDIC Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig Fansler and Sonia Dave handled the prosecution. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form Case Number: 1-23-cr-00300-CNS


title: Armed Waterbury Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RAEKWON OVERSTREET, 30, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 125 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for firearm possession and drug distribution offenses, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 4, 2020, Overstreet was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was released from federal prison on June 24, 2022. After Overstreet was released from prison, Waterbury Police began investigating Overstreet and others, including his cousin Tyreese Ferrucci, for trafficking narcotics. Overstreet was arrested on October 5, 2022. On that date, a court-authorized search of his Aetna Street residence revealed more than 2,000 baggies of fentanyl/heroin, a quantity of crack cocaine, a loaded firearm, assorted ammunition, narcotics paraphernalia, and $5,575 in cash. On that date, investigators also searched a location on Fieldwood Road in Waterbury that Overstreet, Ferrucci and others used to store narcotics. Ferrucci was arrested at that location after he was found in possession of two loaded handguns. The search of the location revealed approximately 1,200 baggies of fentanyl/heroin, a quantity of crack cocaine, narcotics paraphernalia, ammunition, and $2,120 in cash. Overstreet has been detained since his arrest. On July 30, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ferrucci pleaded guilty to possession of firearms by a felon and, on December 5, 2023, was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Waterbury Police Department and the Connecticut State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Alexis Beyerlein.


title: New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 120 Months After Leading Members of the U.S. Marshals Service on a High-Speed Chase and Discharging a Firearm

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 18, 2025, Douglas Reynolds, 37, of, Dalton, New Hampshire, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Reynolds previously pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, specifically assaulting federal law enforcement using a deadly weapon. According to court records, members of the United States Marshals Service attempted to serve an outstanding state arrest warrant on Reynolds near Dalton, New Hampshire. Reynolds spotted law enforcement and fled in his black Jetta sedan. Reynolds led law enforcement north on Interstate 93 to Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, before turning south on Interstate 91. The chase reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Eventually, Reynolds exited the interstate near Ryegate, Vermont. His vehicle ran out of gas and began to slow. As his vehicle slowed, Reynolds waived a Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum revolver out of his driver’s side window. Then he fired the gun over his shoulder in the general direction of USMS personnel. USMS personnel returned fire, hitting Reynolds in the head. Members of the pursuing team then ordered Reynolds out of his car and apprehended him. After receiving medical care, Reynolds was arrested. At the time of Reynolds’ possession and discharge of the Ruger, he was both a convicted felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Bradford Police Department, and the assistance of the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Reynolds was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Carmen Brooks. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Texas resident imprisoned for attempting to smuggle weapons into Mexico

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 21-year-old San Antonio man has been sentenced for smuggling a stolen weapon and other firearms out of the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Ivan Alexys Oseguera Vara pleaded guilty Aug. 19. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Vara to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. He must also pay a $2,100 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Vara had previously purchased seven firearms in his name, and their whereabouts are now unknown. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that smuggling firearms into Mexico is not a victimless crime. On June 3, Vara drove a gray Honda Civic to the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. He claimed to not have any firearms, ammunition or large amounts cash and was just traveling from his San Antonio home to Mexico. During a secondary inspection, law enforcement uncovered multiple bundles wrapped in plastic and hidden within the rear bumper, undercarriage and center console. A K-9 also alerted to the vehicle. Authorities ultimately discovered 59 rounds of ammunition, eight magazines and six firearms – three rifles and three pistols. The investigation further revealed none of the weapons were registered to Vara, and one of the handguns had been reported stolen. Vara has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.


title: Former Kissimmee Police Officer Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Prison For Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Dariel Javier Quiles-Davila (27, Kissimmee) to seven years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material. Quiles-Davila was found guilty by a federal jury on August 22, 2025. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, in October 2023, Quiles-Davila was an officer with the Kissimmee Police Department. At that time, Quiles-Davila met a minor victim while on duty. After learning the minor victim’s contact information, Quiles-Davila began to communicate directly with the minor victim with his personal cell phone and over social media, sent the minor victim money, and solicited and received sexually explicit photographs and videos of the minor victim. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kissimmee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Sartoian and Chauncey A. Bratt. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: California Man Sentenced To 72 Months For Cyber Stalking And Threats To Injure

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virgina Covington has sentenced Robert B. McDougal (30, California) to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for one count of cyber stalking and three counts of interstate transmission of threats to injure. McDougal pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025. According to court documents, McDougal made numerous public social media posts threatening to kill the victim and his family members. McDougal started making these threats in July of 2020. On January 28, 2021, the defendant was served with an Injunction and ordered to stop making these posts but persisted in making several violent and graphic threats to kill the victim and his family until shortly before his arrest in April of 2024. McDougal had previously been convicted of similar offenses with different, unrelated victims. This case was investigated by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joesph Wheeler III.


title: Federal Inmate to Serve Eight Additional Years in Prison for Indecent Exposure at Federal Transfer Center

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – ROBERT WILLIAMS , 32, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to serve 96 additional months in federal prison for indecent exposure at the Federal Transfer Center (FTC) in Oklahoma City, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public record, on March 6, 2025, Williams, an inmate at the FTC, lewdly exposed his genitals to a female correctional officer while making a suggestive comment. At the time, Williams was in federal custody for burglary and firearms offenses. On April 1, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Williams with indecent exposure. Williams pleaded guilty on July 25, 2025, and admitted he exposed himself in a public place where other persons were present and could be offended or annoyed by his conduct. At a sentencing hearing on December 17, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Williams to serve 96 months in federal prison, to run consecutively to his existing prison term, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Palk noted the need for the sentence to reflect the seriousness of the offense and promote respect for the law. Judge Palk also noted William’s history and characteristics, which included multiple instances of indecent exposure and committing acts of violence while in custody. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: U.S. Files Complaint Against Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Alleging Delay in Reporting Hazardous Utility Bars and Miter Saws

component: Civil Division

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The Justice Department, together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced today, they filed a civil enforcement action against Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (Black & Decker) for alleged violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the complaint with Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, Department of Justice, Civil Division, and Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman, CPSC. Black & Decker is a global provider of hand tools, power tools, outdoor products and related accessories. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, alleges that Black & Decker knowingly failed to immediately report to CPSC information about potential hazardous defects or unreasonable safety risks associated with some of its utility bars and miter saws. The complaint alleges soon after Black & Decker began manufacturing the utility bars in December 2015, it began receiving numerous reports directly from consumers and through a national retailer. Customers stated that bars broke unexpectedly during use, snapping back at the users, and in some cases, causing serious injuries. Despite notice of these incidents, Black & Decker failed to report this information to CPSC until May 2019. Utility bars are multi-functional tools used for ripping, prying and wrecking. Additionally, the complaint alleges, between 2019 and 2022, Black & Decker received hundreds of reports of its miter saws’ rear protective guards and plastic deflectors breaking, including reports of injuries such as lacerations to consumers’ faces and fingers. Despite notice of these incidents, Black & Decker failed to report this information to CPSC until June 2022. Miter saws are power tools designed to cut various materials. The complaint, filed by the Justice Department, seeks monetary civil penalties and injunctive relief to prohibit the company from engaging in future violations of the CPSA. The CPSA requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products to report “immediately” to CPSC information that reasonably supports the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or that it creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. Black & Decker previously resolved other government allegations of failure to timely report to CPSC, including through a stipulated order entered by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in 2015. “Companies must not put consumers in harm’s way by failing to immediately report a defective product to the proper authorities,” Hayes said. “We’re committed to holding accountable those who fail to properly comply with safety laws that ultimately protect consumers.” “The Justice Department, together with CPSC, is committed to enforcing consumer protection statutes protecting Americans from hazardous products,” Shumate said. “Companies must report safety issues in consumer products immediately, as the law requires, to prevent unnecessary injury or death.” “This coordinated federal action will protect consumers,” Feldman said. “We will not hesitate to use the full weight of our authorities, especially when dealing with repeat offenders.” U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Koch along with Assistant Director Zachary Dietert, Senior Trial Attorney Joshua Fowkes, and Trial Attorneys Paulina Stamatelos and Nicole Frazer, DOJ Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch, who are handling this matter in coordination with CPSC staff. The claims made in a complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence. For more information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit https://www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch . For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Seven Farmers and a Tobacco Warehouse Manager Sentenced for Crop Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Cave City, Ky., farmer, Larry Walden, 69, was sentenced to 52 months’ incarceration by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit money laundering, by committing crop insurance fraud. According to his plea agreement, Walden owned and rented farmland in Barren County, on which he grew burley tobacco, among other crops. He maintained insurance coverage over his tobacco crop from at least 2014 to 2023. For Crop Years 2014 through 2019, Walden used services offered at Farmers Tobacco Warehouse in Boyle County, to obtain false documentation to support false claims of loss on his crop insurance. As part of the conspiracy, Walden wrote checks to Farmers Tobacco Warehouse, to make it appear as though the tobacco he raised and sold was actually purchased from Farmers Tobacco Warehouse. Conspiring with Thomas Kirkpatrick, manager at Farmers Tobacco Warehouse, Walden also received fake receipts in further attempts to conceal the scheme. Walden presented copies of these cancelled checks along with fake purchase receipts to his insurance adjuster. His insurance adjuster used this paperwork to justify deflating Walden’s production reports, thereby increasing his indemnity payment. With his proceeds, Walden paid off lines of credit and purchased new assets. Walden also admitted to running the same fraud scheme through Greensburg Tobacco Market and Fair Deal Tobacco, located in Greensburg, Ky., and Littleton, North Carolina, respectively. He further sold tobacco under the names of neighbors and relatives without reporting that production on his insurance claims. In total, Walden’s fraud caused $9,960,817.19 in loss to crop insurers. Upon his release, Walden will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years. In addition to his prison sentence, Walden was ordered to pay $9,960,817.19 in restitution. Other farmers have also been sentenced for their role in the same conspiracy to commit crop insurance fraud and have been sentenced as followed. Thomas Kirkpatrick, 67, of Stanford, Ky., the former manager of Farmers Tobacco Warehouse, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $16,156,345 in restitution. David Hunt, 63, of Campbellsville, Ky., a farmer who obtained fake documentation from Kirkpatrick in order to support fraudulent claims to indemnity payments under an organic tobacco insurance coverage policy, was sentenced to 42 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $5,427,365 in restitution. Terry Wilson, 67, an Edmonton, Ky, farmer who used Farmer Tobacco Warehouse to facilitate his fraud conspiracy, was sentenced to time served, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $667,679.00 in restitution. Christopher Wilson, 50, Terry Wilson’s son, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $669,447 in restitution. David Wisdom, 69, a Glasglow, Ky., farmer who used Farmer Tobacco Warehouse to facilitate his fraud conspiracy, was sentenced to 48 months, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $1,941,007 in restitution. Robert D. Birge, Jr., 51, a Summer Shade, Ky., farmer, was sentenced to 6 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $1,114,519 in restitution. Additionally, earlier this month, Harlan Ray Highfield, 63, of Brooksville, Ky., was sentenced to 42 months’ incarceration, stemming from his crop insurance fraud scheme that involved obtaining crop insurance policies in nominee names, among other offenses. He was sentenced to three years’ supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,060,460 in restitution. Under federal law, these defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. “These defendants fleeced programs intended to protect agricultural producers,” said Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “While the vast majority of farmers conduct themselves with great integrity, the sentences imposed in these cases should serve as a warning to any producers or warehouse operators considering similar crop insurance fraud.” “There is no place in our society for opportunists who choose to defraud public programs at the expense of honest, hard-working American farmers,” stated Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “This case is a prime example of law enforcement partners collaborating over a number of years to ensure the conspirators are identified and penalized appropriately, while simultaneously working to protect one of our nation’s most vital industries.” “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) appreciates the collaboration with our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors in this case. USDA OIG is committed to investigating individuals who engage in crop insurance fraud in order to preserve the integrity of USDA programs,” said USDA OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Miles Davis. “We thank the United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency Special Investigations Staff, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Kentucky Department of Insurance and Department of Justice, Eastern District of Kentucky for their partnership with us on this impactful investigation.” Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Miles Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Field Office; and Karen Wingerd , Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, jointly announced the sentences. The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency Special Investigations Staff, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Dieruf and Andrea Mattingly Williams. -END-


title: Justice Department Announces Seizure of Stolen-Password Database Used in Bank Account Takeover Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced the seizure of a web domain and database used in furtherance of a scheme to target and defraud Americans through bank account takeover fraud.The domain, web3adspanels.org, was used by those involved in the scheme as a backend web panel to store and manipulate illegally harvested bank login credentials. This domain seizure comes approximately one month after the FBI issued a Public Service Announcement relating to Account Takeover Fraud via Impersonation of Financial Institution Support. According to the affidavit filed in support of the domain seizure, the criminal group perpetrating the bank account takeover fraud delivered fraudulent advertisements through search engines, including Google and Bing. These fraudulent advertisements imitated the sponsored search engine advertisements used by legitimate banking entities. While the fraudulent advertisements appeared to send users to the websites of legitimate banks, victims were in fact redirected to fake bank websites controlled by the criminals. When victims entered their login credentials to access their bank accounts, the criminals harvested those credentials through a malicious software program embedded in the fake website. The criminals then used those bank credentials on the corresponding legitimate bank websites to access victims’ bank accounts and drain their funds. To date, the FBI has identified at least 19 victims throughout the United States, including two companies in the Northern District of Georgia, whose bank accounts have been compromised through this account takeover scheme, resulting in attempted losses of approximately $28 million dollars and actual losses of approximately $14.6 million dollars. The seized domain hosted a server that contained the stolen login credentials of thousands of victims, including the credentials of the victims mentioned above. Based on the FBI’s investigation, the seized domain continued to host a backend server used in furtherance of the bank account takeover fraud as recently as November 2025. Since January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant, including by regularly monitoring financial accounts, using “Bookmarks” or “Favorites” for navigating to login websites and guarding against phishing attempts. A splash page on the web3adspanels.org website notifies visitors that the domain has been seized by law enforcement. This domain seizure disrupts the criminals’ ability to access the stolen credentials and utilize those credentials to steal bank account funds. According to foreign officials, Estonian law enforcement also preserved and collected data from servers hosting the phishing pages and the stolen login credentials used in furtherance of the scheme. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia and Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Morris of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Estonian Office of the Prosecutor General, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and the Georgian Central Criminal Police Department. 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.