title: Palatka Man Charged For Bank Robbery

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jordon Roger Anchando (46, Palatka) with bank robbery. If convicted, Anchando faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Anchando was arrested on November 18, 2025. He is currently detained pending the resolution of the case. According to the indictment, on June 2, 2025, Anchando took money from a bank using force, violence, and intimidation. The bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). 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 was investigated by the Belleview Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 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: Ocala Woman Pleads Guilty To Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florda – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christina Gates Thagard (40, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Thagard faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 20, 2026. According to court documents, on May 3, 2025, Thagard entered a bank in Marion County wearing a hat, hoodie, sunglasses, a surgical mask, and one latex glove. Thagard told the teller, “This is a robbery!” She instructed the teller to put the money in the bag and stated she had a gun and would use it if necessary. Thagard also handed the teller a note that read: “This is a robbery I have a gun and will shoot if any alarms or dye packs are inclosed [sic] fill this bag with all at least 50 k big bills only wait 2 mins to call police.” The teller then placed all the cash from her drawer ($5,075) and a tracking device into Thagard’s purse. Thagard at the teller line during the robbery. Based on the tracking device information, officers from the Ocala Police Department (OPD) quickly located Thagard and her vehicle. Inside the vehicle, recovered the cash from the bank, the tracking device, and the items Thagard had been wearing during the robbery. A forensic analysis later confirmed Thagard’s fingerprint on the demand note as well as on a door inside the bank. This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: South Texas Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Meth

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Cotulla man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 121 months in prison for transporting fentanyl and methamphetamine from Eagle Pass to San Antonio. According to court documents, in October 2021, Jesus Roberto Tellez, 42, was seen picking up a backpack containing narcotics from an Eagle Pass residence. Eagle Pass Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle occupied by Tellez and further investigation revealed that the backpack contained a total of nine bundles with 4.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and 498.4 grams of fentanyl pills. Tellez admitted to twice previously trafficking narcotics from Eagle Pass to San Antonio in the preceding four months. Tellez was indicted Dec. 1, 2021, and pleaded guilty on Aug. 20, 2025. He was sentenced on Dec. 3 by U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Eagle Pass Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case. ###


title: Deltona Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet A 13-Year-Old Girl To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Keiron Jashua Williams (23, Deltona) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Williams faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, in June 2025, a detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 13-year-old girl (UC). Williams messaged the UC account. After learning he was speaking with a minor, Williams engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. On July 5, 2025, Williams was arrested when he traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity. A search of Williams’s car revealed he had brought an unopened box of condoms, a video game system, and marijuana for the meeting with the minor. This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: Marion County Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet Two Minors To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Terry Levi Brown (36, Summerfield) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Brown faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, in July 2025, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation aimed at apprehending individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. On July 27, 2025, two detectives from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl. Brown messaged both undercover accounts. After learning he was speaking with a minor, Brown engaged in sexually explicit conversations with both undercover accounts. Brown was arrested when he subsequently traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the minors to engage in sexual activity. This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Several Recent Prosecutions in Connection With DOJ Take Back America Initiative

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland recently secured several criminal complaints, indictments, and sentencings in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America . A nationwide initiative, Operation Take Back America marshals the full resources of the DOJ 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. Below are recent examples of prosecutions the office secured in connection with this initiative. On December 15, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment , charging Bayron Leopoldo Perez Batres, 63 , a Guatemalan national, with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. According to the indictment, Perez Batres, who resided in Beltsville, Maryland, unlawfully reentered the United States after he was removed on three separate occasions – in January 1996, September 2009, and May 2010. On December 2, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint , against Anderson Martinez-Montenegro, 28 , and Elmer Ortiz-Berduo, 37 , both citizens of Guatemala and unlawfully present in the United States. They are charged with resisting arrest and assaulting federal officers. On November 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced Jairo Eliu Aguilar-Lopez, 54 , of El Salvador, to 15 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States after he was deported on two separate occasions. On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a criminal complaint against Cristian Rivas-Bonilla, 26 , of El Salvador, charging him with resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. Rivas-Bonilla was subject to removal from the United States in connection with a final order of removal to El Salvador from an immigration judge. On October 30, 2025, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Sarah Maud Jess, 62 , a Jamaican national living in Capitol Heights, Maryland, to five years in federal prison for two counts, distributing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and re-entry of an alien removed after conviction for an aggravated felony. On October 16, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Luis Melendez Serrano, 19 ; Kevin Melendez Serrano, 23 ; Alex Pena Martinez, 19 ; and William Rivera Nolasco, 19 , charging them with conspiring to traffic firearms. According to the indictment, Luis Melendez Serrano and Martinez are illegal aliens who unlawfully possessed a firearm. Additionally, Luis Melendez Serrano, Martinez, and Nolasco are charged with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On October 2, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Francisco Reymundo-Reymundo, 30 , a citizen of Guatemala, to eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States. This marks Reymundo-Reymundo’s third illegal reentry conviction. According to Court filings, the U.S. previously deported Reymundo-Reymundo four other times. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the Maryland Office’s Assistant U.S. Attorneys and support staff for their work in these investigations. 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: Marion County Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Meet A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Shawn Adampeter Grunther (42, Marion County) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Grunther faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, in July 2025, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent posed online as a 14-year-old girl (UC). Grunther messaged the UC account, and after learning the minor’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. On July 24, 2025, Grunther was arrested when he traveled to a location in Marion County to meet the UC to engage in sexual activity. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: St. Pete Man Sentenced To 27 Years For Production Of Child Sexual Abuse Material And Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced David Araujo (57, St. Petersburg) to 27 years and 3 months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Araujo entered a guilty plea on July 23, 2025. According to the plea agreement and court records, in July 2024 during an operation hosted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, an undercover officer from the Ocala Police Department posed online as a 14-year-old prostitute (UC). Araujo messaged the UC and, after learning the UC’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the UC. During the conversation, Araujo also described to the UC a prior relationship he had had with another minor. Araujo was arrested by law enforcement when he drove from St. Petersburg to Marion County to meet with the UC to engage in sexual activity. A search of Araujo’s cellphone revealed he had produced CSAM with the previous minor victim on September 25, 2023. This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: U.S. Attorney's Office Hosts Annual Meeting Of The Western District's Health Care Fraud Working Group

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today the annual meeting of the Western District’s Health Care Fraud Working Group, a partnership of federal and state agencies focused on combating health care fraud and protecting taxpayer dollars in the Western District of North Carolina. The Health Care Fraud Working Group’s mission is to collaborate to effectively uncover health care fraud schemes and hold accountable those who are responsible for the fraud. The Working Group is comprised of investigators, analysts, auditors, and attorneys from federal and state agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG), the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the North Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Investigations Division, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Recipient Fraud Unit. At today’s meeting, U.S. Attorney Ferguson recognized the contributions of partner agencies in the Western District’s successful pursuit of criminal charges and civil claims against perpetrators of health care fraud in the district. “Of the $5 trillion per year spent on healthcare in the United States, 45% is through government programs. That massive figure makes it hard to detect complex healthcare fraud; it simply cannot be done without strong partnerships and collaboration,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “But it is critical work—not just because we must protect taxpayer money, but because healthcare fraud increases medical costs and insurance premiums for everyone.” If you suspect Medicare or Medicaid fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477), or online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ To report Medicaid fraud in North Carolina, call the North Carolina Medicaid Investigations Division at 919-881-2320 or fill out an online complaint form . To report TRICARE fraud, contact the appropriate contractor identified at https://tricare.mil/PatientResources/ContactUs/ReportFraudAbuse Fraud against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system can be reported at www.vaoig.gov/hotline .


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Violating Terms of Federal Supervision

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kordarow Moore, 36, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 30 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon, and an additional 9 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his federal supervision for a previous federal drug trafficking conviction. Moore pleaded guilty to the felon in possession charge on September 12, 2025. On September 22, 2024, a law enforcement officer stopped Moore’s car for speeding on Interstate 94 in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Moore was driving 101 miles per hour, which is more than 30 miles per hour over the legal limit. Moore was later arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Officers searched the car following Moore’s arrest and found a loaded AK-47 style rifle under the front passenger seat. The firearm had an extended magazine that contained approximately 40 rounds of ammunition with one round in the chamber. At sentencing, Judge Conley stated that the type of firearm possessed by Moore posed a deadly threat to others and went far beyond a need for personal protection. Further, Judge Conley emphasized that it was inexplicable that Moore would possess a firearm, let alone this type of firearm, while under the Court’s supervision for another federal offense and while intoxicated. The charge against Moore was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin State Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Reinhard and Kathryn Ginsberg Ostrow prosecuted this case. Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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: Urbandale Man Charged with Making False Statements on Loan Applications and in Bankruptcy Proceedings

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – On November 13, 2025, a federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a three-count indictment with offenses relating to false statements on two loan applications and during bankruptcy proceedings. As alleged in the Indictment, Henry J. Schappert, 57, applied for and obtained over $415,000 of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020 and 2021 ostensibly on behalf of his company, Allied Exteriors. The Indictment alleges that Schappert made several false statements on applications or amended applications for the loans which included inflated number of employees, revenue, cost of goods sold, and employee wages. The Indictment further alleges that Schappert, in 2021, after receiving the EIDL and PPP loan proceeds, formed Pots and Shots, LLC, a bar and plant store in West Des Moines, Iowa. Schappert subsequently transferred over $129,000 from Allied Exteriors’ accounts to this new venture. The Indictment also alleges that Schappert filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Iowa in 2024, in which he made several false declarations on his bankruptcy petition and schedules. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Office of the United States Trustee. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben 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: Rochester Man Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Travis Frazier, 28 years old, of Rochester, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Frazier was sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Frazier accidentally shot a loaded gun while holding his infant child, who was struck by bullet fragments. Frazier had a prior felony conviction and a prior misdemeanor conviction for domestic battery, either of which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Rochester Police Department and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. 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: Central Ohio man sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison after arranging online to meet ‘minor’ in Cincinnati for sex

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Dublin, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 151 months in prison for arranging online to meet up with who he believed was a minor to engage in sexual conduct. The defendant drove to Cincinnati within hours of when he first started talking to the purported minor online. Kyle Tennyson, 35, a registered sex offender, used the social media app Kasual to talk to who he thought was a 15-year-old, but was actually an undercover agent. According to court documents, after learning of the supposed minor’s age in online conversations, Tennyson messaged “It’s just extremely risky for a guy to do anything with you sadly. :/ I hate the law.” Tennyson sent several requests for specific images, saying he needed to verify the 15-year-old was real. The defendant told the minor what sexual activities he had in mind, proposed different sexual positions for her to look up, and ensured that her parents did not have access to her hotel room. Tennyson also mentioned he was being cautious because he had been “caught for this a few months ago and am currently going through the legal system,” adding, “Girl on bumble said she was 18. She wasn’t. Parents found out. I got screwed.” He sent the minor a picture of his leg with an ankle monitor, which was imposed as a condition of bond in connection to his ongoing prosecution in Delaware County for charges alleging sexual abuse of a 13-year-old. Tennyson drove from Dublin to a hotel in Cincinnati, where he was apprehended by agents. When law enforcement officials apprehended him, Tennyson had on him a grocery bag with an open box of 36 count condoms. A federal grand jury indicted Tennyson in June 2024 with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. He pleaded guilty in June 2025. Tennyson was previously convicted in 2014 of pandering obscenity. He is also currently facing 10 charges for sex offenses involving a minor in Delaware County. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Matthew Stentz, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed on Dec. 3 by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux and Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Box Elder man arraigned on robbery charges

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man accused of being involved in a robbery on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was arraigned earlier this week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Gordon George Denny, Jr., 30, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit robbery. If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, the defendant faces 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. The defendant was detained pending further proceedings. Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on July 29, 2024, near Box Elder, Denny and others knowingly conspired to commit a robbery. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. PACER case reference. 25-118. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Former President of Failed Oklahoma Bank Indicted for Bank Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the Western District of Oklahoma returned an indictment yesterday charging the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Lindsay for his role in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, making false entries in the books and records of a financial institution, obstructing the examination of a financial institution and failing to implement an anti-money laundering program. According to the indictment, Danny Seibel, 54, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Lindsay from in or about February 2007 until his termination in September 2024. Seibel also held other management roles at the bank during that time, including Chief Financial Officer and Bank Secrecy Act Officer. As alleged, Seibel caused the bank to issue loans to certain customers, many of whom were his personal friends and neighbors, that the borrowers never repaid. Seibel then allegedly manipulated the bank’s records and falsified various bank reports to falsely overstate the performance of the loans, including by using new loans or transfers of the bank’s own funds to cover overdrafts of outstanding loans. The indictment alleges that Seibel frequently modified bank records to conceal this activity from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which was the bank’s federal regulator, as well as from the bank’s Board of Directors and others. During the summer of 2024, when the OCC was conducting an onsite examination at the bank, Seibel allegedly provided OCC staff with a false document that concealed hundreds of changes that Seibel had made to loan data. The indictment also alleges that Seibel failed to implement an anti-money laundering program at the bank as required by the Bank Secrecy Act. For example, Seibel allegedly failed to file any suspicious activity reports on his own fraudulent scheme, and he advised Bank customers to make cash deposits below $10,000 to avoid relevant reporting requirements. The OCC appointed a receiver for the bank in October 2024. If convicted, Seibel faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a fine of up to $1 million. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma; Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Melle of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of IRS Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and Special Agent in Charge Korey Brinkman of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) made the announcement. FDIC-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Mark Goldberg, Ryan McLaren and Elysa Wan of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Jackson D. Eldridge for the Western District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Postal Deliveryman and Two Others Charged with Drug Trafficking Through the U.S. Mail and Bribery

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging three individuals with bribery and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) led the investigation in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “Drug trafficking destroys families and communities,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “These defendants were using the United States Postal Service to facilitate their drug trafficking activities which foster violence and addiction. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners will aggressively prosecute drug traffickers and corrupt government officials and seek justice for our communities.” “The Special Agents of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General will continue to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service and its personnel,” said Special Agent in Charge Modafferi of U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “The conduct alleged is disgraceful, and our office will continue to tirelessly investigate Postal Service employees and their co-conspirators who violate the public’s trust. This case serves as an excellent example of the successful collaboration between the USPS OIG, our law enforcement partners, and the District of Puerto Rico U.S Attorney’s Office to pursue the prosecution of all those involved in criminal activity relating to the Postal Service.” “Individuals who conspire to distribute controlled substances, attempt to compromise public officials, and violate the integrity of the U.S. mail, will be held accountable. Our office, alongside our law-enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who endanger public trust and public safety,” said Joe Rodríguez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. The indictment alleges that from January 2022 until April of 2024 the defendants conspired to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Defendant Héctor Melvin Candelaria-Carrero, a.k.a. “Candy/Cartero”, served as a USPS City Carrier in Isabela, Puerto Rico. While engaged in his official duties, Candelaria-Carrero diverted, delayed and stole USPS parcels and provided the diverted and stolen mail to defendants Carlos Nadín Nieves-Pastrana, a.k.a. “Nandy” and José Manuel Muñoz-Torres, a.k.a. “Kuki/Cuqui”, in exchange for bribe payments. At times, Candelaria-Carrero took photos of specific parcels with his personal phone. Using the assigned USPS scanner device, he scanned the photos taken on his personal phone at the correct delivery address. Rather than deliver the parcels at the delivery addresses, Candelaria-Carrero diverted the parcels to other locations and hid the locations of the diverted and stolen mail from the USPS. Defendant Candelaria-Carrero used his private cellular number, WhatsApp messages and phone calls to communicate with Nieves-Pastrana and Muñoz-Torres and to exchange bribe payments and the diverted or stolen parcels, including parcels containing controlled substances. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania Y. Salas De-Jesús is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, and up to life in prison. 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: Recidivist Firearm Offender Sentenced to Nine and a Half Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition and Violation of Federal Supervised Release

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to nine and a half years of incarceration on his conviction of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, as well as violation of his federal supervised release, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Gerald Underwood, 44, who was found guilty of the firearm charge on June 10, 2025, following a jury trial. Judge Horan imposed a sentence of eight years on the charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and an additional sentence of 18 months (to run consecutive to the eight-year sentence) for Underwood’s violation of federal supervised release. According to information presented to the Court, on November 9, 2022, Underwood possessed a firearm and ammunition at a gas station in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh. At the time, Underwood was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Underwood has a number of state felony convictions as well as two prior federal convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Horan noted that Underwood has a history of violent behavior and had not learned from the prior sentences, and stated that she was imposing a sentence above the advisory sentencing range because of the need to protect the public from Underwood. Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Underwood.


title: Five Members of Hobbs Based Drug Trafficking Organization Arrested on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Four members of the Navarrette Drug Trafficking Organization have been indicted, and one charged by a criminal complaint, on federal drug trafficking charges following an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Hobbs, New Mexico. According to court documents, from October 2024, through December 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette , 44, his sons Raul Hernandez Navarrette , 26, and Adrian Hernandez Navarrette , 21, Amanda "Mandy" Ortega , 44, and Leonel Jaquez-Martinez , 45, a Mexican national, illegally present in the United States who had been previously deported, conspired and attempted to distribute, and distributed, controlled substances throughout Lea County. Raul Muñoz Navarrette made multiple sales of methamphetamine to undercover agents beginning in October 2024, when he sold approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine for $500. The quantities escalated over subsequent months, with Raul Muñoz Navarrette selling over 400 grams of pure methamphetamine on multiple occasions for $3,500 each. On April 29, 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette arranged for the delivery of over 427 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover agent and accept payment of $3,500. On July 8, 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette sold over 1,200 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover agent for $9,500. Leonel Jaquez-Martinez attempted to provide one 440 grams of that 1200 grams to Raul Muñoz Navarrette . On August 1, 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette provided fentanyl to Amanda Ortega , who then distributed it to an individual which resulted in a non-lethal overdose. Following the overdose, Amanda Ortega told Rau l Muñoz Navarrette that the fentanyl was too strong and warned they could face murder charges if someone died. Beginning in early September 2025, Raul Hernandez Navarrette coordinated an extensive cocaine distribution operation, directing Adrian Hernandez Navarrette and Raul Muñoz Navarrette to deliver cocaine to customers throughout Hobbs, including at a hotel in Hobbs. Adrian Hernandez Navarrette was apprehended by police at that location with 1.5 grams of cocaine, a loaded .45 caliber firearm, and a drug ledger. Throughout the remainder of September 2025 , Raul Hernandez Navarrette continued coordinating cocaine sales, frequently directing customers to Raul Muñoz Navarrette’s ranch where they would pick up the cocaine. On December 3, 2025, federal agents executed search warrants on six residences connected to the Navarrette Drug Trafficking Organization. During execution of those federal search warrants, federal agents located and seized 15 rifles, 14 pistols, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, approximately 500 pills of fentanyl, and approximately eight ounces of cocaine. Raul Muñoz Navarrette is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, eight counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, distribution of cocaine, 10 counts of distribution of cocaine, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Amanda “Mandy” Ortega is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of fentanyl, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, she faces up to 40 years in prison. Raul Hernandez Navarrette is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, 20 counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 14 counts of distribution of cocaine, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, he Navarrette faces up to 20 years in prison. Adrian Hernandez Navarrette is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, Adrian Hernandez Navarrette faces up to life imprisonment. Leonel Jaquez-Martinez is charged with attempting to distribute methamphetamine, re-entry of a removed alien, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, made the announcement today. These arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving understanding children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol and Air and Marine, Office of Professional Responsibility, United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management, Joint Task Force North, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Marshal Service, Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso Police Department, New Mexico State Police, West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of New Mexico and Western Texas. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Mail Carrier Pleads Guilty to Theft of Postal Customers' Prescription Drugs

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier pleaded guilty today to stealing packages containing prescription medications from postal customers on his route. Michael Vernon, 52, of Somerville, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by a postal officer or employee. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2026. Vernon was arrested and charged in September 2025 . On Jan. 31, 2024, over 1,000 pieces of undelivered mail and 17 bottles of pills prescribed to 10 different postal customers on Vernon’s route were discovered in his personal vehicle. Most of the customers whose medications Vernon stole were elderly. The medications included Gabapentin, Chlorthalidone, Citalopram, Bupropion, Glipizide, Butalbital, Atomoxetine, Escitalopram and Tamsulosin Hydrochloride. These medications are used to treat nerve pain, seizures, diabetes, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, depression, anxiety and ADHD. The pill bottles were dated as far back as June 2022. The charge of theft of mail by a postal employee provides a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Former City Clerk / Treasurer Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Over $196,000 from the City of New Plymouth

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: BOISE – Danielle Painter, 41, of Emmett, Idaho, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for stealing over $196,000 from the City of New Plymouth, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. According to court records, Danielle Painter was employed as the City Clerk / Treasurer for the City of New Plymouth from 2012 to 2023. As the City Clerk / Treasurer, Painter was responsible for performing various accounting functions, including recording and coding of credit card charges in the accounting system, issuing electronic credit card payments, and retaining credit card statements. Between 2017 and 2023, Painter devised a scheme to defraud the City of New Plymouth by using City of New Plymouth credit cards for unauthorized personal expenses. The unauthorized personal expenses included retail purchases, restaurants, clothing, travel, concerts, utility and rent, and medical expenses. In total, Painter made $196,947.87 in unauthorized charges using City of New Plymouth credit cards between 2017 and 2023. To hide her scheme, Painter entered many of the expenses as professional services in the City of New Plymouth’s internal accounting system. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Painter to serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence and ordered Painter to pay $196,947.87 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho State Police, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol prosecuted this case. ###


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced a man who robbed a bank and a mobile phone store and who was foiled in another robbery to 12 years in prison. Kentrell Jones, 42, robbed a bank in Jennings, Missouri on Jan. 20, 2022, by handling a note to a teller and implying that he had a gun. On Feb. 14, 2022, Jones tried to rob a mobile phone store on South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis by demanding money from an employee at gunpoint. The employee foiled the robbery by fleeing into a bathroom and locking the door. Jones then went to a mobile phone store on Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis and robbed the store of cell phones and cash while armed. Jones pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in August to robbery, attempted robbery, bank robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The FBI, St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finlen and Nino Przulj prosecuted the case.


title: Former High School Wrestling Coach Convicted of Attempting to Send Obscene Material to Minor

body_text: BOSTON – A Burlington, Mass. man was convicted yesterday following a three-day jury trial of attempting to send obscene material to an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl on Kik messenger. Stephen James Lemelin, 51, was convicted of three counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2026. Lemelin was arrested and charged in May 2024 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. Evidence presented at trial established that, over the course of five months, Lemelin – a Burlington High School wrestling coach at the time – sent sexually explicit messages and obscene material over Kik Messenger to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. In the messages, Lemelin sent three separate obscene photographs of his genitals to the purported child and proposed meeting in person for sex. The charges of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection and the Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Burlington, Salisbury and Winchester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David G. Tobin and Eric L. Hawkins are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Dallas man sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison in ATM crime spree

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Joseph George Turner, 31, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Schell on December 3, 2025. According to court documents, Turner was the leader and organizer of a group of individuals involved in a crime spree aimed at forcibly removing ATMs from convenience stores in the DFW area. From May 16 to June 1, 2023, the defendants participated in a conspiracy that involved smashing the glass from a convenience storefront with a sledgehammer before using a stolen truck or SUV to drag an ATM from the store. Once the ATM was removed from the store, the defendants would load the machine into the vehicle and leave the scene. The ATM and vehicle would later be found abandoned after the money was removed and divided among the participants. 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. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Frisco Office, Plano Police Department, Irving Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Mesquite Police Department, Carrolton Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Johnson. ###


title: Assistant Professor’s Embezzlement from Washington University Leads to 27 Months in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a former assistant professor who embezzled $412,163 from the Washington University School of Medicine to 27 months in prison. Judge Autrey also ordered Gary Grajales-Reyes, MD-PhD, to repay the money. Federal law enforcement has already seized a substantial quantity of collectible trading cards from Grajales-Reyes’ laboratory that he bought with some of the funds. As part of his guilty plea in August to three counts of wire fraud, Grajales-Reyes admitted submitting 73 false requisition requests to WashU Medicine for 761 different pieces of computer equipment, falsely claiming that it was for the research laboratory that he directed. Once he received the equipment at his lab, Grajales-Reyes sold some of the computer equipment through his personal eBay site and some to an Amazon-based third-party seller. He used the money obtained by selling the computer equipment for his own personal expenses. Grajales-Reyes’s greed-fueled crime affected WashU Medicine in multiple ways, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said in court Thursday. Grajales-Reyes “defrauded the very institution which has supported him in achieving all that he has,” Goldsmith said, including by providing him “an education, substantial salary and benefits” and a research lab. In addition to the loss of funds that were intended to support important patient care and research, the University had to terminate a National Institutes of Health grant for which Grajales-Reyes was a principal investigator, causing the loss of $87,545 in grant funding. Staff spent more than 500 hours investigating and dealing with Grajales-Reyes’ crime, which damaged the reputation of the department and its programs and prompted concerns from academic and business leaders and philanthropic supporters. The FBI investigated the case, with the cooperation and assistance of Washington University. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith prosecuted the case.


title: Marshall County Man Sentenced for Firearms and Methamphetamine Offenses

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Joseph William Alfred, also known as “Chris,” age 51, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms charges, United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Following a trial in July 2025, a jury found Alfred guilty of the distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of a firearm, and failure to appear. A package shipped from an address in California containing more than two pounds of methamphetamine was intercepted by the United States Postal Service postmarked for Alfred’s address. A subsequent search warrant executed at Alfred’s home resulted in the seizure of more controlled substances, a firearm, ammunition, $2,156, and drug paraphernalia. Alfred is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony drug conviction. Alfred also violated his pre-trial release while on home confinement with electronic monitoring. He failed to appear for a pretrial conference in April 2024 in federal district court. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton Reid and Carly Nogay prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the United States Postal Service. U.S. District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided.


title: Itawamba County Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Producing Images During His Assault of a Child and for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: GREENVILLE, MS – Keith Blake Clifton, 31, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years for producing images of a child during his sexual assault of the victim and distributing child sexual abuse material through a mobile messaging application. The investigation began after the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children alerted law enforcement authorities that a mobile messaging application user was distributing images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Investigators with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force determined the user was Clifton, who resided in Itawamba County. Analysis of Clifton’s devices revealed over 1,000 images of child sexual abuse material, including depictions of infants and toddlers. Clifton later admitted to investigators that he had sexually abused a child in his care and photographed the encounter. Clifton is also under state indictment in the Circuit Court of Itawamba County, Mississippi, where the charges remain pending. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Clifton to 180 months for his production of child sexual abuse material, and 60 months for distribution, to be served consecutively. After serving the 240-month sentence in federal prison, Clifton will be subject to 5 years of supervised release. The Court ordered restitution to be paid to victims in the amount of $66,500. Clifton will be required to register as a sex offender. “The actions of Clifton were abhorrent, and such acts against a child will never be tolerated. The prevention and prosecution of crimes against the most vulnerable among us will always be a top priority of this office,” said United States Attorney Scott Leary. “I want to thank our state, local and federal law enforcement partners for this investigation that made it possible to protect our community from this defendant.” "When children are victimized, the FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will bring to bear every effort to ensure perpetrators, like Keith Clifton are held accountable. There is no justification to victimize and abuse our most vulnerable,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “This sentencing underscores the unwavering commitment of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Itawamba County Sheriff’s Department, the Fulton Police Department, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. Through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, these agencies remain steadfast in identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice anyone who violates federal laws designed to protect our children.” “Child sexual abuse is a horrific crime that does extraordinary physical, mental, and emotional damage to the victim. And when it is recorded or photographed, that child’s trauma occurs over and over again. We are proud to work with our federal, state, and local partners to help these victims achieve justice and closure, and help protect other children from abuse,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted the case. The case against Clifton is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . This case is also part of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline system and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). ICAC is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to protect children on the Internet. The Mississippi ICAC Task Force includes local, state, and Federal law enforcement and is managed by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.


title: Ringleaders of National COVID-19 Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 204 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Edward Sheldon Whitaker to 120 months in prison and, his wife, Schunda Coleman, to 84 months in prison for their roles in organizing a nationwide COVID-19 fraud scheme. The Court ordered both defendants to pay more than $10 million in restitution after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for their role in facilitating dozens of North Carolina residents to obtain fraudulent Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans. Additionally, the Court ordered forfeiture money judgments against Whitaker and Coleman in the amount of $3,872,548.24, as well as the forfeiture of the marital residence in Edinburg, Texas, and other accounts and property. “Defrauding our nation during an emergency is disgraceful. Today’s sentences send a loud and clear message,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “While hardworking Americans pulled together during the pandemic, these defendants chose to line their own pockets. This office will continue delivering tough, no-nonsense justice to anyone who steals from taxpayers – we will not let fraudsters get rich off the backs of honest citizens.” “The defendants created a scheme with the sole intent of enriching themselves during a national crisis,” said Special Agent-In-Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “They orchestrated a recruitment program to generate millions of dollars in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans meant for those in need during the COVID-19 Pandemic. IRS-CI will continue its collaborative investigative efforts alongside our law enforcement partners to find those stealing from the federal government and subsequently the taxpayers.” Whitaker and Coleman, a married couple from Edinburg, Texas, ran a scheme to abet individuals submitting fraudulent PPP loan applications nationwide. According to the court documents, the pair created fake supporting documents and false company payroll records, which they provided to co-conspirator applicants for a fee. They also coached “clients” on how to falsify the number of employees and gross wages of a phony business to make it appear eligible for a PPP loan. Whitaker instructed individuals how to make it appear as though PPP loan proceeds were being paid out as wages, when in reality, the defendants transferred the money back to themselves. Whitaker and Coleman facilitated more than $15 million in fake PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) disbursements nationwide. To further promote the scheme, they paid middlemen to recruit additional co-conspirators willing to file fraudulent loan applications. To date, more than thirty defendants who conspired with Whitaker and Coleman have received federal prison sentences. In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who suffered negative economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act and additional appropriations authorized up to $649 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses through the PPP. Financial institutions issued the PPP loans, which were guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka prosecuted the cases. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation investigated the cases. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-00257-D.


title: California Lobbyist and Former Chief of Staff to an Elected Official Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Fraud

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: California lobbyist Greg Campbell, 52, of Davis, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to commit offenses against the United States. On Nov. 20, 2025, Sean McCluskie, 56, of Davis, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. According to court documents, in 2021, McCluskie was the Chief of Staff to an elected official and continued in that role when the official was confirmed to a United States government position. Between February 2022 and September 2024, Campbell and McCluskie conspired with Dana Williamson, 53, of Carmichael, and others to steal approximately $225,000 in funds from the elected official’s dormant political campaign for McCluskie’s personal use in order to pay for McCluskie’s bicoastal lifestyle. Collectively, they funneled the money through various business entities and disguised it as pay for what was, in reality, a no-show job for McCluskie’s spouse. In July 2024, at Williamson’s request, Campbell had three fake retroactive contracts created to respond to a subpoena Williamson had received questioning her company’s eligibility for PPP loans and loan forgiveness. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided forgivable loans to small businesses to help them keep employees on the payroll during the pandemic. Lobbying firms were not eligible to receive PPP loans. Campbell signed the fake contracts, which made it appear as though Williamson provided only non-lobbying services to her clients, and her firm was only a subcontractor for Campbell’s independently owned lobbying firm. On Nov. 12, 2025, a 23-count indictment was unsealed, charging Williamson with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice, subscribing to false tax returns, and making false statements. The charges are only allegations; Williamson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. These cases are the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson, Rosanne Rust, and Katherine T. Lydon, and Public Integrity Section Trial Attorney Alexandre Dempsey are prosecuting the case. A status of sentencing hearing for both Campbell and McCluskie is set for Feb. 26, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley. The next court date for Williamson is a status conference set for Dec. 11, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., before Chief Judge Nunley. Campbell and McCluskie face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of conspiracy. If convicted, Williamson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud; up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud; up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to obstruct and making a false statements; and up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for each count of subscribing to a false tax return. The actual sentences, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Brockton Man Arrested and Charged with Drug Trafficking; Attempted to Flush Fentanyl Pills Down Toilet

body_text: BOSTON – A Brockton man has been arrested and charged for allegedly trafficking fentanyl from his residence while on GPS home confinement for two pending drug cases in Massachusetts Superior Court. Hundreds of fentanyl pills, a respirator mask, cutting agents and other drug trafficking paraphernalia were allegedly recovered during a search. Edmund Kelsey, 26, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Kelsey is currently in state custody and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, during a search of Kelsey’s Brockton residence on Oct. 30, 2025, Kelsey fled upon seeing law enforcement, ran inside the residence and locked the door. Kelsey then ran down to the basement, where he allegedly attempted to flush hundreds of grams of multi-colored pills and other material down the toilet. A sample of the pills field-tested positive for a fentanyl/methamphetamine compound. Kelsey was immediately taken into custody. A respirator mask, two large containers of cutting powder, over 1,000 grams of marijuana, approximately 10 cell phones and over $1,000 in cash were also located inside the residence. At the time of the search, Kelsey was on home confinement with GPS monitoring as a condition of release on two pending Massachusetts Superior Court drug trafficking cases. Kelsey was previously sentenced to a total of five years in state prison for multiple Superior Court convictions involving drug dealing and firearms. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brockton Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Nigerian Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for COVID-19 Related Fraud

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Nosa Edokpaigbe, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, ordered to pay $1,408,897.16 in restitution, and a forfeiture money judgement totaling $681,694 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreeing to the entry of a stipulated judicial removal order. After serving his sentence, Edokpaigbe will be removed to Nigeria. According to the plea agreement, from around July 2020 and until around May 2021, Edokpaigbe prepared and submitted hundreds of fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications on behalf of fictitious business entities using personal identifying information belonging to other real individuals. To conceal his involvement in the fraud, Edokpaigbe signed loan agreements in other names, created fabricated documents for the fictitious entities, used a wireless hotspot to conceal his online activity, and used AI-generated images and images of mannequins to bypass the lenders’ identity verification procedures. The hotspot was seized from the defendant’s residence at the time of his arrest in October 2023. He also submitted one fraudulent EIDL in his own name and filed hundreds of fraudulent tax returns using personal identifying information belonging to other real individuals. As a result of the scheme, $1,389,713 was paid out in EIDL and PPP loans, the majority of which was deposited into bank accounts opened using false identities. “While others were struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nosa Edokpaigbe saw the national emergency as an opportunity to fleece American taxpayers out of almost $1.4 million,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “His shameless exploitation of relief programs which were supposed to be a lifeline for people in need has earned him several years in federal prison and a one-way trip back to Nigeria.” “Nosa Edokpaigbe took advantage of what he saw as easy money through programs that were created to keep businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic, misdirecting that assistance to line his own pockets,” said Marv Massey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver. “His greed affects every American taxpayer, and the FBI will continue to aggressively pursue opportunists who think they can defraud the federal government.” United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Denver Field Office and the Cybercrime Investigations Division of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Cassidy and Anna Edgar 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: 23-cr-442-RMR


title: Guatemalan National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eduardo Domingo-Aguilar, age 38, a citizen of Guatemala, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Domingo-Aguilar illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on September 23, 2025. Domingo-Aguilar was removed from the United States through San Antonio, Texas on or about September 21, 2015, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Defendant in Operation Rock Bottom Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The final defendant in the region’s largest-ever federal drug trafficking prosecution was sentenced this week to 20 years in federal prison. Norman Eugene Goins Jr., 31, of Charlottesville, was sentenced this week to 20 years in federal prison. On August 27, 2025, a jury convicted Goins of possession with the intent to distribute over 4,000 fentanyl pills, nearly a kilo of fentanyl powder, and the possession of three firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense following a multi-week trial. The jury trial was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Assistant United States Attorney Rachel B. Swartz. “This sentencing concludes a multi-jurisdictional, cooperative investigation and prosecution that landed more than 15 defendants in federal prison for more than 186 years collectively,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “This prosecution took thousands of fentanyl pills out of the Western District of Virginia, any one of which could have resulted in a fatal overdose. Fentanyl is a uniquely pernicious and lethal toxin, so deadly that just one pill can kill. I am grateful to our local, state, and federal partners for their dedication to this case. Fentanyl has killed thousands of Virginians and hundreds of thousands of Americans and this office will continue to attach the highest priority to combatting those who traffic fentanyl and use firearms to protect their deadly trade.” “The DEA, and all our dedicated law enforcement partners are using every tool and resource available to investigate and prosecute dangerous narcotics distributors. Our mission to save and protect lives is clear,” commented DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis. “Prominent drug traffickers like Mr. Goins and his organization destroy families throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond by selling deadly illicit drugs, such as counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. This sentencing is the result of our collective efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks and defend American citizens.” “This conviction and sentencing shows what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to target dangerous criminals,” said Col. Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police. “Lives were saved because together we were able to get large amounts of fentanyl off of the streets.” “This investigation and prosecution demonstrate what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners work together to hold those individuals who harm our community accountable for their actions,” said Colonel Sean Reeves, Albemarle County Chief of Police. Goins was identified at trial as the leader of a drug conspiracy that distributed large amounts of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in and around the Charlottesville region beginning in February 2023 and continuing through February 2024. Goins distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and other drugs to members of the conspiracy for redistribution and profit. A search warrant executed at Goins’ home revealed a safe that contained a brick of fentanyl and 4,000 fentanyl pills. In addition, investigators found at least 10 firearms at the home, including a loaded gun found with his baby’s clothes. Goins is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. Previously convicted and sentenced as part of the conspiracy are: DuShaun Lamont Gregory -186 months Landon Devon Fields -180 months Bobby Eugene Christmas -120 months Michael Edward Cornett -120 months Antone Laron Harris -120 months John Ellis Turner, III -120 months Tyquane Pertell Gregory -108 months Dashard Brown -96 months Gary Wayne Woodson -84 months Brandon Carl Dent -75 months Shahiem Taishaun Michie -72 months Dustin Lee Welch -70 months Ashlee Renee Morris -54 months Brooks Lorenzo Woodfolk -52 months Wendy Nicole Shifflett -36 months Caleb Andrew Herndon -27 months The Virginia State Police 3A Regional Drug and Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Albemarle County Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security- HSI, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office, the Henrico County Police Department, and the United States Marshal’s Service are investigating the case. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Offices from the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, along with the Charlottesville Emergency Services and the Virginia National Guard have assisted in the investigation. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Swartz and retired Assistant United States Attorney Ronald Huber prosecuted the case for the United States.


title: Shiprock Man Charged for Violent Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged after an alleged assault left a victim seriously injured. According to court documents. on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben, Jr. , 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted the victim following a day of drinking. Multiple witnesses contacted emergency services. When officers arrived, they observed the victim with serious injuries consistent with assault and immediately detained Ben at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital and received treatment for serious injuries before being transferred for further care. During a subsequent interview, Ben acknowledged drinking heavily but did not provide a clear account of how the victim’s injuries occurred. Ben is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Ben faces 10 years in prison if convicted of the current charges. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty to Robbing Weymouth Bank at Gunpoint

body_text: BOSTON – A Quincy man pleaded guilty today in connection with the December 2024 armed robbery of a Santander Bank in Weymouth. Glenn Legere, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2026. Legere was arrested and charged in June 2025 . At approximately 4:52 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to a Santander bank branch in Weymouth for a reported bank robbery. There, a bank teller told law enforcement that as employees were preparing to close the bank, a man wearing a sweatshirt, baseball hat, face covering and gloves entered the bank through the main entrance. The suspect approached a teller’s window, removed a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt, opened a black cloth bag and demanded all the money. As the bank teller handed the suspect money from the cash box, the suspect yelled words to the effect of “I need money,” “I want the money” and “I don’t play.” At various times, the suspect pointed the firearm directly at the teller. The suspect also ran towards other teller windows, gesturing towards the cash box areas and demanding more money, but the teller explained that there was no more money and displayed an empty cash drawer. The suspect then left the bank with approximately $947 in stolen cash. A subsequent review of surveillance video footage from nearby locations determined that the suspect drove to and from the robbery location in a silver or grey Jeep Grand Cherokee. A vehicle matching the description was captured on cameras in Quincy immediately before and after the robbery. The vehicle was registered to Legere. Legere has multiple prior convictions for committing armed and unarmed robberies, including a 2011 conviction of armed robbery in Norfolk Superior Court for which he was sentenced to three to five years in state prison, as well as a 2010 conviction for armed and unarmed robbery of banks in Braintree, Hanover, Duxbury and Plymouth for which he was sentenced to three years in state prison. At the time of Legere’s arrest, a firearm and some of the clothing believed to be used by Legere during the robbery were recovered. The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Weymouth Police Chief Richard M. Fuller made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Wellesley Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. The following defendants were indicted: A nine-count indictment charges Victor Adear Vanderslice, 44, of Columbiana, Alabama, with transportation of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, attempted transfer of obscene material to minors, and penalties for registered sex offenders. The incidents occurred between October 3, 2024, and December 19, 2024, in Shelby County, Alabama. A one-count indictment charges Victor Arturo Angeles-Garcia, 36, Huntsville, Alabama, with possession of child pornography. The incident occurred in June 2025 in Jefferson County, Alabama. If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . These cases were investigated by federal law enforcement partners from FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant US Attorney Dan McBrayer is prosecuting the case against Defendant Vanderslice. Assistant US Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case against Defendant Angeles-Garcia. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former President of Failed Oklahoma Bank Indicted for Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Oklahoma has returned an indictment charging the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Lindsay, DANNY SEIBEL , 54, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, for his role in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, making false entries in the books and records of a financial institution, obstructing the examination of a financial institution and failing to implement an anti-money laundering program. According to the indictment, Seibel served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Lindsay from in or about February 2007 until his termination in September 2024. Seibel also held other management roles at the bank during that time, including Chief Financial Officer and Bank Secrecy Act Officer. As alleged, Seibel caused the bank to issue loans to certain customers, many of whom were his personal friends and neighbors, that the borrowers never repaid. It is alleged that Seibel then manipulated the bank’s records and falsified various bank reports to falsely overstate the performance of the loans, including by using new loans or transfers of the bank’s own funds to cover overdrafts of outstanding loans. The indictment alleges that Seibel frequently modified bank records to conceal this activity from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which was the bank’s federal regulator, as well as from the bank’s Board of Directors and others. During the summer of 2024, when the OCC was conducting an onsite examination at the bank, Seibel allegedly provided OCC staff with a false document that concealed hundreds of changes that Seibel had made to loan data. The indictment also alleges that Seibel failed to implement an anti-money laundering program at the bank as required by the Bank Secrecy Act. For example, Seibel allegedly failed to file any suspicious activity reports on his own fraudulent scheme, and he advised Bank customers to make cash deposits below $10,000 to avoid relevant reporting requirements. The OCC appointed a receiver for the bank in October 2024. If convicted, Seibel faces up to 30 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Making the announcement today are Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma; Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Melle of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Oklahoma City Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and Special Agent in Charge Korey Brinkman of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG). FDIC-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG are investigating the case. Western District of Oklahoma Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Jackson D. Eldridge are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Mark Goldberg, Ryan McLaren, and Elysa Wan of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Virginia Laboratory to Pay $758,000 to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Doctors and Marketers

component: Civil Division

body_text: Note: View settlement here . Clinical laboratory NEXT Bio-Research Services LLC, doing business as NEXT Molecular Analytics (NEXT), of Chester, Virginia, has agreed to pay at least $758,000 to the United States to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal kickbacks to doctors and marketers. NEXT has agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of, and litigation against, other participants in the alleged schemes. “This settlement shows DOJ’s commitment to rooting out illegal kickback schemes that have no place in our federal health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department is committed to pursuing these important investigations and health care fraud enforcement across the board.” “Physicians should make decisions based the best interests of their patients, not their own personal financial interests,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California. “This settlement demonstrates my office’s commitment to taking all appropriate action to prevent improper inducements that can corrupt the integrity of physician-patient relationships.” “Violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute are not victimless crimes — they compromise the integrity of medical decision-making and betray the trust patients place in their providers,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “When health care decisions are shaped by hidden financial motives, patients may be misled, unnecessary services may be rendered, and taxpayer-funded programs may be manipulated for personal gain. HHS-OIG is resolutely committed to holding participants in federal health care programs fully accountable to the law.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded health care programs. It is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. Under the settlement with the United States, NEXT has agreed to pay $758,000, plus additional amounts if certain financial contingencies occur. The settlement resolves allegations that NEXT knowingly and willfully paid kickbacks to induce laboratory testing referrals. NEXT allegedly paid doctors in Texas and Arkansas thousands of dollars in kickbacks, which were disguised as consulting fees and medical director fees but actually were offered to induce the doctor to order NEXT laboratory tests. NEXT also allegedly paid commissions based on the volume and value of referrals to certain independent contractor marketers to arrange for and recommend that doctors order NEXT laboratory tests. The settlement resolves allegations that NEXT billed Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for the laboratory tests despite knowing of these kickbacks. The settlement resolves certain allegations in a lawsuit originally filed by Sunil Wadhwa and Ken Newton under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government and receive a share of any recovery. Relators will receive $113,700 of the proceeds from the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Wadhwa and Newton v. Admera Health LLC, et al. (E.D. Cal.). The settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of New Jersey and the Eastern District of California, with assistance from HHS-OIG. It was handled by Trial Attorneys Christopher Terranova and Elizabeth J. Kappakas in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kruti Dharia for the District of New Jersey, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine J. Swann for the Eastern District of California. The United States previously settled related allegations with NEXT’s National Sales Director and NEXT’s independent contractor marketers OC Genetic Consultants Inc. and Ralston Health Group Inc. The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates its emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. NEXT Settlement Agreement.pdf