title: Silver Spring Man Sentenced to 50 Years for Child Exploitation, Including “Sextortion” of More Than 100 Minors

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Silver Spring, Maryland, man is headed to federal prison for several decades for committing child sex abuse crimes. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Chase William Mulligan, 28, today, to 50 years in prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for two counts of producing child sexual abuse material. The charges are in connection with a scheme in which he met young girls through social media and internet chat rooms and eventually “sextorted” them. Specifically, through the scheme, Mulligan coerced at least 108 girls — ranging from ages 5-17 — to send him sexually explicit photographs and videos of themselves. When the girls told him they no longer wanted to send him sexually graphic images, Mulligan threatened to post the images online or come to their house. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office. As detailed in court documents, between 2019 and December 2023, Mulligan used numerous Snapchat, Discord, Roblox, Skype, Omegle, and Instagram accounts to target young girls. He convinced minors living in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Philippines, Australia, and United Kingdom to produce and send him sexually explicit images. Mulligan also directed minors to expose their genital areas and engage in sexual conduct. Additionally, Mulligan coerced multiple girls to urinate on camera, insert objects into their genitalia, and participate in sexual acts with dogs. After some victims informed Mulligan that they no longer wished to send him sexually explicit images, he threatened to publicly post the images or come to their homes. Mulligan wanted the victims to send more images depicting increasingly graphic sexual conduct. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: San Bernardino County-Based Company and Owner Pay $2.5 Million to Settle Allegations They Caused Wildfire to Ignite

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Upland-based grading, concrete, and pipeline contracting company and its owner have paid $2.5 million to resolve claims brought by the United States to recover wildfire suppression costs stemming from the South Fire, which burned hundreds of acres in the San Bernardino National Forest during the summer of 2021, the Justice Department announced today. Garrett John Gentry and his company, Garrett J. Gentry General Engineering Inc. paid the settlement amount, resulting in the court dismissing the lawsuit on January 22. The South Fire ignited on August 25, 2021, in San Bernardino County. The United States alleged that the fire was caused by the negligent operation of an excavator by the defendants. According to the complaint, the steel treads of the excavator struck rocks in a rocky area, generating sparks that ignited dry vegetation. The wildfire destroyed residences and other structures, resulted in evacuations, and ultimately burned more than 680 acres, including approximately 450 acres of National Forest System land within the San Bernardino National Forest. The United States Forest Service sustained fire suppression costs exceeding $2.2 million, the complaint alleges. “Gentry Engineering and Gentry were aware of the danger of a rock strike by the excavator and failed to take action to prevent a fire,” the lawsuit alleges. The settlement resolves all civil claims asserted by the United States and does not constitute an admission of liability. The case, United States of America v. Garrett J. Gentry General Engineering, Inc., et al. , No. 2:24-cv-07136-CAS-BFM, was litigated by Assistant United States Attorney Trent K. Fujii of the Complex and Defensive Litigation Section.


title: Upshur County Man Sentenced for Interstate Threats and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Bobby Cobb, age 55, of Buckhannon, West Virginia was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for making interstate threats and the unlawful possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Over a period of several weeks, Cobb sent a series of by text messages and emails to an individual threatening to injure and kill the victim, her family members, and friends. Officers executed a search warrant on Cobb’s home and seized a shotgun. Cobb has a previous conviction of domestic violence, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office; and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. ###


title: Durant Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Ammunition

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Billy Ray St. Clair, age 25, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment charged St. Clair with knowingly possessing 18 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition on January 14, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Durant Police Department. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. St. Clair will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Zynex, Inc. Agrees to Criminal Resolution Addressing Claims of Millions of Dollars of Health Care Fraud, Securities Fraud and Related Offenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Zynex, Inc, a Colorado-based medical device company, has agreed to enter into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island and admit to participating in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud, securities fraud, mail fraud, and other violations, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Under the agreement, which is subject to approval of the bankruptcy court in Zynex’s ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings, Zynex will pay between $5 and $12.5 million depending on the company’s earnings and profit over the period of the agreement. Zynex will also forfeit all unpaid claims submitted prior to September 1, 2025, including claims submitted during the period of suspension of TRICARE payments. These forfeited claims include more than $85 million billed to TRICARE during a suspension period and more than $13 million billed to other payors and patients. In the Statement of Facts included in the NPA, Zynex also admits the following: Zynex fraudulently obtained millions of dollars from government and private health care payors and patients by submitting excessive and improper claims for medical devices and supplies. During the relevant period, Zynex collected more than $873 million for its products, including more than $600 million for supplies, the vast majority of which were the result of fraud. Zynex shipped and billed for medically unnecessary supplies in excess quantities, sometimes as large as 32, 64, or 128 electrode pairs per patient each month. Zynex misled investors by concealing that its revenues were driven by fraudulent billing practices. As part of the resolution, Zynex agreed to implement enhanced compliance and corporate governance reforms designed to prevent future misconduct, strengthen internal oversight, and ensure accountability under its new leadership. The company also agreed to fully cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigations. “This resolution addresses the seriousness of the fraud committed by Zynex while recognizing the substantial turnaround in conduct implemented under new management,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “It also demonstrates that when new management confronts the fraudulent conduct, reforms its practices, and fully cooperates, the Government will take those actions into account in reaching an appropriate resolution.” Thomas Sandgaard, the former CEO of Zynex, and Anna Lucsok, the former Chief Operating Officer of Zynex were previously indicted for related conduct and charges. They made an initial appearance in federal court on January 21, 2026. Lucsok was released with electronic monitoring and on January 26, 2026, Thomas Sandgaard was ordered detained. "The FBI remains steadfast in uncovering and deterring fraud against our health care system," said Amanda Koldjeski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver. "Each year, acts of health care fraud cost patients, insurers, and the government billions of dollars. In order to maintain the integrity of our health care system, the FBI will hold any individual or entity engaging in health care fraud responsible for their conduct.” “As the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service remains fully committed to tenaciously investigating fraudulent conduct that wastes taxpayer dollars and undermines the integrity of TRICARE, the uniformed services primary health care program,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch, DCIS Southwest Field Office. “These efforts reaffirm our unwavering dedication to protecting the DoD community, its resources, and programs that are essential to military readiness.” “This agreement reinforces the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s commitment to protecting the integrity of VA’s health care programs and preserving taxpayer funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Heddell with the VA OIG Western Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.” “Zynex’s former executives engaged in a scheme that defrauded taxpayer-funded health care programs and deceived investors,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “This outcome makes clear that corporate fraud against federal health care programs will be detected and met with decisive action, and companies should always uphold their responsibility to operate ethically.” The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom and Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Milind Shah. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver and Boston Field Offices; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistance was also provided by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Insurance Crime Bureau – Northeast Region. NPA Attached: 2026.02.17_-_final_npa_003.pdf


title: Dominican National Previously Convicted of Drug Distribution Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Worcester was sentenced in federal court in Worcester for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously convicted and sentenced for illegal reentry in 2020 and subsequently removed from the United States. Jose Luis Urena-Vasquez, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to three years in prison. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In December 2025, Urena-Vasquez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025 . Urena-Vasquez was encountered by immigration officials in 2008 while serving an 11-month sentence for drug distribution in the Essex County House of Corrections. Upon completion of his sentence, Urena-Vasquez was placed into removal proceedings and was deported to the Dominican Republic on March 25, 2009. Sometime after his removal, Urena-Vasquez illegally reentered the United States. In 2018, he was charged in Lawrence District Court with armed assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm. He then fled the state and in July 2018, Urena-Vasquez was arrested in Florida and returned to Massachusetts to face the state charges. In October 2018 , Urena-Vasquez was indicted by a federal grand jury for unlawful reentry of a deported alien and pleaded guilty to the offense in May 2019. He was subsequently sentenced in April 2020 to eight months in prison and three years of supervised to be served consecutively with his pending state charges. Urena-Vasquez then pleaded guilty to the armed assault to murder and other charges in Essex Superior Court and was sentenced to several years in prison. Urena-Vasquez was removed from the United States in February 2024 and unlawfully re-entered in or about July 2024. Urena-Vasquez came to the attention of federal authorities in May of 2025 after he was arrested and charged in state court in Worcester for alleged state fraud offenses. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Ardmore Resident Sentenced For Sexual Abuse

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Todd Philip Wilkerson, age 54, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Department, and the Ardmore Police Department. On July 9, 2025, Wilkerson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 26, 2025, Wilkerson knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a victim who was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and physically incapable of declining participation or communicating unwillingness to engage in that act. The crime occurred in Carter County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wilkerson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: California Man Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and  Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 10, 2026, Joathan Colula (age: 33) was sentenced to 228 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and for conspiracy to commit money laundering. A jury had found Colula guilty of both charges on July 17, 2025, following a nine-day trial. After completing his prison sentence, Colula will be on supervised release for an additional 60 months. According to court documents, Colula was a source of supply for an organization that had distribution hubs throughout the Midwest, including in Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the greater Chicago area, and Northern Indiana. From these hubs, Colula and his fellow conspirators distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine, thousands of fentanyl pills, and pounds of methamphetamine. To disguise his illegal activity, Colula laundered the proceeds of his drug trafficking through various business bank accounts. Colula also coordinated the receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments that were flown from the Midwest to California. On November 29, 2022, case agents arrested fifteen individuals associated with the organization and executed search warrants at locations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and California. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of over 10 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 7.5 kilograms of cocaine, more than a kilogram of methamphetamine, nearly 2 kilograms of heroin, ecstasy, oxycodone, approximately 170 pounds of marijuana, marijuana edibles, over $450,000 in cash, and 19 firearms. In pronouncing sentence, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper noted this was a large-scale, multi-state, multi-drug operation in which Colula played an integral role. She also noted that Colula was one of the longest running members of the group. A co-defendant, Michael Williams, also was found guilty at July 2025 trial. Williams operated the organization’s primary stash location in Minneapolis. He and others mixed, tested, and packaged controlled substances, including kilogram quantities of fentanyl. He was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy. “Virtually everyone knows someone whose life has been utterly destroyed by the extraordinarily dangerous drugs that have inundated our communities of every shape and size,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Modern day drug traffickers have dramatically changed the very nature of our world with the violence, crime and death that follows in their wake. The judge sent the clear message that our community has had enough of the suffering wrought by these criminals.” "The Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) is proud of the role our officers played in this case and grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in this investigation. Drug traffickers bring great harm to our community and must be held accountable.” said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman. “MPD values our collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement partners in criminal cases like this to build a safer city for everyone to live, work and play.” “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm caused by large-scale drug trafficking operations and the meaningful accountability that follows,” said DEA Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Todd Smith. “Through close coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we dismantled a multi-state organization responsible for distributing dangerous drugs throughout the Midwest." The case was investigated by agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Milwaukee Police Department, West Allis Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Internal Revenue Service and the Apple Valley Police Department also participated in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Monfils and Erica Lounsberry prosecuted the case. The investigation was supported by the North Central High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Justice Department Closes 60-Year-Old Tennessee Desegregation Case

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today the dismissal of a desegregation case in Dyersburg, Tennessee, concluding a matter that has remained on the docket for sixty years. In 1966, the United States filed a complaint against the Dyersburg Board of Education to challenge racially segregated public education in Dyersburg City Schools in violation of the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court approved the Board’s desegregation plan, and the Justice Department spent sixty years monitoring for compliance. After a thorough review, the Civil Rights Division determined that Dyersburg City Schools no longer operates as a segregated system and has eliminated the vestiges of prior de jure segregation. On Feb. 11, the Court formally declared that the district had achieved unitary status and, on Feb. 12, dismissed the case with prejudice. “Compliance means closure. When school districts comply in good faith with court orders to eliminate the vestiges of past discrimination, the federal government has no legitimate reason to continue monitoring,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After sixty years of federal control, it’s time for Dyersburg City Schools to redirect the time, energy, and taxpayer dollars spent on reporting requirements to directly improving education in the community.” “I am pleased to join in this long overdue dismissal, and I commend the Dyersburg City Schools for their diligent compliance and achievement of unitary status,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “The long-standing good faith efforts of the school district have demonstrated decades of improvement, and local control is best suited to continue to address the best interests of students, parents, and faculty and staff.”


title: Silver Spring Woman Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Silver Spring, Maryland, woman entered a guilty plea in federal court today, in connection with an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. Elizabeth Maria Ceballos, 49, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland. According to public documents, beginning in at least May 2020, and continuing through at least September 2021, Ceballos, and Vanessa Valdez, 42, of Burtonsville, Maryland, engaged in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud and obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, in connection with a UI fraud scheme. Specifically, Ceballos and Valdez used personal identifiable information (PII) of others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) for UI benefits. Ceballos and Valdez then used the UI benefits, which were designated to assist unemployed or underemployed persons due to the COVID-19 national emergency, for their own personal enrichment. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also authorized increased UI benefits. As a part of her guilty plea, Ceballos also admitted she assisted Valdez with fraud related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. Established by the CARES Act, the PPP — administered through the Small Business Administration — along with the EIDL, helped businesses meet their financial obligations. An EIDL advance does not have to be repaid, and small businesses can receive an advance, even if they are not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount is $10,000. Ceballos faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory two years, consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, August 3, at 10 a.m. Valdez previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in December 2025. Valdez also faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including a mandatory two years, consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. Valdez’s sentencing date is forthcoming. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and HSI Maryland for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who is prosecuting the case. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. Strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts that use prosecutor-led and data-analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Two men face federal charges for trafficking five kilograms of fentanyl in metro Atlanta

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Osiel Adame-Gomez and Miguel Velazquez-Garcia appeared in federal court to face charges related to their alleged distribution of large quantities of fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a highly lethal weapon of mass destruction that the narco-terrorist cartels have wormed into our country,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute fentanyl traffickers to keep the community safe from this deadly drug threat.” “This seizure underscores the power of coordinated enforcement efforts,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Together with our federal, state, and local partners, we are aggressively targeting the sources of fentanyl distribution and the financial infrastructure that sustains it. Every enforcement action brings us closer to a Fentanyl-Free America.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and the criminal complaints filed in federal court: Earlier this month, DEA special agents learned about an intended sale of fentanyl to take place at a Doraville warehouse facility out of a rented moving truck. On February 5, 2026, agents arrived at the warehouse and spotted Adame-Gomez with a rented moving truck. Agents then saw Adame-Gomez drive the truck to a second location, exit with a black backpack, and walk towards a storage facility. Law enforcement attempted to stop Adame-Gomez after he emerged from the storage facility without the backpack, but he fled. Officers eventually apprehended and arrested him in Dunwoody, Georgia and searched the storage facility. During the search, agents recovered a black backpack containing one kilogram of fentanyl with a value of approximately $30,000. Four days later, on February 9, 2026, DeKalb County police officers stopped Velazquez-Garcia’s car in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and a police K9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. A search of the car revealed the presence of one kilogram of fentanyl. During subsequent searches of houses associated with Velazquez-Garcia in Stone Mountain and Stonecrest, Georgia, DEA agents seized an additional three kilograms of fentanyl and a large amount of suspected drug proceeds. Osiel Adame-Gomez, 27, of Loganville, Georgia, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John K. Larkins III, on February 9, 2026, on a criminal complaint that charged him with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Miguel Velazquez-Garcia, 26, of Atlanta, Georgia, appeared before Judge Larkins on February 11, 2026, on a criminal complaint that charged him with possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Judge Larkins ordered both defendants to remain in federal custody without bail pending trial. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaints only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. These cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department and the DeKalb County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Johnny Baer, Jamie Bircoll, and John DeGenova are prosecuting the cases. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today the dismissal of a desegregation case in Dyersburg, Tennessee, concluding a matter that has remained on the docket for sixty years. In 1966, the United States filed a complaint against the Dyersburg Board of Education to challenge racially segregated public education in Dyersburg City Schools in violation of the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court approved the Board’s desegregation plan, and the Justice Department spent sixty years monitoring for compliance. After a thorough review, the Civil Rights Division determined that Dyersburg City Schools no longer operates as a segregated system and has eliminated the vestiges of prior de jure segregation. On Feb. 11, the Court formally declared that the district had achieved unitary status and, on Feb. 12, dismissed the case with prejudice. “Compliance means closure. When school districts comply in good faith with court orders to eliminate the vestiges of past discrimination, the federal government has no legitimate reason to continue monitoring,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After sixty years of federal control, it’s time for Dyersburg City Schools to redirect the time, energy, and taxpayer dollars spent on reporting requirements to directly improving education in the community.” “I am pleased to join in this long overdue dismissal, and I commend the Dyersburg City Schools for their diligent compliance and achievement of unitary status,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “The long-standing good faith efforts of the school district have demonstrated decades of improvement, and local control is best suited to continue to address the best interests of students, parents, and faculty and staff.” ### CRT 26-150 If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.


title: Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 151 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Distribution And Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Eric Raheem Pierce, age 38, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 151 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a stolen firearm. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, during the course of several controlled drug purchases, Pierce distributed approximately 35 grams of fentanyl before attempting to discard 25 bricks of heroin and another 23 grams of fentanyl on the date of his arrest. During a prior interaction with law enforcement, Pierce was found to be in possession of a stolen firearm. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd prosecuted 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. This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses. # # #


title: Blue Hill Man Sentenced to 12 Months and One Day for Making a False Statement During Purchase of a Firearm

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Blue Hill man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for making a false statement during purchase of a firearm. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Caleb Rhine , 22, to 12 months and one day in prison and 3 years of supervised release. According to court records, on June 8, 2023, Rhine was indicted in Hancock County Superior Court on one count of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs. On May 5, 2024, Rhine, while still under indictment, attempted to purchase a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Ellsworth. To make the purchase, Rhine filled out a Form 4473 required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In response to the question, “Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year . . .?,” Rhine falsely checked the box “No.” Rhine was able to successfully buy the gun a few days later based, in part, on his representations on the ATF form. ATF and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 20 Months’ Imprisonment For Firearms Offense

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Durkin, age 52, of Kingston, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on February 13, 2026, to 20 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani for one count of possession of firearms by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Durkin previously pled guilty to possessing multiple firearms, including an illegally purchased Heritage Roughrider .22 caliber revolver and a stolen Keltec 9mm handgun while he was an unlawful user of methamphetamine. Both firearms had moved in interstate commerce prior to their recovery by police in Durkin’s vehicle after a January 28, 2025, single-car accident. Durkin also possessed a quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, including multiple needles, spoons, and a digital scale. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Newport Township Police Department, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Illegal alien siblings indicted on alien smuggling and fraud charges related to the sponsorship of unaccompanied alien child

body_text: ATLANTA - An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charging two Honduran nationals with alien smuggling and fraud charges related to the smuggling of an unaccompanied alien child (UAC) and submission of an application to sponsor a UAC. The defendants were residing illegally in the United States at the time the alleged crimes were committed. “Through coordinated lies and deception, two illegal aliens smuggled a child into our country to facilitate the exploitation of a 15-year-old child by a 30-year-old man,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of unwavering law enforcement dedication, the child has been removed from a predatory situation, and the deceitful duo who trafficked her will be held accountable for their crimes.” “This indictment alleges a disturbing scheme where two individuals who were in this country illegally lured a young girl to the United States, gave her a false identity and tried to fraudulently gain custody of her through the Office of Refugee Resettlement,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Government programs designed to afford protection cannot become tools for exploitation – especially of children. The Criminal Division and Joint Task Force Alpha will find those who deceive the government to gain access to vulnerable children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” “Defrauding a program designed to protect vulnerable children and attempting to manipulate the sponsorship process is a serious crime that will not be tolerated,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “These programs are intended to ensure the safety and well-being of children in need and must never be misused for personal gain. Working with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will aggressively pursue those who undermine these protections and bring them to justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Luis Adolfo Mendoza Fonseca and his sister, Rosmery Yambiel Castillo Fonseca, allegedly encouraged and induced a UAC to come to, enter, and reside in the United States illegally and submitted an application to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalty of perjury to sponsor and obtain custody of the UAC after having entered the United States illegally. As alleged in the indictment, in the Spring of 2024, Mendoza Fonseca and a then-15-year-old Nicaraguan national, the UAC, met online and began a romantic online relationship. Thereafter, Mendoza Fonseca encouraged and induced the UAC to travel to the United States, paying for her travel and providing the UAC with the identity of a purported Honduran national to use when she entered the United States. The purpose in using the false identity was to enable Castillo Fonseca to sponsor the UAC. In March 2025, Castillo Fonseca submitted an application to ORR to sponsor the UAC, falsely identifying the UAC as her Honduran cousin. Mendoza Fonseca and Castillo Fonseca both admitted to staff at an HHS-funded care provider that the UAC was not the person identified in the sponsorship application, and that the UAC and Mendoza Fonseca had a romantic online relationship. Earlier today, Luis Adolfo Mendoza Fonseca, 30, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and his sister, Rosmery Yambiel Castillo Fonseca, 25, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Atlanta and were arraigned on one count of conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States; one count of aiding and abetting the encouragement and inducement of an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain; and one count of aiding and abetting making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for the conspiracy and aiding-and-abetting charges, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the false statement charge. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department of Justice’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 440 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 390 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General are investigating the case. HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR have provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia and JTFA Trial Attorney Aaron Jennen and are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Man Sentenced After DNA Linked Him to Armed Robbery in Tulsa

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, Mark Verron Callshim, Jr., 38, of Tulsa, was sentenced for Robbery in Indian Country and Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Callshim, to 184 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. This sentence is ordered to run consecutively to Callshim’s 20-year state sentence for aggravated assault and battery. In September 2025, a federal jury convicted Callshim in the 2021 armed robbery of a convenience store in Tulsa. Surveillance video shown to the jury shows two men arriving at a convenience store in a blue vehicle. One man, later identified as Callshim, is seen wearing a black hoodie with the word “savage” on the front, a black Cleveland Indians hat, with visible neck and hand tattoos. Callshim and the other suspect are seen entering the store and pointing guns at the cashier. Visibly afraid of being shot, the cashier is seen pulling money out of the register and handing it over. The cashier then called 911, as Callshim is getting back into the driver's side of the blue vehicle and driving off while the other man fires one shot at the building. Tulsa Police officers responded to the 911 call and set up a perimeter to canvas the area. The surveillance footage allowed officers to share a description of the two men seen in the video and of the blue vehicle. Shortly after the robbery, a citizen reported seeing a man in dark clothing abandoning the blue vehicle roughly a mile from the store. Tulsa Police officers looked up the VIN and found that the blue vehicle had been reported stolen a few days earlier. The detective contacted the victim of the stolen vehicle and explained that officers believed the vehicle was used in a robbery. The owner gave consent for the vehicle to be searched. While searching the vehicle, officers found a partially smoked cigarette, among other things. The items were collected as evidence and submitted for DNA analysis. An internal tip sheet shared within the Tulsa Police Department led detectives to Callshim. Detectives later linked him to the robbery through his unique tattoos, shoes, and DNA evidence collected from the stolen vehicle. Court records show that Callshim has a lengthy criminal history. He’s been convicted of several crimes, including assault with a dangerous weapon, possessing controlled substances, eluding an officer, and first-degree robbery. The second suspect in the robbery remains unknown. If you have any information about the second suspect, you can submit a tip to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov/home or by calling 405-290-7770. You can also submit an anonymous tip to Tulsa Crime Stoppers here or by calling 918-596-2677. Callshim is a citizen of the Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Flesher and John Brasher prosecuted the case.


title: Honduran Nationals Illegally in the United States Indicted on Alien Smuggling and Fraud Charges Related to the Sponsorship of Unaccompanied Alien Child

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charging two Honduran nationals with smuggling an unaccompanied alien child (UAC) into the United States using a stolen identity and then submitting a fraudulent sponsorship application to gain custody of the child. The defendants were residing illegally in the United States at the time the alleged crimes were committed. “This indictment alleges a disturbing scheme where two individuals who were in this country illegally lured a young girl to the United States, gave her a false identity and tried to fraudulently gain custody of her through the Office of Refugee Resettlement,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Government programs designed to afford protection cannot become tools for exploitation – especially of children. The Criminal Division and Joint Task Force Alpha will find those who deceive the government to gain access to vulnerable children and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” “Through coordinated lies and deception, two illegal aliens smuggled a child into our country to facilitate the exploitation of a 15-year-old child by a 30-year-old man,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “As a result of unwavering law enforcement dedication, the child has been removed from a predatory situation, and the deceitful duo who trafficked her will be held accountable for their crimes.” “Defrauding a program designed to protect vulnerable children and attempting to manipulate the sponsorship process is a serious crime that will not be tolerated,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “These programs are intended to ensure the safety and well-being of children in need and must never be misused for personal gain. Working with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will aggressively pursue those who undermine these protections and bring them to justice.” According to court documents, Luis Adolfo Mendoza Fonseca, 30, of Raleigh, North Carolina, allegedly met the UAC – a then-15-year-old Nicaraguan girl – online in the spring of 2024 and began a romantic relationship with her. Mendoza Fonseca then encouraged and paid for the child to leave her home in Nicaragua and travel to the United States using the identity of another minor, a purported Honduran national. Rosmery Yamibel Castillo Fonseca, 25, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, coached the child to tell immigration authorities that Castillo Fonseca was her cousin. After the UAC crossed into the United States at the Texas border, Castillo Fonseca submitted a sponsorship application to the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), falsely claiming the child was her Honduran cousin. Both Mendoza Fonseca and Castillo Fonseca ultimately admitted to staff of an HHS-funded care provider that the UAC was not the person identified in the sponsorship application, and that Mendoza Fonseca had a romantic online relationship with the UAC. Mendoza Fonseca and Castillo Fonseca are charged with one count of conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States, one count of aiding and abetting the encouragement and inducement of an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, and one count of aiding and abetting making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for aiding and abetting the encouragement and inducement of an alien to come to, enter, and reside in the United States for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for making a false statement. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR provided valuable assistance. Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) Trial Attorney Aaron Jennen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by JTFA, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 440 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 390 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. 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 other transnational criminal organizations, 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 and Project Safe Neighborhoods . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: McNary Man Sentenced to Prison for Death of Significant Other

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – A man convicted of killing his significant other with his vehicle near McNary, Arizona, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2026, in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. Termane Billy Celaya, 20, of McNary, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharad H. Desai to 97 months in the Bureau of Prisons. Celaya previously pleaded guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter. Celaya was seated in his pickup truck while he argued with the victim, who was his significant other, while she stood outside of the vehicle. During the argument, Celaya backed up the truck and drove it forward, running over and killing the victim. Celaya fled the scene in the vehicle and was later captured by police after leading them on a pursuit. FBI Phoenix, Pinetop-Lakeside office, and the White Mountain Apache Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Church, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08095-PCT-SHD RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-030_Celaya For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Pulaski Man Sentenced for Sexual Exploitation of a Child Charges

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Scott Goodrich, age 54, of Pulaski, New York, was sentenced on February 12, 2026 to 25 years (300 months) in federal prison for four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of possession of child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Goodrich admitted that he sexually abused a child for several years. Goodrich took pictures and videos of his sexual abuse and stored the pictures on his electronic devices. Goodrich also used social media platforms to engage in distributing and receiving child pornography depicting other victims. Goodrich possessed nearly 200 files of child pornography that he had personally created, and hundreds of additional files of child pornography he had received via the Internet. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The sexual exploitation of a child is among the most vile and reprehensible crimes we prosecute, and this defendant committed this crime over and over again. The defendant not only abused a child, but he documented his crimes in images and videos for his own gratification, compounding the harm and perpetuating the victimization. This 25-year sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s conduct and sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be identified, prosecuted, and removed from our communities.” Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: "Scott Goodrich committed horrific acts by repeatedly abusing a vulnerable child, producing and storing graphic images and videos of the abuse, and distributing deeply exploitative child pornography depicting other innocent victims online. This investigation demonstrates HSI's relentless pursuit of justice for victims and our determination to hold offenders fully accountable. Together with our partners, we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of every child and safeguard our communities from these heinous crimes." United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also sentenced Goodrich to serve a 15-year term of supervised release to begin after Goodrich is released from prison. Goodrich will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. HSI investigated the case with assistance from the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former Customs and Border Protection Agent Pleads  Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent pleaded guilty today to receiving child pornography, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The superseding information charges Harry Marvelle Peless, III, 51, of Newport, Michigan, with one count of receipt of child pornography. A violation of this offense carries a sentence of no less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for June 1 at 9 am. According to court records, law enforcement began investigating Peless after Peless sent sexual messages to an undercover officer posing as a minor. Peless began communicating with the undercover in September 2024, and his contacts with the undercover became a near daily occurrence. At the time of the offense, Peless was employed as a Marine Border Protection Agent at the Gibraltar, Michigan, CBP station. Following the filing of charges in this matter, CPB placed Peless on unpaid administrative leave. Evidence recovered during the investigation showed that Peless had reveived child pornography over the internet, and that he was logged into the chat account he used to communicate with the undercover officer while he was at the Gibraltar CBP station. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton Brown.


title: Michigan Man Handed Prison Term for Attacking and Robbing an Elderly Man and Assaulting Another Victim in August 2025

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jerome Parker, 49, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to a combined total of 60 months in prison on charges related to two separate assaults on August 18 and August 19, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Today we took another criminal, victimizing the most vulnerable members of our community, off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This violence against our community committed by Parker, or any criminals like him, against the elderly or innocent will never again be tolerated in the District.” Parker pled guilty to one count of aggravated assault, one count of assault with significant bodily injury, and one count of second-degree theft in October 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. At sentencing, the government requested that the defendant be sentenced to a combined total of 84 months in prison. The Honorable Robert Salerno sentenced Parker to a combined total of 60 months in prison, with an additional 12 months suspended, to be followed by three years of probation. According to the government’s evidence, on August 18, 2025, a 66-year-old victim disembarked a Metrobus near the intersection of 14 th St NW and Irving St NW, Washington, D.C. Parker approached the victim, a stranger, from the back and punched him in his face with enough force that the victim’s head turned nearly 90 degrees. The victim fell to the ground and Parker went through the victim’s pockets, stealing his wallet, identification, banking cards and cash. As a result of Parker’s actions, the victim had to undergo surgery to fix a fracture and had to have his jaw wired shut for several months to aid in healing. Additionally on August 19, 2025, a verbal argument ensued between Parker and a separate victim. Parker and this victim were acquaintances and knew each other through the mother of Parker’s child. Parker followed this victim out of an apartment building located in the 1400 block of 12 th St NW, Washington, D.C. Parker proceeded to punch him, knocking him to the ground. Parker then stomped and kicked the victim approximately ten times, while calling the victim derogatory terms related to the victim’s sexual orientation. The victim was unconscious for over five minutes until officers arrived on scene and suffered a minor brain bleed. Parker was arrested on September 26, 2025 and has been in custody since his arrest. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie Tsesarenko, who prosecuted the case. 2025 CF3 012338 2025 CF3 014511


title: Final Defendant in Robbery Crew Pleads Guilty to Robbing Two Convenience Stores with Firearms

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL - Jermaine Dawes (33, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to two robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and brandishing a firearm during both robberies. He faces up to 20 years in prison for each of the robbery offenses and a minimum sentence of 7 years, up to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence imposed for the firearm offenses. His sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. Dawes’s three co-defendants, Ronald Brown, E’Barous Harris, and Tra-Vontae Watson, each previously pleaded guilty. Their sentencing hearings are pending. According to court documents and proceedings, in July 2024, Dawes conspired with others to rob two convenience stores in Tampa. Two firearms were used in, and brandished, during both robberies. Law enforcement located the defendants a few days after the robberies at a hotel in Tampa. Surveillance footage from the hotel revealed Dawes getting in and out of the driver’s seat of the vehicle used in the robberies while one of his co-defendants entered the vehicle with a firearm. Search warrants for multiple hotel rooms associated with the defendants were executed and a rifle consistent with one of the firearms used during the robberies was located. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. 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: Royal Inn Owner Sentenced

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – The owner of a motel known for serving as a hub for prostitution and drug activities has been sentenced in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. Varsha Patel, 57, of Chino Hills, California, was sentenced on Feb. 4, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to five years of probation, forfeiture of the Royal Inn motel, forfeiture of $744,000, and a $5,000 fine. Patel previously pleaded guilty to Using a Facility of Interstate Commerce in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises. “When federal and local law enforcement team up it’s a force multiplier. In this case, the Phoenix Police Department, FBI and U.S. Marshals joined forces to shut down the Royal Inn, making an immediate and significant impact on public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Together, we will take decisive action to ensure Arizonans live in communities where families, schools, and businesses can thrive.” “This sentencing is the culmination of several years of hard work by both the FBI and the Phoenix Police Department. The defendant knowingly and willingly operated the Royal Inn to facilitate the sexual exploitation of people and the sale of drugs,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge, Heith Janke. “The defendant essentially operated a marketplace of illicit activity and profited for years while turning a blind and uncaring eye to the families that live in that neighborhood. That ended when the FBI seized the hotel, and this defendant will now pay the price for her actions.” "Our partnerships with federal agencies are critical in dismantling organizations that allow criminal behavior to affect the quality of life of our community members,” said Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano. “By working together, we ensure that those who profit from illegal enterprises are held accountable. This case demonstrates that when law enforcement agencies work together, we can restore safety and security to the areas most impacted by crime." A search warrant was executed in September 2024 at the Royal Inn, located at 2510 W. Palo Verde Drive in Phoenix, Arizona, following an extensive coordinated investigation by the Phoenix Police Department and the FBI. The high volume of criminal activity at the Royal Inn was well known in the community where residents, business owners, and two schools, witnessed around-the-clock prostitution and drug dealing. Following the execution of a search and seizure warrant, the U.S. Marshals Service shuttered and fenced off the premises, ending the neighborhood blight. “The United States Marshals Service is committed to supporting safe and stable communities across Arizona,” said United States Marshal Van Bayless. “Through strong collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we were able to address criminal activity that had long impacted this neighborhood. The closure of the Royal Inn reflects what can be accomplished when agencies work together toward a shared goal of protecting the public and restoring confidence in the communities we serve.” The Phoenix Police Department, FBI Phoenix, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-01529-001-PHX-SMB RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-031_Patel # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Drug Trafficking Edgar Narvaez Vega , 23, from Quito, Ecuador, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment with two years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. According to court documents, on July 5, 2025, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper stopped the defendant and his brother on I-80 for speeding. The defendant was a passenger. The trooper smelled marijuana and observed it in plain view, leading to a probable cause search. Inside the vehicle troopers discovered large quantities of narcotics hidden in trash bags and wrapped in multiple layers of plastic wrap and oil to deter detection. Troopers seized 63 packages of methamphetamine (74.17 lbs.), along with cocaine (2.6 lbs.), fentanyl pills (1.3 lbs.), heroin (1.5 lbs.), and smaller amounts of marijuana. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. The defendant was indicted on Sept. 16, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Feb. 9, 2026, in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00124 Leisa Michelle Reese , 47, with no fixed address, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on June 11, 2025, law enforcement in Crook County, Wyoming, contacted the defendant in her vehicle which was parked at a hotel, after observing suspicious activity. At first, she provided a false name, but was eventually identified through hotel records, arrested on an active South Dakota warrant, and found with methamphetamine paraphernalia. In the vehicle deputies found a black bag on the passenger-side floorboard containing large quantities of methamphetamine, smaller baggies, cash, and items bearing the defendant’s name. Approximately 517 grams of methamphetamine were seized. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Reese was indicted on Sept. 17, 2025, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 10, 2026, in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00136 Dennis Bayless , 65, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in October 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began investigating Bayless as a suspected methamphetamine supplier in Goshen County. Law enforcement seized over 500 grams of methamphetamine from Bayless at various locations. DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Bayless was arrested on Aug. 5, 2025, waived indictment and pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2025. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Feb. 10 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00154 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Jose Vazquez, 50, of Colima, Mexico, was sentenced to six month’s imprisonment with one year of supervised release for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. and fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other entry documents. He will be deported following his sentence. According to court documents, in July 2025, a Hall County, Georgia woman reported identity theft after discovering a fraudulent use of her social security number traced to Jose Vazquez in Kemmerer. Kemmerer Police found that Vazquez had been using the victim’s social security number on employment documents and had another social security card in his possession that belonged to a different individual. HSI determined Vazquez had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2006 and had not applied for permission to reenter. HSI and the Kemmerer Police Department investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Feb. 9 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00167 Joaquin Mejia-Andrade , 48, of Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to 11 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for illegal re-entry into the U.S. of a previously deported alien. According to court documents, on Oct. 25, 2025, Mejia-Andrade was arrested in Jackson for driving under the influence of alcohol. Based on the defendant’s fingerprints, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in October 2016. ICE investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Feb. 10, 2026, in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00157 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Role in Large Scale International Cocaine Trafficking Offense

body_text: A Mexican national was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to import approximately 1,900 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. According to court documents, the defendant, Jose Francisco Mendoza-Gomez, was a member of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) led by Marisela Flores-Torruco that was responsible for importing multi-hundred-kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States for years. The DTO also engaged in bulk cash smuggling, bribery of Mexican officials and attempted kidnappings related to rival traffickers. The DTO, which had operations in New York, Texas, and elsewhere in the United States, sourced its cocaine from Colombia and provided logistical and financial support to coordinate the narcotics’ passage through Central America and Mexico and into the United States. During the investigation, law enforcement made several cocaine seizures, including approximately 971 kilograms of cocaine on April 21, 2017, and 500 kilograms of cocaine on May 10, 2017, nearly all of which was attributable to the DTO. In addition to cocaine trafficking, the DTO transported substantial illicit proceeds earned from its operations back to Mexico and elsewhere. DTO members engaged in bulk money transfers with cocaine suppliers and utilized a Chinese money laundering network to repatriate bulk narcotics proceeds out of the United States. The DTO also engaged in bribery of Mexican officials, including to gain access to information useful to its cocaine trafficking operations, and planned and attempted to execute multiple kidnappings related to rival drug traffickers and in efforts to secure outstanding debts. Mendoza-Gomez assisted in coordinating and transporting cocaine for distribution in the United States, handled hundreds of thousands worth of narcotics proceeds, provided advice to the DTO’s leader and participated in the DTO’s efforts to plan kidnappings and obtain information from corrupt Mexican officials. On Aug. 12, 2025, Mendoza-Gomez, along with 25 other fugitives, were transferred from Mexico to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated the transfers. Two of the defendant’s co-conspirators, Marisela Flores-Torruco and Qiyun Chen, have been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia for their roles within the DTO, as have several individuals involved in the related Chinese money laundering network. Flores-Torruco pleaded guilty to possession, manufacture, or distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison. Chen pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit, with assistance from DEA’s offices in Cartagena (Colombia), Bogota (Colombia), Panama City, Mexico City, and Guatemala City. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service provided substantial assistance in the investigation. Trial Attorney Caylee E. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Carter and Edgardo J. Rodriguez for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case.


title: Topsham Fugitive Pleads Guilty to Failing to Surrender for Sentence

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to failing to surrender for service of sentence. According to court records, Christopher Tucker , 34, had previously been ordered released on conditions of release in an earlier criminal case pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. In that case, Tucker pleaded guilty to firearms offenses and was sentenced to a term of 75 months in prison. At his sentencing hearing in September 2025, Tucker was permitted to remain out on release and to self-surrender to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at a later date. Tucker failed to surrender for service of sentence as ordered. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) subsequently located and arrested Tucker in Bath, Maine. Tucker faces up to 10 years in prison, consecutive to the 75 months he was previously ordered to serve; up to a $250,000 fine; and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The USMS investigated the case. ###


title: St. Louis County Home Healthcare Company Owner, Associates Accused of $1.46 Million Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – The owner of a home healthcare company based in Bridgeton, Missouri and her associates have been accused of fraudulently billing the Missouri Medicaid Program $1.46 million. Daniell Green, 48, of St. Charles; Dejuan Bingham, 51, of Florissant; Kimberly Diazascencio, 51; and Thomas Keith, 34, of East Prairie, Missouri; were indicted Feb. 11, 2026, in U.S. District Court in St. Louis with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and four counts of health care fraud. Green turned herself in Tuesday, appeared in court and pleaded not guilty. From July 2020 through February of 2026, Green, the owner and operator of A&L Angels Home Healthcare Services LLC, and Bingham directed Missouri Medicaid patients, including Diazascencio and Keith, to create false timesheet records showing home health care services that were never provided, the indictment says. Diazascencio is Keith’s mother. Green was in a romantic relationship with Bingham. A&L Angels billed Medicaid for services on dates when the patients were in the hospital and could not have received home health care services, the indictment says. On other occasions, the company billed for services provided on dates and times when the health care workers were working at a different location for another company, it says. Green and Bingham created fake timesheet records by listing people as health care providers who did not provide the reported services and recruiting Missouri Medicaid patients willing to allow their names to be used to submit fraudulent claims for services that were never provided, the indictment says. The indictment also says Green submitted a fraudulent participation agreement to Missouri Medicaid, falsely claiming that her company’s health care providers were registered with the Family Care Safety Registry and that their criminal background checks were run through the State of Missouri, as is required to receive reimbursement. Green concealed Bingham’s prior felony drug conviction from Missouri Medicaid, the indictment says. The defendants spent fraudulently obtained public funds on personal expenses, including Green’s use of stolen Missouri Medicaid dollars to fund vacations and to purchase home furniture and luxury items from Gucci and Nordstrom, the indictment says. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. “Medicaid is designed to provide essential care for those who need it most—not to finance personal luxuries,” said Linda T. Hanley, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “These charges underscore HHS-OIG’s commitment to working with our state partners to aggressively pursue those suspected of defrauding health care programs to protect public trust and taxpayer resources." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Assets of a Labor Union

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – James Burke, 55, of Grayson, Kentucky, pleaded guilty today to embezzlement of assets of a labor union. According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or about July 2022 through in or about October 2023, Burke was the financial secretary of a labor organization located in Huntington. Burke admitted that he issued nine unauthorized or altered checks payable to himself totaling $22,642.42. Burke further admitted that he improperly withheld portions of checks payable to the labor organization as cash totaling $14,332.94 when he deposited them. Burke also admitted that he diverted six dues checks payable to the labor organization and totaling $3,035.70 to his personal use. Burke is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Burke also owes $40,011.47 in restitution. Burke also faces a ban on holding office in a labor organization for up to 13 years. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Department of Labor-Office of Labor-Management Standards. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-5. ###


title: Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Fraud Schemes from Inside Two Financial Institutions

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: NEWARK, NJ – Edward Low, a/k/a “a Mang Wah Low,” a/k/a “Eddie Low”, a former New York-based employee of TD Bank, N.A. and another financial institution, pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes to provide confidential customer information of TD Bank customers and to falsifying bank records to open a bank account at another financial institution, which helped co-conspirators commit more than $500,000 of fraud. Low, 31, pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Esther Salas in Newark to a two-count Information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and making false bank entries or reports. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026. “This defendant chose to sell his access to the banking system from the inside. By accepting bribes at two separate financial institutions, he betrayed the trust placed in him and enabled outside fraudsters to exploit customer accounts and falsify bank records for personal gain. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to root out corruption within our financial institutions and hold accountable those—whether insiders or outsiders—who undermine the integrity of our banking system.” - Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello According to court filings and statements made in court, from January 2021 through May 2021, Low, of Flushing, New York accepted bribes and leveraged his position to obtain confidential TD Bank customer information. He then passed the information to outside co-conspirators, who used it to take over accounts and steal money from customers. Low also processed some of the illicit transactions for co-conspirators. In total, Low received at least $26,700 in bribes and facilitated $484,572.16 of fraud. Then, from May 2022 through August 2022, Low was an employee at another financial institution. In exchange for a bribe, Low falsified bank records to help a co-conspirator open an account in the name of a shell company. Co-conspirators then used that account to commit at least $47,195 of fraud. The charge of conspiring to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense or lost by a victim of the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of making false bank entries carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense or lost by a victim of the offense, whichever is greater. IRS-CI and FDIC-OIG investigated the case. The department also thanks the Morristown Police Department for their assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section 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. ### Defense counsel: Michael P. Koribanics, Esq. low.information.pdf


title: Three Sentenced For International Multi-Million Dollar Tech Support Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three men were sentenced to prison today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their involvement in an international multi-million dollar technical support fraud scheme, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. Reid Davis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Field Office, and Joseph E. Carrico, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Nashville Field Office, join the U.S. Attorney’s Office in making the announcement. Nachiket Banwari, 36, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Hunter G. Mello, 42, of Sandwich, Massachusetts, was ordered to serve 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Richard Paul Nolan, 60, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The Court ordered the defendants to collectively forfeit $3,711,000 in proceeds from the scheme. According to court records, Banwari, Mello, Nolan, and others were part of a conspiracy that carried out an international internet technical support fraud scam targeting victims, many of whom were elderly, in the United States and elsewhere. Internet pop-up “ads” were a central part of the conspiracy’s tech support scam. The malicious pop-ups suddenly appeared on victims’ screens and froze their computers. The pop-ups contained misrepresentations designed to trick the victims into believing their computers had been infected with a virus and needed technical support to fix the problem. The pop-ups instructed victims to call the number in the pop ups to receive technical support. The numbers connected the victims to various Republic of India-based call centers who misrepresented themselves as Microsoft and further misrepresented the presence of viruses or other computer issues to induce the victims to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for technical support to “fix” the non-existent computer problems. No technical support was actually provided. The scheme tricked millions of U.S.-based computer users into calling the call centers. Banwari worked for Capstone Technologies (Capstone), a company headquartered in Charlotte. Capstone used malicious pop-ups and a Republic of India-based call center to commit technical support fraud as described above. Through this scheme, Capstone defrauded thousands of victims throughout the United States of more than $7 million. For his participation in the scheme, Banwari received three percent of the Capstone revenue, or $222,334. Mello was a broker of pop-up call leads to call centers in the Republic of India. In other words, Mello worked with the pop-up creators or “publishers” to sell pop-up calls to various call centers, including Capstone. Mello was paid a fee by the pop-up publishers for his sales. Mello generated over $20 million in sales of pop-ups to call centers. Mello also used his financial accounts to transfer proceeds of tech support fraud to publishers’ overseas bank accounts. Mello profited as much as $2 million from the scheme. Nolan participated in the tech support scheme by creating and operating a platform called TrackDrive to route technical support fraud calls to the call centers, including Capstone. Nolan worked with pop-up publishers to ensure that the pop-ups effectively locked victim computers and displayed the correct call center routing numbers. Nolan’s TrackDrive platform routed approximately 15 million calls to call centers from the pop-ups. Nolan received a fee per call routed on his platform. Nolan also used his financial accounts to transfer proceeds of tech support fraud to publishers’ overseas bank accounts. Nolan profited approximately $2 million from the scheme. The total loss amount associated with Nolan in this scheme is approximately $19 million. The FBI Charlotte Field Office conducted the investigation into Banwari. The FBI Nashville Field Office – Knoxville Resident Agency, led the investigation into Mello and Nolan. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the cases. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office assisted in prosecuting Banwari.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jackie Dwayne Lucas, also known as “Dwayne,” 49, of Huntington, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. Lucas admitted to a role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 4, 2025, Lucas distributed approximately 112.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $650. As part of his guilty plea, Lucas admitted that he distributed the methamphetamine, conducted the transaction at his residence, and that it had been arranged beforehand by a co-defendant. Lucas also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On July 29, 2025, Lucas sold approximately 113.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $650. Lucas admitted that he conducted the transaction, that it occurred at his residence, and that another co-defendant arranged it beforehand. Lucas is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO. Lucas and three co-defendants pleaded guilty. The charges against the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney and Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154. ###