title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 94 Months in Prison For Possession of Child Pornography and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Paul R. McDowell, Jr., 29 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access of a computer, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. McDowell was sentenced to 94 months of prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $66,000 in restitution. “The Defendant was a hacker-for-hire and would hijack the online social media accounts of several young women in exchange for money from third parties. Evidence showed that he illegally obtained and used victims’ personally identifiable information to gain access to their online accounts and to download private photographs and videos. He then exploited those victims by sharing the private photos and videos with other people online. The Defendant boldly attempted to hack into at least 37 different victims’ accounts! Thanks to the vigilant efforts of our partners at the FBI as a part of Project Safe Childhood, the law enforcement team executed a search warrant at this predator’s house and recovered his computer and cell phone. The Defendant ‘s devices and computer accounts contained more than 3,000 images and 3,000 videos of child sexual abuse material. Our nation’s children are safer with him behind bars,” said US Attorney Adam Mildred. “Paul McDowell was a hacker for hire, who violated the privacy of dozens of unsuspecting young women, stole their personally identifiable information, and subjected them to sustained harassment, shame, and even blackmail, all so he could boost his confidence and make a few bucks,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “To make matters worse, the FBI found tens of thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material on his devices. This guy didn’t just break into computer systems, he broke young people’s lives, violated their privacy, and today’s sentence will keep him locked up for a good long time so he can’t harm anyone else.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston and Indianapolis Field Offices. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Luke N. Reilander. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Sextortion Crimes

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Florida man has been sentenced for the sexual exploitation of numerous individuals in the northern and middle districts of Alabama, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby. U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Trevon Lamont Brown, 25, of Ocala, Florida, to 600 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In December 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to multiple charges including sex trafficking, production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, and cyberstalking. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to be relentless in our prosecution of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us – our children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby. “Trevon Brown victimized children across the United States, not just in the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. These children have suffered tremendously and will continue to experience lifelong impacts as images of their abuse remain online forever. We are grateful to our federal and state law enforcement partners that remain resolute in their pursuit of justice for these children. With their help, we will make sure monsters like Brown spend significant time behind bars.” “This defendant exploited and manipulated minors for his own gain, then used fear and intimidation to further victimize them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson for the Middle District of Alabama. “By soliciting images from minors and threatening to expose them, Brown carried out a cruel and calculated scheme of exploitation. Protecting children from this kind of abuse remains a top priority for both the Middle and Northern Districts of Alabama, and this sentence reflects our shared commitment to seeking justice for victims and holding offenders fully accountable.” “We will not tolerate predators who exploit children and young adults. Our agents, alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, worked tirelessly across state lines to protect victims and bring offenders to justice,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “The public can be assured we are vigilant and unwavering in our mission to defend the most vulnerable.” According to court documents, beginning in December 2020 and continuing for several years, Brown used various social media accounts to pose as a teenage female and engage with males between the ages of 15-23 years old. Brown sent sexually explicit photos and/or videos of a female and requested similar photos and/or videos of the males in return. After receiving the photos and/or videos from the males, Brown threatened to expose them by sending them to their friends and family unless they complied with his extensive demands. Federal search warrants for Brown’s online accounts were obtained and executed. And on August 2, 2023, agents executed a search warrant on Brown’s residence in Ocala, Florida, where they seized multiple electronic devices. A review of Brown’s online accounts and the forensic examination of Brown’s iPhones revealed child pornography and other sexually explicit images and videos of many victims. During this investigation, agents were informed by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) of additional victims located in the Middle District of Alabama (MDAL). Between March 2023 and August 2023, Brown, using the same methods of online sextortion as he did with the victims in the Northern District, threatened and intimidated three victims in the MDAL to expose their sexually explicit images if they did not comply with Brown’s demands. Brown was indicted on federal charges of cyberstalking in the MDAL, and the case was subsequently transferred to the Northern District of Alabama for plea and sentencing. Sextortion is a form of online sexual exploitation where victims are threatened or blackmailed, and it is a growing problem in the United States. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) documented a dramatic increase in reports of sextortion to their CyberTipline. In fact, NCMEC reported that the number of online enticement reports (which includes reports of sextortion) increased by more than 300% between 2021 and 2023. In response to this epidemic, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama and the National Children’s Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama, partnered to produce and release a digital series to educate parents and caretakers about sextortion and how they can help prevent children and teens from being victims. This series offers short, three-to-five-minute videos about online safety topics and provides essential information about the true dangers of online activities. The videos can be accessed here: Sextortion Prevention . The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Birmingham investigated the case along with the assistance of HSI Illinois Division, HSI New York Division, HSI North Carolina Division, HSI Florida Division, FBI Birmingham Division, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Clarksville Police Department in Tennessee, Pennsylvania State University Police and Public Safety, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Police Department, and Ocala Police Department in Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White of the Northern District of Alabama and Tara Ratz of the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the cases. If you suspect or become aware of possible online sexual exploitation, please make a report with the appropriate authorities. To report an incident, you can call the Department of Homeland Security’s Know2Protect Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or contact the NCMEC CyberTipline online at report.cybertip.org .


title: Kroger Agrees to Settlement Reducing Ozone-Harming Emissions from Grocery Stores Nationwide

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a proposed settlement with The Kroger Company resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations at grocery stores nationwide. Under the proposed consent decree, Kroger will spend an estimated $100 million over the next three years to reduce coolant leaks from refrigerators and other equipment and improve company-wide compliance with rules protecting the Earth’s ozone layer. The company will also pay a $2.5 million civil penalty. “Compliance with the Clean Air Act protects human health,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Fixing leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerants makes a real difference in protecting all Americans from the harmful effects of solar radiation.” The settlement resolves Kroger’s failure to promptly repair refrigerant equipment leaks of the refrigerant R-22, a powerful ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), between 2014 and 2023. Kroger also failed to keep adequate refrigeration service records. Damage to the ozone layer results in dangerous increases in the amount of ultraviolet solar radiation that strikes the earth. This radiation has been linked to many harmful effects, including skin cancers and cataracts. If entered by the court, the settlement requires Kroger to retrofit or replace 600 large commercial refrigeration systems at its stores to reduce ozone-depleting emissions. Kroger must also implement a refrigerant management system to help prevent and repair coolant leaks and keep its corporate-wide average leak rate to no more than 9.5 percent per year. The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and is subject to a 30-day public comment period. The complaint and proposed consent decree are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . The Environmental Protection Agency investigated this matter. Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling this matter.


title: Alabama School District Employee Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor in Pensacola

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Christopher W. Glover, 47, of Simms, Alabama, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor, and one count of Traveling in Interstate Commerce to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is a reminder that parents need to be aware of the online threats facing our kids from sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are relentless in their pursuit of these sick individuals preying upon our kids, and my office will continue to follow through on those investigations and arrests with aggressive prosecutions to keep our children safe online.” Court documents and pretrial hearings in federal court in Pensacola reveal that the defendant communicated online with who he believed to be a 14-year-old female, and offered to pay her hundreds of dollars in return for sexual acts in October 2025. The defendant then traveled from Alabama, where he worked for the Baldwin County School District, to Pensacola to meet with the minor. The purported minor, however, was an undercover law enforcement officer. When the defendant reached Pensacola to engage in sexual acts with the minor, he was taken into custody. He possessed over $200 in cash intended to pay for the illicit sexual acts. Glover faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment. Glover will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2026, at 9:30 am, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. The case is being jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Statement from Special Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: “Effective today, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has appointed me Special Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. I am grateful to the Acting Attorney General and the Trump administration for their continued support in allowing me to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. While my title may have changed, my goals and the mission of this Office have not. Since I was appointed in December, 2025, I have endeavored to run the Office at the highest levels of efficiency, integrity and professionalism. The Court’s Order acknowledges those same goals for the Office and in declining to exercise its appointment authority, that the Office’s continued professionalism and non-partisan work, along with continuity of leadership, are paramount to ensuring the Office remains focused on the best interests of the people of Rhode Island. The support of the Administration, this Office, my colleagues, my family, and my friends, are what enable me to continue my service to the people of Rhode Island. Without that support, my service would be ending today. Instead, that support has been overwhelming, and I intend to continue to lead this Office in my new role unless directed otherwise by the President or the Department of Justice. We have a great deal of work ahead, and I will remain focused on keeping Rhode Islanders safe and secure from those who wish to do harm. For however long I serve this District, I will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners for the betterment of our state. Dulce Donovan, formerly the First Assistant United States Attorney, has been appointed Executive Assistant United States Attorney. All other supervisory personnel remain in the same positions with the same titles.”


title: Former Wendy’s Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Charges

body_text: Pensacola, Florida - Marcus Bernard Clark, 31, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulent use of fifteen or more access devices and aggravated identity theft. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This fraudster exploited his access to customers’ credit and debit card information to try to enrich himself at their expense. Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state law enforcement partners and this successful prosecution by my office, federal prison awaits him.” Court documents reflect that in September and October 2022, the defendant worked at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Destin, Florida. During a judicially authorized extraction of the defendant’s cell phone related to another criminal case, law enforcement discovered over 200 photographs and some short videos of different individuals’ credit and debit cards. Investigators determined the photographs were taken at Wendy’s while the defendant was working. None of the victims gave permission to the defendant to photograph their bank cards containing their names and card numbers. As to the fraudulent use of access devices count, Clark faces a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment. For the aggravated identity theft count, he also faces an additional two years of imprisonment, which must run consecutively to any sentence imposed on the first count. The case involved an investigation by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. Clark’s sentencing is scheduled for July 16, 2026, at 9:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: HSI Arrests Two Men on Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested two men on criminal charges related to child exploitation conduct. A federal grand jury indicted Alen Meléndez-Santiago on April 9, 2026, with three counts of sexual exploitation of children. According to court documents, from November 2025 to January 2026, defendant Meléndez-Santiago, 25, from Toa Baja, induced, enticed and coerced a 14-year-old female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. The defendant is charged with one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography. If convicted, the defendant faces the following penalties: a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to 30 years in prison for production of child exploitation material; a maximum sentence of life in prison for the coercion and enticement of a minor; and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child exploitation material. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case. In a separate case, Edwin Méndez-Pérez, a 50-year-old man from Caguas, was arrested by HSI agents for child exploitation. On April 22, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Méndez-Pérez with three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of children, and receipt of child exploitation material. According to the indictment, from August 2010 through May 2025, Méndez-Pérez knowingly used electronic devices as well as internet instant messaging services to induce, entice and coerce a female minor when she was between 11 and 15 years of age to engage in sexual activity. The defendant produced and received the child exploitation material. If convicted, Méndez-Pérez faces the following sentences: 10 years up to life in prison for the coercion and enticement of a minor; 15 to 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children; and a minimum of five up to 20 years in prison for the receipt of child exploitation material. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. AUSA Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of those who sexually exploit children,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I am grateful for the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who harm children.” “Child predators often disguise abuse as a “fun game” to lower a child’s guard - but there is nothing harmless about it. This is deliberate, calculated, predatory behavior. They exploit trust, manipulate innocence, and use every tactic available to target their victims - going so far as to pay to obtain what they want. Not on our watch. HSI remains vigilant, unwavering, and fully committed to protecting our children,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the cases. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Boyce Resident Indicted for Mail and Tax Fraud, Corrupt Interference, and Money Laundering After Falsely Claiming Over $9.75 Million in Tax Refunds Owed

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: LAFAYETTE– On April 15, 2026, a federal grand jury in Lafayette returned a four-count indictment charging Jane Frances Pierce, a 63-year-old Boyce resident, with mail fraud, filing false tax returns, corruptly interfering with an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) investigation, and money laundering. Pierce faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the mail fraud charge, up to 10 years in federal prison for the money laundering charge, three years in federal prison for the tax fraud and corrupt interference charges, and three years of supervised release for the mail fraud and money laundering counts. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. According to court documents, Pierce filed false tax returns on behalf of a trust she controlled, claiming a total of almost $10 million in refunds. Pierce obtained more than $1 million from the IRS and used the funds for personal expenses, including purchasing a house and vehicle for herself, repaying a personal loan, and paying her relatives’ mortgages. When the IRS attempted to recover the refunds Pierce fraudulently obtained, she obstructed the agency’s efforts by filing a false amended tax return, mailing the IRS a fake check, and filing a false court document. The IRS – Criminal Investigations investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Western District of Louisiana and Isaiah Boyd of the Criminal Division Tax Section with assistance from Legal Assistant Tanya Broussard. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 26-CR-00147. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty to an assault that left a victim with life-threatening injuries. According to court documents, on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben, Jr. , 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim while intoxicated. Officers detained Ben at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital and received treatment for critical injuries before being transferred to an intensive care unit in Albuquerque. Ben pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury of a dating partner. He faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.


title: Convicted Sex Offender Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Stanton Hunter Maynes, 24, of Greenville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Mayes appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 26, 2026, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Maynes faces a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 40 years’ imprisonment on the distribution count. Maynes also faces a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession count. The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Arizona Woman Sentenced for Endangering Children in Drunken High-Speed Crash

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona woman was sentenced to five years of probation for driving drunk with her three young children. According to court documents, on May 4, 2024, the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to multiple reports of a vehicle driven by Avedale Johnson , 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, traveling erratically at a high rate of speed on U.S. Highway 491. Officers recorded the vehicle traveling 98 miles per hour. Because of the extreme speed and dangerous driving behavior, officers discontinued the pursuit and continued monitoring the vehicle. Officers were later dispatched to a vehicle crash in Farmington involving the same vehicle. The vehicle was on fire, and witnesses reported that Johnson and her children had fled the scene. No injuries were reported after evaluation by hospital personnel, except for a minor bump on the head. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement, Johnson admitted to drinking while driving and said her children were unrestrained in the vehicle. Law enforcement also recovered drug paraphernalia and empty alcohol bottles from the vehicle. Johnson pleaded guilty to abandonment or abuse of a child and Johnson will be subject to 5 years of probation. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.


title: Anderson Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Making, Distributing Child Sex Abuse Video

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — David Lynn Wells, 32, of Anderson, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for making and distributing child sexual abuse material.* According to court documents and statements made in court, this case originated from an investigation in the United Kingdom. British authorities arrested a man suspected of possessing child sexual abuse material and reviewed his electronic devices. They located a recording of a 2020 video call in which an adult male was sexually abusing a baby boy. The name “David Wells” was visible on the screen. Investigators identified Wells after locating a prior mugshot for Wells in Anderson County, South Carolina. British authorities contacted Homeland Security Investigations. HSI investigators were able to locate the victim’s mother and established that she knew Wells, that they lived in the same apartment complex at one time, and that Wells did watch her minor child from time to time when she ran errands. Agents showed the mother sanitized images of the video, and she identified Wells, the child, and Wells’ apartment. “The depraved conduct in this case is truly unfathomable,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “My office will remain dedicated to prosecuting and punishing those who harm children and create vile material to be distributed across the internet.” “This action sends a powerful message: those who exploit children will face the full force of the law,” said Mark M. Zito Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Homeland Security Investigations is unwavering in our commitment to protect children from predators. We will relentlessly pursue offenders wherever they operate and ensure they are brought to justice. Our partnerships with local, national, and international agencies are vital in this fight, and together we will hold those responsible for these horrific crimes fully accountable.” United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Wells to 360 months imprisonment, to be followed by lifetime supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Wells is currently serving an eight-year sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections for sexual battery involving two other children. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. ### * The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.


title: Coordinated Takedown of Scam Centers Leads to  at Least 276 Arrests; Alleged Managers and Recruiters Charged in San Diego

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Unprecedented cooperation between the FBI, Dubai Police Department, and Chinese Ministry of Public Security has resulted in the arrest of at least 276 individuals and the dismantlement of at least nine scam centers used for cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. These centers targeted Americans who have suffered millions of dollars in losses from such schemes. This international crackdown last week was spearheaded by the Dubai Police, under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Interior. Among the 275 arrested by Dubai authorities were three defendants charged in the Southern District of California with federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. An additional person was arrested by the Royal Thai Police. Thet Min Nyi (27, a Burmese national), Wiliang Awang (23, an Indonesian national), Andreas Chandra (29, an Indonesia national), Lisa Mariam (29, an Indonesian national), and two fugitive co-conspirators have been charged with federal fraud and money laundering charges unsealed in San Diego today. Dubai Police apprehended Thet Min Nyi, Chandra, and Mariam, while the Royal Thai Police apprehended Awang. “Fraudsters who target Americans from overseas cannot operate with impunity, no matter where in the world they reside,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The charges and arrests announced today reflect an international consensus that scam centers are unwelcome everywhere and must be rooted out. Scam center organizers and fraudsters who defraud Americans and others will face justice in American courts and in courts around the world. In contemporary society, fraud is borderless, and law enforcement activity to combat it and eliminate it is as well.” “These scammers thought they were safe half a world away,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “But their world has changed. Global crime now faces global justice.” “This operation demonstrates the FBI's steadfast commitment to preventing scammers from further defrauding the American people,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We can't do this work alone, and we are proud to coordinate and collaborate with our partners to hold accountable those who work to enable and facilitate these scams.” “Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s determination to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global scam centers defrauding Americans no matter where they set up shop,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego will continue to coordinate with our law enforcement, private sector, and international partners to protect victims from cryptocurrency fraud, stop losses before they happen, and recover victim funds where we can.” In 2025, FBI San Diego agents opened a Homeland Security Task Force investigation after identifying multiple companies and individuals managing scam compounds conducting cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. According to the indictment, two criminal complaints, and other court records, the defendants charged in San Diego managed, worked for, and recruited others to work at three different “companies” that operated several alleged scam centers: “Ko Thet Company,” “Sanduo Group,” and “Giant Company.” All six defendants allegedly engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes through “pig-butchering,” which is a type of fraud where scammers gain a victim’s trust over time — through friendship or romance — before persuading them to send money to fake investments which the scammers then take. Scammers entice victims with phony friendship or romance before financially exploiting them. The defendants targeted citizens of the United States and other countries by cultivating trust and affection with the victims, based on the charging documents and court filings. After that, the scammers promoted investments in cryptocurrencies and assisted victims in setting up accounts and transferring cryptocurrency to investment platforms that, unbeknownst to the victims, were false. The alleged scammers touted their own successes and returns in cryptocurrency investments and encouraged their victims to invest more. They also encouraged their victims to borrow money from friends and family and take out loans, to be able to “invest” more. Unbeknownst to the victims, once they made transfers to the platforms the alleged scammers suggested, they lost control of their cryptocurrency. Fake platforms put the victims’ funds in the hands of the scammers, who then laundered the victims’ funds to other cryptocurrency accounts, including their own. FBI agents have identified numerous victims around the United States through complaints filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) . Agents interviewed victims and analyzed financial and cryptocurrency records. So far, investigators have identified millions of dollars in losses caused by these cryptocurrency investment schemes operating across jurisdictions. Thet Min Nyi, an alleged manager and recruiter for the Ko Thet Company, also called “Pixy,” managed scam compounds. In March 2026, a grand jury in the Southern District of California returned an indictment against Thet Min Nyi and a fugitive co-defendant charging them with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, along with criminal forfeiture allegations. Further, in April 2026, two criminal complaints in the Southern District of California charged Awang, Chandra, their fugitive co-defendant, and Mariam with wire fraud conspiracy. These charges were based on cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes from two other alleged scam organizations, Sanduo Group and Giant Company. The Dubai Police Department, under the UAE Ministry of Interior, significantly disrupted the scam operations through their parallel investigation. The Dubai Police continue to collaborate closely with international law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle transnational criminal networks, as part of Dubai’s commitment to combating financial crime and protecting victims worldwide. Thailand’s Royal Thai Police’s (RTP) Immigration Bureau, Foreign Affairs, and Anti Cyber Scam Center provided significant assistance. Through RTP’s efforts, a key subject and defendant in this investigation, Awang, was apprehended in Thailand. Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, provided critical information for this investigation. U.S. authorities appreciate Meta’s assistance in this matter. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Horn for the Southern District of California and Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz and William Gullotta of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. FBI San Diego has investigated a number of other sophisticated cryptocurrency investment frauds. For example, Operation Level Up —which began in 2024 as a San Diego and Phoenix joint initiative — has proactively identified and notified victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. As of April 2026, the FBI notified almost 9,000 victims and saved victims an estimated $562 million. FBI-San Diego is also investigating the Tai Chang Scam Enterprise , a series of scam compounds located in Burma’s Karen State also conducting cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes against Americans. If you have been defrauded out of your money by this type of scheme, please contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. DEFENDANTS Case Number 26CR762-RSH Thet Min Nyi also known as Ko Thet, also known as Ko Age: 27 Burma *Fugitive Age: 27 Indonesia Case Number 26MJ2335-AHG Wiliang Awang Age: 23 Indonesia also known as Wiliang Ng, also known as Wiliang Huang, also known as Huang Wiliang, also known as Lincon, also known as Lincoln Andreas Chandra Age: 29 Indonesia also known as Andreas Chandra Kho, also known as Jay *Fugitive Age: 22 Indonesia Case Number 26MJ2437-AHG Lisa Mariam Age: 29 Indonesia also known as Melissa Chloe, also known as Cipul, also known as Naomi May Lingston, also known as Vanessa, also known as Bella Theresia SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire fraud conspiracy (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1343) Maximum penalty: 20 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the gain or loss Money laundering conspiracy (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(h), 1956(a)(2)(A), 1956(a)(2)(B)(i)) Maximum penalty: 20 years in prison; fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of the gain or loss U.S. AGENCIES FBI U.S. Secret Service IRS Criminal Investigation *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. On March 6, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings. Through the Executive Order, President Trump is directing every available tool be used to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud.


title: Former Executive Director of East Carroll Parish Housing Authority Indicted for Federal Program Theft and Money Laundering

body_text: LAFAYETTE– On April 15, 2026, a federal grand jury in Lafayette returned a four-count indictment charging Kelsi J. McDaniel, a 29-year-old Lake Providence resident, with one count of embezzling from the East Carroll Parish Housing Authority (“ECPHA”) and three counts of concealment money laundering relating to that embezzlement. McDaniel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the federal program theft charge, up to 20 years in federal prison for the money laundering charges, and three years of supervised release for each count. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. “Agencies like ECPHA serve some of the most vulnerable members of our Louisiana communities, and frauds like the one allegedly perpetrated by Ms. McDaniel strike at the heart of those agencies’ ability to do their work,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office and federal partners look forward to seeing justice done in this case.” “Kelsi McDaniel’s alleged actions exploited her position and violated the public trust by stealing federal funds that were intended to help provide housing for the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to diligently pursue and hold accountable individuals who take advantage of their positions of trust to defraud HUD programs.” According to court documents, McDaniel served as the Executive Director of ECPHA, a Louisiana state agency that received funding from HUD. In that role, McDaniel was the authorized signatory for ECPHA’s Bank 1 account, with that account receiving HUD funds to promote HUD’s housing support mission. To execute her scheme, McDaniel would transfer ECPHA funds from its Bank 1 account into her personal Bank 1 account and then transfer the funds from that account to CashApps belonging to others, who would then transfer the money back to her. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Wilson with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer , under Case Number 26-CR-00148. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Convicted felons sentenced to federal prison for carrying guns

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Two Chatham County men have been sentenced to federal prison in separate cases after pleading guilty to firearms possession. The sentencings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Javell D. Wright , 35, of Savannah, sentenced to 63 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police officers responded in February 2025 to reports of a domestic dispute with shots fired, and later arrested Wright during a traffic stop and found a pistol in his vehicle. Wright’s criminal history includes multiple state convictions for illegal gun possession. Amir Rashad Shaheed-Ali, 29, of Savannah, sentenced to 55 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah police found Shaheed-Ali in possession of a pistol during a December 2024 traffic stop. Judge Baker also ordered each of the men to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system. “We commend the officers of the Savannah Police Department for their continued vigilance in removing violent criminals from the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The message to convicted felons is clear: If you carry a gun, you’re going to prison.” The cases were investigated by the Savannah Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese and Ryan E. Bondura.


title: Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska - April 2026

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 19 unsealed Indictments charging 21 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Manjot Singh , age 25, of Sacramento, California, is charged with possession of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute on or about January 14, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Rolando Jaimes , age 21, of Niobrara, Nebraska, is charged with sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country on or about September 21, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Brian Alexis Baldonado-Belmontes , age 25, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition on or about March 22, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Harol Edwin Cruz Suarez , age 39, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with possession of child pornography between on or about May 19, 2025, and on or about March 26, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Harol Edwin Cruz Suarez , age 39, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is also charged in a separate indictment with possession of ammunition by a prohibited person on or about March 26, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. Gabriel Antonio Cordero-Reinoso , age 22, Yoskarlys Estefania Lopez-Guevara , age 22, Carlos Sabino-Parra , age 34, and Alfredo Jose Maita-Acienso , age 22, all of Omaha, Nebraska, have been charged in a two-count indictment. Count I charges Cordero-Reinoso, Lopez-Guevara, Sabino-Parra, and Maita-Acienso with conspiracy to commit bank fraud from at least in or around January 2024 through at least in or around February 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment. Count II charges Cordero-Reinoso, Lopez-Guevara, Sabino-Parra, and Maita-Acienso with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and damage to a protected computer from at least in or around January 2024 through at least in or around February 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment. Justin A. Dueling , age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Dueling with production of child pornography between on or about December 1, 2023, and on or about November 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less 15 years’ and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Dueling with receipt and distribution of child pornography between on or about November 8, 2024, and on or about November 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Dueling with possession of child pornography between on or about November 8, 2024, and on or about March 17, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Edward Wayne Webster , age 71, of Winnebago, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender between on or about April 1, 2025, and continuing to on or about April 9, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Rontea Gunn , age 48, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Counts I and II charge Gunn with being a felon in possession of firearms on or about April 7, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Gunn with trafficking firearms on or about April 7, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Howard Bassette, III , age 45, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Bassette with sexual assault by force or threat on or about April 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Bassette with sexual abuse by threat on or about April 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Andrew L. Foster , age 41, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Foster with receipt of child pornography beginning on or about July 30, 2025, and continuing until on or about September 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Foster with possession of child pornography beginning on or about July 30, 2025, and continuing until on or about September 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Francisco Lopez-Perez , age 39, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Lopez-Perez with false representation of a social security number on or about July 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Lopez-Perez with false claim to United States citizenship on or about July 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Lopez-Perez with illegal reentry of a removed alien on or about April 8, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Gustavo Figueroa Arista , age 39 Sebastian Calel-Conoz , age 54 Artemio Avila-Galicia , age 39 Hexbin Carlos Bernal-Sabino , 41 Hugo Lepe-Mora , 39 Gustavo Cruz-Bejines , 40 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The following individual was charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and was found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Israel Gaytan-Cruz , age 45 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.


title: Eleven Sentenced for Refund Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses to Online Retailers

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Eleven co-conspirators have been sentenced for conspiring with others to commit wire fraud. This refund fraud scheme targeted numerous online retailers and resulted in millions of dollars in losses to companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Wayfair, Dell Technologies, Kate Spade, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HP Inc., and Adidas, among others. From April 2019 through October 19, 2023, the self-styled Artemis Refund Group (“ARG”) engaged in numerous refund-fraud schemes to steal goods from online retailers for its own benefit and that of others. ARG advertised their refund fraud services heavily on online messaging forums, resulting in hundreds of customers being defrauded and placing thousands of refund fraud orders. Some of these fraudulently refunded orders were shipped to the Northern District of Oklahoma, giving rise to venue in this district. As part of the refund fraud conspiracy, ARG would instruct fraud customers to purchase a product of their choice from one of the many retailers they targeted, collect information about the order, and then contact the retailer to initiate a fraudulent refund using a variety of methods tailored to that retailer. After ARG successfully deceived the retailer into processing a fraudulent refund, the fraudulent customers would retain possession of the item but still received a full refund of the purchase price. ARG typically charged customers between 15% and 25% of the refunded item's total price. Members of ARG also engaged in the scheme to obtain stolen goods for themselves and resell them on online marketplaces for profit. Eleven defendants have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and were sentenced: Wyatt Douglas Miller , 24, of San Marcos, CA, was ordered to serve 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Tyler Dewayne Rogers , 24, of Goleta, CA, was ordered to serve 51 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Kevin Ramses Rocha , 24, of Littlerock, CA, was ordered to serve 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Jonah Maxwell Fesman , 23, of Altadena, CA, was ordered to six months of home detention, followed by two years of supervised release. Antonio Ernesto Munoz , 24, of Palmdale, CA, was ordered to serve 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Juan Manuel Camacho-Zarate , 25, of Santa Maria, CA, was ordered to serve three years of probation and to pay a $4,000 fine. Cameron David Martin , 23, of Winter Garden, FL, was ordered to serve three years of probation. Ilyess Hadri Talbi , 20, of Columbus, OH, was ordered to serve three years of probation. Steven Lin , 27, of Philadelphia, PA, was ordered to serve three years of probation and ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. Gilbert Immanuel , 25, of Lutz, FL, was ordered to eight months of home detention, followed by two years of supervised release. Prit Patel , 24, from Canada, was ordered to serve 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Seven defendants from the Republic of Singapore and one from the United Kingdom still have arrest warrants pending. The cyber squads of the FBI Oklahoma City and Birmingham Field Offices, as well as agents from the FBI Seattle Field Office, investigated the case. Substantial assistance and cooperation were provided by Target, Amazon’s Customer Protection and Enforcement Team, Walmart, Wayfair, Dell Technologies, Dick’s Sporting Goods, HP Inc., Adidas, Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Group, and eBay’s Criminal & Regulatory Investigations Team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert, Christopher J. Nassar, and Matthew P. Cyran are prosecuting the case.


title: California Man Sentenced in Methamphetamine Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jason Arias, 42, of Canyon Country, California, was sentenced on April 16, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan Bazis sentenced Arias to 63 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Arias’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Investigators with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force learned that Arias was helping mail packages of methamphetamine to at least two people in Nebraska. Investigators intercepted a package that was delivered to the post office in Ulysses, Nebraska, on May 13, 2022. Through their investigation, the Task Force investigators learned that the package contained methamphetamine and that it had been shipped by Trevor Sands, Arias’s co-conspirator in California. Investigators opened the package and found a half pound of methamphetamine. Investigators found a fingerprint on the package belonging to Arias. The investigation showed that Arias and Sands worked together to ship packages of methamphetamine from California to Nebraska. Between May and September 2022, investigators intercepted three additional packages of methamphetamine mailed from California. Post office surveillance video captured Sands and Arias mailing packages from California. The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed the presence of methamphetamine in each of the packages, which weighed between one-quarter pound to one pound. On February 8, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at Sands’s residence in Culver City, California. Investigators located methamphetamine in the residence. Sands admitted to distributing methamphetamine and working with others to mail packages of methamphetamine to Nebraska. Arias was also interviewed, and he admitted to helping mail packages of methamphetamine, some of which were sent to Nebraska. Sands was sentenced on May 1, 2025 to 57 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Los Angeles Police Department.


title: Felon Sentenced to 40 Months for Illegal Possession of Two Firearms

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kiyel Kearney, 23, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to 40 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded revolver in May 2025 when his status as a felon prohibited him from having any firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Kearney pleaded guilty Jan. 16, 2026, before Chief Judge James E. Boasberg to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 40-month prison term, Chief Judge Boasberg ordered Kearney to serve two years of supervised release. According to court documents, on May 10, 2025, about 11:45 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department, assigned to the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, received a ShotSpotter notification of gunfire in the 1200 block of Harvard Street, NW. Following the gunshots, MPD officers observed a gray Acura sedan occupied by four individuals speeding and disregarding a red light at the intersection of Sherman Ave NW, and Harvard Street NW. Officers saw the vehicle entering the opposing lanes of traffic in the 100 block of Michigan Ave NW. Officers lost sight of the vehicle before it appeared again in the 200 block of Michigan Ave NW. Officers observed the vehicle lose control and crash. The four occupants, including Kearney, exited the car and fled on foot. MPD officers pursued Kearney as he was observed running with one free hand, with his other hand appearing to be holding his waist area, consistent with preventing a firearm from falling from his body. Following a foot pursuit through the active lanes of traffic on North Capitol Street NW, Kearney slipped, fell to the ground, and surrendered to the officers. An officer searched Kearney and felt a hard metal object and recovered a semiautomatic Glock 33 .357 caliber pistol, with 14 rounds of ammunition in a 15-round capacity magazine. Police recovered a semiautomatic Glock 33 .357 caliber pistol, with 14 rounds of ammunition in a 15-round capacity magazine. Firearm and magazine recovered from the defendant. Additionally, Kearney can be seen in surveillance video interacting with other individuals and appears agitated. Kearney is seen removing a backpack from his body and then retrieving a long gun. Surveillance video shows an unknown individual discharge a firearm with an MPD SUV present. As the defendant is fleeing on foot, at about 1:06 a.m., he shoots the long gun numerous times in the direction of the alley. At least three other individuals are seen discharging firearms as a result of the defendant’s shooting. A bystander was struck in the chin and head by a stray bullet and was taken to the hospital; it is unclear which firearm caused the injury. MPD crime scene investigators recovered multiple 5.56 shell casing from the area where the defendant was seen firing the long gun. At the time of this offense, Kearney had a pending case in D.C. Superior Court for a May 12, 2023, felony offense for illegally possessing a firearm in the 3000 block of 14th Street, NW. In that case, Kearney was apprehended by officers while in possession of a Glock 43x 9mm firearm, with one round of ammunition with eight rounds in the magazine. This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe Again is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. It was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – Washington Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Seidel and Anthony Scarpelli. ## 25cr146 Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Kearney Man Sentenced to 6 1/2 Years for Transportation of Child Pornography

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jonathan Wagner, 27, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 23, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of transportation of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Wagner to 78 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Wagner’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Wagner was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. Law enforcement discovered that Wagner was uploading files containing child pornography online. A federal search warrant was received for one of Wagner’s online accounts. The results revealed 97 image files and 100 video files of child pornography. The account also revealed 269 files depicting child erotica or age difficult files. A federal search warrant was received for Wagner’s residence on March 29, 2024. During the search, Wagner’s devices were seized. A review of those devices revealed 1,424 child pornography images and 15,484 images of child erotica or age difficult files. Wagner’s browser history on his cell phone also showed him accessing child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Florida Return Preparers

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking to enjoin Florida-based return preparers Cedric Reid, Juan Santana, and Reid’s business, Advance Tax Group Inc. (Defendants) from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Defendants’ offices are located in Daytona Beach and Ocala, Florida, the complaint says. The complaint alleges that Defendants prepare federal income tax returns for customers on which they claim fraudulent deductions and credits, purposely underreporting the tax their customers owe and claiming refunds their customers are not entitled to receive. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Defendants prepared returns that falsified filing status; reported false or inflated business expenses and losses; and claimed false fuel tax credits, education credits, and other credits. According to the complaint, Defendants used the false information they reported to maximize their customers’ earned income tax credit (EITC) and failed to follow the IRS’s EITC due diligence requirements. The government alleges in the complaint that Defendants caused an estimated tax loss of more than $7 million in 2023 and 2024 alone. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorneys Meredith Hollman and Amanda Cornwell are handling the case. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.


title: Aliquippa Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of federal supervised release, on his conviction of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation and prosecution, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Romaro Lanarie Foster Sr., 47. According to information presented to the Court, Foster was part of an interstate drug trafficking organization that federal authorities investigated between March 2022 and September 2022. The investigation revealed that a source of supply in California would mail parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine to a residence in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Following law enforcement’s seizure of a parcel containing two kilograms of cocaine en route to the Aliquippa residence, the source of supply began sending the parcels to a co-defendant in West Virginia, who would then drive the parcel from West Virginia to Foster in Aliquippa. After then also disrupting Foster’s ability to obtain cocaine through the West Virginia co-defendant, law enforcement learned that Foster would be traveling to Georgia in order to obtain cocaine for distribution. In September 2022, local law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Foster in South Carolina on his return trip to the Western District of Pennsylvania, during which officers seized approximately four kilograms of cocaine from Foster’s vehicle. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Foster’s prior sentences for attempted murder and possession with intent to distribute narcotics did not deter him from engaging in the instant drug trafficking conspiracy and that a significant sentence of 15 years of imprisonment was warranted. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Western District of Pennsylvania is part of the Philadelphia HSTF, which is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the United States Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and state and local law enforcement partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.


title: New Orleans Businessman Guilty of Covid-19 Relief Fraud totaling approximately $712,212.84 in loses

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that ARTHUR ALLEN (“ALLEN”) , age 53, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey, to providing a false statement to a federal agency. Sentencing is set for July 28, 2026. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. According to court documents, on or about May 7, 2020, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, ALLEN provided a materially false statement to the Small Business Administration in an application to obtain a government sponsored loan designed to assist small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the application process, ALLEN falsely claimed his bed and breakfast company received gross over $425,000 in gross receipts and revenue in 2019. ALLEN also claimed he deducted and submitted payroll taxes on behalf of his employees in 2019; however, an investigation of bank records revealed the ALLEN business generated no receipts or revenue in 2019 and failed to pay any employees in 2019. Further results of the investigation confirmed that ALLEN is responsible for a total loss of approximately $712,212.84. The maximum penalty for false statements to a federal agency is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of one hundred dollars. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II, of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud . * * *


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Dubbed Operation Crystal Express Results in Convictions for Three Drug Traffickers

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Cyril Kobey, 57, and Israel Montano, 46, both of San Diego, California, and Daniel Beckerman, 59, of Ballston Spa, New York, have pled guilty for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic kilograms of methamphetamine from San Diego, California into the Capital Region. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Kobey and Montano conspired with Beckerman and others to distribute over 3 kilograms of pure crystal methamphetamine to the Northern District of New York between March 2019 and July 2020. The investigation into Beckerman, Kobey, and Montano, dubbed Operation Crystal Express by law enforcement, began in 2019. Law enforcement was able to dismantle the trafficking operation in a matter of months through the use Title III wiretaps and undercover operations. Beckerman, Kobey, and Montano pled guilty for their roles as follows: Beckerman and Kobey pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine. At sentencing on June 11, 2026, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, a term of supervised release between 5 years and life, and forfeiture of ill-gotten gains. Montano pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more grams of methamphetamine. If United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino accepts the parties’ agreed-upon disposition at sentencing on August 27, 2026, Montano will be sentenced to at least 72 months and up to 87 months in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, a term of supervised release between 4 years and life, and forfeiture of ill-gotten gains. “The defendants’ pipeline of filth from California to Saratoga is officially closed,” FAUSA Sarcone said. “I commend the FBI and my prosecutors for swiftly and completely dismantling this operation and bringing these defendants to justice. As this case shows, our reach does not stop at the borders of our District. If you introduce poison into our communities, we will find you and bring you to justice.” SAC Tremaroli stated: “These guilty pleas ensure these criminals will spend time in federal prison for trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities. The success of Operation Crystal Express clearly illustrates the strong law enforcement partnerships on our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The FBI, together with these partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle these dangerous criminal enterprises looking to poison our communities through the sale of illegal narcotics.” The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck also prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Albany comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service; ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations; Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Office of Border Patrol; CBP – Office of Field Operations; Drug Enforcement Administration; Coast Guard Investigative Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Secret Service; and the Department of State / Diplomatic Security Service. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. ###


title: Coordinated Takedown of Scam Centers Leads to at Least 276 Arrests; Alleged Managers and Recruiters  Charged in San Diego

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Unprecedented cooperation between the FBI, Dubai Police Department, and Chinese Ministry of Public Security has resulted in the arrest of at least 276 individuals and the dismantlement of at least nine scam centers used for cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. These centers targeted Americans who have suffered millions of dollars in losses from such schemes. This international crackdown last week was spearheaded by the Dubai Police, under the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Interior. Among the 275 arrested by Dubai authorities were three defendants charged in the Southern District of California with federal wire fraud and money laundering charges. An additional person was arrested by the Royal Thai Police. Thet Min Nyi (27, a Burmese national), Wiliang Awang (23, an Indonesian national), Andreas Chandra (29, an Indonesia national), Lisa Mariam (29, an Indonesian national), and two fugitive co-conspirators have been charged with federal fraud and money laundering charges unsealed in San Diego today. Dubai Police apprehended Thet Min Nyi, Chandra, and Mariam, while the Royal Thai Police apprehended Awang. “These scammers thought they were safe half a world away. But their world has changed. Global crime now faces global justice,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “Fraudsters who target Americans from overseas cannot operate with impunity, no matter where in the world they reside,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The charges and arrests announced today reflect an international consensus that scam centers are unwelcome everywhere and must be rooted out. Scam center organizers and fraudsters who defraud Americans and others will face justice in American courts and in courts around the world. In contemporary society, fraud is borderless, and law enforcement activity to combat it and eliminate it is as well.” “This operation demonstrates the FBI's steadfast commitment to preventing scammers from further defrauding the American people,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We can't do this work alone, and we are proud to coordinate and collaborate with our partners to hold accountable those who work to enable and facilitate these scams.” “Today’s indictment demonstrates the FBI’s determination to identify, disrupt, and dismantle these global scam centers defrauding Americans no matter where they set up shop,” said Mark Remily, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego will continue to coordinate with our law enforcement, private sector, and international partners to protect victims from cryptocurrency fraud, stop losses before they happen, and recover victim funds where we can.” In 2025, FBI San Diego agents opened a Homeland Security Task Force investigation after identifying multiple companies and individuals managing scam compounds conducting cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. According to the indictment, two criminal complaints, and other court records, the defendants charged in San Diego managed, worked for, and recruited others to work at three different “companies” that operated several alleged scam centers: “Ko Thet Company,” “Sanduo Group,” and “Giant Company.” All six defendants allegedly engaged in cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes through “pig-butchering,” which is a type of fraud where scammers gain a victim’s trust over time – through friendship or romance – before persuading them to send money to fake investments which the scammers then take. Scammers entice victims with phony friendship or romance before financially exploiting them. The defendants targeted citizens of the United States and other countries by cultivating trust and affection with the victims, based on the charging documents and court filings. After that, the scammers promoted investments in cryptocurrencies and assisted victims in setting up accounts and transferring cryptocurrency to investment platforms that, unbeknownst to the victims, were false. The alleged scammers touted their own successes and returns in cryptocurrency investments and encouraged their victims to invest more. They also encouraged their victims to borrow money from friends and family and take out loans, to be able to “invest” more. Unbeknownst to the victims, once they made transfers to the platforms the alleged scammers suggested, they lost control of their cryptocurrency. Fake platforms put the victims’ funds in the hands of the scammers, who then laundered the victims’ funds to other cryptocurrency accounts, including their own. FBI agents have identified numerous victims around the United States through complaints filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) . Agents interviewed victims and analyzed financial and cryptocurrency records. So far, investigators have identified millions of dollars in losses caused by these cryptocurrency investment schemes operating across jurisdictions. Thet Min Nyi, an alleged manager and recruiter for the Ko Thet Company, also called “Pixy,” managed scam compounds. In March 2026, a grand jury in the Southern District of California returned an indictment against Thet Min Nyi and a fugitive co-defendant charging them with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, along with criminal forfeiture allegations. Further, in April 2026, two criminal complaints in the Southern District of California charged Awang, Chandra, their fugitive co-defendant, and Mariam with wire fraud conspiracy. These charges were based on cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes from two other alleged scam organizations, Sanduo Group and Giant Company. The Dubai Police Department, under the UAE Ministry of Interior, significantly disrupted the scam operations through their parallel investigation. The Dubai Police continue to collaborate closely with international law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle transnational criminal networks, as part of Dubai’s commitment to combating financial crime and protecting victims worldwide. Thailand’s Royal Thai Police’s (RTP) Immigration Bureau, Foreign Affairs, and Anti Cyber Scam Center provided significant assistance. Through RTP’s efforts, a key subject and defendant in this investigation, Awang, was apprehended in Thailand. Meta Platforms, Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, provided critical information for this investigation. U.S. authorities appreciate Meta’s assistance in this matter. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Horn for the Southern District of California and Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz and William Gullotta of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. FBI San Diego has investigated a number of other sophisticated cryptocurrency investment frauds. For example, Operation Level Up —which began in 2024 as a San Diego and Phoenix joint initiative—has proactively identified and notified victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes. As of April 2026, the FBI notified almost 9,000 victims and saved victims an estimated $562 million. FBI-San Diego is also investigating the Tai Chang Scam Enterprise , a series of scam compounds located in Burma’s Karen State also conducting cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes against Americans. If you have been defrauded out of your money by this type of scheme, please contact the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. DEFENDANTS Case Number 26CR762-RSH Thet Min Nyi aka “Ko Thet,” aka “Ko” Age: 27 Burma *Fugitive Age: 27 Indonesia Case Number 26MJ2335-AHG Wiliang Awang Age: 23 Indonesia aka “Wiliang Ng,” aka “Wiliang Huang,” aka “Huang Wiliang,” aka “Lincon,” aka “Lincoln” Andreas Chandra Age: 29 Indonesia aka “Andreas Chandra Kho,” aka “Jay” *Fugitive Age: 22 Indonesia Case Number 26MJ2437-AHG Lisa Mariam Age: 29 Indonesia aka “Melissa Chloe,” aka “Cipul,” aka “Naomi May Lingston,” aka “Vanessa,” aka “Bella Theresia” SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire fraud conspiracy (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1349 and 1343) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of the gain or loss Money laundering conspiracy (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(h), 1956(a)(2)(A), 1956(a)(2)(B)(i)) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of the gain or loss U.S. AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation U.S. Secret Service Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. On March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings. Through the Executive Order, President Trump is directing every available tool be used to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud.


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Transporting Child Pornography and Traveling to Engage in Unlawful Sex

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Fegley, Jr., age 32, was sentenced on April 27, 2026 to 108 months’ imprisonment and 15 years’ supervised release for transporting child pornography and traveling with intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity with what he thought was a 13-year-old child. 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. When he pled guilty, Fegley admitted that he traveled from Florida to the Northern District of New York intending to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a purported 13-year-old child. He also admitted that he brought with him about 1,000 images and videos depicting child pornography that he had obtained on the internet. In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered Fegley to pay $25,000 in restitution and various special assessments. Fegley also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone said: “The sentence of nearly a decade in prison and another decade and a half of post-release supervision will help protect the public from further crimes by this dangerous offender. He not only traveled hundreds of miles to meet who he thought was as child for sex, but he also brought with him approximately 1,000 child pornography files. My Office is committed to working with our agency partners to successfully prosecute anyone who comes into the Northern District of New York intending to harm a child.” “The sentencing of this predator sends a clear message: those who cross state lines to target and exploit children will face the full force of justice,” said Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Buffalo. “HSI will pursue offenders wherever they go and ensure they are held accountable for their actions. The unwavering determination of HSI Albany and our partners ensures that those who threaten the safety of children are stopped and brought to justice.” HSI and the New York State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian 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 . ###