title: Honolulu Man Involved in Trans-Pacific Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kennard Hinano Boyd Kekona, 58, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and carfentanil. Kekona has been detained since his initial arrest in April 2024. According to court records, Kekona was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil on Oahu and elsewhere. Kekona was held responsible for 2 kilograms of fentanyl and over 900 grams of methamphetamine. Carfentanil is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. Carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors. Kekona is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, ten of whom have pled guilty with one remaining awaiting trial. The investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash. Kekona is the seventh defendant of eleven to be sentenced. Those charged in his and other related indictments have been sentenced as follows: On April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine. On December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony. On January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On January 12, 2026, Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony. On January 29, 2026, Leonard Gutierrez was sentenced to 340 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and carfentanil, nine counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case. This prosecution 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 Hawaii comprises agents and officers from ICE-HSI, FBI, ATF, CBP, CGIS, DCIS, DEA, DSS, IRS-CI, NCIS, USMS, USPIS, and HHIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii.


title: Manitowoc Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Obscene Visual Depictions of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on September 4, 2026, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Brandon M. Lemerond (Age 21) to 180 months’ imprisonment following his conviction for Receiving Obscene Visual Depictions of Child Pornography in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1466A(a)(1). According to court documents and arguments presented in court, the Manitowoc Police Department received a referral from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding images that were sent and received by a username associated with Lemerond. Further investigation revealed that Lemerond was engaging with underage victims via the internet and soliciting images of child sexual abuse material. Lemerond is a sex offender registrant in the State of Wisconsin based on a 2023 conviction in Manitowoc County for Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Griesbach described Lemerond’s crime as an extremely serious offense. Judge Griesbach noted a strong need to protect the public and to deter Lemerond and others from engaging in similar criminal behavior in the future. Judge Griesbach determined that a sentence of 15 years (180 months) imprisonment was appropriate. Following his release from federal prison, Lemerond will serve 6 years on supervised release and will continue to be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. “This defendant was on probation for prior state child pornography convictions for barely a year when these offenses occurred,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “He clearly cannot or will not control his abhorrent behavior. The only way to protect our children from this predator is to lock him up for a very long time. Thanks to the excellent work by our law enforcement and prosecution team, that mission is accomplished.” “This sentence is an important outcome and shows the importance of holding repeat offenders accountable” stated Manitowoc Police Chief John Musial. “Our detectives conducted a thorough investigation and worked diligently to bring this offender to justice. The 180-month prison sentence will help protect our community from further harm. I’m proud of the work our detectives did and grateful for the strong partnership with the Department of Justice throughout this case." This case was investigated by the Manitowoc Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Humble and Timothy W. Funnell. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero steven.caballero@usdoj.gov Follow us on X


title: Virginia Beach cocaine dealer sentenced to eight years in prison

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to eight years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, in April, May and June of 2025, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) conducted controlled purchases of cocaine from Andre Lawrence Shorts, 35. After a fourth transaction was arranged, law enforcement arrested Shorts a short distance from his residence. From Shorts’ vehicle, investigators recovered 199.45 grams of cocaine, 7.25 grams of methamphetamine, 11 methamphetamine tablets, 47 amphetamine tablets, three capsules containing a heroin/fentanyl mixture, baggies, a scale, two cell phones, $546, and a stolen handgun. From Shorts’ residence, investigators recovered 251.97 grams of cocaine and $1,030. After Shorts was turned over to the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office for booking, a deputy discovered another 27.68 grams of cocaine concealed in a body cavity. Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-42.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Key Role in Large-Scale Cargo Thefts

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Haneef Palmer, aka “Lew,” 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 121 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $1,080,786.44 in restitution by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his central role in a large-scale cargo theft conspiracy. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to one count each of conspiracy, robbery interfering with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), possession of items from interstate shipment theft, theft of government money, and possession of stolen government money, and five counts of theft from an interstate shipment. As detailed in court filings and statements, between January 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, Palmer conspired with co-defendants to steal goods moving as parts of interstate shipments located on tractor trailers around Philadelphia. While a trailer was unattended overnight, or while the driver was asleep, the members of the conspiracy participating in the theft would use bolt cutters and other tools to break into the trailer and steal the goods inside. The members of the conspiracy would then offer the goods for sale to local contacts. Among other acts, Palmer admitted to participating in the robbery of a tractor trailer carrying commercial refrigerators on April 1, 2023, during which he and others attacked and injured the driver, and to participating in the theft of over $230,000 worth of U.S. dimes on April 13, 2023. The members of the conspiracy committed numerous other thefts, stealing goods with a total estimated value of more than $1.5 million from more than 10 victims. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Bowerman and Christopher Diviny.


title: Seminole Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Offense

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dalton Dean Harjo, a/k/a Dolo, age 19, of Seminole, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Use, Carry and Brandish a Firearm During and In Relation to a Crime of Violence, punishable by no less than 7 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on April 8, 2026, Harjo knowingly used, carried, and brandished a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol during and in relation to a crime of violence for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, that is, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Police Department, and the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Harjo will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Atoka Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vet Sentrel Colbert, age 44, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 3 years’ probation for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police. On November 5, 2025, Colbert pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on August 3, 2024, law enforcement discovered Colbert in possession of a 9mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Convicted Felon Found Guilty of Using a Firearm During a Brooklyn Attempted Bank Robbery

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Pierre Lee, also known as “Pierre Wilmoth,” was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of use of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charge relates to Lee’s attempted robbery of a Capital One Bank branch in Brooklyn on April 26, 2026 (the Capital One Attempted Robbery). The verdict followed a three-day trial before United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie. Prior to trial, on September 1, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to four counts of the indictment: bank robbery, two counts of attempted bank robbery—including the Capital One Attempted Robbery—and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (Lee had a prior robbery conviction). The bank robbery and attempted robberies were committed over a four-day spree in Manhattan and Brooklyn. When sentenced, Lee faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict. “Today’s verdict holds the defendant accountable for bringing a firearm to a bank robbery and attempting to use the threat of violence to steal monies that did not belong to him,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who use firearms to threaten and endanger our communities.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for their assistance in the case. “Today’s verdict serves as a stark reminder that the FBI and NYPD Violent Crime Task Force will employ every available resource to aggressively investigate anyone who attempts to rob a bank in New York City. Thanks to the outstanding work of our partners at the NYPD and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, Lee has now been held fully accountable for his actions,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. As proven at trial, Lee knowingly used a firearm during an attempted bank robbery, which is a crime of violence. On April 26, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m., Lee, carrying a red Target bag, entered a Capital One Bank branch located at 2150 86th Street in Brooklyn, New York, and handed the teller a note that stated he was armed, “dead serious,” and demanded “loose bills” in denominations of $100, $50, $20, and $10. The teller was unable to access the cash at his station and informed Lee. In response, Lee demanded return of the note, exited the bank, and stashed the Target bag inside a grey shopping bag. NYPD officers canvassed the area and located Lee one block from the bank at the Bay Parkway subway station approximately 25 minutes later. After his arrest, Lee was taken to the 62nd Precinct, where a loaded Hi-Point A .380 caliber firearm was recovered inside his Target bag, as well as the handwritten note that he had passed to the Capital One Bank teller. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Joseph P. Klemme are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Yael Wellisch. The Defendant : PIERRE LEE Age: 43 Zebulon, NC E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-143 (MKB)


title: St. Louis Felon Admits Being Caught in Stolen Car with Two Shotguns

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis on Thursday admitted being caught in a stolen car with two shotguns. Maurice Brown Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On April 12, 2026, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers learned that a recently stolen Audi A4 was spotted driving in St. Louis. After following the car, Brown was seen by officers walking away from the car and a local resident identified him as the driver. Brown had an active warrant and was on probation at the time. When officers searched Brown, they found the keys to the car in his pocket. In the car, they found two shotguns. As a felon, Brown is barred from possessing firearms. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Freedlund is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: St. Charles, Missouri Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Crime

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man who possessed child sexual abuse material and uploaded it to Snapchat was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release. Joshua J. Klenke, 21, of St. Charles, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted uploading child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Snapchat. After an investigation sparked by CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, investigators found videos and pictures containing CSAM on Klenke’s phone, as well as a picture of him kissing a 4-year-old girl on the lips. Klenke, who worked for a cleaning company, encountered the girl in a client’s home. The St. Charles County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Southeast Missouri Man Who Victimized Children Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A Southeast Missouri man who recorded his sexual abuse of children was sentenced Thursday to 40 years in prison. Lantz D. Crawford, 26, of Ripley County, near Doniphan, recorded his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2, 4, 5, 6 and 6, between the summer of 2024 and late 2025. In December of 2025, the mother of the 4-year-old girl contacted the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office after her daughter reported the abuse. Crawford’s phone was seized and investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting young children. “This is one of the worst cases involving crimes against children I’ve encountered in my 23 years with the FBI, period. The abhorrent sexual abuse inflicted on these five preschool-aged children is beyond the pale,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Lantz Crawford deliberately positioned himself to gain access to vulnerable children. He exploited the trust of single mothers who believed he was offering a helping hand, volunteering to watch their children or drive them places, when in reality, he was creating opportunities to prey upon them.” Crawford pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to five counts of production of child pornography. The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Defendants Convicted for Scheme Enabling More Than 100 Drivers, Many Not Proficient in English, to Fraudulently Obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – All six defendants involved in a bribery scheme, that enabled more than 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver’s licenses, have now pleaded guilty, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. JENAY DAVIS (“DAVIS”) pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, and CHRISTOPHER BRYAN BURNS (“BURNS”) and SHAKERA MILLIEN (“MILLIEN”) pleaded guilty on September 9, 2026. The other defendants— MAHMOUD ALHATTAB (“ALHATTAB”) , JONATHAN PARSONS (“PARSONS”) , and MARLINE ROBERTS (“ROBERTS”) pleaded guilty on July 29, 2026. All six defendants appeared before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. ALHATTAB , a restaurant owner, led a scheme in which Commercial Driver’s License (“CDL”) applicants paid him an average of $5,000 to obtain unearned CDLs. The scheme enabled applicants to bypass all three main federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process: the knowledge test, entry-level driver training, and the skills test. “The commercial transportation industry is a vital component of this nation’s economy. As a result, the competency and fitness of commercial drivers to safely and knowledgeably operate those vehicles on our streets and highways, is vital to the welfare of all the other drivers in our communities,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana David I. Courcelle. “Solely to satisfy their own greed, the perpetrators of this sweeping fraudulent scheme callously endangered the lives of other drivers by allowing commercial drivers, who were woefully unprepared to safely navigate travel hazards, to operate on America’s roadways. However, today’s convictions demonstrate the combined mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region, to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes and to keep American roads safe for commuters.” “Every defendant in this case was willing to endanger the motoring public by giving unqualified people authorization to operate commercial vehicles,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “Our partners at the DOT-OIG, Louisiana Department of Public Safety Office of Motor Vehicles, and the Louisiana Office of Inspector General helped us build a strong case for prosecutors. We thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for their unwavering support in our fight against dangerous fraud.” “The convictions announced today underscore the grave danger posed by schemes that undermine the integrity of the commercial driver’s licensing process. Deliberately circumventing federally mandated safety requirements is not only unlawful—it puts everyone on our nation’s roadways at risk,” stated Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General’s Southern Region. “We will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively investigate these schemes, dismantle them, and hold accountable those who put the traveling public at risk for personal gain.” The knowledge test, administered at the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), is a written examination covering vehicle safety systems, emergency situations, procedures for various maneuvers, and extreme driving conditions. Passing this test results in the issuance of a commercial learner’s permit, which is required before an applicant can proceed to training and the skills test. To bypass the knowledge test, ALHATTAB bribed MILLIEN and DAVIS , employees at the Donaldsonville, Louisiana OMV office. ALHATTAB typically sent MILLIEN or DAVIS a photograph of an applicant’s driver’s license via cell phone, along with any requested endorsements, such as a school bus endorsement. MILLIEN or DAVIS then completed the applicant’s knowledge test. They used their cell phones to conduct online research to answer test questions. For example, one on occasion, MILLIEN visited webpages on brake inspection, vehicle fires, hazardous materials, and how to stop a skidding trailer. Similarly, on one occasion, DAVIS conducted online searches for emergency-controlled braking, hydraulic brake failure, and pre-trip vehicle inspections. After MILLIEN or DAVIS falsified the test results, ALHATTAB would bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office, where MILLIEN or DAVIS issued a commercial learner’s permit based on the fraudulent scores. MILLIEN and DAVIS allowed ALHATTAB to bring applicants into the OMV office through a non-public side door and permitted him access to non-public areas. On some occasions, ALHATTAB even went behind the counter and operated the OMV camera to take applicants’ photographs for the permits. ALHATTAB paid MILLIEN and DAVIS in cash and provided them with meals. After passing the knowledge test and obtaining a commercial learner’s permit, most CDL applicants are required to complete entry‑level driver training, which includes demonstrating proficiency in operating a commercial vehicle on public roads. To bypass the training requirement, ALHATTAB bribed PARSONS and BURNS , each of whom operated a truck‑driver training business. ALHATTAB typically sent PARSONS or BURNS a photograph of an applicant’s commercial learner’s permit via cell phone, thereby providing the information to create false training records. PARSONS and BURNS , in exchange for payments from ALHATTAB , reported in a federal database that applicants successfully completed training when, in fact, no training occurred. The final major step in the CDL process is the skills test, administered by state‑authorized examiners who are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Federal regulations require the skills test to include a pre‑trip vehicle inspection, vehicle control skills, and safety‑related on‑road driving skills. To defeat the skills test requirement, ALHATTAB again bribed PARSONS and BURNS , who, in addition to being trainers, were certified by Louisiana to administer the test. They falsely reported to the State that applicants passed the skills test when the applicants had not taken it. Early in the scheme, ALHATTAB would pose as an applicant and drive the test vehicle to make it appear that PARSONS was conducting a legitimate test. Eventually, ALHATTAB and PARSONS concluded that such precautions were unnecessary, and thereafter PARSONS routinely entered fraudulent test results with neither ALHATTAB nor the applicant present. On some occasions, PARSONS paid another examiner, defendant ROBERTS , to assist by creating fake score sheets to support PARSONS ’s fraudulent test entries. After an applicant received false skills test scores, ALHATTAB typically alerted MILLIEN or DAVIS that the applicant would be returning to the OMV office to obtain the CDL. Because many applicants were not proficient in English, ALHATTAB sometimes informed MILLIEN and DAVIS of the language barrier. For example, on one occasion he texted DAVIS that an applicant “is outside [the OMV office] to get his CDL” and “No English,” meaning the applicant did not speak English. In August 2023, ALHATTAB and PARSONS , who had been in the scheme for years, met with BURNS at ALHATTAB’s restaurant to discuss BURNS joining. BURNS initially agreed to compensation of $400 per fraudulent skills test entry. However, BURNS later complained that the amount was too low, texting ALHATTAB that this was why BURNS “only agreed to 3 or 4 [false skills test entries] per week.” ALHATTAB then agreed to increase BURNS ’s payment to $500 per entry and to assign BURNS more skills tests to enter. To conceal the scheme, PARSONS and BURNS occasionally rescheduled purported skills tests to avoid the appearance that applicants tested in bad weather. For example, in February 2021, when asked whether an applicant was “good to go” to the OMV, PARSONS texted ALHATTAB who replied, “Naw, we couldn’t do any testing today because of the frozen roads up here. I couldn’t pass him, it wouldn’t look right.” Similarly, in December 2023, BURNS texted ALHATTAB , “I had to cancel test today. Raining bad. Will reset Tuesday.” Text messages showed a desire to increase the volume of applicants. For example, in January 2021, ALHATTAB told PARSONS that he had approximately 20 individuals seeking CDLs and that “[t]his year it will be a good year,” to which PARSONS replied, “Heck yeah”; ALHATTAB texted PARSONS , “I have to[o] many” applicants to which PARSONS replied, “That's a good thing”; and PARSONS texted, “Keep them coming!” to which ALHATTAB replied, “Will do.” Similarly, in December 2023, ALHATTAB and BURNS discussed targeting out‑of‑state applicants, whom they believed would pay more. BURNS texted, “My original plan funnel people from Texas and Florida” and “Get it set up and we roll”; ALHATTAB replied, “the door is open now to Texas the guy you did has over 15 guys they have permit”; and BURNS texted, “Sweet!”; “line em up” and “send some to [ PARSONS ] so we spread it around.” From August 2020 through February 2024, ALHATTAB caused at least 124 people to fraudulently receive CDLs. During that time, MILLIEN issued at least 108 commercial learner’s permits in exchange for payments from ALHATTAB . Also, during that period, PARSONS caused at least 118 people to fraudulently receive CDLs by providing each person with a false training entry, or a false skills test entry, or both. In early 2023, ROBERTS created false score sheets for PARSONS on seven occasions. From August 2023 through January 2024, BURNS caused at least 18 people to obtain fraudulent CDLs by providing each person with a false skills test entry, and, for some of them, also providing false training entries. From March 2023 through February 2024, DAVIS issued at least 14 commercial learner’s permits in exchange for payments from ALHATTAB . The six defendants each pleaded guilty to Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, which is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing is set for October 28, 2026, for ALHATTAB , PARSONS , and ROBERTS ; for December 2, 2026, for DAVIS ; and December 9, 2026, for BURNS and MILLIEN . The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General investigated this case. U.S. Attorney Courcelle thanked the Louisiana State Office of Inspector General and Louisiana Public Safety Services for their valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Bridgeville Man Arrested for Producing and Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Federal agents arrested a Bridgeville man on September 9, 2026, on charges of production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Thomas Twilley, 30, sexually abused a child, took sexually explicit photos of the child, and shared the photos with an administrator of a CSAM network online. Law enforcement estimates the victim was a young child when the material was produced. Twilley is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), and distribution of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) & (b)(1). If convicted, Twilley faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. HSI investigated the case with assistance from Delaware Child Predator Task Force and Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-mj-480. The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Repeat Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in D.C. After Shooting Two Women in Separate Attacks Months Apart

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joseph Knight, 32, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison in connection with two separate shootings and his unlawful possession of firearms as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Knowing full well he was barred from possessing a firearm, Joseph Knight shot one woman seven times and later shot another woman three times after pistol‑whipping her,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “This defendant posed a grave danger to our community, and he is now headed where he belongs: prison.” Knight pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon, one count of aggravated assault while armed, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 120-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Knight to serve 5 years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2024, Knight went to the Anacostia Library in Southeast to charge his cellphone, then left the library and met with a woman, identified in court papers as S.F. Knight gave S.F. $5 to buy a synthetic stimulant known as “boot.” A dispute arose between the two. Knight pulled out a pistol and shot S.F. seven times, hitting her in both legs and both hands. He then fled. Officers found S.F. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in the 1600 block of Marion Barry Ave. SE. Police collected seven spent 9mm shell casings from the ground. On Sept. 25, 2024, Anacostia Library security called police after spotting Knight. An officer approached Knight and asked to speak with him. Knight ran off. As Knight fled police, he tossed a satchel containing a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P pistol under a car. On Nov. 11, 2024, a woman identified in court papers as T.C. called 911 after Knight shot her three times. Officers responded to the scene, about a block and a half from the library, and learned the woman had engaged in an argument with Knight as she changed the locks on her front door. The dispute escalated and Knight pulled out a 9mm firearm and pistol-whipped T.C. in the head. He then shot her in her abdomen, ankle, and upper thigh. On Nov. 15, 2024, Metropolitan Police Officers arrested Knight for the September 18 and November 11 shootings. During a police search, officers recovered a 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol from the waistband of Knight’s pants. Knight has several prior felony convictions including a 2013 conviction for carrying a pistol outside a home or business and a 2016 conviction on four counts of robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department with valuable assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Division. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English. Still photo taken by police body-worn camera on Sept. 25, 2024, in front of the Anacostia Library. The loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P pistol found in Knight’s discarded satchel on Sept. 25, 2024. The 9mm Canik METE MCS pistol used in the November 11, 2024, shooting. 25cr21


title: Owner of Illicit Drug Website Charged with Trafficking DMT and MDMA Near D.C. College Campus

body_text: WASHINGTON — Perry Young, owner and operator of the website “Forest Floor DC,” was charged in an indictment unsealed today for alleged drug trafficking operations involving illegal narcotics, including DMT, MDMA, marijuana, and hallucinogenic mushrooms, conducted near The Catholic University of America, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Today’s indictment underscores my office’s unwavering commitment to protecting the public from illegal drug trafficking operations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The defendant built a sophisticated online distribution network that delivered illicit substances directly into our neighborhoods, including proximity to Catholic University. This conduct endangers students, families, and the broader community, and it will be met with decisive action.” Young, of the District of Columbia, is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Dimethyltryptamine, Distribution of Dimethyltryptamine and MDMA Within 1,000 Feet of a Private College, and Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute MDMA. The indictment also includes forfeiture allegations seeking the surrender of illicit proceeds. Young made his initial appearance today before District Court Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya. Young operated the website https://www.forestfloordc.com/ , where customers could order Schedule I controlled substances, including marijuana, mushrooms, and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Once an order was placed online, Young or an associate delivered the drugs in person. During an undercover operation, law enforcement made several controlled drug purchases through the website, receiving in-person deliveries directly from Young and an associate. On one occasion, Young sold 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) to an undercover officer. The alleged drug sales occurred within 1,000 feet of The Catholic University of America. Search warrants were executed this morning at Young’s residence and a storage unit. Law enforcement discovered one Glock 43 handgun with a drum-style magazine, a Glock 43 magazine loaded with ammunition, and assorted ammunition and firearm accessories. Law enforcement also seized approximately $250,000 in U.S. currency and $200,000 in jewelry from Young. The warrants resulted in the seizure of approximately 18 pounds of marijuana, 74 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 30 pounds of tetrahydrocannabinol “THC” and a large amount of packaging material and drug paraphernalia. This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force with valuable assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, Metro Transit Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. forest_floor_dc_llc_indictment.pdf


title: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of 2022 Armed Carjacking

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Andrew Patrick, 38, of Washington, D.C., was convicted by a Superior Court jury yesterday of armed carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The verdict follows a trial that occurred after the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed Patrick’s 2023 conviction for the same armed carjacking and remanded the case for a new trial. The Honorable Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. According to the government’s evidence, on September 22, 2022, the victim took her 2005 blue Chevy Suburban to the Good Hope Road gas station in Washington, DC. The defendant, dressed in a black jacket with white stripes and a hoodie, approached the victim and demanded her car keys while holding her at gunpoint. Patrick pushed her up against her own vehicle, took her keys, and drove away in the victim’s car. Investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department resulted in the arrest of the defendant within hours of the carjacking. He has been in custody since that time. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Evans and Monisha H. Rao. 2022 CF3 005665


title: Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of 2024 Stabbing Death

body_text: WASHINGTON – David Key, 39, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court, on charges stemming from the death of 33-year-old Devon Greenfield in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Key was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder while armed and one count of second- degree murder while armed. Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for November 20, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 7:04 p.m., on April 1, 2024, surveillance video captured Key and Mr. Greenfield, who knew each other, standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of 61st Street NE. The defendant got in the victim’s face to yell at him and then slashed Mr. Greenfield in the face. As Mr. Greenfield lay dazed on the ground, Key ordered him to empty his pockets. When the victim did not comply, the defendant repeatedly stabbed the victim in the chest and back – including three stab wounds to the heart. After several minutes, Key walked off, and the victim collapsed dead on the curb of the street. Key was stopped two days later on April 3, 2024, wearing the same gray coat, black backpack, and black shoes he was wearing in the homicide video. He also had a knife in his left pocket that was consistent with the type of knife used to inflict the decedent’s injuries. DNA evidence from the crime scene further linked Key to the offense. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Clarke and Joshua Hall. 2024 CF1 006346


title: District Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm After Ditching Cocaine Trafficking Evidence in a Trash Can

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tavon Valentine Lee, 29, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his possession of a loaded Glock 23 while participating in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Lee pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the 60-month prison sentence, Judge Ali ordered Lee to serve three years of supervised release. According to court papers, beginning in the summer of 2024, the FBI launched an investigation into a large-scale cocaine conspiracy spanning the District, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The investigation revealed that Lee possessed a firearm as he distributed gram quantities of cocaine, which he obtained from co-defendant Marcus Devonta Williams, in the D.C. area. Williams in turn received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported from New York by co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree. On March 24, 2025, law enforcement observed co-defendant Daryl Smith-Winfree meet with co-defendant Marcus Williams in a parking lot in Wilmington, Delaware. After entering and remaining in Smith-Winfree's vehicle for about two minutes, co-defendant Williams left Smith-Winfree's vehicle and reentered his own Ford Raptor holding a brown paper bag. The next day, on March 25, 2025, investigators followed co-defendant Williams to a parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he met briefly with Lee. Investigators witnessed Lee as he got into co-defendant Williams’ Ford Raptor empty-handed and emerge about two minutes later carrying a brown paper bag. Lee threw the bag into a trash can before driving off alone in a Mercedes SUV. Investigators recovered the discarded bag. Inside, they found packaging materials consistent with kilogram-quantity distribution, cocaine residue on cutting instruments, and a parking receipt matching the license plate of the Williams’s Ford Raptor. Montgomery County police officers stopped Lee’s Mercedes a short time later. A search of the vehicle turned up about 257 grams of cocaine, roughly 65 pills suspected to be counterfeit oxycodone, and a loaded Glock 23 handgun with an extended 15-round magazine. Co-defendant Smith-Winfree pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 96 months in prison. Co-defendant Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 70 months in prison. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Washington Division Office, the Montgomery County Police Department, Howard County Police Department, and the Arlington County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Barclay, Daniel Seidel, and Anthony Scarpelli prosecuted this matter. 25cr163


title: Cleveland Man Sentenced to Six Months in USDA Fraud Scheme That Netted $400,000 for Himself and His Uncle

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jamarea Grant, 33, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced yesterday to six months in prison in connection with a kickback scheme in which he and his uncle, Kirk Perry, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture program director, conspired to bill the federal government nearly $400,000 for work that Grant did not actually perform, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Jamarea Grant conspired with his uncle to line their pockets with hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He will now join his uncle behind bars for their attempt to exploit the government for personal gain. Fraud will not be tolerated, especially when those entrusted with government authority use their positions to commit it.” Grant pleaded guilty on Nov. 27, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to conspiracy to commit money, property, and honest services wire fraud. In addition to the six-month prison term Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Grant to serve 36 months of supervised release and to pay restitution of $399,319. Federal prosecutors had requested restitution and a prison term of six months. Perry, 62, of Loraine, Ohio, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money, property, and honest services wire fraud and was sentenced on August 7, 2026, to 24 months in prison, and ordered to serve two years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $399,319. “This corrupt fraud scheme siphoned nearly $400,000 in taxpayer funds to a no‑show job orchestrated by a federal official and a family member,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Public funds exist to serve the American people, not to enrich those who abuse positions of trust. Protecting the integrity of government programs is essential, and the Department will not tolerate schemes that betray that trust.” “The sentence issued today reflects our continued commitment to thoroughly investigate fraud, waste, and abuse. This individual benefited from his family member in a government position by receiving payment for work he never performed. The USDA OIG is ensuring oversight is in place to uncover these deceptive fraud schemes and we will relentlessly investigate these types of allegations in order to safeguard taxpayer dollars. We are grateful to our partners at the USAO for their support in bringing this investigation to its culmination,” said Jeldrys Lowry, Special Agent in Charge for USDA OIG Sensitive Investigations Office. According to court documents, Perry was a senior director within the USDA’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and used his position to secure employment for Grant as an Equal Opportunity Assistant. They billed the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Grant received about $399,319 from the government for work that was not performed. In pleading guilty, Perry and Grant admitted that, from August 2015 through November 2022, Perry arranged for Grant to be hired by two companies under contract with the USDA Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Grant reported directly to Perry, who also approved the invoices billing for Grant’s time, and the two of them conspired to bill the government for work that Grant did not perform. Perry additionally had access to Grant’s bank account. As part of the criminal scheme Perry transferred approximately $125,000 of the USDA payments from Grant’s account to his own account. This case was investigated by the USDA Office of Inspector General Sensitive Investigations Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Kelly. The Department of Justice in April announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President JD Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 24cr223


title: Hartford Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE BARET, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for trafficking narcotics. According to court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2024, law enforcement made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Baret. Baret was arrested on state charges on April 10, 2024. On that date, investigators searched Baret’s vehicle, his Goodrich Street residence, a hotel room he used in Windsor, and a storage facility he rented in Hartford, and seized approximately 364 grams of fentanyl, 82 grams of methamphetamine, 272 grams of crack cocaine, 407 grams of powder cocaine, seven oxycodone pills, narcotics processing and packaging materials, two handguns, firearm magazines and ammunition, and $4,511 in cash. On February 4, 2026, Baret pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and heroin. He has been detained since May 23, 2024, when he was arrested in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on separate charges . Baret has forfeited the seized firearms, cash, and his Honda Ridgeline SUV. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.


title: Victorville Man Arrested on Federal Indictment Alleging He Paid People to Sign Ballot Petitions Using Stolen Voter Identities

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections. James Brass, 47, a.k.a. “Lord,” of Victorville, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside. Also charged in the two-count indictment are two petition circulators who worked for Brass: Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California. All three defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price are charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. “These defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “They allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row’s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.” “It is imperative that Americans have confidence in our voting system and election infrastructure” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The scheme outlined in today’s indictment sought to undermine an essential pillar of our democracy and cause an undue burden on taxpayers. We will remain vigilant in detecting those trying to weaken our political process and we will aggressively investigate any allegations of voter fraud or other election crimes.” According to court documents, California’s constitution contains a process for direct democracy in which state voters can bypass the California State Legislature and enact laws or constitutional amendments directly through the ballot initiative process. To qualify an initiative for inclusion on a ballot in 2026, an initiative’s proponent was required to submit 546,651 signatures to place a proposed statute on the ballot, and 874,641 signatures to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. An initiative’s proponent had up to 180 days to gather these signatures and needed to submit them no later than 130 days before the date of an election. Given the large number of signatures required in such a short period of time, proponents of initiatives typically hired petition management companies to gather the signatures. These companies charge significant fees and set a price for each signature gathered, contracting with outside individuals to collect signatures. According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, Brass managed a team of signature collectors and collected signatures himself while Price and Herron were signature collectors who worked for Brass. From February 2026 to August 2026, the defendants used a database to identify registered California voters. On Skid Row, Brass and Price handed out these voters’ stolen identities and paid petition signers to copy the voters’ personal information onto ballot initiative petitions and fraudulently sign the petitions in those voters’ names. After the petitions were signed, Brass and Herron signed declarations at the bottom of the petitions, falsely declaring under penalty of perjury that they personally witnessed the named registered voters sign the petitions and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, “the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.” Brass and Herron then turned in the bogus petitions to several petition coordinators, knowing the false representations regarding the signatures’ authenticity would result in false and fraudulent signatures being counted in connection with the effort to place the initiative at issue on the ballot. Brass further knew the false representations about the signatures’ authenticity would result in payments to him from a petition management company. In total, Brass received approximately $41,600 from coordinators working with one such petition management company. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count. The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Assistant United States Attorneys Nandor F.R. Kiss of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Michael G. Wheat of the Orange County Office are prosecuting this case.


title: Former Treasurer for Orange County High School Football Booster Club Arrested for Allegedly Siphoning Over $400K to Pay Her Delinquent Mortgage

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County woman was arrested today on a federal indictment charging her with defrauding a nonprofit created to financially support a high school football team, an organization for which she served as treasurer, out of more than $400,000, in part, to pay the delinquent balance on her home’s mortgage. Julie Hanway Molina, 56, was arrested today at her home in Aliso Viejo. She is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned later today in United States District Court in Santa Ana. Molina is charged with four counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on September 2, from 2023 to November 2025, Molina executed a scheme to defraud the nonprofit organization. Without the nonprofit’s knowledge or authorization, she diverted funds from the group’s bank account for her own personal expenses, including the mortgage on her home and to pay off her credit card bills. In June 2023, Molina wired approximately $131,523 from the nonprofit’s bank account in Laguna Hills through Federal Reserve facilities in New Jersey and Texas to an account in Santa Ana to pay the delinquent balance on the mortgage on her personal residence. To conceal these unauthorized payments, Molina sent numerous emails to the nonprofit’s board members attaching false treasurer reports that failed to disclose her misappropriation of funds. In total, Molina misappropriated approximately $411,761 that belonged to the nonprofit organization. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Molina would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each count. The FBI is investigating this matter. Chief Assistant United States Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division Jennifer L. Waier is prosecuting this case.


title: Ukrainian National Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy in Connection with Conti Ransomware

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Oleksii Oleksiyovych Lytvynenko, 44, a Ukrainian national, was sentenced today to four years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a conspiracy to deploy Conti, a ransomware variant that infected the computers of more than 1,000 victims worldwide. According to court documents, Lytvynenko, formerly of Cork, Ireland, conspired with others to deploy Conti ransomware to extort victims and steal their data. From 2020 until 2022, Conti was used to attack computers and networks in 47 states, 31 foreign countries, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The FBI estimates that, as of January 2022, there had been victim payouts associated with Conti ransomware exceeding $150,000,000. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of ransomware and the Department’s commitment to protecting America’s hospitals, schools, businesses, and local governments,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “For years, the Conti ransomware group executed a sustained and sophisticated campaign that victimized hundreds of organizations across the United States and abroad, including critical infrastructure entities, causing losses in the millions of dollars. Lytvynenko joined that conspiracy as both an intruder and a developer — personally harming at least 12 companies, storing stolen data from victims, and helping build the malicious tools Conti used to extort and threaten communities. Even after the Conti conspiracy ended, he continued engaging in active ransomware operations until his arrest. Cybercriminals who build, deploy, or profit from malware like Conti — no matter where they operate — will face justice and meaningful consequences in U.S. courts.” “Ransomware attacks like Conti cause real harm to businesses, institutions, and families here at home and around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that cybercriminals cannot hide behind borders or a keyboard to escape justice. We are grateful to our law enforcement and international partners whose work made this result possible.” “Lytvynenko and his co-conspirators used Conti ransomware to attack computers and networks in nearly every state, and today’s sentence reflects the gravity and extent of those crimes,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Ransomware criminals should know they are not anonymous and operating from overseas does not mean operating without consequences. The FBI and our partners will use every lawful tool to dismantle their infrastructure and bring them to justice.” “Conti ransomware caused extraordinary harm, targeting victims across nearly every state and dozens of countries and disrupting critical operations for organizations across multiple industries,” said Assistant Director Brent Daniels of the U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Field Operations. “Today’s sentence is a measure of justice for the victims whose data, operations, and livelihoods were put at risk. It underscores the Secret Service’s commitment to pursuing ransomware actors and their networks wherever they operate and protecting the American people.” Lytvynenko pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy on June 10. Evidence recovered from Lytvynenko’s online accounts showed he possessed data stolen from eight U.S. victims and four overseas victims. Lytvynenko further admitted to joining a team run by a Conti conspirator during which time Lytvynenko was directed to work on coding a “loader,” which is typically a type of malware, or malicious software, that is used to load programs necessary to execute other malicious attacks. Forensic artifacts recovered at the time of his arrest in July 2023 in County Cork, Ireland, further demonstrated ongoing involvement in ransomware activity. In September 2023, an indictment charging four other Conti conspirators was unsealed in the Middle District of Tennessee. The FBI’s San Diego, Nashville, and El Paso Field Offices and the U.S. Secret Service are investigating the case. The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations New York field office provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Sonia V. Jimenez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Phillips for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and the Irish Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration, the Irish Office of the Attorney General and the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau provided valuable assistance to secure the arrest and extradition of Lytvynenko. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.


title: Proposed $125M Settlement Agreement Provides Critical Work for Advancing the Lower Passaic River Superfund Cleanup

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), today lodged a proposed settlement agreement with Environmental Resource Holdings LLC (ERH) to perform critical work to support the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, including the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. The work is estimated to cost $125 million and focuses on the next steps needed to get the in-river work started. Under the proposed consent decree, ERH would construct an upland processing facility and several upland support facilities that would enable dredging and capping work in the Lower Passaic River. The construction would include a facility to handle sediment dredged from the river before it is sent for off-site disposal. The upland support facilities would provide land and infrastructure needed to support future in-river construction work. ERH would sample the lower 8.3 miles of the river to establish a baseline and reimburse EPA for future oversight costs related to this work. “Over many decades, industrial activity contaminated the Lower Passaic River,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement is a significant step toward cleaning up a site that has been a longstanding priority for EPA. We will continue to partner with EPA to promote public health by ensuring that responsible parties remediate Superfund sites.” “The construction ordered in this consent decree is the next step in cleaning up the Lower Passaic River and finally remediating one of the oldest Superfund sites,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Jeffrey Hall. “This settlement demonstrates this Administration’s commitment to expediting work through cooperative engagement and well-tailored agreements.” “This is a huge step in cleaning up one of New Jersey’s most complex Superfund sites,” said Regional Administrator Michael Martucci of EPA Region 2. “The work laid out in this proposed settlement gets shovels in the ground and lays the foundation for dredging and that brings us one important step closer to a cleaner and restored Passaic River.” ERH is a potentially responsible party for the site and a corporate successor to Occidental Chemical Corporation and to Diamond Alkali Company/Diamond Shamrock Corporation, which owned and operated the former Diamond Alkali facility in Newark. The proposed consent decree was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and is subject to a 30-day comment period. The complaint and the proposed consent decree are available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling this matter.


title: Indian National Charged with Making False Claim of U.S. Citizenship to Vote in 2024 Election

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the District of Minnesota returned a two-count indictment today charging Mukeshkumar Somabhai Chaudhari, an Indian national, with knowingly making a false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote in the Nov. 5, 2024 general election. According to the indictment, on or about Nov. 5, 2024, Chaudhari signed the voter signature certificate required by Minnesota law in order to vote in the general election. The certificate required him to swear or affirm that he was a citizen of the United States. The indictment alleges that Chaudhari was not a U.S. citizen and that he knowingly made the false citizenship statement in order to vote. “The right to vote is a sacred privilege of American citizenship, and every lawful voter deserves an election system in which that right is protected,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will hold accountable those who knowingly make false claims of citizenship in order to vote. The integrity of our elections depends on ensuring that only eligible citizens cast ballots and that every lawful vote is counted.” Chaudhari is charged with one count of false information in voting, in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 21144(b), incorporating 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f), and one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to register to vote or vote, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case, with assistance from the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorneys Flavio Abreu and William Rubens of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Hawaii Couple Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Nationwide Tax Refund Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: A Hawaii husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to 16 months and 24 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that involved deceiving the IRS into issuing a nearly $200,000 tax refund and then using shell bank accounts and frivolous legal filings to prevent the government from getting it back. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from approximately February 2015 through November 2018, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, engaged in a fraudulent tax refund scheme by paying a promoter a series of fees in exchange for fraudulent tax paperwork. Armed with those materials, the Hawvers filed an amended 2014 tax return attaching a fabricated IRS Form 1099-MISC — a document that falsely claimed a mortgage company had paid Hawver $749,163 in income and withheld $424,163 of that amount in federal taxes. The fictitious withholding claim prompted the IRS to issue the Hawvers a tax refund for $192,845 that they were not entitled to receive. The Hawvers moved quickly to put the money out of the government’s reach. They deposited the U.S. Treasury check into a newly opened bank account. Within days, they transferred $170,000 into a separate account held in the name of BeverlyB Music LLC, an unrelated music business the Hawvers operated. On that same day, the Hawvers paid co-conspirators more than $70,000 from the BeverlyB Music account for their roles in the scheme. Braumuller-Hawver later wired $22,000 from that account to a jeweler to purchase gold and silver coins. When the IRS began seeking to recover the fraudulent refund, the Hawvers did not simply ignore the notices. Instead, they sent scripted, frivolous correspondence to the IRS, filed a petition in U.S. Tax Court to thwart collection and participated as plaintiffs in multiple frivolous civil RICO lawsuits against IRS employees who were doing their jobs. In March 2026, a federal jury convicted Braumuller-Hawver and Hawver of conspiring to defraud the IRS. The jury also convicted Braumuller-Hawver of filing a false tax return and money laundering. In addition to the term of imprisonment, Chief District Judge Derrick K. Watson ordered Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott Hawver to jointly and severally pay $182,438.37 to the United States in restitution. Along with the Hawvers, the Department of Justice has prosecuted a number of other defendants involved in a nationwide tax fraud scheme that drew in more than 200 participants across at least 19 states. In 2022, the main promoters of the scheme were sentenced to 11 years in prison, more than 8 years in prison, and 51 months in prison. In Hawaii, the scheme was organized and led by Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, who marketed the operation as the “Escrow Trust Refund” program, recruited clients (including the Hawvers) and directed her cut of their fraudulent refunds — between 25 and 40 percent — into accounts held in the name of fictitious business entities and purported trusts. In January 2026, Lastimado-Dradi was sentenced to a total of 9 years in prison. Other Hawaii participants in the scheme have also received significant sentences, including Elvah Miranda (48 months in prison), Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao (33 months in prison), Daniel Miranda (30 months in prison), Brigida Chock ( 27 months in prison) and Lazerrick Lawrence (20 months in prison). Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson for the District of Hawaii made the announcement IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Megan L. Jones and former trial attorney Sarah A. Kiewlicz of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports 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.


title: Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While Serving Abroad

body_text: Adam Schlueter, 40, of Atlanta, was sentenced today to life in prison and lifetime supervised release for physically and sexually assaulting two minors under the age of 10. According to evidence presented at trial, Schlueter was stationed in Grafenwöhr, Germany, while a member of the Army from 2009 until 2013. While there, he physically, emotionally, and sexually abused two minor victims. During trial testimony, both minors described being choked and beaten by Schlueter, among others form of egregious physical abuse. One minor described, at age eight, being pushed through a second-story window and dangled above the ground. Schlueter sexually assaulted both minors when they were under the age of 10. Schlueter also employed threats to prevent his victims and other witnesses from disclosing the abuse to authorities, going so far as to threaten to kill one witness. A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted Schlueter on April 20. “Adam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “There is nothing honorable about subjecting the most vulnerable in our community to violence and sexual exploitation. We are grateful for the strength and courage of the survivors in this case who came forward to end this man’s reign of terror.” “Through his years of sickening abuse, Schlueter betrayed the uniform of the U.S. Army and inflicted unimaginable harm on defenseless children,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “Today’s sentence underscores that we always stand ready — even years later and on the other side of an ocean — to vindicate the victims of such crimes and ensure justice is served.” “Schlueter’s horrific abuse inflicted lasting trauma on children who should have been protected from harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “The FBI will continue to pursue those who prey upon children and hold them accountable for their crimes, no matter how much time has passed. We hope today’s sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims and reinforces that we will never stop fighting to protect children.” The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leanne Marek for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case. CEOS Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew LaGrone for the Northern District of Georgia provided valuable assistance. 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 Justice Department. 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 www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former NFL Player Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Operating Large-Scale Dog Fighting and Trafficking Venture in Oklahoma

body_text: Note, Johnson was sentenced to 60 months in prison. A previous version of the release misstated his prison sentence. The release has been updated. Former NFL player LeShon Johnson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $30,000 fine after being convicted at trial of six dog fighting-related charges. Testimony at trial showed that Johnson — who pleaded guilty in 2004 to Oklahoma dog fighting offenses — had been running a major operation since at least 2007 that bred and sold fighting dogs for profit. Johnson, who previously ran “Krazyside Kennels” referred to his new operation as “Mal Kant Kennels.” The jury heard evidence that Johnson bred and trafficked hundreds of dogs for the purpose of dog fighting around the country. Authorities seized 190 dogs from his property, the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case. Screen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs. Screen grab of a video sent by Johnson of one of his dogs. “LeShon Johnson will face justice for building another particularly egregious and violent dog fighting scheme,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “As Johnson was well aware, dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states. To anyone attempting to build violent and illicit business schemes: you can run, but you can’t hide from the Department of Justice.” “LeShon Johnson continued to traffic dogs for illegal fighting despite a 2004 state conviction for similar conduct,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are grateful to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the FBI for partnering with ENRD to bring this repeat offender to justice and to the U.S. Marshals Service for executing the biggest rescue operation of its kind.” “The defendant operated a business which promoted and profited from animal cruelty,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “I applaud our law enforcement partners for their work to investigate this case and hold Mr. Johnson accountable for his crimes.” “The animals in this case were defenseless and the defendant used them to harm each other for his entertainment,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI appreciates the work of ENRD and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma to hold Mr. Johnson responsible for his mistreatment of these animals.” At trial, the jury heard evidence that Johnson advertised many of his dogs as “champions” and “grand champions,” meaning they had won three or five fights, respectively. Johnson also boasted of the fighting prowess of his dogs. Johnson would sell litters of puppies from favorable fighting bloodlines and “stud fees” for the right to breed with one of his male dogs, with proceeds totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The FBI’s New Orleans Field Office, Shreveport Resident Agency Office investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by former Trial Attorneys Ethan Eddy, Sarah Brown, and Todd Gleason of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, and by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Olivia Staubus for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.


title: Dompé U.S. Agrees to Pay $32M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Self-Disclosure of Patient Kickbacks

component: Civil Division

body_text: Dompé U.S. Inc. (Dompé), based in California, has agreed to pay $32 million to resolve allegations that, between 2018 and 2021, it paid Medicare beneficiary co-pays through two patient assistance foundations to induce the purchase of its drug, Oxervate, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. “This settlement demonstrates the United States’ commitment to enforcing the Anti-Kickback Statute and ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers do not use unlawful inducements,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department encourages companies that uncover improper kickbacks to self-disclose such conduct.” “Kickbacks to beneficiaries undermine the purpose of the Medicare co-pay system and drive up the cost of drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “My Office has recovered over $1.4 billion for taxpayers through settlements and enforcement actions concerning drug company kickbacks to purported charities, and we will continue to pursue these matters to ensure that all drug companies play by the rules and to protect federal taxpayer funded healthcare programs.” “Pharmaceutical manufacturers that attempt to disguise kickbacks as charitable patient assistance are engaging in blatant misconduct which corrupts medical decision‑making and drains federal health care programs,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Dompé’s actions undermined critical safeguards Congress put in place to protect Medicare, driving up costs for taxpayers while exploiting patients. HHS-OIG does not tolerate such conduct and will continue to work tirelessly for justice and accountability.” When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively “co-pays”). Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs. Under the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical manufacturer is prohibited from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration – which includes money or any other thing of value – to induce Medicare patients to purchase the company’s drugs. This prohibition extends to the payment of patients’ co-pay obligations. As part of the settlement, Dompé admitted that, around the time of Oxervate’s 2018 launch in the United States, Dompé U.S. employees expressed reservations about launching the drug before making a payment to a patient assistance foundation that paid the co-pays for Oxervate. After conversations with Dompé employees, two foundations opened funds that, among other things, paid co-pays for Oxervate, and Dompé made contributions to those foundations. Dompé also solicited patient assistance foundation data directly from the foundations, and from the specialty pharmacy that provided hub services to Dompé U.S. patients. This data was provided, directly or indirectly, to certain individuals involved in the patient assistance foundation budgeting process. Dompé is the U.S. subsidiary of Dompé farmaceutici S.p.A., a pharmaceutical company incorporated in Italy. Dompé farmaceutici self-disclosed this conduct to the United States. Following the disclosure, both Dompé farmaceutici and Dompé U.S. cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking self-disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: The Department of Justice Files Complaints Against Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah Over Preferential Treatment for Illegal Aliens

body_text: Today, the Department of Justice filed its final four lawsuits against three states and the District of Columbia who seek to undermine federal law by placing illegal aliens over citizens in clear defiance of Congress’s commands. The Department filed complaints against Hawaii , the District of Columbia , Arkansas , and Utah , challenging their state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance for illegal aliens. Our filings hold that these laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal aliens with benefits that U.S. citizens are not eligible for, all in direct conflict with federal law. These final lawsuits come after the United States District Court for the District of Kansas ruled yesterday that Kansas’ state law allowing in-state tuition for illegal aliens is unconstitutional. “No more placing illegal aliens over American citizens on this Department of Justice’s watch,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “We have now sued every state across our Nation that has a state law or regulation granting illegal aliens in-state tuition. We look forward to favorable court rulings and will continue to deliver on President Trump’s promise: illegal aliens will not receive benefits denied to American citizens.” “This is a simple matter of federal law: colleges cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This Department of Justice will not tolerate American students being treated like second-class citizens in their own country.” In the complaints, the United States seeks to enjoin enforcement of Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah laws and regulations that require colleges and universities to provide in-state tuition rates for all aliens who maintain in-state residency, regardless of whether those aliens are lawfully present in the United States. Additionally, the complaint seeks to enjoin Hawaii, DC, Arkansas, and Utah from enforcing their state laws and regulations that afford financial assistance and scholarships to illegal aliens. Today’s lawsuits bring the Department’s total to 25 lawsuits challenging in-state tuition for illegal aliens. Under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Department’s efforts have already delivered wins for the American people, as six lawsuits in Texas , Kentucky , Oklahoma , Nebraska , Illinois , and Kansas have resulted favorable orders permanently enjoining and declaring unconstitutional similar laws that gave reduced tuition to illegal aliens, including an order from the Fifth Circuit . Lawsuits against other states whose state laws similarly put illegal aliens ahead of U.S. citizens are pending across the across the country in Minnesota , Virginia , California , New Jersey , Massachusetts , Rhode Island , Maryland , Colorado , New York , Connecticut , Vermont , Arizona , New Mexico , Oregon , and Washington .