title: Gainesville Felons Convicted of Possession of Firearm & Ammunition

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Reginald Duante Davis, 35, Gainesville, Florida, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Gainesville following a two-day jury trial for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “If we are to be effective in our mission to eliminate crime, it is absolutely necessary to incapacitate chronic offenders – like these defendants – with robust prosecutions and strict incarceration. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting serial criminals to remove them from our streets and keep our communities safe.” On April 12, 2024, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for multiple traffic violations. Kelvin Wright was the driver, and Reginald Davis was the passenger in the front seat. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, a loaded firearm was located in the center console. Both Wright and Davis are prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition as convicted felons with multiple prior felony convictions. The DNA of both defendants was located on the firearm in various locations. This guilty verdict is the defendant’s second conviction for possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Kelvin Wright previously pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Davis and Wright each face up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The case was jointly investigated by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt. Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: South Korean National Pleads Guilty To Million Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme, Illegal Re-Entry, And False Use Of Passport

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Sangsoo Kim pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to Illegal Re-Entry, False Use of a Passport, Fraudulent Use of One or More Counterfeit Access Devices, and Bank Fraud. Sangsoo Kim, 56, a national of South Korea was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 16, 2025. Under the plea agreement, Kim pleaded guilty to 4 felony counts. In pleading guilty, Kim admitted that in 2020, he was convicted of a felony fraud offense and was deported as a result of that conviction. Sometime thereafter, he illegally re-entered the United States. After illegally re-entering the United States, he executed a scheme wherein he used a fraudulent passport to open 72 fraudulent bank accounts at various banks. Beginning no later than November of 2023, Kim executed a check-kiting scheme, where he deposited fraudulent checks into the bank accounts and then quickly withdrew money from the account before the bank became aware the check was fraudulent. Kim admitted he carried out this scheme from at least November of 2023 through at least July of 2025, resulting in a loss amount of $1,195.795.96. As a result of his guilty plea, Kim agreed to forfeit more than $144,000 in cash that was seized in relation to his criminal activity. Kim is currently in federal custody. Kim’s sentencing hearing is scheduled on October 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine for his Bank Fraud conviction; 10 years and a fine of $250,00 for each conviction of Illegal Re-Entry and False Use of a Passport; and 30 years and a fine of $250,000 for his Fraudulent Use of One or More Counterfeit Access Devices conviction. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Dahlke is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessie Chelsea and Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation


title: Mexican citizen sentenced for illegally reentering the U.S.

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS – A Mexican woman living in Roundup, who was in the country illegally, was sentenced Thursday to time served, followed by her removal from the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Gabriela Lopez-Castro, 35, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that Lopez-Castro was in the country illegally after having been deported in 2019 and again in 2024. She was arrested in Musselshell County on Feb. 4, 2026, on allegations of partner or family member assault. Musselshell County sheriff’s deputies called the Malta Border Patrol Station for help when they discovered Lopez-Castro had no U.S. identification. The next day, Lopez-Castro acknowledged to Border Patrol agents she had returned to the U.S. illegally. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Red Lake Man Sentenced to 72 Months’ Imprisonment for Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Justyce Edward Lussier was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment for receiving child pornography. Lussier was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on July 30, 2026. Court documents show that between 2023 and 2024, Lussier solicited and received pornographic images of a minor under the age of 16, and on at least two occasions, he contributed to the production of child pornography. “This sentence cannot undo the harm the defendant caused, but it delivered justice. My office will spare no resources to protect children and prosecute those who prey on them,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “The FBI responds with urgency to allegations involving the exploitation of children, and this case demonstrates how swift investigative action can protect victims and prevent further harm,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “We recognize the resilience of the victim and the significant impact these offenses have on families and the broader community. The FBI, together with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains firmly committed to pursuing justice, safeguarding children, and holding offenders accountable for their actions.” This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from other local law enforcement partners. Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Grey prosecuted the case.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Jeffrey Thomas Simon, 39, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. Simon pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jerry W. Blackwell on July 30, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. According to court documents, between on or about August 2023 to January 2025, Simon knowingly used a messaging application to persuade, include, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Throughout this time, Simon knowingly coerced Victim 1, who in August 2023 was a 13-year-old female, to engage in sexual activity. Simon additionally said to Victim 1 that if she ever left or reported him, that he would kill either himself or her. In January 2025, the parent of Victim 1 contacted law enforcement again to now report that Simon had sexually assaulted Victim 1. When investigators searched Simon’s phone, they found additional conversations on a messaging application between him and other persons who self-identified as minor females. “There is no higher priority than protecting children, and today’s guilty plea highlights my office’s unwavering commitment to ensuring offenders are held accountable,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. This case is the result of an investigation by the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, North Saint Paul Police Department, Roseville Police Department, Fridley Police Department, FBI, with assistance from other local law enforcement partners. Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir 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. Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc .


title: Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Exploiting a 15-Year-Old

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: NASHVILLE – Aaron Samson Riley, 38, of Madison, Alabama, was sentenced on July 31, 2026, to 25 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. also sentenced Riley to ten years of supervised release. Riley will be required to register as a sex offender. Riley pleaded guilty to both counts of the indictment on April 24, 2026. Under a binding plea agreement, Riley and the government agreed to the 25-year term of imprisonment. “Aaron Riley repeatedly sexually exploited a 15-year-old child and continued his criminal conduct even after law enforcement intervened across multiple states,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “This 25-year sentence holds him accountable and protects the public from a defendant who demonstrated that he would not stop on his own. We are grateful to the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers whose persistence brought this child to safety and Riley to justice.” “Sexual exploitation of children is a heinous crime. This case demonstrates the importance of collaboration among law enforcement partners and the commitment to holding offenders accountable for these serious crimes,” said HSI Nashville acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Perez. According to court documents, the child was reported missing from Alabama in April 2023. Alabama law enforcement determined that Riley had been in frequent telephone contact with the child around the time he ran away. In May 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service located Riley and the child together in Georgia after a concerned citizen reported encountering the child at a library. Riley and the child returned to Alabama, but Riley later fled Alabama with the child again. They remained on the run until September 29, 2023, when Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officers arrested Riley after responding to a burglary at an unoccupied residence in Nashville. The child was located near the residence. Homeland Security Investigations seized a cellphone from Riley and additional electronic devices from his vehicle. After obtaining federal search warrants, investigators extracted the electronic devices and discovered child sexual abuse material, including sexually explicit images and videos of the child that Riley had produced in Tennessee and other states. Riley has remained in custody since his arrest. The government’s sentencing memorandum also stated that Riley was convicted of cyberstalking in 2021 for conduct involving the solicitation of sexually explicit images and videos from an 11-year-old relative and threats to distribute those images. Restitution will be determined at a later date. The court also ordered Riley to forfeit two cellphones and two tablets used to commit or facilitate the offenses. Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison prosecuted the case. #####


title: Former Edison City Clerk Faces 10 Years in Prison for Federal Program Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – The Former City Clerk of Edison, Georgia, admitted in federal court this week that she used taxpayer money for personal purchases following an investigation into the mismanagement of City finances, resulting from a National Fraud Enforcement Division investigation led by the FBI. “No matter the amount or intent, misusing government funds for personal gain is a serious crime that erodes public trust,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "The National Fraud Enforcement Division is committed to investigating and prosecuting all forms of government waste, fraud, and abuse, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are protected and those who betray the public’s confidence are held accountable." “This guilty plea is a reminder that those entrusted with public funds are not above the law,” said Thomas Clark, Supervisory Senior Special Agent of the Albany office of FBI Atlanta. “This breach of trust undermines the integrity of public office. The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.” Tami Fincher, 64, of Edison, pleaded guilty to one count of federal program theft before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on July 30. Fincher faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The Court will determine her sentencing date. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI met with City of Edison representatives on Dec. 7, 2023. During the meeting, one individual explained to investigators he had been contacted by Fincher, the City’s former Clerk, earlier in the year and advised that Edison was unable to pay a loan they owed. City representatives began to investigate the issue and immediately recognized significant financial mismanagement of the city's accounts. Edison received more than $10,000 in federal program funds annually. Fincher began working as the City Clerk for Edison in March 2018 and was responsible for the City’s finances. Fincher was issued a city credit card. A review of Fincher’s city credit card statements revealed a large quantity of inappropriate personal charges made using that card, including dining out, dog treats, Amazon purchases, and designer clothing. Between 2018 and 2023, Fincher made more than $5,000 in unauthorized personal purchases using that card. Fincher resigned from her position in July 2023. On April 7, the Department of Justice 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 J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The FBI investigated the case. Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shiante McMahon are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Two Additional Ophthalmology Practices Agree to Pay $2.3M to Resolve Allegations of Fraudulent Claims to Medicare and Medicaid for Cranial Ultrasounds

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL - New York ophthalmology practices Mark D. Fromer, P.C. doing business as Fromer Eye Centers and Floral Park Ophthalmology P.C. have agreed to pay a total of $2.3 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act arising from their billing for trans-cranial doppler ultrasounds (TCDs) through a kickback arrangement with a third-party testing company. The Estate of Mark Fromer, the former owner of Fromer Eye Centers, also joined in the settlement with the practice. Both practices have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s ongoing investigations of other participants in the alleged scheme. “Medical service providers who place profit above patients not only compromise the integrity of our health care system, but patients’ care,” stated U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office will continue working with our partners to combat fraud against our federal health care programs.” “The integrity of healthcare decision-making depends on sound medical advice that is free from undue influence of illegal kickbacks and other improper arrangements,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will continue to hold accountable healthcare providers who engage in such schemes.” “Kickback arrangements work to corrupt impartial medical decision-making and drive up health care costs for everyone,” said Special Agent in Charge Isaac M. Bledsoe of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who attempt to defraud federal health care programs.” The settlements announced today resolve allegations that the settling practices knowingly submitted, and caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare (and, with respect to Fromer Eye, Medicaid) for medically unnecessary TCDs. The United States alleges that the settling practices performed TCDs on thousands of patients and billed Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of dollars per test. Before the patients received the results of the test, the practices and the third-party testing company allegedly identified the patients as having received a serious diagnosis that could qualify the patient for reimbursement of a TCD. However, the United States alleged that nearly all patients who received TCDs never had that diagnosis, and it was not reflected in the patient’s medical history or in the TCD results. In addition, Floral Park Ophthalmology allegedly received remuneration paid by the third-party testing company to induce the practice to refer its Medicare and Medicaid patients to the testing provider for TCDs. The United States alleged that as a result of this scheme, the settling practices submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for TCDs that were medically unnecessary, that were premised on false diagnoses, and that resulted from violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Law. As a result of the settlements, Fromer Eye Centers and the Estate of Mark Fromer will pay $1,800,000 and Floral Park Ophthalmology will pay $500,000. Of the total settlement amounts, $384,000 will be paid to the State of New York for its share of Medicaid, which is a jointly funded federal and state program. The civil settlements resolved claims in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the Government’s recovery. The qui tam was filed by a whistleblower who will receive approximately $132,000 in connection with the settlement with Fromer Eye Centers. The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI. The United States previously resolved similar allegations against Brandon Eye Associates P.A. , Pinellas Eye Care, P.A. (doing business as Gulfcoast Eye Care) , Clay Eye Holdings LLC, Retina Macula Specialist of Miami LLC, Florida Eye Institute P.A., Miami Eye LLC, and Kendall Eye Institute Inc . The government’s pursuit 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 HHS at 1-800-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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mamie Wise for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Nelson Wagner in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Gainesville Man Sentenced to Over 14 Years for Robbery and Firearm Offenses

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Michael Deon Woulard (50, Gainesville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 14 years and 10 months in federal prison for robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Woulard pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and proceedings, on October 10, 2023, Woulard robbed a Value Pawn shop in Jacksonville, stealing goods valued at approximately $45,945. On November 25, 2023, Woulard robbed a Kay Jewelers store in Jacksonville, during which he brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry valued at approximately $352,623.66. On February 20, 2024, Woulard robbed another Kay Jewelers store in Ocala, during which he again brandished a semi-automatic pistol at employees and stole jewelry valued at approximately $364,752.56. Woulard was arrested on February 21, 2024, while in possession of numerous stolen items from the third robbery. During a voluntary interview with investigators from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department, he admitted to committing the jewelry store robberies. Woulard was ordered to pay $442,582.59 in restitution to the victims. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian.


title: Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty of Four Robberies with a Firearm

body_text: Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has Devon Floyd (34) guilty of four counts of Hobbs Act robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Floyd faces up to 20 years in prison for each robbery offense and a minimum sentence of 28 years, up to life, for the firearms offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in July 2023, Floyd robbed four separate convenience stores throughout the Middle District of Florida. He used a firearm during each robbery. The first break in the case occurred when the Tampa Police Department identified a print belonging to Floyd on a box of pens Floyd had touched during one of the robberies. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives collected physical and video evidence from the crime scenes. Using video footage, fingerprints, and DNA evidence, agents were to place Floyd at the scenes of other robberies. The investigation also led to the arrest and conviction of Leanna Bryant (age 29) and Kavar Young (age 34). Bryant pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and two counts of brandishing a firearm. She is currently awaiting sentencing. Young pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, Hobbs Act robbery, and brandishing a firearm. He was sentenced to three years and ten months in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Temple Terrace Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Port Police Department. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with cellphone location analysis. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. 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: Apollo Beach Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Ludwin Borgen (49, Apollo Beach) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 27 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of a person. A jury found Borgen guilty on April 1, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to evidence presented at trial, Borgen was a drug dealer in the Tampa Bay area who had supplied the victim with fentanyl on multiple instances in the past. In the late evening of March 28, 2022, the victim began reaching out to Borgen to arrange a purchase the next day. On March 29, 2022, the victim met Borgen at a pharmacy, where she purchased fentanyl from him. The victim returned to a residence where she had been staying with a friend. That evening, the victim injected herself with the fentanyl while soaking in the bathtub. Intoxicated by the fentanyl, she slid under the water and drowned. After noticing that the victim had been in the bathroom for an extended period of time, her friend checked on her and found her body in the bathtub with her head submerged under the water and a syringe floating next to her. Toxicology revealed that the victim had approximately ten times the therapeutic concentration of fentanyl in her system—a concentration consistent with overdose deaths. Detectives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office who specialize in overdose deaths investigated and identified Borgen as the person who had sold the fentanyl to the victim. A detective used her phone to arrange another meeting with Borgen, who arrived intending to sell more fentanyl to the victim. After the investigation team arrested Borgen, they searched his vehicle and found fentanyl, baggies, syringes, and a scale. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Muriel Moore and Michael Sinacore.


title: Honduran Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry After Previous Deportation

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a national from Honduras, residing in Halethorpe, Maryland, today, in connection with an illegal immigration crime. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Carlos Amador Lopez, 30, to 10 months in federal prison for illegal re-entry of an alien after a prior conviction and removal. In 2018, authorities convicted Amador Lopez of robbery, an aggravated felony, in Nebraska. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Field Office Director Robert Guadian, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Washington D.C. Field Office. According to court documents, following his conviction for an aggravated felony, authorities removed Amador Lopez from the United States. As part of his removal, authorities advised Amador Lopez that, due to his conviction, he is excluded from re-entering the U.S. After his initial removal, Amador Lopez voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the U.S. without inspection or permission on two separate occasions. Authorities removed Amador Lopez from the U.S. in 2021, and 2024, respectively. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission. On December 31, 2025, law enforcement encountered Amador Lopez and took him into custody. Then on June 1, 2026, Amador Lopez pled guilty to illegal re-entry after prior removal and conviction of an aggravated felony. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared W. Murphy who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: 14 Indicted in Connection with Federal Investigation Into West Baltimore Drug Operation

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

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced, today, that 14 Baltimore men face indictment stemming from a federal investigation into a group running an open-air drug market in West Baltimore. A federal grand jury indicted Walter Epps, 41; Luther Amos, 54; Antoine Benjamin, 34; Wendell Boykins Jr., 37; Davon Brown, 30; Zy’quin Coleman, 24; Xavier Cooper, 20; Antonio Curtis, 41; Keith Fryson, 22; James Keene, 62; Antonio Mason, 33; Miayon Medley, 25; Gregory Alexander Partlow, 38; and Darien Whitaker, 39. The co-conspirators are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; and aiding & abetting, in connection with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Operation Tug of War . Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, ATF; Ivan J. Bates, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City; and Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to the indictment, the co-conspirators operated multiple “street shops” in open-air markets where they sold narcotics, including fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine. They primarily ran shops in the 1800 blocks of North Carey and Woodyear Streets. Epps served as an overseer of one of the street shops. He worked alongside Amos, Boykins, Brown, Curtis, Keene, Medley, Partlow, and other co-conspirators, who held supervisory roles. Epps and the other supervisors coordinated drug sales; resupplied subordinates with drugs; collected money from subordinates and counted it after sales; and, in some cases, conducted sales themselves. The co-conspirators, who typically sold drugs daily, used multiple “stash” locations to store drugs for distribution, including outdoor “ground-stash” locations for immediate resupply. Additionally, the co-conspirators used residences, such as Amos’s, and others nearby, to hold larger quantities of narcotics. On some occasions, the co-conspirators, and others, unknowingly sold drugs to a confidential informant (CI) or undercover investigator (UI). The CI and UI ordered larger distribution-level quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and/or crack cocaine. On July 29, law enforcement executed arrest and search warrants in connection with the operation. During the execution of the warrants, law enforcement seized seven firearms; more than 450 rounds of ammunition; several hundred gel caps of suspected fentanyl; more than one kilo of suspected cocaine; several hundred grams of suspected fentanyl; more than six pounds of marijuana; approximately 1,500 pills containing an unknown, suspected controlled dangerous substance; approximately $15,000 in cash; and 32 phones. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, the co-conspirators face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, the co-conspirators are facing up to 20 years for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, with some facing a five-year mandatory minimum, and up to 40 years, for knowingly distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Major Investigations Unit, and BPD for their work in the investigation, along with the U.S. Department of Treasury IRS-Criminal Investigation Maryland Financial Intelligence Crimes Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service, Anne Arundel County Police Department, and Baltimore County Police Department for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Alexander Levin who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # # Agency Quotes Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland “This operation and arrests highlight our continued commitment to holding individuals accountable who endanger the welfare of others,” Hayes said. “Illicit drug activity — whether in open-air markets or elsewhere — threatens public safety and has no place in our communities. We’re committed to collaborating with our law-enforcement partners to hold those who traffic drugs accountable and to eradicate criminal activity throughout Maryland.” Charles Doerrer, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Baltimore “I am proud of the work our ATF special agents did with our federal, state, and local partners,” Doerrer said. “ATF agents worked tirelessly in this case to hold those who flood our neighborhoods with dangerous drugs accountable.” Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore City State’s Attorney “Open-air drug markets wreak lasting harm on our neighborhoods by fueling violence, driving addiction, and robbing residents of the safe, healthy communities they deserve. These indictments demonstrate what is possible when our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners work together with a shared mission to dismantle criminal enterprises that threaten public safety,” Bates said. “I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, ATF Baltimore, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the Baltimore Police Department, and every agency involved in this investigation for their unwavering commitment to protecting the people of Baltimore. Together, we are sending a clear message that those who profit from poisoning our communities will be identified, investigated, and held fully accountable for the trauma they have inflicted.” Police Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department “Today's announcement reflects the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department, who continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle the drug trafficking organizations that threaten our neighborhoods,” Worley said. “These investigations are about more than making arrests, they’re about improving the quality of life for our residents by disrupting the violence and crime that accompany open-air drug markets. Together, and with the support of our community, we remain committed to making Baltimore safer.”


title: United States Attorney’s Office Files Civil Forfeiture Action to Recover Crypto Involved in Online Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office has filed a civil forfeiture action to recover 47,461.73111 USDT (Tether), alleged to be proceeds of an online fraud scheme in which scammers directed victims to deposit funds into cryptocurrency ATMs and then took the funds. The cryptocurrency currently has an estimated value of approximately $47,000. As alleged in the complaint, the home computer of a Ware Mass. resident became unresponsive, and a pop-up window directed her to call a customer support telephone number. The victim spoke with an individual who claimed to be a customer service representative but in reality, was a scammer. The scammer told the victim that their bank account had been compromised and to “protect” their money, the victim needed to transfer their money to the government for safekeeping. At the direction of the scammers, the victim withdrew funds from their bank account and deposited them into a Bitcoin Depot brand cryptocurrency ATM at a gas station in Ludlow, Mass. From there, the victim’s money was transferred to the fraud perpetrators. Law enforcement traced some funds to a cryptocurrency wallet and seized those funds in March 2026. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement identified four other victims of a similar scam whose funds could be traced to the same cryptocurrency wallet. It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. It is also a violation of federal law to conduct a financial transaction knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of criminal proceeds. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims. This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims. Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, tech support scams, investment scams and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The Ludlow Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carole E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture action. The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations.


title: Two Brockton Brothers Plead Guilty to Staging Credit Union Heist

body_text: BOSTON – Two Brockton men pleaded guilty on July 24, 2026 in federal court in Boston to the Sept. 24, 2024, robbery of the Energy Credit Union in West Roxbury, Mass. The defendants stole $197,146 from the Credit Union where one brother was employed as a teller. Jenel Flounoury, 30, and Justin Flounoury, 34, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit larceny from a credit union. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 19, 2026. Both men were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025 . The Flounourys conspired to stage a “robbery” of the Credit Union where Jenel was employed. Specifically, on the day of the robbery, Justin entered the Credit Union wearing a hat, dark clothing, sunglasses and a mask. At the time, Janel was working at the teller window inside the Credit Union. Justin approached the teller window and passed Jenel a note reading “Hand it Over.” Rather than provide the “robber” with the limited amount of cash in his teller drawer, Jenel got up from his chair, entered the Credit Union’s vault and gathered almost $200,000 in cash. Unable to carry that amount in his hands, Jenel got a bag from within the vault and placed that cash inside to provide the “robber.” Justin then left the Credit Union with the bag of cash. Cellphone records showed Justin travelled home to the residence he shared with Jenel. Within hours of his arrival home, Jenel and Justin were observed lighting a fire on a grill, and then burning dark colored clothing, consistent with that worn by the robber. These events were captured on video and burnt clothing was later recovered from the grill. A search of the defendants’ shared residence later that night resulted in the recovery of over $160,000 in cash, including 10 $100 bills whose serial numbers matched those stolen from the Credit Union vault during the robbery. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Grady and John Potapchuk of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to Four Years Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass., man has been sentenced for distributing and conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Emilio Garcia-Cappas, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to four years in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release. In April 2026 , Garcia-Cappas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. Between Feb. 5, 2024, and Feb. 22, 2024, Garcia-Cappas conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Feb. 12, 2024, Garcia-Cappas distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl. On three separate occasions, Garcia-Cappas and his co-conspirators sold fentanyl to undercover law enforcement. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd E. Newhouse and Thomas A. Barnico, Jr. of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Norfolk Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Minor

body_text: BOSTON – A Norfolk man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to sexually exploiting a two-year-old minor victim from Massachusetts. Ethan Irving, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Oct. 27, 2026. Irving was arrested and charged in January 2026 . In June 2025, Irving was identified as an online user who uploaded three files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Kik Messenger. A July 2025 forensic analysis of two cell phones sized from Irving’s residence located multiple media files depicting CSAM. As a result of the findings, Irving was arrested and charged in Wrentham District Court in July 2025. He subsequently pleaded guilty to Dissemination of Obscene Matter and Possession of Child Pornography on Dec. 3, 2025, for which he was sentenced to two years of probation with conditions that prohibit his contact with children. According to the charging documents, on Dec. 15, 2025, while reviewing evidence related to Irving’s state prosecution, additional CSAM was located on Irving’s devices that had not previously been seen by investigators. Specifically, the images appeared to be a continuous series, sequential in time, depicting Irving sexually abusing a two-year-old female toddler. The images appeared to have been taken inside a bedroom at Irving’s residence, with the bedding depicted in the images matching sheets observed and photographed during a search of the home in July 2025. The charge of sexual exploitation of minors (and attempt and conspiracy) provides for a sentence of no less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, Michael Cox; Mark Comorosky, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; and James Floyd, Chief of the Plainville Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police, the East Bridgewater Police Department, and the Norfolk Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Montana Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening to Kill Massachusetts Resident

body_text: BOSTON – A Montana man who allegedly threatened to kill a Massachusetts resident was arrested yesterday. Matthew Shelley, 37, of Missoula, Montana, was indicted on July 23, 2026, by a federal grand jury in Boston with one count of transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce. Shelley is scheduled to have an initial appearance and detention hearing in the District of Montana on Aug. 3, 2026. He will appear in Boston at a later date. According to court documents, on Oct. 18, 2025, Shelly used X (formerly Twitter) to threaten a Massachusetts resident.: He allegedly wrote, “You work for k|kes who murdered my family family. I will kill you.” On July 30, 2026, Shelley was arrested at his home in Montana. The charge of transmitting threatening communications in interstate commerce carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Massachusetts Ophthalmology Practice to Pay Nearly $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

body_text: BOSTON – Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Inc. (OCB) has agreed to pay $3,902,588.28 to resolve allegations that it falsely billed federal healthcare programs. Between Jan. 1, 2015 and July 30, 2025, OCB submitted claims to Medicare and MassHealth—Massachusetts’s Medicaid program—for office visits at which ophthalmologists administered intravitreal (i.e., directly into the eye) injections of certain medications. However, Medicare and MassHealth do not permit billing for office visits in addition to billing for the injections themselves, except under special circumstances. OCB billed for the office visits using a special billing code (Modifier 25) even when it did not perform the service to justify billing the extra amount or have documentation to support the extra billed amount. The government contends that, through this conduct, OCB submitted false claims to Medicare and MassHealth for these office visits. The settlement credits OCB for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation, and Remediation into Account in False Claim Act Matters. The claims against OCB were brought under the whistleblower or qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the FCA, private parties may sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. The relator will receive a share from the proceeds of the settlement. The lawsuit is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. John Doe v. Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, Inc., et al., 24-cv-11495. U.S. Attorney Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit. ophthalmic_consultants_of_boston_settlement_agreement_fully_signed_2026.07.31.pdf


title: Longmeadow Accountant Sentenced to Prison for $18 Million Loan Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Longmeadow woman was sentenced yesterday for defrauding commercial lenders out of almost $20 million dollars over a four-year period. Christine Gendron, 62, a former certified public accountant, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to one year of confinement, with six months to be served in federal prison and six months under home confinement with a GPS monitoring device, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gendron was also ordered to pay $392,607 in restitution for bank fraud, her apportioned share of the total loss. In June 2025 , Gendron pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Gendron engaged in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud along with her sister, Jeanette Norman, and brother-in-law, Louis Masaschi, defrauding commercial lenders on multiple occasions. Together, they provided false and fraudulent rent rolls and forged lease agreements for numerous properties located in Springfield, Mass.; East Longmeadow, Mass.; and Enfield, Conn. Gendron worked as the financial manager for Norman and Masaschi at LL Realty Developers, LLC, an umbrella company which owned primarily commercial and some residential property in Western Massachusetts, Connecticut and elsewhere. The three conspired with each other to fraudulently obtain loans from financial institutions and commercial lenders by providing materially false, fictitious and fraudulent financial information – including false rent rolls and forged lease agreements. After receiving the loans, they defaulted on the loans, causing substantial losses to the financial institutions and commercial lenders, including two community credit unions, and leaving the buildings vacant. Between May 2016 and November 2018, the coconspirators fraudulently obtained or sought to obtain approximately $60,123,000 in loans and caused a total loss of $18,203,030. In July 2026 , Masaschi was sentenced to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Masaschi was also ordered to pay $18,203,030 in restitution. Gendron’s sister and other co-conspirator, Jeanette Norman pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug.11, 2026. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lynn, Mass. has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Yodenny Michael Baez-Cabrera, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2026. Baez-Cabrera was charged in April 2026 . Baez-Cabrera was deported from the United States on July 18, 2017. Sometime after his July 2017 removal, Baez-Cabrera illegally reentered the United States without permission. In 2015, Baez-Cabrera was convicted of felony assault with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation in Peabody District Court. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Pleads Guilty to Stealing $340,000 Cash from Elderly Scam Victims

body_text: BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Inspector has pleaded guilty to stealing over $340,000 cash from packages mailed by elderly victims of lottery fraud scams, laundering some of the cash and failing to report it to the IRS. Scott Kelley, 52, of Pembroke, Mass. pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud; five counts of mail fraud; five counts of mail theft by a postal officer; 23 counts of money laundering; one count of structuring to evade reporting requirements; and five counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled Kelley’s sentencing for Nov. 18, 2026. Kelley was a federal law enforcement officer authorized to carry a firearm, make arrests and execute search warrants. He worked at the Boston Division headquarters of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service. The primary mission of USPIS is to protect postal customers from criminal use of the mail system. In 2015, Kelley became the Team Leader in charge of the Mail Fraud team. He supervised Postal Inspectors who investigated lottery and other scams that targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. Kelley worked hand in hand with federal prosecutors investigating and prosecuting federal crimes involving the mail. Working with Jamaican law enforcement authorities, USPIS began a nationwide crime-prevention initiative, Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing (“JOLT”), to disrupt mail fraud scams originating in Jamaica that targeted U.S. residents with false promises of sweepstakes or lottery winnings. Posing as lottery representatives, scammers contacted elderly persons and other vulnerable victims and persuaded them to mail funds to pay “fees” or “taxes” that they supposedly needed to front before they could collect their prize. USPS created a daily JOLT Report, a list of packages that likely contained cash sent by scam victims. Between Jan. 2019 and Aug. 11, 2023, Kelley requested – directly or through support staff – that about 1,950 JOLT parcels be intercepted and sent to him. It is alleged that Kelley received hundreds of those packages. He opened the ones that looked or felt like they might contain cash and stole any cash inside. Victims of Kelley’s scheme included: A retired Army veteran in Kansas, then age 76, who mailed $19,100 cash; A retired construction supervisor in Mississippi, then age 82, who mailed $7,500 cash; An Indiana resident who cleaned houses while raising five children, who mailed $2,000 cash when they were 78; A retired nurse with Parkinson’s disease living in Waltham, Mass., who mailed $5,400 cash when they were 78; A 56-year old victim on Social Security disability benefits living in Holliston, Mass., who mailed $15,000 cash; A retired apartment building manager in New Jersey, then age 82, who mailed $1,400 cash; and A retired nurse’s aide in Oklahoma, then age 70, who mailed $10,800 cash. Although it is unknown how much Kelley stole in total, he possessed approximately $340,000 in cash during the period when he was receiving hundreds of intercepted JOLT parcels. Of this amount: He deposited about $131,000 into four separate bank accounts, on about 60 different dates, in amounts never exceeding $4,800. He allegedly did so to avoid being flagged as a customer depositing an unusually large amount of cash, which, as Kelley knew, could trigger the banks to report him to federal financial regulators. He paid about $158,000 in cash to buy approximately 165 postal money orders, most of which he deposited into his bank accounts or used to pay credit card bills. He always bought less than $3,000 in a day, knowing that post offices are required to collect identification information only from customers who buy $3,000 or more in money orders in a single day. On more than 20 of the money orders he bought, Kelley falsely identified two of his relatives as the payers. He did so to try to conceal that he was the cash purchaser of the money orders. He made almost $50,000 in cash purchases. These included $20,500 for a patio around his backyard pool: He also paid $4,800 in cash for a marble countertop on his pool bar and to heat the pool; $4,888 in cash to install landscape lights around the pool and lighting for the pool bar; and $4,300 in cash for bar drinks and other expenses incurred during Caribbean cruises he took with his family. Kelley also paid $15,400 in cash to two prostitutes whom he met during workdays and with whom he texted using a burner phone: Members of the public who believe they may be victims of this case or other elder fraud scams should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . Suspected mail fraud can also be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service online or by calling (877) 876-2455. The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail theft by a postal officer each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The charge of structuring provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of filing false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael Ray, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Professional Responsibility, Technical and Sensitive Operations Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Eric L. Hawkins are prosecuting the case.


title: Asian Boyz Gang Member Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Pill Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell, Mass. man with allegiance to the Asian Boyz gang was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing and conspiring to distribute thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In April 2026 , Landry pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. Landry was among five charged in January 2025 . In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell. The investigation revealed that Landry, an Asian Boyz gang member, formed an alleged conspiracy with another gang member, Sovath Yern, a/k/a “Stryke,” to profit from the sales of bulk quantities of the counterfeit Adderall pills. Co-defendant Zachary Hansen agreed to let Landry use his residence in Lowell as one of the group’s storage and distribution centers. At Landry’s direction, Hansen also sold the counterfeit Adderall pills and collected payments. Specifically, Landry negotiated two large counterfeit Adderall pill deals in July and August 2024 and directed the buyers to Landry’s Lowell residence to complete the transactions. Unbeknownst to Landry and Hansen, the pill deals were part of law enforcement operations to surveil and record the purchases. In July 2024, a cooperating witness met Hansen inside the Lowell residence and paid him $2,000 in exchange for 5,000 pills. In August 2024, a co-conspirator was observed, travelling back and forth from Landry’s residence in Lowell during a deal with a second cooperating witness, who paid another $2,000 in exchange for 2,000 pills. Later in 2024, Landry himself sold pills he had allegedly obtained from Yern’s apartment in Billerica to a cooperating witness. Specifically, on two separate occasions in November 2024 and December 2024, Landry directed the cooperating witness to meet him in the garage of Yern’s apartment complex. After meeting the cooperating witness and taking the cash payments, Landry then entered the building where Yern allegedly escorted him inside. Landry was seen entering Yern’s apartment with the money and then leaving with large bags of pills. Landry then returned to the cooperating witness to deliver methamphetamine pills – 4,000 pills in November 2024 and 5,000 pills in December 2024. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant in the case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: USAO-KS spreads awareness about jury duty scams

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) continues to spread the word about government imposter scams. In the spirit of Elder Justice Coordinating Council’s (EJCC) Never EVER campaign, USAO-KS wants to raise awareness about a specific imposter scam, the jury duty scam. U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser is sharing information with the public about what they should Never EVER do after receiving calls or other types of solicitations claiming to be from federal or state court staff. In recent months, law enforcement agencies in the Sedgwick County/Wichita area have notified USAO-KS about an increase in residents reporting being victims of or targeted by jury duty scams. Residents say individuals contacted them claiming to represent the U.S. District Court of Kansas or the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office. These individuals told residents that they had failed to show up for a jury summons and are facing possible arrest. The callers tell people they can avoid going to jail by immediately paying a fine that some victims report to be as high as $1,500. In some cases, references are made to a specific judge or a claim is that a hearing is set but would be cancelled if payment is made immediately. This is a scam!! “These imposter scammers lie, and their lies are elaborate and try to mix small elements of truth to gain trust. They make up complicated stories designed to frighten you, so you’ll panic and act quickly before taking time to think about what to do or talk to someone you trust,” said Kriegshauser. “These scammers pretend to be someone they’re not to trick you into giving them money, access to your financial accounts, or get your personal information.” Government imposter scams are a serious problem: in 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received more than 375,000 reports about government imposters, with reported losses of $917 million. In many cases, that scammer will go to great lengths to convince you they’re with the government: fake caller ID or official-looking letters, for example. To recognize and avoid a government imposter, you should keep these things in mind: • Courts do not demand payment by telephone, text message, email, or mobile payment application to resolve jury-related matters. • Courts do not instruct individuals to purchase gift cards, use cryptocurrency, or transmit funds to avoid arrest or penalties for jury service issues. • Members of the public who receive suspicious communication should not provide personal or financial information and should independently contact the court at an official phone number listed on the court’s public website. Visit https://ejcc.acl.gov/imposters for more on imposter scams. And if you spot an imposter scam — or any other type of scam — report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov . ###


title: Topeka woman steals $49K of veteran father’s disability benefits

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas woman is now a convicted felon after stealing approximately $49,000 that her relative received in veterans benefits to pay her own personal expenses. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. According to court documents, Lucretia Miller, 53, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation by fiduciary. A federal judge sentenced her to five years of probation. From October 2020 through April 2022, Miller served as fiduciary for her father who was unable to manage his financial affairs. Without authorization, Miller took funds her father received from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as part of his disability compensation and misappropriated the money. “After men and women serve our county, one way our nation serves them is by providing VA benefits in their time of need,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Because Ms. Miller’s relative needed assistance, she was assigned to look after his finances. She lined her own pockets instead of using the funds for their sole intended purpose, which is for the care of her father.” “VA benefits are earned through service, and anyone who exploits a veteran’s trust or steals those funds will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “The VA OIG is committed to protecting benefits intended for veterans.” The Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Investigation (VA-OIG) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham prosecuted the case. ###


title: Former USPS mail carrier stole mail meant for delivery

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A former mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) admitted to stealing letters and parcels instead of delivering them to their rightful owners. According to court documents, Amanda Tucker, 48, of Scott City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by a postal employee. Tucker delivered mail for the Scott City Post Office. In August 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tucker’s home. They found USPS letters and parcels in her home and her vehicle that were addressed to residents along her delivery route. “Customers depend on the U.S. Postal Service for mail and packages which can contain anything from prescription medications to important documents,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The defendant showed little regard for how stealing letters and parcels could affect the people living along her route who rely on these deliveries.” Tucker is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case. ###


title: PORT ORCHARD MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTS WITH MINOR CHILDREN

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 29, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice, sentenced Raymond S. Sulak, age 65, of Port Orchard, Washington, to 10 years of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for the Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor. Judge Rice also ordered Sulak to pay $28,000 in restitution to multiple minor victims, and a $40,000 fine. According to court documents and information disclosed during court proceedings, in late July of 2024, the Washington State Police Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force (MECTF), along with the Spokane Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (Spokane- ICAC), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Chelan and Douglas County Sheriffs’ Offices, conducted a multi-day undercover operation in Wenatchee, Washington, aimed at identifying individuals seeking to sexually exploit children online. From July 25, 2024, to July 27, 2024, Raymond S. Sulak (Sulak) communicated via two internet facilitated communication applications with an undercover law enforcement agent posing as the mother of two girls, aged 9 and 12, living in the Eastern District of Washington. During the communications, the undercover agent was present in Chelan County, while Sulak was located in and around his residence in Port Orchard. Sulak was clear as to his intentions during these communications, going so far as to obtain sexually transmitted disease testing so that the purported mother would allow him to have sexual intercourse with her minor daughters without a condom. Sulak travelled by motorcycle to Wenatchee on July 27, 2024, for the purpose of sexual intercourse with the two minor girls, to a location specified by the undercover officer. Upon his arrival at the location, Sulak was placed under arrest and searched. Law enforcement officers also obtained a search warrant for Sulak’s motorcycle. During the searches, officers located an iPhone, an iPad, a blue penis ring, STD testing results, coconut lubricant, and a male enhancement medication called “Night Man.” Sulak was subsequently charged in Chelan County Superior Court. Sulak posted bail and returned to his residence in Port Orchard. Thereafter, Sulak’s iPad and iPhone were forensically examined by HSI forensic staff. The examiners located the chats between Sulak and the undercover officer on the devices, along with image and video files depicting minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children identified 48 of the files possessed by Sulak as images or videos depicting minor children previously identified by law enforcement in unrelated investigations. Investigators also located other disturbing information on Sulak’s devices, including Sulak’s attempts to coordinate the rape of another purported child at a hotel in California with a woman named “Jane.” Investigators also located communications between Sulak and a registered sex offender in the Seattle area wherein the two men coordinated the distribution and receipt of their respective child pornography collections. On February 19, 2025, Sulak was indicted by a grand jury in the Eastern District of Washington for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography. On February 21, 2025, the Seattle and Spokane ICAC Task Forces, Washington State Patrol MECTF and SWAT units, and HSI agents, located and arrested Sulak at his residence in Port Orchard. “This investigation highlights the value of proactive investigations to identify sexual predators who seek to abuse children in our community,” said First Assistant Serrano. “The cooperative efforts of our federal, state and local law enforcement prevented the sexual abuse of another child and identified image and video files possessed by Sulak depicting the sexual abuse of other minor children. Thanks to our law enforcement team, Sulak will now be behind bars for the next 10 years and will have federal supervision conditions the remainder of his life.” “We will continue to work with our state and local partners to ensure those trying to harm our children are identified and prosecuted,” said acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “These are some of the most heinous crimes that someone can do to the most vulnerable members of our community. A sentence like this should send a message that these crimes will not be tolerated.” “While our responsibilities to the public are many, there are few more important than the apprehension of those who would so recklessly and alarmingly harm our children for their own gratifications. The Washington State Patrol thanks our partners in public safety at the Department of Justice as well as the other federal and local agencies who worked together to take this dangerous individual off our streets,” said Washington State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “We will never stop protecting the most vulnerable in our society - our children.” The case was investigated by the Washington State Missing and Exploited Children’s Task Force, the Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force- Spokane and Seattle, Homeland Security Investigations Wenatchee Office, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Chelan County Prosecutor’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel J. Holland.


title: Ivorian national charged in $14 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A national of Côte d’Ivoire has been indicted in a $14 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Koffi Dongo Parfait Teya, 30, of Core D’Ivoire, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; and unauthorized use of an access device. The three-count indictment alleges that Teya and associates utilized an email phishing scheme to target travel agencies with deceptive emails. They sent emails claiming to be from the company that handles airline reservations for the travel agencies, stating there was a security update that required their login credentials. The emails included links to fake websites that closely resembled the real reservation company’s login page. When the travel agency employees entered their information, their credentials were stolen. The group then used the stolen credentials to access the legitimate reservation system and book airline tickets, charging the costs to the travel agencies’ accounts. In total, the scheme caused about $14 million in losses to approximately 430 travel agencies. Teya has been arrested in Cote D’Ivoire with the cooperation and assistance of law enforcement there although he will not be extradited to face charges in the Eastern District of Texas, but charges are expected to be pursued against him in Cote D’Ivoire. This case is a part of Operation Riptide, an FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cyber-enabled crime and fraud against the American people. Operation Riptide seeks to eliminate cyber-enabled crime, fraud, and predatory schemes that operate through organized criminal networks and the online services that support them, often reaching across borders to evade law enforcement. These schemes are especially destructive for family-owned and small businesses, often resulting in closures and financial ruin. This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Two Foreign Nationals Sentenced in July for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this month. Rene Vasquez-Ladino , 53, a Guatemalan national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joshua D. Wolson to 15 months in prison and one year of supervised release for illegal reentry. Upon completing his prison sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. Vasquez-Ladino had previously been removed from the U.S. in May 2015, on the orders of an immigration judge. In September of the same year, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered the defendant in Texas. He was charged with illegal reentry in the Southern District of Texas, pleaded guilty, and was removed from the country that November, after completing a 60-day prison sentence. In September 2019, Vasquez-Ladino was arrested by the New York State Police for driving while intoxicated, then released and ordered to appear before the Yonkers City Court. He failed to appear and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. In March 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) learned that the defendant was serving a prison sentence for his conviction on firearms offenses in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. In January of this year, Vasquez-Ladino was charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry, and he pleaded guilty in March. Walter Eduardo Enriquez-Arzaga , 29, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Karen Spencer Marston to time served, approximately five and a half months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. The defendant had previously been removed from the U.S. three times: in September 2017, following his conviction on a local firearms offense in Texas, in February 2018, following his illegal reentry conviction in the District of New Mexico, and in March 2024, after an encounter with ICE in Iowa. In February of this year, ICE learned that Enriquez-Arzaga was in police custody in Northampton County, Pa. He was charged by indictment with illegal reentry in March and pleaded guilty in June. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Dubnoff and Nicholas DiMarco.


title: Illegal alien from Honduras and murder suspect arrested and  charged with illegal re-entry into the United States

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A native and citizen of Honduras has been charged for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously removed, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector. The government charged Michael Jamblyck Costly Bennett, 30. Bennett appeared in federal court in Detroit yesterday and was detained pending further proceedings. According to the criminal complaint, agents arrested Bennett during a traffic stop in Taylor, Michigan. During processing, a records check revealed that Bennett was in the United States illegally and wanted abroad for murder. Agents also discovered fraudulent documents in his possession, including counterfeit Social Security and permanent resident cards. Bennett had been removed from the United States twice before. “This apprehension underscores the critical nature of our mission. We will enforce our immigration law at and beyond our borders to remove dangerous foreign nationals who attempt to hide within our communities,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr. “Our agents build strong law enforcement partnerships and exercise the utmost of vigilance on duty while utilizing every tool at our disposal to ensure that violent criminals—regardless of where they originate—are held accountable and prevented from threatening the safety of the American public.” This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent. It is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Foreign-Owned Industrial Lubricant Company To Pay $1.8 Million To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related To Paycheck Protection Program Loan

body_text: DETROIT – The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division continues to advance its mission to fight fraud and protect taxpayers. Today, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced that Condat Corporation, a Michigan company that produces a range of industrial lubricants, has agreed to pay $1,811,034.24 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which Condat was ineligible. Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to American businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA. Regulations provided various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees and restrictions for foreign-owned companies. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications. In January 2021, Condat obtained a second draw PPP loan for $1,000,000. At the time of its loan application, Condat was a subsidiary of Condat SA, a privately held, family-owned French Company, and a member of Condat Groupe, comprised of at least 15 associated business entities worldwide. The United States alleged that Condat falsely certified that it was eligible for the second draw loan and loan forgiveness, even though, together with its affiliates, it had more than 300 employees, in violation of the PPP rules in effect at the time Condat obtained the funds. “The Paycheck Protection Program supports American small businesses, not international conglomerates,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. “We are coming for companies that lied to get COVID-19 relief loans.” This civil settlement resolved a sealed lawsuit originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit has been unsealed and is captioned U.S. ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Condat Corporation , Case No. 2:24-cv-12269. The whistleblower will receive 10% of the settlement amount. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Dickinson from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. 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. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: Three Plead Guilty in Bribery Scheme That Enabled Over 100 Drivers to Fraudulently Obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced the July 29, 2026, guilty pleas of three defendants who participated in a bribery scheme that enabled over 100 people to fraudulently obtain commercial driver’s licenses. The three defendants— MAHMOUD ALHATTAB , JONATHAN PARSONS , and MARLINE ROBERTS —each pleaded guilty to one count of Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666. ALHATTAB , a local restaurant owner, admitted to being the ringleader of a scheme in which CDL applicants each paid him on average approximately $5,000 to receive unearned CDLs. The scheme allowed applicants to bypass each of the three main federally-mandated steps of the CDL qualification process—knowledge testing, entry-level driver training, and skills testing. The knowledge test is a written test that must be passed at the Office of Motor Vehicles office, and includes questions on vehicle safety systems, emergency situations, procedures for various maneuvers, and extreme driving conditions. Passing the knowledge test results in the issuance of a commercial learner’s permit, which is a prerequisite for the training and the skills test. According to court documents, ALHATTAB admitted that, to defeat the knowledge test requirement, he bribed two employees of a Donaldsonville, Louisiana OMV office. Typically, ALHATTAB would provide an OMV employee, via cell phone messaging, with a photograph of the applicant’s driver’s license and he would identify any desired endorsements, such as a school bus endorsement. Next, the OMV employee would enter correct knowledge test answers for the applicant. Finally, ALHATTAB would bring the applicant to the Donaldsonville OMV office where the OMV employee would confer a commercial learner’s permit upon the applicant based on the falsified knowledge test scores. ALHATTAB paid the two OMV employees in cash, and he also provided them with meals. As part of his guilty plea, ALHATTAB admitted that the OMV employees allowed him to bring applicants into the OMV office through a non-public side door and allowed him to enter non-public parts of the OMV office. Sometimes ALHATTAB personally operated the OMV camera to take an applicant’s photograph for the commercial learner’s permit. After passing the knowledge test and obtaining a commercial learner’s permit, most CDL applicants are required to complete entry-level driver training. This training includes demonstrating proficiency while operating a commercial vehicle on a public road. ALHATTAB admitted that, to defeat the training requirement, he bribed two men who operated truck driver training businesses. One of these men was defendant PARSONS . Typically, ALHATTAB would send PARSONS a photograph of an applicant’s commercial learner’s permit via cell phone messaging. This would provide PARSONS with the information needed to generate false training records. As part of his guilty plea, PARSONS admitted that, in exchange for payments from ALHATTAB , he reported in a federal database that applicants successfully completed training when, in truth, they did not train at all. After completing training, the final major step in the CDL process is passing the skills test. The skills test is administered by state-authorized examiners, who are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. As required by federal regulations, Louisiana’s skills test is comprised of: pre-trip vehicle inspection skills, which includes identifying each safety-related vehicle part and explaining what needs to be inspected to ensure the part’s safe operating condition; basic vehicle control skills, which includes demonstrating of a variety of driving maneuvers and behaviors; and safety-related on-road driving skills, which also includes demonstrations. ALHATTAB admitted that, to defeat the skills test requirement, he bribed PARSONS and the other business operator, both of whom, in addition to being trainers, were certified by Louisiana to administer the skills test. As part of his guilty plea, PARSONS admitted that he falsely reported to the State that applicants had passed the skills test when, in truth, the applicants did not take the test. Early in the scheme, ALHATTAB would sometimes pose as the applicant and drive the commercial vehicle used for testing so that it would appear that PARSONS was administering a skills test to a CDL applicant. However, ALHATTAB and PARSONS eventually decided that this precaution was unnecessary and, thereafter, PARSONS routinely entered skills tests without ALHATTAB or the applicant appearing at the test site. On some occasions, PARSONS paid another skills test examiner, defendant ROBERTS , to assist in the scheme. As part of her guilty plea, ROBERTS admitted to creating phony score sheets to corroborate PARSONS’s false test reports. After a CDL applicant received false skills test scores, ALHATTAB would typically inform an OMV employee that the applicant was returning to the Donaldsonville OMV office to get the CDL. As part of his guilty plea, ALHATTAB acknowledged that many of the applicants were not proficient in the English language and, therefore, he sometimes advised the OMV employees of language barriers. For example, on one occasion, ALHATTAB texted an OMV employee that an applicant “is outside [the OMV office] to get his CDL” and “No English,” meaning that the applicant did not speak English. As part of their guilty pleas, ALHATTAB and PARSONS admitted that they texted about their shared desire to increase the number of applicants involved in the scheme. For example, in January 2021: ALHATTAB informed PARSONS that ALHATTAB currently had approximately 20 persons 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.” ALHATTAB admitted that from about August 2020 through February 2024 he caused at least 124 people to fraudulently receive CDLs. PARSONS admitted that from about August 2020 through February 2024 he 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 types of false entries. ROBERTS admitted that on seven occasions in early 2023 she created false scoring sheets to assist PARSONS in making false skills test reports. The offense to which these three defendants pleaded guilty, Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to three years’ supervised release following imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special assessment fee. Sentencing for these three defendants is scheduled for October 28, 2026. Other defendants charged in the indictment are awaiting trial. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment as to those defendants is merely a charge and that each defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. 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. * * *