title: Eastern District of Texas joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in COVID-Era Loan Takedown Exceeding $245 million in Fraud

body_text: PLANO, Texas –The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas today announced results as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Eastern District of Texas was a key participant in this surge effort. From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions involving over 160 defendants and approximately $245 million in intended loss to American taxpayers. “In the Eastern District of Texas, we will spare no effort to recover ill-gotten gains,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “These funds were intended to keep small businesses alive, not fund the lifestyles of individuals taking advantage of the programs.” “Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.” “Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.” “Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.” In the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced that three defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Two other defendants have been set for trial. On August 12, 2026, Weldon Greer, Jr., 61, of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 30 years in federal prison. According to information presented in court, from 2020 through 2021, Greer conspired to fraudulently obtain dozens of PPP and EIDL loans by submitting falsified supporting documentation to the SBA. The total loss to the SBA was at least $8,394,561. Greer’s co-conspirator, Jarrod Durant Wilburn, 58, of Houston, has also been charged and is set for trial on October 13, 2026, in Beaumont. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Carter. On August 13, 2026, Thomas Flanagan, 66, of Beaumont, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with four counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Flanagan is alleged to have submitted falsified applications for forgiveness of PPP loans for two businesses, James Flanagan Shipping Corporation and P.C. Pfeiffer Co. Inc., resulting in a loss to the SBA of $1,514,917. If convicted, Flanagan faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Flanagan is set for trial in January of 2027 in Beaumont. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble. Craig Bennett, 51, and his wife, Chemika Bennett, 53, of Celina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Bennetts applied online for PPP loans under their own names, as well as business names using fraudulent statements and information claiming the loans would be used for business expenses and employee payroll. However, the Bennetts did not have employees or business expenses, and the loans were sued for their personal expenses. The loss to the SBA is $697,000. The couple faces up to 20 years in federal prison and will be sentenced on November 10, 2026, in Sherman. These cases were investigated by the SBA – Office of Inspector General and the FBI. 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. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in Surge Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in COVID-era Loan Fraud

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT, MI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan today announced charges, pleas and sentences as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Eastern District of Michigan was a key participant in this surge effort. From June 12 to September 1, 2026, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, reaching approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers. “With every fraud against the government, these criminals steal from the pockets of the American taxpayer. With every prosecution, we bring justice and return money to those same Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. “Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.” “Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.” “Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.” U.S. Attorney Gorgon Jr. announced that six defendants were included in the takedown involving approximately $8,200,000 in alleged losses. The takedown included the following cases: United States v. Valente and United States v. Toma (26-cr-20534 and 26-cr-20385) Peter Valente, and his then wife, Angela Toma, were indicted and charged with offenses involving a scheme to defraud the SBA. Using inactive companies to perpetrate the fraud, Valente and Toma successfully defrauded the SBA and other lenders of over $2,600,000. On June 30, 2026, Toma pleaded guilty Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, and she is awaiting sentencing. On August 19, 2026, Valente was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, multiple counts of Wire Fraud, Money Laundering Conspiracy, and Tampering with Documents and Proceedings. Both Toma and Valente are facing up to 30 years’ imprisonment. United States v. Patrick McNulty et al. (26-cr-20507) Patrick McNulty and Joseph Gastorf were charged in an Information with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. The object of the conspiracy was to cause the SBA and other third-party lenders to issue improper PPP loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) through false and fraudulent representations, then divert those proceeds for their own personal use. The defendants are alleged to have submitted 36 fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications for several companies, obtaining a total of 18 fraudulent loans for 9 different companies. The Information alleges over $2,700,000 in losses. United States v. Tauheed Wilder (25-cr-20779) Wilder executed a scheme that caused the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Company to issue unemployment insurance benefits based on false applications he filed or caused to be filed using the names and social security numbers of individuals without their consent or knowledge. In the span of approximately six months during height of the pandemic, Wilder submitted approximately 150 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims using the stolen Personally Identifiable Information, many using the same fraudulent tax form. During the same period, Wilder obtained two fraudulent PPP loans from the SBA. Wilder’s action resulted in a total loss of approximately $1,959,281. Following his guilty plea to Wire Fraud in April 2026, Wilder was sentenced on July 30, 2026, to 72 months’ in federal prison. He was also ordered to pay restitution as follows: $1,875,149.00 to the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, and $84,132.00 to the U.S. Small Business Administration. United States v. Karl Fultz (25-cr-20358) In this case, defendant Karl Fultz made false misrepresentations to induce the SBA and lenders to issue an improper PPP loan in the amount of $866,688 for a business Fultz owned called Wheel Effects. In the application, Fultz made or caused to be made false and fraudulent claims that Wheel Effects had 41 employees and an average monthly payroll of nearly $350,000. Both figures were inflated to fraudulently increase the loan amount that Wheel Effects was eligible to receive. Fultz later used the ill-gotten gains for personal expenditures. On July 28, 2026, Fultz pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 30 years’ imprisonment. These cases are being investigated by multiple agencies including Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan Particka, Andrew Yahkind, and K. Craig Welkener. 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. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RAYNELL PEARSON (“PEARSON”) , age 48, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 10, 2026 to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. PEARSON faces a mandatory minimum term of 60 months imprisonment and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, a fine up to $5,000,000.00, at least 4 years supervised release after his term of imprisonment, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00. According to court documents, the Government and PEARSON , however, entered into an 11(c)(1)(C) plea agreement, the terms of which call for an agreed upon sentence of 60 months imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier will sentence PEARSON on December 17, 2026. According to court documents, PEARSON was developed as a target after reviewing extensive phone evidence from another related drug trafficking investigation. The phone evidence contained extensive text messages, from February 10, 2022, to January 12, 2023, between PEARSON and a source of supply, which document the sale of 500 grams or more of cocaine to PEARSON by the source of supply during that period. PEARSON admitted that he intended to resell the cocaine to others. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Privitera of the Violent Crime Unit. 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. * * *


title: Eastern District of Louisiana Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in Law Enforcement Surge Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in COVID-19 related Loan Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced today the successful prosecution of seven (7) defendants for Small Business Administration related fraud, resulting in seven (7) guilty pleas, four (4) of which have already been sentenced, making EDLA a key player in the nationwide enforcement surge led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions netting over 160 criminal defendants, including approximately 80 newly charged defendants, amounting to approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers. “Fraud against the United States government is a serious crime,” stated David I. Courcelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Especially egregious, is fraud that grossly undermines the financial assistance so desperately needed for small businesses to survive during one of the most vulnerable eras in our country, the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlighted today are successfully prosecuted fraud cases handled by the EDLA that involved the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection and Economic Injury Disaster Loans programs. Successful prosecutions such as these are only made possible by the close partnership and shared mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement colleagues to safeguard public funds from fraud and prosecute those who steal such funds.” “Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.” “Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.” “Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.” Again, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, 7 defendants pleaded guilty to defrauding the SBA and 4 of those defendants have been sentenced for the SBA-related fraud. These 7 defendants caused actual fraud losses to the SBA of approximately $1.8 million and intended fraud losses of approximately $2.6 million. On July 21, 2026, Amanda Clayborne-Williams pled guilty to defrauding the Small Business Administration by submitting 12 false PPP and EIDL loan applications seeking $1.3 million. After submitting the false applications, Clayborne-Williams received $447,305 and spent the funds on personal expenses. She also pled guilty to committing tax evasion. Clayborne-Williams’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 20, 2026. The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni. On July 21, 2026, Jessica Lacour pled guilty to defrauding the Small Business Administration by submitting fake tax returns to obtain a $20,940 PPP loan. Lacour also admitted she used the identities of other people to obtain emergency Covid rental assistance totaling $71,740. The total fraud loss Lacour caused to the SBA is $92,680. Lacour is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon. On July 14, 2026, Marcel Gross of Slidell pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining $350,272 by providing false information on a PPP loan application. Gross split the proceeds with his co-conspirator who helped him complete the application. Gross’s sentencing hearing is October 13, 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon. On August 25, 2026, Arthur Allen of New Orleans was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for defrauding the Small Business Administration (“SBA”). In 2020, Allen falsely claimed on a PPP loan application that his bed and breakfast received over $425,000 in gross revenue in 2019 when the business actually generated no revenue in 2019. As a result of his false statements, the SBA issued Allen a PPP loan of $712,212. In addition to the 2-year prison sentence he received, Allen was also ordered to pay $712,212 in restitution. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II. On August 27, 2026, after pleading guilty to PPP fraud, Wellington Brown was sentenced to 5 years of probation and 12 months of home detention. Brown admitted he lied on his PPP application and received $123,771 in SBA funds. Brown was also ordered to pay $123,771 in restitution. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard R. Pickens, II. On August 12, 2026 Chelsey Powell was sentenced to 2 years of probation, after pleading guilty to making false statements to the SBA in order to obtain PPP loans totaling $36,123. Specifically, Powell made false statements on a PPP application and unlawfully received $36,123 in PPP benefits. In addition to probation, Powell was ordered to pay restitution to the SBA in the amount of $36,123.52 and to serve 100 hours of community service. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (a member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee) and the United States Secret Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera. On August 5, 2026, Myiesha Robertson was sentenced to 5 years of probation, with 6 months of home detention, for defrauding the SBA. Robertson provided false statements on her PPP loan application and received $64,198. Robertson also filed a false tax return for herself and others. Robertson was ordered to pay restitution of $64,198 to the SBA, restitution in the amount of $432,447.35 to the IRS and ordered to serve 150 hours of community service. The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Truck driver transporting more than 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Ruben Saenz, 38, of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 15 years and eight months in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Saenz played a central role in a Mexico‑based drug‑trafficking organization responsible for moving thousands of pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the United States. The FBI dismantled the network in June 2024 during “Operation Toxic Waste.” The organization transported powdered and liquid methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl—both pills and powder—across the border using cars and semitrucks. Drugs were stashed in gas tanks, tucked inside projectors and batteries, and buried among produce. The traffickers tracked their shipments with GPS devices hidden in the loads. Saenz served as a key player in the group’s semitruck operation. As early as February 2023, he purchased vegetable boxes later packed with narcotics destined for transport across the border. On September 22, 2023, he helped facilitate one of the organization’s largest shipments: a semitruck loaded with methamphetamine. After meeting the truck with a rented Penske vehicle, Saenz oversaw the transfer of the hidden cargo. Just after midnight, law enforcement stopped the Penske truck he was driving and discovered more than 4,700 pounds of methamphetamine inside. Saenz pleaded guilty on March 16, 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Los Angeles Strike Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Cody S. Chapple are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Central Valley HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.


title: Former Fresno County mail carrier indicted for keeping and failing to deliver the mail

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Ronald Juckno, 53, of Fresno, former mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), was arrested on Friday, Sept. 11 following an indictment charging him with keeping and failing to deliver the mail, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today. According to court records, between August and September 2024, Juckno was found in possession of more than 8,500 pieces of mail that he had held onto and failed to deliver to his customers. The mail included sensitive items such as California EDD correspondence, financial records, insurance records, medical correspondence, tax records, and utility bills. He was placed on leave and then resigned his position as a mail carrier shortly after this discovery. The USPS Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Banister and Joseph Barton are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Juckno faces a maximum sentence of five years federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Two Companies Agree to Pay $3.9 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – Glow Networks, Inc. (“Glow Networks”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Texas, and Secova, Inc. (“Secova”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in New Jersey, have agreed to pay $3,869,102.68 to resolve allegations that they improperly obtained Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which they were not eligible. PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, and administered by the SBA. The program was created to support small businesses and to help them continue to pay employees and meet other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A second round of loans was authorized in early 2021. To be eligible for these Second Draw PPP loans, a business was required to certify that it had no more than 300 employees, including employees of all domestic and foreign affiliates. Glow Networks applied for a $2,000,000 Second Draw PPP loan. Secova applied for a $184,097 Second Draw PPP loan. On their respective Second Draw loan applications, Glow Networks and Secova certified that they, together with their affiliates, had fewer than 300 employees. Glow Networks and Secova subsequently applied for (and ultimately received) forgiveness of their Second Draw loans. However, Glow Networks and Secova, together with their domestic and foreign affiliates, had more than 300 employees. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced the settlement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare handled the case. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, the relator will receive a share of the settlement. 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 . On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. The settlement agreement is attached to this press release. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-cv-513-GBW. The claims resolved by the settlement are merely allegations. There has been no determination of liability. secova_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: New Jersey Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Role in $9.1 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A New Jersey woman was sentenced on July 14, 2026, to 24 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence. According to court documents, Brigette Miller-Levy, 62, of Piscataway, NJ, owned a purported business called Royal Marketing Services, Inc. Miller-Levy conspired with Jady Solano and Carl Lawrence to submit a fraudulent application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, a COVID‑19 relief program designed to safeguard jobs during the pandemic. The application falsely claimed that Royal Marketing Services employed 14 people with an average monthly payroll of over $120,000 and relied on a fabricated Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) tax form reporting more than $1.4 million in fictitious wages. Rather than stopping with her own illegal payout, Miller-Levy expanded the fraud ring by recruiting co-defendants Amber Baldwin and Anthony McKinzy into the scheme, connecting them to Lawrence and Solano to obtain similar fraudulent loans. In total, Miller-Levy’s actions caused a loss of $882,777.70 to the American taxpayer. She personally gained $329,100, which included her own loan proceeds and kickbacks from Baldwin and McKinzy. To conceal the theft, Miller-Levy and her co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds, funneling thousands of dollars in kickbacks to the scheme’s coordinators. In total, the scheme in which Miller-Levy and the individuals she recruited participated, led by Solano and Lawrence, fraudulently obtained approximately $9.1 million in pandemic relief funds. “Congress established the Paycheck Protection Program to provide critical financial relief, keeping workers employed and small businesses afloat during an unprecedented crisis,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “Rather than using these funds to sustain a real workforce, Brigette Miller-Levy treated the program as a personal windfall and recruited others into the conspiracy. Those who steal taxpayer dollars and recruit others to do so will spend time in federal prison. We are grateful to the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, for their diligent work in uncovering this network.” “Brigette Miller-Levy’s greed and deceit are unconscionable. She and her coconspirators stole millions from American taxpayers by exploiting pandemic relief programs intended to help in an unprecedented crisis,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners to uncover these schemes and ensure those who abuse public trust are held accountable.” “Bridgette Miller-Levy, in concert with others, engaged in a scheme to unlawfully exploit the Payroll Protection Program—a federal initiative designed to support small businesses during a national emergency,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. “The imposed sentence underscores our commitment to ensuring that individuals who defraud the government for personal gain are held fully accountable. We are honored to have collaborated with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this case to a successful resolution.” Upon Miller-Levy’s release from prison, she will be required to serve three years of supervised release. The Court also ordered restitution in the amount of $882,777.70. Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Wallace and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan C. Williamson prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-109-JLH.


title: Russian National Pleads Guilty to Smuggling U.S. Aerospace Goods to Russia

body_text: WASHINGTON — Andrei Samuilovski, 32, who has citizenship in Estonia, Switzerland and Russia, pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to illegally export U.S.-origin aviation and aerospace parts to Russia in violation of U.S. sanctions. Samuilovski pleaded guilty before Judge Carl J. Nichols to a one count information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. A sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2027. Samuilovski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2022 and continuing through September 2024, Samuilovski and others conspired to supply prohibited Russian end users with aerospace-related components without first obtaining the required licenses from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). BIS regulates the export of U.S.-origin technologies, including aerospace parts and other items controlled for national security, regional stability, and anti-terrorism reasons. A license from BIS was required to export the aerospace commodities to Russia. Samuilovski was a co-founder of ITC Middle East FZ-LLC (ITC). ITC was officially established in March of 2022, approximately four weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to increased Russian export restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, and other countries. Between the founding of ITC and September 2024, there were dozens of shipments from various U.S. companies to ITC, as well as other shipments of U.S.-origin goods to ITC. The U.S.-origin items exported or reexported consisted primarily of export-controlled aerospace-related commodities with a cumulative value of nearly $2,000,000. These items were ultimately reexported to Russia. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIS. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Sean Heiden and Trial Attorney Brett Ruff of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. 26-cr-188


title: D.C. Woman Sentenced in PPP Loan Fraud Scheme Uncovered by Fentanyl Trafficking Bust

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, Brittany Blalock, 35, of Washington, D.C., was ordered to pay $41,666 in restitution to Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC and sentenced to 48 months’ probation in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Blalock pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The prosecution of Brittany Blalock originated from federal law enforcement’s investigation into the wholesale fentanyl trafficking ring led by Alfredo Rodriguez-Gonzalez and his co-conspirators. Through intelligence sharing and financial tracking between the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, investigators uncovered evidence of Blalock’s financial crime. According to court papers, beginning in March 2021, Blalock conspired to apply for and receive forgivable PPP loans from the Small Business Administration. Blalock submitted false PPP loan applications on her own behalf and helped a co-conspirator submit fraudulent applications. In March and April 2021, Blalock submitted two PPP loan applications to a small business lender in which she falsely claimed her sole proprietorship earned exactly $100,000 in 2020. Based on the falsified tax form, the lender approved and disbursed two loans of $20,833 each to Blalock. Blalock then helped her co-conspirator, Karon Blalock, obtain his own SBA-approved bank account credentials and Social Security number in order to submit fraudulent PPP loan applications on his behalf. Using a falsified tax form claiming the same $100,000 in fraudulent sole proprietorship earnings, Karon Blalock received two additional PPP loan disbursements of $20,833 each, which he then used in furtherance of his fentanyl trafficking in the District of Columbia. Karon Blalock has pleaded guilty for his role in a multinational drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed wholesale quantities of fentanyl-laced pills across the United States, and is set to be sentenced by Judge Kollar-Kotelly on October 6, 2026. In August 2021, Blalock submitted loan forgiveness applications for both of her PPP loans in which she falsely certified that she had complied with all program requirements. She also helped the co-conspirator submit forgiveness applications for his loans using the same false certifications. The lender approved all four forgiveness applications, and the Small Business Administration reimbursed the lender in full. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Solomon S. Eppel and Matthew W. Kinskey. This investigation was led by the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President JD Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. 26cr19 Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Hartford Group Charged with Kidnapping and Related Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Hartford Police Chief James C. Rovella today announced that TYQUAN DECHALUS , also known as “Ty Ty” and “Kuzzo Ty,” 26; MICHAEL PHILLIP SQUIREWELL , also known as “Hoola,” “Hoola Gang,” and “Trench Monkey,” 30; DWAYNE GRAHAM , also known as “Bizzy,” 24; NICKOLAZ ROBINSON , also known as “Luck” and “Lucky,” 23; and DIAMOND FUENTES , also known as “Didi” and “Lil Belly,” 19; all of Hartford, have been federally charged for their alleged involvement in a kidnapping and ransom demand in January 2026. As alleged in the indictment, Dechalus, Squirewell, Graham, Robinson, and Fuentes conspired to kidnap and hold for ransom a victim in Hartford. On January 26 and 27, 2026, Dechalus, Squirewell, and Robinson exchanged text messages in which they discussed needing money and marijuana and then targeted the victim. On January 28, 2026, Graham had Fuentes lure the victim to a residence on Laurel Street in Hartford where the victim was kidnapped at gunpoint and pistol whipped. Dechalus, Graham, Squirewell, and Robinson then broke into the victim’s residence looking for marijuana and money. They then demanded money from the victim’s family in exchange for his safe return. Fuentes then picked up money left for the kidnappers by the victim’s family. Hartford Police arrested Dechalus, Squirewell, and Graham on state charges on January 28, 2026. It is alleged that Dechalus and Squirewell each possessed a firearm, and Dechalus possessed a distribution quantity of cocaine, when they were arrested. On September 9, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging each of the five defendants with conspiracy, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and with kidnapping, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Dechalus is also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least five years. Squirewell is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and Fuentes is charged with receiving and possessing ransom money, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Robinson and Fuentes were arrested on September 10, 2026, entered pleas of not guilty to the charges, and were released on bonds of $150,000 and $50,000, respectively. Dechalus is currently in state custody and Graham is in federal custody having been previously charged with an unrelated firearm offense. Squirewell is currently being sought by law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Newington Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean P. Mahard and Reed Durham. 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: Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROMAN SANTIAGO JR., 43, formerly of Danbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford 120 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico using the U.S. Mail. Judge Nagala also ordered Santiago to pay a $15,000 fine. According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2024 to February 2025, Santiago engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail. During the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages that were mailed from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Connecticut. Each package was intended for Santiago and contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Santiago was arrested on February 12, 2025. At time of his arrest, a search of his Danbury residence and a storage unit he rented revealed a package of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico, additional quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, $276,298 in cash, and other items. In total, investigators seized more than 11 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation. On April 21, 2026, Santiago pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Judge Nagala ordered Santiago to forfeit the seized cash, and several pieces of jewelry with an total approximate value of $264,000, and his 2020 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Santiago, who is released on a $50,000 bond and residing in New Britain, is required to report to prison on November 16. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, and the Danbury Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Plainville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Guevremont and Christopher Lembo. 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: Attorney Who Failed to File Tax Returns and Pay More Than $3.1 Million Owed Sentenced to Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL SIMES, 51, of Newtown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 10 months of imprisonment and one year of supervised release for offenses related to his failure to file tax returns and to pay more than $3.1 million in taxes, penalties, and interest owed. According to court documents and statements made in court, for the 2013 tax year and the 2016 through 2022 tax years, Simes, an attorney, failed to file U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, resulting in a tax loss to the IRS of $1,876,307 on gross income of more than $5.6 million. For the 2016 through 2020 tax years, Simes requested filing extensions until October of each year, but still failed to file and pay the taxes he owed. In addition, Simes filed tax returns for the 2012, 2014, and 2015 tax years, but he paid only a fraction of taxes reported as due, thereby incurring substantial penalties and interest. Simes was ordered to pay restitution of the presently outstanding balance of $2,871,676. On March 9, 2026, Simes pleaded guilty to three counts of failure to file a tax return. Released on a $40,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on January 20, 2027. This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.


title: Thornton Man Indicted for Making Online Threats to Kill Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Officers

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Kevin Lee Tompkins, age 40, of Thornton, Colorado, has been charged by a federal grand jury with four counts of making interstate threats to kill federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. According to the indictment and documents filed in the case, Tompkins made serious threats to kill police officers, FBI employees, Muslim Americans, judges, prosecutors, and others on a major video sharing website in June and July 2026. The indictment also charged Tompkins with being a felon in possession of ammunition after boxes of ammunition were found in his home along with a book about the manufacture of explosives. The web search history on Tompkins’ phone showed that, despite being prohibited from possessing firearms, he regularly visited websites through which guns are bought and sold in private transactions. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the FBI Denver Field Office. The Cybercrime and National Security Section of the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution. Case Number: 26-cr-0202-RMR


title: Santa Maria Man Pleads Guilty to Bombing Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Retaliation for Law Enforcement Seizing His Firearms

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – A Santa Barbara County man pleaded guilty today to detonating a bomb at a Santa Maria courthouse in 2024, an attack that injured three people, damaged the building, and was intended to kill law enforcement officers in retaliation for local law enforcement seizing his firearms earlier that year. Nathaniel James McGuire, 22, of Santa Maria, pleaded guilty to one count of use of a weapon of mass destruction and one count of malicious destruction of a building using an explosive. McGuire has been in federal custody since September 2024. “This defendant’s brazen act of terror resulted in physical, structural, and emotional harm, and could have had tragic consequences,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Individuals who use bombs against law enforcement officials, judges, and other government personnel must be held accountable and face severe punishment for their actions.” “McGuire launched a vicious, terroristic assault on a court of law with the intent to kill law enforcement officers and a judge,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His attack injured three people and, were it not for the quick action of court security and law enforcement, it could have been far worse. McGuire will now face the consequences of his actions.” According to his plea agreement, on September 24, 2024, McGuire intentionally detonated a bomb in the Santa Maria courthouse, which serves the Santa Barbara County Superior Court. McGuire walked in the door of the courthouse and threw a backpack containing an explosive device past the courthouse’s security screening device and towards Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies. The bomb slid between a victim’s legs and detonated in the building outside a courtroom. Five people were hospitalized and released the same day. The bomb resulted in personal injuries to three victims. McGuire admitted in his plea agreement that he detonated the bomb with the intent to kill the sheriff’s deputies. After the bomb exploded, McGuire left to retrieve from his vehicle two long guns and 10 Molotov cocktails and intended to re-enter the courthouse to kill sheriff’s deputies and “splatter” (kill) a judge. A courthouse security guard and several law enforcement officers stopped McGuire at his vehicle. McGuire admitted to maliciously damaging the courthouse, which sustained approximately $35,000 in damage and had to be closed for several days. He also admitted to detonating the bomb at the courthouse in retaliation for various alleged government wrongs, including Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies seizing his firearms earlier that year. A search of McGuire’s residence resulted in the seizure of other materials related to his bomb making. United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled a March 1, 2027, sentencing hearing, at which time McGuire will face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Maria Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark P. Takla of the Orange County Office, and Kathrynne N. Seiden of the National Security Division are prosecuting this case with substantial assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section, and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the Counterterrorism Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.


title: Former L.A. County Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Prison for Violating Civil Rights While Providing Off-Duty Security for Crypto Criminal

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for abusing his status as a law enforcement officer to threaten and intimidate adversaries of a now-imprisoned, self-proclaimed cryptocurrency businessman, and for cheating on his taxes. Christopher Michael Cadman, 34, of Fullerton, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered him to pay $25,000 in restitution. Cadman pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of subscribing to a false tax return. Cadman formerly was employed by Adam Iza, 26, who resided in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, and was a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman who has been in federal custody since September 2024. Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 5 before Judge Anderson. Iza is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Connecticut in August 2024. According to court documents, in August 2021, Cadman and LASD Deputy Scott Simpkins intimidated and threatened a victim who was one of Iza’s adversaries. According to Cadman’s plea, Simpkins held the victim at gunpoint during a meeting at Iza’s office inside his Bel Air mansion. Immediately afterward, the victim transferred approximately $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s bank account in response to the threat and demand. In September 2021, Cadman and other law enforcement officers orchestrated a traffic stop in Paramount to arrest the same victim. Cadman helped organize the traffic stop and arrest on Iza’s behalf and received cash payments while he worked for Iza. Cadman also received income – at least $40,500 – he knowingly failed to report on his 2021 federal tax return, which he signed and filed with the IRS in February 2022. Cadman owed approximately $11,000 in federal taxes for that year. “Our legal system entrusts law enforcement officers with extraordinary authority,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Those powers carry a corresponding duty to uphold constitutional rights, exercise sound judgment, and serve the public with integrity. When an officer abuses that trust, the harm extends beyond the immediate victim. It undermines confidence in the rule of law, weakens trust in government institutions, and damages the reputation of the countless officers who serve honorably.” Cadman is one of five now-former LASD deputies convicted in connection with Iza’s criminal activities: Michael David Coberg, 45, of Eastvale, is serving a 63-month federal prison sentence for helping Iza extort a rival and arranging the sham illegal drug possession arrest of another adversary in Paramount in 2021. Judge Anderson sentenced Coberg on March 16. Scott Allen Simpkins, 34, of Brea, was sentenced on July 13 to 18 months in federal prison for obstructing a federal investigation into Iza’s extortion of $25,000 from a party planner at Iza’s Bel Air mansion. David Anthony Rodriguez, 45, of La Verne, was sentenced on July 20 to one year in federal prison and who had worked for Iza as a private security guard, pleaded guilty to submitting a false search warrant application to a state court judge on behalf of a different client. Eric Chase Saavedra, 42, of Chino, a former LASD deputy and a former federal task force officer, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of making and subscribing to a false tax return. Saavedra founded a company – Saavedra & Associates LLC – that provided security to Iza and hired LASD deputies to do so. Among other crimes, Saavedra used his powers as a sworn law enforcement officer to improperly obtain court-authorized search warrants related to intimidating, threatening, and harassing Iza’s adversaries. Saavedra is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks. Relatedly, Iris Ramaya Au, 37, of Irvine, Iza’s ex-girlfriend, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of subscribing to a false tax return for failing to report more than $2.6 million in ill-gotten funds she obtained from Iza’s criminal activities. Au will face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison at her sentencing hearing, which is expected to occur in the coming weeks. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has assisted. Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the National Security Division prosecuted this case.


title: HSTF Investigation Leads to Criminal Indictment of Prominent Pill Press Company and Arrest of Principal Managers

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – On Sep. 9, 2026, Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tucson District Office, conducted a multi-state enforcement operation resulting in the arrest of Alastair Mark Sanderson, 39, of Overland Park, Kansas; William Robert Norris, 43, of Westworth Village, Texas; and Michael Christian Packard, 36, of Fort Worth, Texas. Sanderson and Norris are the principal managers of LFA Machines DFW, LLC. Packard is a former long-time employee of LFA. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, LFA Machines sells a variety of tableting machines and other products to customers across the United States. Often called pill presses, tableting machines are used to compress powder formulations into pill form, creating pills of uniform size, shape, and weight. LFA Machines sells a line of desktop tablet presses that are low cost and can produce up to 5,000 tablets per hour. The distribution, importation, and exportation of tableting machines is regulated under federal law and encompasses stringent know-your-customer requirements. LFA Machines also sells a product called Firmapress. Firmapress is a binding agent added during the manufacturing process that helps ingredients blend smoothly, flow easily as powders, and bind together to form durable pills or tablets. LFA Machines advertises that Firmapress, which is available in multiple colors, enables “entrepreneurs, home users or businesses [to] pick out an active ingredient, add Firmapress and have a pharmaceutical grade tablet from day one.” These qualities make LFA’s products ideal for use in clandestine illicit drug labs. The DEA has identified the proliferation of pill press machines as an emerging threat. Drug traffickers use pill presses to press fentanyl into pills and punches and dies to imprint markings and logos onto those pills, producing pills that look like legitimate prescription medication—like oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall—when those pills, in fact, contain fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs. In 2025, the DEA seized more than 47 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Over the course of a multi-year investigation, federal investigators not only recovered LFA’s pill presses and other products from multiple clandestine labs around the United States, but developed evidence showing that Sanderson, Norris, and Packard conspired to and did sell LFA’s products to customers knowing, intending, or having reasonable cause to believe that they would be used to manufacture illicit controlled substances. On August 21, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a six-count indictment against LFA Machines, Sanderson, Norris, and Packard alleging one count of Conspiracy to Unlawfully Manufacture, Distribute, Export, and Import Tableting Machines, Equipment, Chemicals, Products, and Materials; two counts of Unlawfully Distributing Chemicals, Products, and Materials; and three counts of Unlawfully Distributing a Tableting Machine. A conviction for each of these crimes carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the individual defendants and, for LFA Machines, a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, whichever is greater. The DEA’s Tucson District Office and SPEAR group led the investigation. This investigation and prosecution are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Arizona comprises agents and officers from HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Tucson Police Department, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, Oro Valley Police Department, Marana Police Department, and Arizona HIDTA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-04376-TUC-AMM RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-157_LFA Machines, et al. # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Six Charged in California, Kansas, and Louisiana for Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Voter Registration, and Identity Fraud

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Last week, an individual in California was arrested and two others were charged for paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections. Two aliens living in Kansas, and Louisiana were charged for illegally voting. And an individual in Louisiana was charged with fraudulently registering to vote an ineligible voter. “If you are gaming the election system, voting illegally, or committing voter fraud, you are breaking the law, and the Department will ensure such individuals cannot corrupt future elections,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The integrity of our elections is fundamental to our democracy, and those who seek to undermine it will be charged accordingly.” “Protecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections — and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.” “Two aliens in Kansas and Louisiana are charged with illegally voting,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. “Voter fraud is already a serious problem, but non-citizens voting is even worse. Every time a non-citizen casts a ballot, it steals a vote from an American citizen. Thanks to our partners at the Department of Justice, these aliens and other suspects accused of voter fraud will face justice and can no longer poison our election processes. Only Americans should be allowed to decide America’s future and elect America’s leaders.” “These defendants are charged with using stolen identities of registered voters to manufacture signatures on ballot petitions used to shape California law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “They allegedly used people, including members of Skid Row’s vulnerable homeless population, to try to cover up their tracks. The charged conduct undermines the confidence voters have in our election systems, and we will vigorously investigate and charge anyone involved.” “The Department of Justice remains committed to protecting election integrity and is actively investigating and prosecuting these cases,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “With another election looming, the Department’s effort serves as a stark reminder to individuals who are not legally authorized to vote not to engage in this conduct. Should individuals be determined by a court of law to have illegally claimed U.S. citizenship and voted or attempted to vote in federal elections, they will face serious criminal consequences.” “Protecting the integrity of Louisiana’s elections — and our national elections — is essential to protecting our constitutional republic,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “The right to vote is sacred. When individuals undermine that process through fraud or abuse, they threaten the public’s confidence in a fair and lawful election system. Our Office will continue to safeguard the sanctity of the vote and hold accountable those who violate our laws.” Central District of California James Brass, 47, also known as “Lord,” of Victorville, California, was arrested last week on a federal grand jury indictment charging him and two other defendants with paying people on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles to sign petitions using stolen identities of registered voters to qualify initiatives on ballots in California elections. Also charged in the two-count indictment were two petition circulators who worked for Brass: Courtney Price, 49, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jateisha Herron, 33, of Boron, California. All three defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. Brass and Price were charged with an additional count of identity fraud in furtherance of a state felony. According to court documents, California’s constitution contains a process for direct democracy in which state voters can bypass the California State Legislature and enact laws or constitutional amendments directly through the ballot initiative process. To qualify an initiative for inclusion on a ballot in 2026, an initiative’s proponent was required to submit 546,651 signatures to place a proposed statute on the ballot, and 874,641 signatures to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. An initiative’s proponent had up to 180 days to gather these signatures and needed to submit them no later than 130 days before the date of an election. Given the large number of signatures required in such a short period of time, proponents of initiatives typically hired petition management companies to gather the signatures. These companies charge significant fees and set a price for each signature gathered, contracting with outside individuals to collect signatures. According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned yesterday, Brass managed a team of signature collectors and collected signatures himself while Price and Herron were signature collectors who worked for Brass. From February to August, the defendants used a database to identify registered California voters. On Skid Row, Brass and Price handed out these voters’ stolen identities and paid petition signers to copy the voters’ personal information onto ballot initiative petitions and fraudulently sign the petitions in those voters’ names. After the petitions were signed, Brass and Herron signed declarations at the bottom of the petitions, falsely declaring under penalty of perjury that they personally witnessed the named registered voters sign the petitions and that each signature was, to the best of their knowledge, “the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be.” Brass and Herron then turned in the bogus petitions to several petition coordinators, knowing the false representations regarding the signatures’ authenticity would result in false and fraudulent signatures being counted in connection with the effort to place the initiative at issue on the ballot. Brass further knew the false representations about the signatures’ authenticity would result in payments to him from a petition management company. In total, Brass received approximately $41,600 from coordinators working with one such petition management company. If convicted, Brass, Price, and Herron each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nandor F.R. Kiss and Michael G. Wheat for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case. District of Kansas A federal grand jury in Wichita, Kansas, returned an indictment charging Mariana Alexandra Dewey, 24, a Peruvian national and permanent resident of the United States, with multiple criminal offenses arising from allegedly voting in a federal election despite not being a U.S. citizen. According to court documents, Dewey was charged with one count of false claim of citizenship, one count of false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct, and one count of voting by an alien in a federal election. In November 2024, Dewey allegedly falsely represented herself to be a U.S. citizen to register to vote in an election that included federal, state, and local offices. She is further accused of casting a ballot that included candidates for U.S. President, Vice President, Senate, and House of Representatives after falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote. Dewey’s initial court appearance is scheduled for today. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler for the District of Kansas is prosecuting the case. Western District of Louisiana Last week, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Bridget Johnson, 53, of Cotton Valley, Louisiana, with Fraudulent Voter Registration and Voting by an Alien, and Michael Wedderburn, 52, of Jamaica, with Voting by an Alien. According to court documents, Johnson was a resident of Webster Parish and a candidate in the 2024 election for mayor of Cotton Valley. Wedderburn is a non‑citizen alien in the United States and was ineligible to vote in Louisiana elections. On July 14, 2024, Johnson allegedly completed and electronically submitted a Louisiana voter registration application in Wedderburn’s name, falsely stating that he was a U.S. citizen. The indictment also alleges that Wedderburn subsequently voted illegally in the Nov. 5, 2024, election for a federal office, and in the Cotton Valley mayoral race. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth D. Reeg and Alexandra Porubsky are prosecuting the case with assistance from Legal Assistant Ginger Green. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and Wedderburn faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison as well as additional financial penalties. An indictment merely contains accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


body_text: Andrei Samuilovski, 32, who has citizenship in Estonia, Switzerland, and Russia, pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to illegally export U.S.-origin aviation and aerospace parts to Russia in violation of U.S. sanctions. Samuilovski pleaded guilty before Judge Carl J. Nichols to a one count information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act. A sentencing date is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2027. Samuilovski faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2022 and continuing through September 2024, Samuilovski and others conspired to supply prohibited Russian end users with aerospace-related components without first obtaining the required licenses from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). BIS regulates the export of U.S.-origin technologies, including aerospace parts and other items controlled for national security, regional stability, and anti-terrorism reasons. A license from BIS was required to export the aerospace commodities to Russia. Samuilovski was a co-founder of ITC Middle East FZ-LLC (ITC). ITC was officially established in March of 2022, approximately four weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to increased Russian export restrictions and sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union, and other countries. Between the founding of ITC and September 2024, there were dozens of shipments from various U.S. companies to ITC, as well as other shipments of U.S.-origin goods to ITC. The U.S.-origin items exported or reexported consisted primarily of export-controlled aerospace-related commodities with a cumulative value of nearly $2,000,000. These items were ultimately reexported to Russia. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIS. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Sean Heiden and Trial Attorney Brett Ruff of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.


title: DOJ’s Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG Target $245M in COVID Loan Fraud Enforcement Activity as State Partnerships Continue Expanding

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division along with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the SBA Office of Inspector General, as part of a Heartland Fraud Surge announced the results of Operation No Doze, a surge of criminal enforcement actions targeting fraud in SBA’s small business COVID-era loan programs. During the summer surge between June 12 and Sept. 1, SBA-OIG and federal prosecutors in the Fraud Division and across over 40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, with assistance from various partners, obtained felony charges against nearly 80 fraud defendants responsible for approximately $100 million dollars in intended loss to the United States. These charges target a range of individuals who allegedly exploited COVID-era SBA loan programs at the height of the pandemic. Beyond newly charged defendants, as part of Operation No Doze, approximately 43 defendants pleaded guilty to SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching approximately $44 million in intended loss. And approximately 40 defendants were sentenced for SBA-related COVID fraud, reaching nearly $100 million in intended loss. Together, this targeted surge resulted in fraud enforcement actions spanning over 160 criminal defendants and involved approximately $245 million dollars in intended loss to American taxpayers. Operation No Doze is a direct result of President Donald J. Trump’s creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division at the DOJ, the first new division in the DOJ in twenty years. “Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.” “Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.” “Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.” “We are proud to stand with our federal and state partners in rooting out criminal activity of all kinds, especially defrauding the public,” said Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe. “Fraud is not a victimless crime. Every dollar stolen is a dollar taken from hardworking taxpayers or from someone who depends on the programs those dollars are meant to support. In Missouri, we will continue working at every level to hold fraudsters accountable and protect those they seek to exploit.” Federal and State Partners Participating in Operation No Doze U.S. Attorney Partners: Central District of California, District of Kansas, District of Idaho, District of Maryland, District of Massachusetts, District of Montana, District of New Mexico, District of Oregon, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of California, Eastern District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of Missouri, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Middle District of Florida, Middle District of Louisiana, Northern District of California, Northern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Northern District of Iowa, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Texas, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of Alabama, Southern District of California, Southern District of Florida, Southern District of Indiana, Southern District of Ohio, Southern District of West Virginia, Western District of Kentucky, Western District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, Western District of New York, Western District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, Western District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Tennessee, Western District of Texas, Western District of Washington. Federal and State Investigative Partners: Amtrak, Office of Inspector General; City of Jacksonville, Office of Inspector General; Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General; Export-Import Bank of the United States; FBI; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; Federal Housing Administration; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of Inspector General; HSI; Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation; National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General; Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; Social Security Administration; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; U.S. Secret Service; Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General; West Virginia State Police; Tampa Police Department. Heartland Fraud Partnership Summit: In tandem with the results of Operation No Doze, the Fraud Division announced three new federal-state cooperation agreements with the Missouri Secretary of State, Nebraska Treasurer, and Kansas Treasurer to strengthen ongoing fraud enforcement efforts. On September 14, 2026, over twenty-five federal and state officials gathered for the Heartland Partnership Fraud Summit in Kansas City, Missouri, including representatives from 6 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, 3 State Attorneys General Offices, 3 State Financial Offices, 3 Secretaries of State, 3 federal law enforcement partners, and 2 Members of Congress. Federal and State Partners at the 2026 Heartland Fraud Partnership Summit U.S. Attorney Partners: U.S. Attorneys Office Partners (In-Person Attendance): U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri Matthew Price U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Thomas Albus U.S. Attorney for District of Nebraska Lesley Woods U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa Leif Olson U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa David Waterman U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Ryan Kriegshauser State Partners: Iowa: Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate Kansas: Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab Nebraska: Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley, Nebraska Treasurer Joey Spellerberg Missouri: Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, and Missouri Department of Social Services Jessica Bax United States Congressional Representation: Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Congressman Mark Alford (R-MO) These partnerships and actions demonstrate how state and federal partners can work together to strengthen fraud detection, share information, and accelerate enforcement efforts nationwide. The Department encourages every state across the country to partner with the Fraud Division on similar efforts. Notable Cases (Intended Loss Figures) 1.) United States v. Jamie Gray (Indictment) – $55,931,875 – Western District of Missouri Jamie Gray is charged with wire fraud and money laundering. According to the indictment, Gray submitted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications claiming to own dozens of businesses that were operating before the COVID-19 pandemic. In every instance but one, the businesses Gray allegedly claimed to own were not in operation on or before February 15, 2020 (eligibility deadline). The only claimed business that actually existed was “Fur Lives Matter,” a Texas company that allegedly had no knowledge of Gray. The indictment alleges that Gray’s representations regarding ownership, employees, gross revenue, and business operations were entirely fabricated. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney for the Western District of Missouri. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Eggert for the Western District of Missouri. 2.) United States v. Adrian Pupo Perez et al. (Indictment) – $2,400,000 – Northern District of Iowa On July 9, 2026, a grand jury in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, charged Adrian Rafael Pupo Perez and Helen Yaima Leyva Santiesteban with 47 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy. Beginning in July 2020, Pupo Perez, Leyva Santiesteban, and more than 100 other individuals originally from Cuba allegedly sought fraudulent PPP loans and EIDLs by falsely claiming they were self-employed, among other allegedly false representations. The co-conspirators allegedly submitted approximately 470 fraudulent PPP loan applications in the names of more than 100 individuals across the United States. They allegedly fraudulently sought more than $4.5 million in PPP funds, with approximately $2.4 million disbursed. Pupo Perez and Leyva Santiesteban are fugitives at this time. Prosecuted by District Fraud Counsel Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek for the Northern District of Iowa. 3. United States v. Pu Wang and Rui Li (Indictment) – $102,397 – Northern District of Indiana Pu Wang and Rui Li are charged with fraudulently obtaining federal grant funds for their company, Vibronix, by falsely representing that the company had no Chinese affiliates and by certifying that the funded work was performed in the United States when most of the work was allegedly performed in China. In addition to allegedly defrauding the Small Business Innovation Research federal grant program, Wang also allegedly certified in PPP loan applications that all covered employees had their primary residence in the United States. Wang was himself a covered employee and, according to the allegations, lived in China during the relevant period. Wang further allegedly certified that none of Vibronix’s board members were residents of the People’s Republic of China. Public SEC filings identified Wang as a Vibronix board member who was known to live in China at the time of the application for federal funds. According to the indictment, Wang had received an award in 2014 sponsored by the PRC to encourage Chinese citizens who study in the United States to return to China. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Sohn for the Northern District of Indiana. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Lupa Northern District of Indiana. 4. United States v. Eve Zou (Information) – $319,800 – Western District of Texas Eve Zou is charged with making false and fraudulent representations to the U.S. Small Business Administration to obtain EIDL funds and grants purportedly for legitimate business purposes. At the time of the charged offense, Zou was an employee of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, a state agency designed to protect children, the elderly, and adults in Texas with disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The information alleges that Zou instead used EIDL proceeds for personal benefit, including the purchase of real estate in Austin, Texas and investments in brokerage accounts. Zou also allegedly made multiple false statements in the applications, including using her daughter’s identity without her daughter’s knowledge or permission, falsely claiming to have 50 employees, and falsely claiming lost rental income. Zou allegedly obtained three SBA loans totaling $319,800. Zou has agreed to plead guilty to the charges against her. Zou also agreed to forfeiture of all assets purchased with the fraud proceeds, which have grown in value. As a result, the government intends to recoup more than Zou stole. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandy Gann for the Western District of Texas. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung for the Western District of Texas. 5. United States v. Melissa Fireside (Indictment) — $1,573,350 – District of Oregon Melissa Fireside, a former Clackamas County Commissioner, allegedly attempted to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.6 million in PPP and EIDL funds associated with her claimed businesses. The State of Oregon has charged Fireside with eight felony counts — including first-degree forgery, first-degree aggravated theft, computer crimes, and identity theft. Fireside was charged in the District of Oregon with two counts of wire fraud. According to prosecutors, Fireside submitted an EIDL application using the identity of another person, G.F., without G.F.’s authorization. Fireside was alleged to be G.F.’s caregiver and manager of G.F.’s finances. Fireside allegedly also submitted a fraudulent PPP application supported by fabricated tax documents and bank records, falsely represented that the business was operating and had employees and substantial revenues, and then diverted the loan proceeds for her personal use. Fireside is believed to have fled the country and remains an international fugitive subject to an INTERPOL Red Notice in connection with the federal charges. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey A. Barrow for the District of Oregon. District Fraud Counsel AOR: Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Meyers for the District of Oregon. 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. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.