title: Member of 10-Person Robbery Crew Targeting Chicago Suburbs Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A member of a crew that conspired to commit 11 brazen daytime robberies in the Chicago suburbs has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Between January 2022 and March 2023, PERRY MAPLE, 23, participated directly in three armed robberies of armored trucks and ATMs in Calumet City and Orland Park. During one armed robbery, Maple drove a stolen car to a bank in a crowded shopping plaza, shoved an ATM technician to the ground, and pointed a gun in the technician’s face as he and his co-defendant stole approximately $155,000 from the ATM. Maple and his co-defendant committed the violent robbery on a Friday afternoon with innocent bystanders mere feet away. In the other two robberies, Maple acted as a getaway driver. Maple and his co-defendants stole nearly $700,000 during the three robberies. In June 2024, Maple and 10 other members of the armed robbery crew were charged in federal court in connection with 11 armed robberies of armored trucks, ATMs, and banks. On March 26, 2026, Maple pleaded guilty to federal charges of robbery and armed robbery, and on July 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman sentenced Maple to 15 years in prison. Maple’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elie Zenner and Simar Khera. “Along with his co-conspirators, defendant repeatedly and violently robbed armed armored truck couriers and ATM technicians at gunpoint,” AUSA Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Each robbery was a high-stakes, high-reward robbery, and defendant willingly risked getting into a deadly shootout for the chance at hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen proceeds.”


title: Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Woman of Assaulting United States Postal Carrier After Two-Day Trial

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury in Chicago has convicted a woman of assaulting a United States Postal Service mail carrier following a two-day trial. DIANE BRINKLEY assaulted the mail carrier on June 9, 2025, in Chicago. The mail carrier was delivering mail at a home near Brinkley’s former residence when Brinkley approached and began yelling at her. Brinkley shoved the postal carrier, causing the mail carrier to fall onto the concrete steps of a home. When the mail carrier stood up, Brinkley struck her a second time, knocking the mail carrier down again. Brinkley, 56, of Chicago, was convicted of a federal assault charge. The jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago returned its verdict on July 16, 2026. The conviction is punishable by up to a year in federal prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain set sentencing for November 16. The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hayley Altabef and Eric Rigoli.


title: Two Illegal Aliens and Marietta Man Face Federal Charges After Seizure of Nearly 500 Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ATLANTA - Juan Rueda-Palacios and Lourdes Prudente Blanco, both illegal aliens from Mexico, and Alan Hernandez, of Marietta, Georgia, are facing federal drug charges related to the recent seizure of nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle in Brookhaven, Georgia, and an apartment in Sandy Springs. “These charges reflect the commitment of my office and our law enforcement partners to dismantle large‑scale drug trafficking operations that endanger our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “If you choose to traffic dangerous drugs in our community, we will investigate, arrest, and prosecute you.” “This investigation reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting communities from the deadly drugs and violence tied to drug trafficking organizations,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “These defendants trafficked dangerous narcotics while unlawfully present in the United States, creating a serious threat to public safety. Working side by side with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, DEA will continue removing drugs, guns, and violent offenders from our streets.” “This amount of methamphetamine flooding our streets would have devastated countless lives and families,” said Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “Meth is not just a drug—it brings violence, addiction, and fear into our neighborhoods. Our message is clear: if you try to poison our communities with dangerous drugs, we will find you and bring you to justice. HSI and our partners are committed to keeping our communities safe and standing up for the families who call Georgia home.” “Nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine will never reach Georgia's communities because of the relentless work and collaboration of local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “This investigation should serve as a warning to those who seek to traffic drugs in Georgia: we will relentlessly pursue those who bring these deadly substances into our communities and work tirelessly alongside our partners to ensure the safety of every Georgian.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 2, 2026, Rueda-Palacios and Prudente allegedly drove a vehicle from Ellenwood, Georgia to a shopping center in Brookhaven and abandoned it with roughly 130 pounds of methamphetamine inside. Agents arrested Hernandez and retrieved the drugs after observing Hernandez enter and exit the vehicle later that day. On July 15, 2026, agents arrested Rueda‑Palacios and Prudente. A search of their Sandy Springs apartment the same day uncovered approximately 350 pounds of methamphetamine along with a Mexican passport belonging to Rueda‑Palacios. Allegedly, neither Rueda‑Palacios nor Prudente is lawfully present in the United States, and Rueda‑Palacios returned illegally after having been deported in 2013. Juan Rueda-Palacios, 47, and Lourdes Prudente Blanco, 48, both of Mexico, and Alan Hernandez, 34, of Marietta, Georgia, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Rueda-Palacios was also charged with illegally reentering the United States. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office provided substantial assistance to the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Schwarzl and Sandy Strippoli are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Dawaun Shunard Jackson, 40, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced in federal court to 20 years in prison for one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This predator has clearly shown from his repeated crimes that the only way we can guarantee the safety of our children from his continued sexual deviance is by keeping him locked away in federal prison. My office is happy to oblige, and he’ll spend the next two decades behind bars. I deeply appreciate the excellent, collaborative work of the Tallahassee Police Department and the FBI to identify and stop offenders, like this defendant, from harming our kids, and my office will back up their great work with aggressive prosecutions to keep those sexual predators off our streets.” Court documents reflect that between November 20 and 22, 2025, the Tallahassee Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, conducted an undercover operation focused on identifying individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, an undercover officer posed as a 15-year-old girl and posted an ad on a website known for the solicitation of escorts. Court records show that the defendant responded to the ad and believed that he was communicating with a minor child, and that the defendant offered money in exchange for sex with the child and arranged to meet in Tallahassee. Further investigation that the defendant was a registered sex offender. After the defendant was arrested, his cell phone was seized as evidence, and a subsequent search of the device confirmed that he communicated with the undercover officer who posed as a 15-year-old girl. After serving his term of 20 years’ imprisonment, Jackson will have to serve a lifetime term of supervised release. He will also have to continue registering as a sexual offender. “Children should never become the target of someone seeking to exploit them,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Our investigators work alongside our federal partners every day to identify offenders, intervene before they can harm a child, and hold them accountable. This sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.” “Predators who target children should know there is no place to hide,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “Protecting children from sexual exploitation remains one of the FBI’s highest priorities. The FBI, alongside our partners, will use every resource available to identify, investigate and bring child predators to justice.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Tallahassee Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Jury Convicts Tallahassee Man of Attempting To Entice A Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Raymond Lewis Shiver, 36, of Crawfordville, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The verdict was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners, my office was able to deliver a successful prosecution to ensure this defendant will be held accountable for his attempts to sexually exploit a child. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these horrific crimes to do everything in our power to keep our kids safe, both in our communities and online.” Trial testimony demonstrated that from April 10-12, 2025, federal, state, and local law enforcement executed an undercover online chat operation designed to catch individuals who use the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, several fictitious ads were posted by law enforcement on websites commonly used for prostitution, and the defendant responded to one of the ads. In his text messaging with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a 15-year-old child, the defendant expressed interest in engaging in sexual activity with the child in exchange for money. The defendant then traveled to meet the child and was arrested by law enforcement. Search of the defendant’s phone confirmed that he was the person communicating with the undercover officer through text messaging and phone calls. Shiver faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph A. Ravelo and Meredith L. Steer. Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Fort Walton Beach Man Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Aubrey Darnell Joseph, Sr., 35, of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Joseph, Sr. appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for August 3, 2026, at 8:00 AM before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida. If convicted, Joseph faces a minimum 10 years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment on each count. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Alicia H. Forbes. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Birmingham Man Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Possession of Illegal Drugs

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been sentenced for possession of illegal drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. U.S. District Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Deverick Dewayne Croom, 35, to 63 months in prison. In April, Croom pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. “Keeping violent offenders and illegal drugs out of our communities remains a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “I am grateful to our federal, state and local law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to holding dangerous offenders accountable and keeping the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama safe.” “As in this case, domestic violence involving firearms is particularly concerning and often links to further criminal activity that affects the victims and our communities as a whole,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James VanVliet. “Today’s sentencing underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable who recklessly engage in criminal acts of violence, illegally possess firearms, and distribute narcotics.” According to the court documents, on August 12, 2020, an officer with the Birmingham Police Department responded to a domestic violence call. The victim reported that Croom had assaulted and strangled her, shot at her, and took her phone and money. Law enforcement officers went to a Birmingham hotel to locate Croom. After knocking on the hotel room door and receiving no response, officers entered and found the room unoccupied. While in the room, they observed suspected marijuana and pills containing methamphetamine on the dresser and a loaded Windham Weaponry AR-style rifle in the closet. A short time later, Croom returned to the hotel and officers encountered him in the lobby. Croom was detained in connection with the domestic violence complaint and the suspected narcotics. It was subsequently discovered that Croom had active arrest warrants issued by the City of Birmingham. When Croom was detained, he had a hotel room key in his hand and the victim’s phone in his pocket. The officer returned to the room and seized 10 bags of marijuana (each containing approximately 3.5 grams of the drug), more than 200 pills containing methamphetamine, and the AR-style rifle. Croom was then arrested for possession of a controlled substance and domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation. ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.


title: Pelican Rapids Man is 68th Defendant to be Convicted in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Abdirashid Bixi Dool, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme of more than $330,000. He is the 68th Feeding Our Future defendant convicted. Dool pleaded guilty on July 13, 2026, and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. According to court documents, from about March 2021 through December 2021, Dool and his co‑conspirators submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims to Feeding Our Future on behalf of two Minnesota nonprofit organizations, Bilaal Mosque, Inc. and Multicultural Resource Center, Inc. (MRC). Although the nonprofits claimed to be operating meal sites in Pelican Rapids and Moorhead, Minnesota, that served tens of thousands of meals to children, the actual number of meals served was only a fraction of what was reported. As part of the scheme, Dool knowingly submitted falsified meal count sheets, inflated food purchase invoices, and fabricated rosters of children purportedly served at the sites. On some occasions, he knowingly and falsely claimed the sites served over 40,000 meals per week. In total, between approximately March 2021 and February 2022, Bilaal and MRC claimed to have served over 505,000 meals to children. The fraudulent submissions led the Minnesota Department of Education to pay nearly $1.1 million in federal child‑nutrition funds to the two nonprofit entities. “This guilty plea is another step toward restoring integrity to programs meant to support children and families, and it highlights the importance of strong interagency cooperation to stop the fraud and seek accountability for taxpayers,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Programs like the Federal Child Nutrition Program were created to help children at a time when many families were struggling just to put food on the table,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Exploiting that hardship for personal gain is a betrayal of the public’s trust. Working shoulder to shoulder with our federal law enforcement partners, IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to follow the financial trail, expose these schemes, and hold accountable those who steal from programs meant to help our most vulnerable.” “The conviction of Abdirashid Dool reflects the FBI’s commitment to protecting Minnesotans and holding offenders accountable wherever they attempt to operate. The FBI, alongside our partners in the IRS-CI and the United States Attorney’s Office, will continue to aggressively pursue cases across the state to ensure those who misuse American taxpayer dollars are brought to justice,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Today's guilty plea showcases our commitment to holding accountable the criminal actors who abused the U.S. Mail in an effort to commit widespread fraud and to divert funds intended for those most in need,” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Denver Division. “We stand ready with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who exploit taxpayer funded benefit programs through fraud schemes.” “Financial fraud threatens the integrity of our communities, and HSI is unwavering in our commitment to confront it,” said Homeland Security Investigations St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “By working side by side with our partners, we ensure those who commit these crimes are held accountable and justice is served.” This case is part of an ongoing federal investigation into fraud involving pandemic‑related child‑nutrition programs. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Austin L. Bowyer are prosecuting the case. Note: Previous press release detailing Dool’s charges here . This press release has been updated on July 24, 2026, to correct the number of Feeding Our Future defendants convicted. Previous versions misstated this figure. Dool is the 68th defendant convicted.


title: New York Woman Sentenced for Multiple Fraud Offenses

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine : A New York woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for bank fraud, false use of a passport, and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock Jr. sentenced Lisa Campos , 59, to time served, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Campos had already served approximately 28 months in custody. Campos was also ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution. Campos pleaded guilty on May 23, 2024. According to court records, in May 2023, Campos attempted to withdraw funds from a credit union account belonging to two victims. Campos presented a fake United States passport card as identification. She was successful in withdrawing $8000 from one credit union and made two additional unsuccessful attempts at other branch locations. Shortly after leaving the third branch, Campos was located by Freeport Police Department officers and provided them with the purported passport card and a debit card, both in one of the victim’s names. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Sanford, Topsham, and Freeport Police Departments. ###


title: Two Men Charged in $52 million COVID-19 Tax Credit Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller announced that a California man was arrested on Monday after a grand jury sitting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania returned an indictment charging him with conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering. According to the indictment, Christopher Slater was part of a multi-state conspiracy to defraud the United States of more than $52.7 million by filing hundreds of false tax returns claiming Paid Sick and Family Leave Credit (SFLC) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) credits. Congress authorized the SFLC tax credit to reimburse businesses for wages paid to employees who were on sick or family leave and could not work because of COVID-19. Congress authorized the ERC to incentivize businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. Slater allegedly conspired with others to recruit business owners, use their information to file false tax returns and then launder the proceeds of the fraud. In total, Slater allegedly caused at least 280 false tax returns to be filed for 35 businesses claiming over $52.7 million in COVID-19 tax credits, of which the IRS paid out over $32.2 million. The indictment also charged Mark Keagel, of York, Pennsylvania, with money laundering, conspiracy and theft of government property. Keagel owned two defunct businesses whose information he allegedly passed on to one of Slater’s co-conspirators. According to the indictment, Slater’s associates filed false tax returns on behalf of Keagel’s businesses. In response, the IRS mailed approximately $3.6 million in fraudulent Treasury checks to Keagel, who then allegedly laundered those proceeds. “This indictment alleges that Christopher Slater orchestrated a multi-state fraud scheme that sought more than $50 million in taxpayer-funded pandemic relief funds,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This brazen fraud is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The Fraud Division will continue to hold anyone accountable who steals from American taxpayers and abuses programs intended to provide relief during a national crisis.” “This indictment shows our Office’s longstanding commitment to prosecuting fraudsters and protecting our tax dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller.” “This Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stop these schemes and protect taxpayers hard earned money.” “IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to protecting the integrity of our financial system by disrupting complex financial crimes and pursuing those responsible, stated Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office.” If convicted, Slater faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the seven mail fraud and mail fraud conspiracy counts. Slater and Keagel also face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each of the money laundering and money laundering conspiracy counts. Keagel faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison for each count of theft of government property. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller of the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant Deputy Chief Ezra Spiro of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma of the Middle District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 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: Florida Man Sentenced To 121 Months In Prison For Child Exploitation Crime

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brett Michael Smith, age 35, of Hillsborough County, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 121 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for receipt of child pornography. According to the United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, pursuant to a federal search warrant, FBI agents seized and analyzed Smith’s cell phone and computers. The forensic analysis uncovered approximately 20,000 images and 4,500 videos of child pornography including videos that depict sadistic imagery and the sexual abuse of multiple children including infants. A review of Smith’s Internet search history showed that he searched for child pornography on multiple occasions beginning in November 2020 and continuing through March 13, 2025. The investigation was conducted by FBI – Philadelphia Division, Allentown RAC, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (Tampa, Florida), the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (Largo, Florida), and the Minersville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . # # #


title: Seventh Defendant Pleads Guilty in Atlanta to Milledgeville Meth Trafficking Case

body_text: MACON, Ga. – The final of seven defendants involved in a methamphetamine trafficking network sourcing methamphetamine from Atlanta for distribution in Milledgeville, Georgia, has been brought to justice resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. “This case demonstrates our firm commitment to work with law enforcement to rid our communities of armed drug trafficking networks and ensure repeat offenders in the Middle District of Georgia face the consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. "I want to thank our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to keep our communities safe." “Drug trafficking organizations don’t just deal drugs—they bring guns, violence, and instability into our neighborhoods,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The significant prison sentences imposed, and guilty plea reflect the serious danger these defendants posed, and the harm caused by flooding our communities with methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.” Cory Wilson, 41, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on July 20 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for October 10. The following codefendants previously pleaded guilty, and some have been sentenced: Ruby Fogg, 39, of Austell, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 324 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on June 10, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Robert Matthew Wood, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on June 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Desmond Glenn, 35, of Milledgeville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Feb. 17 and faces a maximum of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12. Rodney May, 38, of Milledgeville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Dec. 17, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and a maximum $20 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12. Tony Baker, 39, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 92 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Katherine Short-Barcenas, 36, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Dec. 17, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12. U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal agents began investigating a group of individuals distributing methamphetamine in the Baldwin County, Georgia, area beginning in early 2023. Between April 25, 2023, and July 31, 2023, agents conducted four separate controlled purchases from Glenn totaling approximately 162 grams of methamphetamine. Under surveillance, Glenn was recorded selling methamphetamine and other controlled substances to people in Baldwin County as well as obtaining large amounts of methamphetamine from several sources of supply, including Fogg, who was the leader of the criminal network. Short-Barcenas and Wilson, members of this drug trafficking ring, sold methamphetamine twice to a confidential source in early March 2023, as part of this investigation. Fogg was working closely with Wood to obtain and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. Fogg and Wood often rented hotel rooms in Atlanta where they stored and sold narcotics. On Nov. 14, 2023, Fogg directed Glenn to pick up methamphetamine from Wood at an Atlanta area hotel, at a time she was making a trip to deliver drug proceeds to Jackson, Georgia. May and Baker traveled with Glenn to the Atlanta hotel; on the return trip, their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement, and nearly one kilo of methamphetamine was found in a bag, along with a smaller amount in the floorboard. Officers also found a firearm tucked between Glenn’s seat and the center console, and another firearm in the backseat. A search warrant was executed at Glenn’s Milledgeville home, where officers found an additional 64.68 grams of methamphetamine and five firearms in his bedroom. Glenn was previously convicted of robbery by force in Baldwin County, Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Two days later, on Nov. 16, 2023, Fogg and Wood were arrested; the hotel they were renting was searched, and an additional 154.97 grams of methamphetamine was located, plus drug paraphernalia. Fogg has three prior criminal felony methamphetamine distribution convictions in Douglas County, Georgia, Superior Court. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The DEA and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Former St. Augustine Business Owner Sentenced to 29 Years for Attempting to Pay Traffickers in the Philippines to Film and Send Videos of Children Being Sexually Abused

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Jack Dymond Leach (44, St. Augustine) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 29 years in federal prison for attempting to pay individuals in the Philippines to molest young children and send him videos of their sexual abuse. Leach was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release, pay $103,000 in restitution to child victims, and register as a sex offender. On May 29, 2025, Leach, the former owner of Dymeng Technology Solutions, was arrested and has been in custody since that time. He pleaded guilty on October 21, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, in March 2025, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were investigating child sexual exploitation activities involving a particular online communications application (“App”). An HSI analyst in Jacksonville discovered certain information associated with a specific App account that was communicating with two other App accounts that had been used by individuals in the Philippines in 2023 to traffic children for sexual exploitation. This particular App account was determined to have accessed the internet in St. Augustine. Further investigation revealed that this account belonged to Leach. Between November 2023 and March 2024, Leach’s App account and the other two App accounts used by child traffickers in the Philippines exchanged 1,287 messages and numerous media files. In an App text message that Leach sent to a trafficker on November 21, 2023, Leach stated, “i like 3y, 5y, 8y.” The trafficker responded, among other things, “I c[a]n get that age.” On November 22, 2023, Leach texted, “will [the child] make dirty pics or vids …,” and “sure, i’ll pay for them.” On December 2, 2023, Leach sent a message offering to pay the trafficker for producing a video depicting a child engaging in specific sexually explicit conduct and sending it to Leach. Leach and the trafficker discussed possible methods of payment via text message. On December 5, 2023, Leach sent the trafficker $160 to produce and send the video of the child being sexually abused. Leach also attempted to have traffickers molest two other children for the purpose of producing and sending him videos of their abuse. On May 8, 2025, federal search warrants were executed at Leach’s residence and his business. HSI agents and other law enforcement personnel seized numerous electronic devices belonging to and used by Leach. A forensic examination of these devices revealed at least 933 photos depicting young children being sexually abused. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Former Jail Official Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Justin Harvey (50, Inverness) has pleaded guilty to acceptance of a bribe by a public official. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, Harvey worked as a correctional officer at Citrus County Detention Facility (CCDF), a jail facility where federal inmates are held while they await trial, sentencing, or designation to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility. While Harvey worked at CCDF, he agreed to bring a cellphone into the facility to an inmate. In exchange, the inmate would pay Harvey $4,000 in cash. Harvey then met up with a colleague of the inmate – who was, in fact, an undercover law enforcement agent – and collected $4,000 and a cellphone to bring into the facility. Harvey then wrapped the cellphone in saran wrap to smuggle it into the facility. Harvey brought the cellphone into CCDF and gave it to the inmate. The inmate later returned the cellphone to law enforcement. Further analysis identified Harvey’s fingerprints on the tape that sealed the phone. The introduction of contraband, like cellphones, into secure detention facilities presents a security risk to those both inside and outside the facility. Harvey agreed to forfeit $4,000 to the United States, the money he received as a bribe. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan. Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench handled the forfeiture.


title: Baltimore County Felon Sentenced for Federal Drug-and-Firearm Crimes

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a Baltimore County man to prison, today, in connection with drug-and-firearm charges related to a federal drug investigation. U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced Jacque “Hammer” Brown, 50, of Randallstown, Maryland, to 135 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, after law enforcement recovered 500 grams of fentanyl and two firearms from his home. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). According to court documents, in March 2025, the DEA began investigating Brown after learning that he was dealing fentanyl in the Baltimore region. After investigators identified Brown’s vehicles and Randallstown residence, the court authorized law enforcement to conduct electronic surveillance over his vehicles and cellular phone. In April 2025, investigators observed a meeting between Brown and his drug supplier. It appeared that Brown engaged in a re-up with his supplier. A few days after the meeting, investigators saw Brown meet with multiple suspected drug customers throughout the day. Later that evening, law enforcement observed Brown leave his residence with a plastic bag of suspected drugs. When Brown left in his vehicle, investigators initiated a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, a K-9 officer responded to the scene, scanned the vehicle, and positively detected the presence of narcotics. After the positive alert, Brown, who was standing with a patrol officer, ran away from the traffic stop. As he fled, Brown threw a clear plastic bag. Then investigators quickly apprehended Brown, placing him under arrest. After apprehending Brown, investigators retraced his steps and discovered a clear plastic bag that contained 15 grams of fentanyl on the ground. Officers also recovered a cellphone from Brown and three additional cellphones from his vehicle. Following Brown’s arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant on his Randallstown residence. Investigators searched Brown’s room, recovering 500 grams of fentanyl in multiple plastic bags; multiple digital scales; a hydraulic press; and sifters with drug residue. Law enforcement also found two firearms, a loaded 9mm Ruger, and a Mossberg Maverick 12-gauge shotgun. Brown, who is a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Additionally, investigators searched one of Brown’s phones and discovered messages between Brown and his fentanyl supplier. The messages revealed that Brown and his fentanyl supplier discussed the high potency of the fentanyl, and that Brown infused cutting agents in the narcotic to reduce the risk of overdosing. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, BCPD, BPD, and DPSCS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin Miner and Ari D. Evans who prosecuted this federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Pittsfield Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield to conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts. Theodore Warren, a/k/a “Monty,” 42, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Oct. 20, 2026. In December 2024 , Warren was charged with his co-conspirator Lavante Wiggins, the former Dean of Pittsfield High School. According to the charging documents, Wiggins, the former Dean of Students at Pittsfield High School, allegedly operated a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around the Pittsfield area. Warren was a trusted member of the DTO who served as a runner for Wiggins. According to the charging documents, in August 2024, Wiggins expressed concern that he was under investigation and that he would send Warren to complete drug sales and deliver cocaine on his behalf. It is alleged that one of Wiggins’ customers amassed a debt of more than $34,000 for cocaine that Wiggins provided on credit. Warren and, allegedly, Wiggins went about collecting on that debt while continuing to supply large amounts of cocaine to the customer. Specifically, Wiggins allegedly directed Warren to distribute cocaine to the customer on four separate occasions between September and December 2024: approximately 91 grams of cocaine on Sept. 10, 2024; approximately 100 grams of cocaine on Oct. 14, 2024; 125 grams of cocaine on Oct. 31, 2024; and 150 grams of cocaine on Dec. 10, 2024. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, Easthampton and Pittsfield Police Departments; Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Offices; Massachusetts State Police; and the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches, Chief of the Springfield Branch Unit, is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal Alien From El Salvador Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – An El Salvadoran national unlawfully residing in Everett, Mass., has been charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Defendant allegedly grabbed and unholstered officer’s weapon while resisting arrest. Wilson Alfredo Figueroa-Landaverde, 30, is charged with one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Figueroa-Landaverde will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to court documents, Figueroa-Landaverde, a citizen of El Salvador, was first encountered by authorities on July 3, 2015, after unlawfully entering the United States by crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico on a raft. He was subsequently removed from the United States on July 14, 2015. It is alleged that that, at some point thereafter, Figueroa-Landaverde unlawfully reentered the United States. In February 2026, federal authorities allegedly received information that Figueroa-Landaverde was unlawfully present in the United States and residing at an address in Everett. On July 1, 2026, Figueroa-Landaverde was located outside his Everett residence and officers attempted to arrest him. It is alleged that Figueroa-Landaverde resisted arrest and, during a struggle with law enforcement, grabbed and unholstered an officer’s firearm before being restrained and taken into custody. The charge of illegal reentry provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Conroy of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: DHS Employee Charged With Fraudulently Obtaining $478,000 VA-Backed Mortgage

body_text: BOSTON – A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee has been arrested and charged for allegedly committing wire fraud and submitting false statements in a mortgage application seeking a mortgage backed by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA). Schleider Aristhyl, 30, of Warwick, R.I., a military veteran and DHS employee, was charged with wire fraud and false statement in a mortgage application. The defendant was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today. According to the charging documents, in October 2024, Aristhyl submitted two falsified documents that purported to be from the VA with his application seeking a VA-backed mortgage in the amount of $478,000 from private lender. The first fraudulent document stated that Aristhyl had received a VA disability rating of 100% and that he was receiving monthly disability benefits of over $3,000 per month. It is alleged that the document was falsified and that Aristhyl had no VA disability rating at the time of his application and he was not receiving any monthly disability benefits from the VA in October of 2024. The second fraudulent document allegedly purported to be a VA certificate stating that Aristhyl was exempt from paying a “funding fee” to the VA. Veterans applying for a VA-backed mortgage are typically required to pay a funding fee to the VA, unless they are deemed exempt under VA rules. It is alleged that the document was falsified and that Aristhyl was not exempt from paying the funding fee, which was over $10,000. Relying on the misrepresentations in these false documents the lender issued a mortgage loan in the amount of $478,000 to Aristhyl on Oct. 25, 2024 and the VA issued a loan guarantee backing a portion of the mortgage on Jan. 21, 2025. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of false statement in a mortgage application provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Wichita man sold pipe bombs and drugs to ATF undercover agent

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man was sentenced to 126 months in prison for after selling illegal drugs and explosive devices to an undercover federal agent. According to court documents, Adam C. Garcia, 31, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy. Between March 2024 and April 2024, an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) purchased cocaine, fentanyl, and pipe bombs either directly from Garcia or from a coconspirator acting under Garcia’s direction. Analysis showed the total amounts sold to the agent as 316.05 grams of fentanyl, 67.59 grams of cocaine, and three explosive devices. “Selling narcotics is pretty bad by itself but in combination with pipe bombs, this kind of criminal behavior could easily turn deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Had these explosive devices ended up in the wrong hands and been detonated against law enforcement or civilians, it could have been a disaster. We can all rest easier knowing that ATF is working hard to keep these devices off the street.” Federal prosecutors charged three other defendants in this case. Anthony Stephen Dennis, 27, of Wichita was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy. Jonathan Scott Peacock, 42, of Wichita was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to making an explosive device. Paola Michelle Sosa-Rios, a Mexican national living in Wichita, also pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to this case and is awaiting sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks prosecuted the case. ###


title: Wichita brothers sentenced for drug trafficking crimes

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas brothers were sentenced to prison for offenses related to a drug trafficking ring that moved fentanyl across state lines into Kansas. According to court documents, Raashad Robinson, 30, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of drug conspiracy. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison. Starting in March 2024, Raashad Robinson drove from Kansas to Arizona and back five times to obtain fentanyl for distribution in Wichita. While returning to Kansas in September 2024, he was stopped by officers in Stratford, Texas. Officers found fentanyl powder and fentanyl pills while searching the vehicle. Raashad Robinson admitted to law enforcement that he supplied fentanyl that he and his co-conspirators sold in Kansas. A federal grand jury indicted seven other defendants in connection with the drug trafficking ring including Raashad’s brother Eddie Robinson, 31, of Wichita. Eddie Robinson was sentenced to 120 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Martel Costello, 30, and Jevante Oliver, 34, 22, both of Wichita pleaded guilty to crimes related to this case and are awaiting sentencing. Emmanuel Recinos, 27, and Lisandro Ruiz-Uzagarra, 28, both of Phoenix, Arizona, and James Wilkinson, 31, of St. Joseph, Missouri, pleaded guilty to crimes related to this case and are awaiting sentencing. “Raashad Robinson and Eddie Robinson saw selling drugs as a way to make easy money. When Raashad Robinson decided to drive thousands of miles between Wichita and Phoenix to transport fentanyl, he didn’t know he was actually on the road to federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Wichita Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Leader of “delivery service” drug trafficking ring sentenced to prison

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced to 20 years in prison as the ringleader of a drug trafficking ring supplied by a Mexican cartel. A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation led to the convictions of Jose Antonio Heredia-Chang, 34, and approximately a dozen defendants who either worked for or were clients of his operation. According to court documents, Heredia-Chang pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In February 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched an investigation into a drug trafficking ring in the Kansas City metro area. Agents determined Heredia-Chang to be the leader of a network that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and other narcotics. Buyers/distributors in Kansas City placed orders with Heredia-Chang, then he dispatched drivers to deliver the narcotics. Agents gathered evidence tying Heredia-Chang to illegal narcotics and firearm sales. Further evidence proved Heredia-Chang was communicating with collaborators in Sinaloa, Mexico, to acquire and transport methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, and that Heredia-Chang operated other distribution bases in Seattle, Washington, and Denver, Colorado. “Thanks to the meticulous work of the Homeland Security Task Force, the Heredia-Chang delivery service is no longer importing poison like methamphetamine and fentanyl into our communities and those involved in the organization are in prison, including a dangerous illegal alien” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Destroying these trans-national criminal organizations is at the core of why HSTFs were established. We applaud everyone involved in putting Mr. Heredia-Chang behind bars for the next two decades.” “Today’s sentencing is the culmination of an investigation that shed light on the cartel members lurking in the shadows of our communities, inflicting fear and intimidation while pushing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine around town,” DEA St. Louis Field Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer said. “These actions will not stand, and the DEA remains committed to working alongside our partners to remove these threats from our streets.” “Heredia-Chang ran a drug distribution network from the palm of his hand, dispatching drivers to deliver methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine across the country while arranging firearms deals by phone,” said Special Agent in Charge Bernard “Butch” Hansen of the ATF Kansas City Field Division. “His operation stretched from Mexico to Kansas City, Denver, and Seattle. This 20-year sentence reflects the tireless work of ATF, DEA and our Homeland Security Task Force partners across multiple jurisdictions, along with the skilled prosecutors who built the case that ultimately held the man directing this organization accountable.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from FBI; HSI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas. ###


title: Richmond man sentenced after being caught with drugs and a firearm while on supervision for the same crimes in the same place

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to a year and three months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, on July 10, 2025, Richmond Police observed several individuals loitering around a vacant unit in the Southwood Apartment Complex in Richmond, including Atio Terrain Walton, 23. The officers, who were familiar with Walton, searched him and found a knotted baggie containing over five grams of cocaine base hidden in Walton's underwear. They also located a handgun on a chair in the apartment and recognized it as the same firearm Walton possessed in an image he had posted on Instagram. On June 10, 2025, one month before this offense, Walton was convicted of possession of seven grams of cocaine and a concealed firearm with an extended magazine while in the Southwood Apartment Complex. Walton was on supervised release for the prior conviction at the time he committed the latest offense. As a previously convicted felon, Walton cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office and the Richmond Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Groover and Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-155.


title: Federal jury convicts Poquoson man of telemarketing fraud conspiracy

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Poquoson man today on charges of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, money laundering, unlawful monetary transactions, and obtaining information under false pretenses. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Barry Glenn Augustinsky, 55, owned various telecommunications companies that facilitated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone calls. From 2018 through at least 2023, Augustinsky and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of One Ten Communications, a call center in Karachi, Pakistan, engaged in a conspiracy in which representatives of OneTen used Augustinsky’s VoIP services to make millions of voice calls to people in the United States. During those calls, representatives of OneTen made false and fraudulent representations, including telling victims that their credit card debt would be reduced or eliminated if they sent payments to companies controlled by Augustinsky. Callers also represented that they were agents of various legitimate debt relief companies even though OneTen had no affiliation with those companies. Relying on these false representations, victims from across the United States sent hundreds of personal checks to post office boxes in Portsmouth and Poquoson, which Augustinsky collected and deposited. He kept 30 percent of the proceeds from each check received for himself, took an additional cut from the funds as payment for OneTen’s use of his VoIP service, and from time to time sent funds back to OneTen in Pakistan via wire transfer. Augustinsky knew that OneTen representatives were making false representations, that calls made by OneTen were spoofing caller identification information, and that many of the people receiving calls and sending checks were elderly. Augustinsky also made false statements to a credit report company—claiming that he needed credit reports for “construction loan funding”—so that he could provide access to his overseas co-conspirator, who wanted access to the records to further the scheme and ultimately obtained over three hundred credit reports without authorization. Augustinsky faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on November 5, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and the IRS Criminal Investigation Washington, D.C., Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony C. Mozzi and Kristen S. Taylor are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-97.


title: Smith County sex offender guilty of child pornography violations

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

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Tyler man previously convicted of a child pornography violation, has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. John Matthew Emerson, 42, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography on July 21, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell. According to information presented in court, Emerson, while on supervised release for a prior conviction for possession of child pornography, was found in possession of a cellular phone containing child pornography. Emerson faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson. ###


title: Two Philadelphia Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for 2022 Armed Robbery Spree

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that two Philadelphia men have each been sentenced to some two decades in prison for conspiring to carry out a string of gunpoint robberies throughout the city in 2022. Three people were shot in two separate incidents during the defendants’ crime spree. Lance Ryan , 28, was sentenced this afternoon to 262 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone. Ryan pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and two counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Co-defendant Rodney Whiting , 33, was sentenced by Chief Judge Beetlestone last month to 231 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. Whiting pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, four counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As detailed in court filings and statements, between May and October 2022, Whiting, Ryan, and an accomplice, charged separately, agreed to rob several commercial businesses across Philadelphia, either in pairs or as a group, using a least one privately manufactured semi-automatic pistol (a “ghost gun”). Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that several businesses the men targeted were within one block of Whiting’s residence on the 6800 block of Ogontz Avenue. On May 23, 2022, Whiting and the accomplice robbed a 7-Eleven on Mascher Street, stealing approximately $200 and tobacco products while the accomplice pointed the ghost gun at the cashier. The next day, Whiting, Ryan and the accomplice attempted to rob patrons at a bar in South Philadelphia. When a patron intervened in the robbery and confronted Whiting, Ryan fired the ghost gun into the crowded barroom and struck one victim in his leg and another victim in his hand. The trio fled the bar empty-handed. On June 2, 2022, Whiting and the accomplice brandished the ghost gun at an employee of a Little Caesar’s Pizza on Ogontz Avenue and stole approximately $200 from the register. On June 17, 2022, Whiting and an accomplice attempted to rob the Ogontz Minimart, where the accomplice pointed the ghost gun at the cashier and demanded that he open the security door. When the cashier reached for the alarm, Whiting threw a brick through the security door and smashed the glass; the accomplice then pointed the ghost gun through a hole in the glass and fired one shot, striking the cashier in his leg. Whiting and the accomplice fled the store empty-handed. On September 6, 2022, Ryan and the accomplice brandished a pistol at an employee of a dry-cleaning business on Ogontz Avenue and stole approximately $100 from the register. On September 10, 2022, Ryan went to a neighboring laundromat on Ogontz Avenue, pointed a pistol at the owner of the business, and stole approximately $2,000 from the register. Finally, on October 4, 2022, Whiting, Ryan, and their accomplice entered the Dollar General store on the 6000 block of North Broad Street, where the accomplice pointed the ghost gun at the store’s cashier, Whiting corralled two customers away from the register area, and Ryan stole approximately $1,500 from two registers. After the robbery, the three men fled in different directions. Whiting was arrested while running from Philadelphia Police officers on Ogontz Avenue, and their accomplice was also arrested on Ogontz Avenue in possession of the ghost gun and the money stolen from Dollar General. Ballistic evidence confirmed that the trio used that same ghost gun to commit the shootings on May 24, 2022, at the South Philadelphia bar and on June 17, 2022, at the Ogontz Minimart. A warrant was later issued for Ryan’s arrest, and he was taken into federal custody on December 1, 2022, while hiding at a residence in Baltimore, Maryland. As part of his guilty plea, Ryan also admitted that he used a firearm to rob the Three Tree Grocery on South 6th Street on September 3, 2022. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Ashenfelter and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon.


title: Marcus Hook Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Gun Crimes

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that James I. Watts, aka “Chubbs,” 41, of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 276 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for drug trafficking and gun offenses. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in May 2023 and pleaded guilty in September of last year to two counts each of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. As detailed in court filings and statements, Watts was the leader of the Crown Royal Gang (“CRG”), a street gang involved in trafficking large quantities of narcotics, including methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, in Northeast Philadelphia. The FBI, in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police Department (“PPD”), began investigating the CRG’s activities in early 2020. In October of that year, investigators began conducting surveillance operations pertaining to the CRG in the vicinity of the Oxford Village Housing Project (6150 Algon Avenue), specifically targeting a yellow Ford E250 van parked on the 1000 block of Benner Street within the housing project. Investigation revealed that the van was registered to the defendant. On numerous occasions from October 2020 through March 2021, investigators saw members of CRG, including Watts and several co-defendants, place in or remove small items or bags to and from the yellow Ford van. On March 12, 2021, investigators observed CRG members, including the defendant, congregating near the vehicle. During this time, investigators saw Watts remove a black plastic bag from the yellow Ford van, enter a white Acura TL with the bag, and leave the area. PPD officers conducted a traffic stop of the Acura shortly thereafter, and Watts, the operator and sole occupant, was determined to have a suspended Pennsylvania driver’s license. He was removed from the vehicle, patted down for officer safety, and found to be in possession of $4,000 cash. After a PPD narcotics K-9 gave positive alerts for drugs on both the Acura and the Ford van, search warrants for the vehicles were obtained and executed, with over a kilogram of cocaine and varying quantities of crystal meth, heroin, oxycodone pills, and crack recovered. In addition, drug packaging paraphernalia, numerous cell phones, and four handguns were recovered from the vehicles. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Lindsey Mills.


title: Five Members Of Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that five co-defendants pleaded guilty to federal drug offenses and related charges. On May 18, 2026, Anthony Wayne Schoggins, 40, of McAlester, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, each punishable by a term in prison of at least 5 years and up to 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Three co-defendants entered guilty pleas to one count of Drug Conspiracy, punishable by ten years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine: Gerardo Cisneros Jr., 49, of McAlester, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on February 19, 2026; Gabrielle Ralene Dawn Brown, 31, of McAlester, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on February 19, 2026; and John Douglas Renkes, 38, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on March 11, 2026. On July 20, 2026, Charlie Dawn Edwards, 45, of McAlester, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information of Misprision of Felony, punishable by up to 3 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on June 1, 2025, Schoggins knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), Schedule II controlled substances. The Indictment further alleged that beginning in or about March 2025, and continuing through September 2025, Brown, Renkes, Cisneros, and others knowingly and voluntarily conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and at least 5 grams of methamphetamine (actual), Schedule II controlled substances. The Information alleged that on June 9, 2025, Edwards, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony by Schoggins, cognizable by a court of the United States, to wit, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, did conceal the same, and did not, as soon as possible, make known the same to some judge or other person in civil or military authority. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration-McAlester Resident Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the McAlester Police Department, and the District 18 Drug Task Force. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed on each defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Schoggins, Cisneros, Brown, and Renkes will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Edwards will remain released on bond with conditions pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.


title: Owner of Long Island Ambulette Services Company Sentenced to Prison for Multimillion Dollar Healthcare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Adnan Arshad, also known as “Eddie,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a scheme to steal over $19 million from Medicaid. Arshad was also ordered to pay forfeiture of over $19 million, including the forfeiture of several real properties and vehicles. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); and Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney, announced the sentence. “While taxpayers footed the bill, Arshad financed a lavish lifestyle with multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who defraud public healthcare programs for personal enrichment should take notice of the price this defendant will now pay for his greed,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office and the Administration are vigorously prosecuting criminals like the defendant who treat Medicaid like their own personal piggy bank.” Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Office of the New York State Comptroller and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the New York State Attorney General's Office for their work on the case. “The defendant in this case brazenly defrauded the Medicaid program of tens of millions of dollars for transportation services that were never provided,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who, to satisfy their own greed, exploit federal health care programs.” “Adnan Arshad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme that siphoned millions from Medicaid, depriving vulnerable patients of resources and fueling a lavish lifestyle built on fraud,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Chavis. “This sentencing demonstrates that IRS Criminal Investigation will relentlessly pursue those who exploit public healthcare programs for personal gain. Today, justice has caught up with those who treat taxpayer dollars as their own.” “Healthcare fraud on this scale does not stay hidden, and it will not go unpunished. This defendant saw hard-earned taxpayer funds meant for the less-fortunate as nothing more than a way to line his pockets. He billed Medicaid for transportation that never happened to finance a lavish lifestyle at the public's expense," stated Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney. “My Office is proud to stand with our federal partners to ensure that this defendant answers for his greed and forfeits what he stole.” As set forth in court filings and facts presented in court, Arshad owned MTK Taxi LLC in Montauk, Long Island, and co-owned All-Star Taxi LLC, in Ronkonkoma. From approximately December 2020 to his arrest in June 2024, Arshad and his co-conspirators orchestrated a scheme to defraud Medicaid by paying illegal health care kickbacks to Medicaid beneficiaries in exchange for ordering transportation services through their companies, including transportation purportedly for methadone treatment at addiction treatment centers. In reality, Arshad’s companies generally did not provide the medical transportation services for which they billed Medicaid. Instead, they submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent claims for nonexistent rides, including claims for individuals who were deceased, hospitalized or incarcerated. Arshad and his co-conspirators also inflated their Medicaid reimbursements by directing beneficiaries to request transportation to addiction treatment centers in New York City, despite the availability of numerous treatment centers on Long Island, and by instructing beneficiaries to provide false pickup addresses to make the trips appear longer and therefore more lucrative. Through this scheme, the transportation companies owned or operated by Arshad and his co-conspirators billed Medicaid over $16 million for trips to three addiction treatment centers in New York City. Arshad used the illicit proceeds to expand and perpetuate the scheme by purchasing several additional transportation vehicles and to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of multimillion-dollar homes and luxury vehicles, such as a Ferrari and multiple BMWs and Mercedes. To date, at least five of Arshad’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty for their participation in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Toporovsky and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Milito of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Janelle Robinson. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Defendant : ADNAN ARSHAD (also known as “Eddie”) Age: 47 Mount Sinai, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-231 (JMA)


title: Home Health Care Operator Sentenced for Defrauding Missouri Medicaid

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a woman who defrauded Missouri Medicaid with false home health care claims to 15 months in prison. Camille S. Childress, 41, was also ordered to repay $174,496 to Missouri Medicaid. Childress submitted fraudulent documents to enroll her home health care company, Inspiring Angels LLC, with Missouri Medicaid. The paperwork falsely claimed that someone else owned the company. Childress was trying to conceal her ownership due to a 2012 criminal conviction that would have disqualified her from participating. Childress then submitted fraudulent claims to Missouri Medicaid seeking reimbursement for home healthcare services that were never provided. On numerous occasions, clients were in the hospital and could not have received any health care services at home. On other occasions, Childress submitted claims when the company did not have any timesheet records or documentation of the services. Missouri Medicaid paid $174,496 for claims submitted in 2021 and 2022. “Health care providers who try to enrich themselves by submitting false claims to Missouri Medicaid not only drain taxpayer funds but also undermine the integrity of safety net programs designed to provide services to patients who genuinely need them,” said Special Agent in Charge Linda T. Hanley of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentencing shows the unwavering commitment of HHS OIG and our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of fraud. We are proud of our work to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes that put both patients and public resources at risk.” Childress pleaded guilty in March to one count of health care fraud. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.


title: Employee who Embezzled $1 Million from St. Louis County Restaurant Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Tuesday sentenced a man who embezzled just over $1 million from a St. Louis County restaurant to 21 months in prison. Judge Sippel also ordered Matthew Braasch, 48, to repay the money. Braasch pleaded guilty in April to one count of wire fraud. He admitted that while a manager of a restaurant in Grantwood Village, in St. Louis County, Missouri, he misused the company credit card to make personal purchases. Braasch was supposed to only use the company credit card for food and to pay state liquor and other taxes. Instead, Braasch spent $81,965 at Target, $29,801 at the Vineyard Vines clothing store, $39,634 at Amazon and over $10,000 on local hotel stays for an acquaintance. Due to the embezzlement, the restaurant lacked money to buy food and pay state taxes. During a state investigation, Braasch posed as the restaurant’s owner to conceal his crime, his plea says. Braasch began stealing to enrich himself during the pandemic, when many restaurants struggled and closed, a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman says. In court, Wiseman said Braasch was the gatekeeper of the restaurant’s funds, and no money would have been stolen without him “allowing it to happen.” Braasch stole from the restaurant and then pretended to be the owner and took out loans “all to conceal his theft,” Wiseman said. “Matthew Braasch’s greed didn’t just betray the trust placed in him, it nearly cost an iconic restaurant its future. By stealing more than $1 million, he inflicted a financial blow that almost put the business under,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Strong financial controls are key to prevent the opportunity to embezzle. When the same employee is responsible for both authorizing and reconciling payments, it creates an opportunity to cook the books. Separating those responsibilities is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent fraud.” The FBI, with assistance from the Missouri Department of Revenue, Criminal Tax Investigation Bureau, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.


title: Melvindale Man Charged with Threatening to Kill  ICE Agents

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Michael Gary Petersen, 41, of Melvindale, Michigan, was arrested on July 16, 2026, and charged with making threats to kill ICE agents and other law enforcement officers, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit and acting Field Office Director Matthew Putra, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit. The criminal complaint charges Petersen with threatening to assault or murder a law enforcement officer, and interstate communications involving threats. Between January and July of 2026, Petersen posted a series of messages to his social media accounts in which he threatened law enforcement officers, as well as social media users, who opposed Petersen’s views. He repeatedly encouraged his social media followers to shoot law enforcement officers in the face, admonishing others to “[n]ever trust officers. Death to them all.” Petersen warned his readers, “Wait till we start throwing grenades and start shooting armor piercing rounds at these agents.” On June 7, 2026, Petersen declared that the ICE Agent involved in the shooting of Renee Good “…can’t escape a bullet. It’s coming soon. Just wait. ;).” In response to a user who disagreed with Petersen, he replied, “I have a bullet with your name on it.” “Threats against law enforcement are an attack on the rule of law. These brave Americans protect us. And we will do our part to protect them,” said Gorgon. “Disagreement with laws is one thing but the allegations here involve threatening to shoot officers in the face and throw explosive devices,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “We take these types of threats extremely seriously and HSI special agents will vigorously investigate these cases and bring them to justice.” “The men and women of ICE are enforcing the immigration laws of the land as passed by Congress,” said ICE ERO Detroit acting Field Office Director Matthew Putra. “For them to be allegedly targeted for simply doing their duty according to federal law is unconscionable.” A criminal complaint is only a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eaton Brown.


title: Fugitive apprehended in Mexico and removed to United States  to face federal and state charges

body_text: DETROIT - Janero Van DeMario Garrett, 49, a United States citizen and multi-convicted felon, was apprehended in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico on July 17, after a joint operation conducted by DEA-Detroit, DEA-Mexico, US Marshals Mexico Foreign Field Office and US Marshals Detroit Office, FBI-Detroit, and Mexican authorities, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Garrett faces federal narcotics trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Michigan and state firearms charges in Wayne County, Michigan. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Joseph O. Dixon, special agent in charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division. According to the federal criminal complaint, on October 31, 2024, Garrett ignored Detroit police officers’ attempts to stop his vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed. Garrett later fled on foot, carrying a roller bag containing 10 kilograms of cocaine. Investigators found the cocaine in a trash can along Garrett’s flight path. On the same day, investigators found 3 kilograms of cocaine and $606,913 of suspected drug proceeds at his residence. Portion of bulk case seized Kilograms of cocaine located inside roller bag “The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) works with our foreign partners to keep Americans safe by prosecuting drug dealers who harm our people. Hiding in another country will not save you. No defendant is beyond our reach,” said Gorgon. “This individual was wanted on federal drug trafficking charges, and today’s arrest demonstrates that no one can evade justice indefinitely. Drug trafficking fuels violence, addiction, and instability in our communities, and the DEA will remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners around the globe to identify, locate, and apprehend those who engage in these criminal activities, and they will be held accountable in the U.S. justice system,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon. If convicted of the narcotics offenses, Garrett faces at least 10 years in prison. This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Detroit comprises agents and officers from numerous agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. This case is being investigated by the DEA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Kuebler. A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent. It is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.