title: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AWARDS OVER $2.8 MILLION IN GRANTS TO AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: The Department of Justice has awarded $2,809,033 collectively to area law enforcement agencies, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall, who stated, “I am thrilled to see taxpayer dollars returned to support our law enforcement partners. Protecting our first responders with better equipment and reducing violent crimes against women are both extremely worthy causes that should always be well funded.” The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO) was awarded $39,145 to reduce gun-related violence by supporting investigative efforts, enhancing officer safety, and strengthening evidence collection. This will be accomplished through funding for investigator overtime, the use of advanced technology, and targeted enforcement against violent offenders. Under this initiative, LPSO will continue Operation Gun Stop, a program that enables citizens to anonymously report illegal gun activity, thereby increasing community involvement and intelligence gathering. LPSO will further expand the Firearms Investigative Unit, a proven program focused on conducting undercover purchases of illegal firearms and apprehending individuals involved in unlawful gun transactions. Together, these approaches will enhance proactive enforcement, improve case development, and support the prevention of gun-related crimes throughout Livingston Parish. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) was awarded $28,433 to equip all APSO deputies with reliable and effective Body Armor such as ballistic vests, carriers, and trauma plates to increase the likelihood of survival during deadly force encounters. Special emphasis will be incorporated in departmental training regarding the advantages of wearing body armor by non-uniformed officers while performing their duties. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office (EBRSO) was awarded $232,868 to support a comprehensive equipment and technology initiative aimed at enhancing public safety, officer safety, and operational effectiveness across multiple divisions. Funds will be used to acquire LIDAR speed detection devices, breaching kits, electronic writing devices, a portable ballistic protection system, traffic control equipment, and portable solar-powered crime camera systems. The Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement (LCLE) was awarded $893,708 to support rape crisis centers (including governmental rape crisis centers not in territories and tribal governmental programs) and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide core services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault, regardless of age. The LCLE was awarded an additional $2,508,587 to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The LCLE is a foundation located in Baton Rouge dedicated to improving the operations of the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems and to promoting public safety by providing progressive leadership and coordination within the criminal justice community. For more information about these awards, contact OJP Office of Communications at 202-307-0703 or OJP.OCOM@ojp.usdoj.gov , or the Office on Violence Against Women at 202-307-6026 and ask for the Policy, Communication, and Evaluation Division.


title: Columbus Woman Sentenced as Career Offender for Distributing Meth

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Georgia woman with a lengthy criminal record and prior convictions in two states was sentenced as a career offender to serve 20 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine. “Career offenders face significant consequences in the federal system when they repeatedly violate the law and endanger our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “By working closely with law enforcement partners at every level, our office is committed to holding these individuals accountable and ensuring justice is served.” “Repeat drug traffickers who continue to profit from the distribution of dangerous narcotics pose a significant threat to our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that career offenders who repeatedly engage in methamphetamine trafficking will be held accountable. DEA remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and protect the public from the devastating impact of methamphetamine.” “The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office takes a very firm stance on ridding our community of illegal and dangerous drugs,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “We are proud to work with our federal partners to leverage resources for a safer Muscogee County. The MCSO remains committed to ensuring Muscogee County is a safer place to work and live for all citizens.” Conier Long, 49, of Columbus, was sentenced as a career offender to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Aug. 3. Long previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Jan. 20, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, DEA agents and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office deputies used a confidential source to conduct a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Long, who was under investigation for drug trafficking. On Jan. 25, 2023, Long agreed to meet the source to distribute methamphetamine. During this conversation, Long also stated that she had to report to her parole officer for a drug test. Later that day, Long met the confidential source at the Players Billiard Club on 54th Street in Columbus and handed over a cardboard box containing 107.81 grams of pure methamphetamine. 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 Muscogee County Sherrif’s Office investigated the case, and it was prosecuted by the Columbus Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.


title: Venezuelan National Pleads Guilty to Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Yoandris Jose Ruiz Bello (32, Venezuela) has pleaded guilty to attempted production of child sexual abuse material and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Ruiz Bello faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for the attempted production offense; and a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor offense. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, on August 21, 2024, Ruiz Bello engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. During the conversation, Ruiz Bello asked the minor to create a sexually explicit video of herself and send it to him. Ruiz Bello also sent an explicit photograph of male genitalia to the minor. In actuality, Ruiz Bello was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Three Arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Yongbo Li, 36, Huashan Lu, 62, and Yuxiang Zhao, 60, pursuant to a criminal complaint for conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. According to the criminal complaint, Li, Lu, Zhao, and others engaged in an organized fraud scheme that targeted victims through telephone calls, emails, and Internet pop-up messages, falsely claiming the victims’ personal information and financial accounts were compromised and that immediate action was needed to resolve the fabricated issue. The immediate action was almost always the mailing of cashier’s checks, money orders, or cash to P.O. boxes in and around the Orlando area. According to the criminal complaint, twenty-eight victims, most of them elderly, have been identified. A criminal complaint is merely a formal document supporting an arrest warrant that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Orlando Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Flanigan. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Sumter County Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Obscene Animated Images of Child Sexual Abuse

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Corey Wilkerson (30, Lake Panasoffkee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to three years in federal prison for possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the court records, between October 20, 2023, and July 10, 2024, Wilkerson possessed thousands of obscene animated images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images also depicted the sexual abuse of prepubescent and infant females. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson and Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Polk County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Bradly Dwayne Wimberly (32, Bradley) has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber for attempted production of child sexual abuse material. Wimberly entered a guilty plea on May 4, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, between February 15, 2024, and July 10, 2025, Wimberly communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-to-14-year-old girl. He repeatedly asked the minor to produce sexually explicit images and videos of herself and send them to him. In actuality, Wimberly was communicating with an undercover Homeland Security Investigations special agent. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Federal Inmate Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Billy Boortz (43, Duval Couty, Texas) to five years in federal prison for possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the court records, on July 18, 2025, Boortz was a federal inmate in the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County, Florida. On that date, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) corrections officers ordered Boortz to submit to a search. Instead of complying, Boortz attempted to assault the officers by throwing punches towards their heads and upper bodies. Eventually, the officers were able to gain control over Boortz, and discovered over nine grams of methamphetamine hidden in Boortz’s sock. Boortz told law enforcement that he would have made approximately $20,000 if he had been able to sell the methamphetamine inside FCC Coleman. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson and Sarah Janette Swartzberg. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Chinese National Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy  to Commit Wire Fraud as Part of Gold Scam

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Jiaan Cao (33, China) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Cao entered a guilty plea on January 27, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, beginning in at least October 2024 and continuing through December 12, 2024, Cao conspired with others to commit wire fraud by gaining access to a victim’s computer, fraudulently posing as a representative of a victim’s financial institution, and informing the victim their account had been subjected to fraudulent criminal activity. A member of the conspiracy then directed the victim to withdraw money from their account and purchase gold. Afterward, the victim was instructed to provide this gold to a “federal agent” for safekeeping. In actuality, the “federal agent” was another member of the conspiracy. Conspiracy members often exchanged electronic communications with each other, including the location details of the victims, for this purpose. On December 12, 2024, Cao was arrested at a victim’s residence in Marion County when he arrived to pick up gold that had been purchased in this manner. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.


title: Final Sentencing Completed in Multi‑Defendant Scheme to Deliver Contraband into Alabama Prison

body_text: A federal judge in Montgomery has sentenced the final defendant in a drug‑trafficking conspiracy that funneled narcotics and other contraband into a correctional facility in Elmore, Alabama. In total, five defendants have now been sentenced for their roles in the scheme. On July 30, 2026, Lilbrian Rondarrius Ladd, 28, a former inmate at the Elmore Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 215 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Following his term of imprisonment, Ladd will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Field Division made the announcement. “Those who attempt to smuggle drugs into our prisons, whether they are inmates or individuals on the outside, must be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Govan. “This conduct endangers staff, inmates, and the public, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to stop it.” “Whether you are coordinating from behind bars or driving the drop-off from the outside, your illicit business will end in a federal courtroom,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott. “This operation is a clear win for public safety and reflects our unwavering commitment to Operation Take Back America.” The other co‑defendants were previously sentenced as follows: Lawrence Alexander Dudley, 48, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 240 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Ja’meria Quanay Snowden, 27, also from Birmingham, Alabama, received a sentence of 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Jarod Allen Poe, 39, another former inmate at the Elmore Correctional Facility, was sentenced to 145 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Chasity Pearl Lee Cox, 38, of Mobile, Alabama, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearings, the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division and DEA began investigating the conspiracy in 2024 after learning that Ladd was coordinating the delivery of narcotics into the prison. Ladd worked with Poe, while he was also incarcerated at the Elmore Correctional Facility, along with Dudley, Snowden, and Cox, three individuals outside the facility, to smuggle methamphetamine and other contraband behind prison walls. On May 23, 2024, agents arrested Dudley near the Elmore Correctional Facility after he attempted to access the grounds to deliver contraband. Snowden and Cox also admitted to making multiple deliveries using various methods to conceal their activities. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Levi, Eric M. Counts, and John J. Geer, III 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal prison term in connection with firearm charges. U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Keith Cook, 32, to seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Additionally, Cook is a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to court documents, on January 27, 2023, a BPD officer, monitoring a West Baltimore neighborhood via CitiWatch camera, observed Cook and other individuals in front of a mini mart. During the surveillance, Cook reached into a blue backpack and took out a clear plastic Tupperware container. Then Cook opened the container and took out a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana. Cook then took some of the suspected marijuana out of the bag and gave it to an unidentified male. Minutes later, Cook again took out suspected marijuana and handed it to a second unidentified male. Based on their observations via the Citiwatch camera, officers proceeded to the mini mart. Upon arrival, officers located and handcuffed Cook and then searched him. During the search, officers found a firearm, equipped with an extended magazine loaded with 26 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition; 14 Alprazolam pills; 88 Oxycodone pills; a Buprenorphine foil strip; $906 in cash; an iPhone; and a flip phone. Additionally, law enforcement recovered the backpack that contained the Tupperware filled with bags of suspected marijuana and a clear bag and gelcaps containing a heroin and fentanyl mixture. Law enforcement also discovered a clear bag with 33 clear gelcaps containing a tan powder that didn’t test positive as a controlled substance; a digital scale; and various drug-packaging materials. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tsuei who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Maryland Man and Illegal Alien Indicted in Connection With Southern Maryland HSTF Drug Investigation

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that it filed a two-count indictment against two drug traffickers, a Maryland man and an illegal alien, stemming from a federal drug investigation. Jamar Rashard Whitaker, 42, of Waldorf, and Pedro Antonio Guardado Rivera, 33, of El Salvador, made their initial appearances to face the charges. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); Charles County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD); and St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department (SMCSD). According to the indictment, beginning in July 2025, and continuing into at least October 2025, Whitaker and Guardado Rivera conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. On July 22, 2025, the co-conspirators sold approximately 594 grams of cocaine to an undercover officer. They are both charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Whitaker and Guardado Rivera face a minimum mandatory of five years and up to life in prison for conspiring, distributing, and possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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 Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, DEA, MSP, CCSD, and SMCSD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Duvall and Elizabeth Wright who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Houston Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Houston man pled guilty in federal court, today, to child sex abuse crimes. Dazhon Darien, 34, formerly of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty to sexually exploiting a child. Darien admitted that he sexually exploited eight minor victims. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). According to his guilty plea, on five occasions, between April 2023, and June 2024, Darien persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced Minor Victim 1, age 15 and 16, respectively, at the time, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and transmitting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Darien then used CashApp to pay Minor Victim 1 for the production and transmission of CSAM videos. Additionally, Darien admitted to sexually exploiting seven other victims who were between ages 14 and 17. Darien stored the exploitation videos on his cellphones and in internet-based accounts. He lived in Maryland until approximately June 2024, before moving to Texas. Darien faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. Sentencing is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m. 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 the United States Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Puerto Rican Man Sentenced for Damaging Aircraft

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Puerto Rican man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for an incident in which he opened an emergency exit door while aboard a JetBlue flight preparing for takeoff from Boston to Puerto Rico. Angel Luis Morales Torres, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor to one year of probation. Morales Torres was also ordered to pay approximately $60,000 in restitution. In May 2026 , the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of damaging or disabling an aircraft. Morales was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. On Jan. 7, 2025, Morales was a passenger aboard a JetBlue flight scheduled to fly from Boston to Puerto Rico. While the aircraft was on the taxiway preparing for takeoff, Morales stood up from his seat, ran down the aisle and entered an empty emergency exit row, where he began attempting to open the emergency exit door. A flight attendant attempted to restrain Morales and he was eventually tackled by another passenger. Prior to being restrained, Morales managed to open the emergency door, causing the emergency inflatable slide to deploy, and rendering the aircraft inoperable. 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. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Owner of Brockton Store “Banks & Brancos” Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes

body_text: BOSTON – The owner of a Brockton clothing store, “Banks & Brancos,” pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug trafficking and firearm charges. Felipe Jonet-Branco, 31, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and 10 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled Jonet-Branco’s sentencing for Nov. 2, 2026. Seven members and associates of the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang were charged in February 2026 , following the execution of search warrants at numerous residences and stash locations associated with the group, including Banks & Brancos. On Feb. 4, 2026, a search was executed at Banks & Brancos in Brockton where 10 firearms, over 35 pounds of marijuana with packaging, over 200 grams of psilocin mushrooms and over $40,000 in cash was seized during the search. Eight of those firearms, along with large-capacity magazines and several empty bottles of promethazine with codeine, were found inside a hidden drawer underneath the store’s front counter. The guns included a large-caliber rifle and a Glock handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device. An additional gun was hidden inside the store’s vending machine, and another was in plain view in a storage room. Jonet-Branco is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior conviction for felony battery in Miami-Dade County, Fla. The charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for at least three years and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, supervised release for up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; the Abington, Acushnet, Ashland, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Chelsea, East Bridgewater, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Stoughton, Taunton and West Bridgewater Police Departments; the Plymouth and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Fort Hall Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a Child

body_text: BOISE – Shone Jem Bache, 47, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today. “I hope this outcome provides some closure and justice to the victim and her family,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “I am grateful for the partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department and their dedication to identifying and investigating those who commit egregious acts of sexual abuse on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.” According to court records, the investigation began when a nine-year-old child victim disclosed to family members and school staff that Bache had sexually abused her. The child victim disclosed multiple instances of sexual abuse that occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department conducted a thorough investigation and were able to corroborate aspects of the victim’s disclosure through physical evidence and witness statements. “No punishment can ever undo the trauma inflicted on a child or erase the lifelong impact of these crimes, but we hope this offers some comfort on their journey toward healing,” stated Robert Bohls, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “Children deserve to grow up safe. Alongside our Tribal and law enforcement partners, the FBI will never stop fighting to protect the most vulnerable and bring offenders to justice”. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Bache to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Bache will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction. U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Justin Paskett prosecuted the case. These cases were 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. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Armed career criminal sentenced to over 15 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms charges

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Nottoway County man was sentenced today to 15 years and eight months in prison for distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, in January 2025, members of the Amelia/Powhatan/Nottoway/Blackstone Drug & Gang Task Force conducted two controlled purchases of cocaine from Lionel Leo Hardy, 39, at his residence in Blackstone. On each occasion, Hardy weighed, packaged, and distributed cocaine. On Jan. 28, 2025, task force officers searched Hardy’s residence. Inside the residence, officers encountered Hardy, Hardy’s girlfriend, and their two small children. Investigators recovered a handgun, a shotgun, loaded magazines, ammunition, $13,723, a money-counting machine, and individually wrapped plastic baggies of cocaine inside an infant formula can. From vehicles parked on the property, investigators recovered two additional handguns, a shopping bag filled with smaller plastic bags containing cocaine and methamphetamine, and a vacuumed-sealed bag containing methamphetamine. As a previously convicted felon, Hardy cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. USAO EDVA USAO EDVA Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Blanchard 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-169.


title: Mexican national sentenced for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas –A Mexican national illegally in the United States has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Alberto Saenz-DeLaCruz, 33, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 4, 2026. According to information presented in court, on December 8, 2025, Saenz-DeLaCruz was stopped for a traffic violation in Lufkin. During the stop, Saenz-DeLaCruz provided a Mexican passport for identification, but did not provide a driver license. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a firearm and drug paraphernalia. Further investigation revealed Saenz-DeLaCruz was a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported from the United States and did not have permission to return to the United States. As a prohibited person, Saenz-DeLaCruz cannot legally possess firearms in the United States. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Department of Homeland Security. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston. ##


title: Knoxville Resident Indicted for Laundering Fraudulently Obtained COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 28, 2026, a federal grand jury in Chattanooga returned a two-count indictment against Amy Denise Fields, 62, of Knoxville, for conspiracy to commit money laundering and a substantive money laundering offense. On August 3, 2026, Fields appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville. Fields pleaded not guilty and was released pending trial, which has been set for October 6, 2026, before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge in United States District Court, at Knoxville. The indictment alleges that Fields and others not named in the indictment conspired to launder money Fields knew was fraudulently obtained from federal programs. Fields’s co-conspirators submitted fraudulent applications for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits to several different states during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of those fraudulent UI applications listed Fields’s personal information, including her residential address and bank account information, which Fields knowingly provided to her co-conspirators. Fields’s co-conspirators caused the fraudulent UI benefits to be electronically deposited into Fields’s bank accounts, several of which she opened in furtherance of the conspiracy. Knowing that the funds deposited into her bank accounts were fraudulently obtained UI benefits intended for other individuals, Fields intentionally withdrew the funds from her bank accounts—often in cash—and then deposited the cash into Bitcoin ATM machines in the Eastern District of Tennessee, laundering the funds to promote the ongoing unlawful activity and to conceal the proceeds of the fraudulently obtained UI benefits. If convicted, Fields faces up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release of up to three years, a fine of up to $500,000, restitution, and forfeiture. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Acting Supervisory Agent in Charge Kelly Linemann of the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, made the announcement. This indictment is the result of an investigation by the United States Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney William A. Roach, Jr., will represent the United States. 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. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: Knoxville Man Indicted on 22 Counts For Making Threats To Kill Public Officals

component: Criminal Investigative Division (FBI)

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 28, 2026, a federal grand jury in Chattanooga returned a 22 count indictment against Garry Lee Williams, 44, of Knoxville, for posting public threats on TikTok to murder and maim national public officials, Knox County public officials, and members of Williams’s own family, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) (threats against the President), 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) (interstate threats), and 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) and (b)(4) (threats to murder federal law enforcement officer). On August 4, 2026, Williams appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Debra C. Poplin in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville. Williams pleaded not guilty and was detained in custody pending trial, which has been set for October 6, 2026, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Knoxville. The indictment alleges that from January through April 2026, Williams used TikTok to make numerous public posts announcing his intent to murder and maim public officials, and exhorting others to do the same. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Williams made 11 separate threats to murder President Trump, one threat to murder a member of President Trump’s immediate family, seven separate threats to murder the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), two threats to murder the Knox County Sheriff and the Chief of the Knoxville Police Department, and one threat to murder numerous family members. If convicted, Williams faces a total term of 145 years in prison. The maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 871(a) is five years; the maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) is five years; and the maximum prison sentence for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(B) and (b)(4) is 10 years. Each violation also includes a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of up to three years. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Terence G. Reilly, of the Nashville Field Office of the FBI, made the announcement. This indictment is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Knoxville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. will represent the United States. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies Targeting Armored Trucks

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mujahid Davis, 24, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and $134,000 in restitution by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for his role in multiple area robberies targeting armored trucks. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in January and pleaded guilty in March to two attempted Hobbs Act robberies, two Hobbs Act robberies, and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Davis, with others, participated in the following crimes: the July 2, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia the July 15, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia the August 12, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa. the October 3, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia. In total, the defendant admitted to stealing $122,225 from Brinks, Inc. Davis’s co-defendant, Dante Shackleford, 27, also of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in April of this year to three attempted Hobbs Act robberies, one Hobbs Act robbery, and carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Shackleford is scheduled to be sentenced later this month. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.


title: Philadelphia In-Home Care Services Provider Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Resolve Allegations of False Claims Act Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced today that Blessings 4 Ever Home Care Agency LLC and V&V Management Solutions LLC (“Blessings”) have agreed to a $1 million resolution of civil claims arising from improperly submitting claims for payment from the Medicaid Program for services provided by personal care attendants (“PCAs”) using falsified documentation, and for the improper billing of claims for in-home personal care services for beneficiaries that were hospital inpatients. Blessings provides in-home health, personal care, and related services to Pennsylvania Medicaid beneficiaries, and bills the Medicaid Program for such services. V&V, a related entity, provides management services to Blessings. The United States contends that Blessings 4 Ever submitted or caused to be submitted claims for payment to the Medicaid Program for services provided by PCAs using falsified documentation, resulting in false claims in violation of the False Claims Act. The United States alleges that from January 2015 to December 2018, Blessings 4 Ever fabricated or backdated 181 training certificates and personnel documents to falsely certify that PCAs satisfied state training requirements and Medicaid Program requirements to provide services inside beneficiaries’ homes. In falsifying their files and using records fabricated to meet program requirements, Blessings 4 Ever allegedly operated its home care agency using certain PCAs who lacked the proper documentation in place to perform the services that were being billed by Blessings 4 Ever, thereby providing substandard services to the detriment of consumers and the Medicaid waiver program. The United States further alleges that from June 2020 through December 2023, Blessings 4 Ever improperly billed Medicaid for 1,141 claims for in-home personal care services on days when the claimed 209 beneficiaries were hospital inpatients for the entire day receiving medical care payable under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. “In-home care agencies have a responsibility to ensure that only qualified personnel care for Medicaid beneficiaries in their homes. They must not only properly document the training and qualifications of those providing services for Medicaid reimbursement, but must also ensure that qualified personnel are in fact providing the services billed,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “HHS-OIG remains dedicated to combating Medicaid fraud by ensuring only qualified and trained individuals take care of the vulnerable populations it serves and that Medicaid is only billed appropriately for services that were actually provided,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “HHS‑OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold those who put profits above patients accountable for their actions.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by a relator under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Fatima Precia v. Blessings 4 Ever Home Care Agency LLC and V&V Management Solutions LLC, Civil Action 18-cv-901. Relator will receive a 21% share of the federal recovery. This investigation was conducted by Special Agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Viveca D. Parker, Lauren DeBruicker, and Deputy Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer handled the investigation and resolution, with former auditor George Niedzwicki and paralegal Brendan Novak.


title: Dozens Charged With Health Care Fraud in Federal and State Cases Involving $5.76 Million in Billings to Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Program

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that 12 individuals and an agency have been charged by federal indictment and additional defendants charged by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General with health care fraud and other offenses, for allegedly conspiring to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program. U.S. Attorney Metcalf discussed the cases at a news conference this morning, alongside Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday ; Scott Brady , Executive Director of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud; Dr. Mehmet Oz , Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; T. March Bell , Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General; Wayne Jacobs , Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia; Stanley Rutkowski , Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), Philadelphia Regional Office; Timothy Flaherty , Special Agent in Charge of DEA Philadelphia; and Larry Arrow , Assistant Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) in Philadelphia. “The great fraud against the American taxpayer takes many forms,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf . “It is outrageous and unacceptable that anyone could steal money by billing nonexistent home care services for caregivers who were, in fact, dead, in prison, or trafficking drugs.” In addition, AAG McDonald announced a significant expansion of the Fraud Division’s Northeast Health Care Fraud Strike Force to Philadelphia, an enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Health Care Strike Force model has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the federal enforcement arsenal, responsible nationally for the prosecution of over 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. The Strike Force’s expansion into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania brings enhanced federal resources to a district with an established tradition of strong health care fraud enforcement. The partnership between the Fraud Division and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will uniquely enable law enforcement to combat criminals who hide behind corporations to commit fraud. Philadelphia and its surrounding areas have vibrant and cutting-edge health care technology and insurance industries, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has long been a prime venue for private lawsuits that bring unlawful corporate conduct in the health care industry to the attention of law enforcement. “Home care funding exists to assist America’s elderly and most vulnerable — not to fund schemes in which aides claim be providing care while incarcerated or vacationing in Miami and Saudi Arabia,” said Assistant Attorney General McDonald . “Today’s charges and the expansion of our Northeast Strike Force into the Eastern District of Pennsylvania send a clear message to fraudsters in the region: the Department of Justice will relentlessly pursue you and use all available tools to protect Medicaid and the programs everyday Americans rely on.” “The magnitude of home care fraud is shocking and requires the total force of the United States government to solve,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf . “This is why we are excited to announce the return of the Philadelphia Fraud Strike Force, partner with the National Fraud Enforcement Division, and enhance our alliance with Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.” The Unit’s corporate enforcement efforts align closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and its history of successful criminal and civil actions against corporate bad actors operating in the health care industry. Recently, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has become the target of fraudsters seeking to take advantage of Medicaid’s home health care funds, which should be devoted to assisting elderly and ill Pennsylvanians to age in place with dignity. Today’s announcement is a result of coordinated and dedicated investigations and prosecutions at the federal and state levels. *** Three federal cases were the focus of today’s takedown; the first case involves three separate indictments charging a total of eight defendants. The first indictment charges Joseph Pizzo , 47, and Tiziana Taormina , 52, both of Philadelphia, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and multiple counts of health care fraud The indictment alleges that, from about July 2023 to April 2024, and about July 2024 to May of this year, Taormina, a personal care aide with “Agency 1,” and Pizzo, a Medicaid recipient, schemed to defraud Medicaid. They did so through a series of false and fraudulent clock-ins, for care she purportedly provided to Pizzo — including while he was incarcerated in Bucks County, and while he was working a construction job. In total, the indictment alleges that Taormina and Pizzo’s scheme caused a payout of at least $160,000 in Medicaid claims. The second indictment in the case charges Donna Romsteadt , 63, Alyssa Cuculino , 27, Louise Israel , 46, and Elexis Cuculino , 51, all of Philadelphia, with a similar conspiracy and health care fraud offenses. Alyssa Cuculino is the daughter of Elexis Cuculino and the niece of Donna Romsteadt. Alyssa Cuculino and Israel were the home care aides, employed by “Agency 1,” and Romsteadt and Elexis Cuculino were the Medicaid recipients for whom the aides purportedly provided home care. Also referenced in the indictment is Medicaid “Recipient #1,” a relative of Romsteadt’s who resided with her. Both Israel and Alyssa Cuculino purportedly provided, and billed for, services to “Recipient #1” for lengthy periods. Israel also sought payment for Romsteadt’s supposed care, and Alyssa billed for care she supposedly provided her mother Elexis. Again, the indictment alleges no-show billing, with Alyssa Cuculino working at another job, or even hospitalized, during times she claimed that she was providing home care. Israel was, at times, incarcerated while purportedly providing care services. As alleged, Romsteadt and Elexis Cuculino actively assisted in the conspiracy, performing fraudulent clock-ins for Alyssa Cuculino and Israel. In total, these four defendants allegedly caused approximately $445,000 in fraudulent claim payouts. Finally, the third indictment in this case charges Albert Coccia Jr. , 56, and Santino Coccia , 28, both of Philadelphia, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and multiple counts of health care fraud. Albert Coccia Jr., a Medicaid recipient, is the father of Santino Coccia, a home care aide with “Agency 1.” The indictment alleges repeated billing for care Santino Coccia supposedly provided to his father, at times when Santino Coccia was actually behind the wheel, making hundreds of trips as a contractor for a national rideshare and food-delivery provider. The indictment alleges that the Coccias conspired to cause fraudulent claims and payouts totaling at least $211,000. The case involving these indictments was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG and is being prosecuted jointly by Trial Attorneys Paul J. Koob and Carla Jordan-Detamore of DOJ’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force and Assistant United States Attorney Paul Shapiro of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. *** The second federal case features separate indictments against Sean Murray , 58, and Charles Bowie , 53, both of Philadelphia, who both worked for “Home Care Company 1.” Murray was indicted on one count of health care fraud and nine counts of wire fraud, arising from an alleged scheme to defraud Medicaid through fraudulent home care services. He is already awaiting trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for separate narcotics trafficking and firearms charges. The indictment alleges that most of what Murray billed for home care services occurred while he was actually at the gym, massage parlor, traveling, or even selling illegal drugs, with Murray paying kickbacks to clients to go along with the scheme. The indictment alleges $400,000 in billings by Murray, the vast majority of which were for services not rendered. Bowie was indicted on one count of health care fraud and 13 counts of wire fraud, arising from a similar scheme. The indictment alleges that he billed for purported home care services rendered at times when, in reality, he was vacationing in Saudi Arabia, Jamaica, Colombia, and other destinations. As alleged, Bowie caused approximately $600,000 in Medicaid billings, the vast majority of which were fraudulent. This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Solow and Angella Middleton. *** In the third federal case, Khaleelah Williams , 49, and Saleemah Davis , 29, both of Philadelphia, and the home care agency they own, Benevolent Home Health LLC , have been charged with health care fraud conspiracy, health care fraud, and 14 counts of wire fraud. In addition, Williams and Davis have each been charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Williams billed Medicaid for home care services purportedly provided by her husband, both while he was allegedly trafficking narcotics and after he was detained in federal custody on drug trafficking charges. Davis and Williams also billed for home care services purportedly performed by aide who was deceased. As alleged, Williams and Davis made approximately $224,000 in fraudulent claims to Medicaid. The case was investigated by the DEA and HHS-OIG and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Rice and Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran. *** “This criminal conduct is much more than someone ‘working the system’ — the impact is deep and wide-ranging, as every dollar diverted deprives someone in need of care,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “In collaboration with our partners, my office last year convicted more than 100 defendants, and clawed back more than $40 million that was intended for Pennsylvanians in need.” “Medicaid fraud robs hardworking taxpayers, deprives vulnerable Americans of the care they need, and undermines the public trust that sustains our social safety net,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “CMS will continue partnering with law enforcement to shut down these scams while establishing new anti-fraud safeguards that flag criminal activity before the money ever leaves the building. This Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach to protecting Medicaid — ensuring the program serves the Americans who depend on it, not criminals seeking to exploit it.” “Today’s announcement underscores the need to confront Medicaid and Medicare fraud head on,” stated Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General T. March Bell . “The schemes alleged here involved fabricated services, impossible work hours, and claims made while defendants were incarcerated, overseas, or working other jobs. Together with our federal and state partners, we remain steadfast in protecting Medicaid and Medicare by pursuing anyone who seeks to exploit these programs and the people they are designed to serve.” “Health care fraud is not a victimless crime — it undermines public trust and diverts critical resources from patients who need them,” said FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs . “No single agency can tackle complex health care fraud schemes alone. Let today’s announcement be a warning to those engaging in similar activity: if you seek to exploit our health care systems for personal profit, you should expect the FBI and our partners to uncover your scheme and bring it to an end. Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar diverted from patient care, and the FBI will continue its work to safeguard the public's trust and hold accountable those who abuse these vital programs.” “Health care fraud is not just a financial crime, it threatens public safety and victimizes the American people,” said DEA Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Timothy Flaherty . “Our message is clear: if you are a medical provider who chooses greed over your professional responsibility, DEA will hold you accountable.” “IRS Criminal Investigation enforces the nation’s tax laws but also takes particular interest in cases involving fraud against government health care programs,” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Philadelphia Field Office . “With both law enforcement and financial investigation expertise, our agents are uniquely qualified to assist state, local and federal law enforcement agencies in these matters by tracing financial transactions. The success of these investigations is attributable to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners.” 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. The charges and allegations contained in federal indictments and state complaints are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. U.S. v. Pizzo et al U.S. v. Romsteadt et al U.S. v. Coccia Jr et al U.S. v. Murray U.S. v. Bowie U.S. v. Benevolent Home Health Care et al


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that ARNULFO FERNANDEZ SOLIS, a/k/a Carlos Fernandez Soliz, a/k/a Carlos Alberto Solis, a/k/a Carlos Alberto Alimaranon, a/k/a Juan Garcia Paramo, a/k/a Juan Garciap, a/k/a Carlos Albert Solis, a/k/a Samuel Santana, a/k/a Carlos Soliz, a/k/a Carlos F. Soliz, a/k/a Carlos A. Solis, a/k/a Juan Paramo, a/k/a Carlos Slismaranon, a/k/a Arnulfo Fernandez, a/k/a Carlos Albert Soliz, a/k/a Arnulfo Solis Fernandez, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division. The Indictment alleged that on April 24, 2026, Solis, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 2, 2005, June 28, 2001, and January 29, 1998. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Solis will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chuck Sullivan represented the United States.


title: Bryan County Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Dee Jamison, a/k/a Michael Holt, 54, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment charged Jamison with knowingly possessing one .22 long rifle caliber, bolt-action rifle and 54 rounds of .22 long rifle caliber ammunition on April 9, 2026, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jamison will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chuck Sullivan represented the United States.


title: Two MS-13 Gang Members Indicted for a 2016 Murder in Brentwood and 2023 Murder of Long Island Man in Maryland

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Today, Edwin Chavez-Garay, also known as “Spooky” and “Cruger,” and Jairo Diaz-Gamez, also known as “Cameleon” and “Antonimo,” who are both members of the Vegas Locos Salvatruchas (Vegas) subgroup or “clique” of the MS-13, a violent transnational organization, were arraigned in federal court in Central Islip on a second superseding indictment charging them with racketeering offenses in connection with two murders—the February 19, 2016 murder of Miguel Garcia-Moran in Brentwood, New York, and the August 19, 2023 murder of Carlos Lemus Interiano in Fort Washington, Maryland—and with other charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and narcotics trafficking conspiracy (the Superseding Indictment). The Superseding Indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on July 30, 2026, also contains allegations against six previously charged defendants, all members of the MS-13, related to two additional murders on Long Island and other crimes. United States Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields ordered both defendants detained pending trial. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Kevin Catalina, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the arrests and charges. “The charges in the Superseding Indictment demonstrate the commitment by our Office and our law enforcement partners to hold vicious transnational organized crime groups like MS-13 accountable for their crimes, no matter how long it takes,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Too many families in our community have been permanently separated from their loved ones at a young age because of the ruthless and senseless violence of the MS-13, and we will not stop investigating until everyone is held accountable.” Mr. Nocella expressed his grateful appreciation to the Washington and Baltimore Field Offices of the FBI, the New York City Police Department, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York, the Prince George’s Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, the Prince William County Police Department, and the United States Marshal Service, for their valuable assistance and partnership in this case. “Two families spent years carrying the unbearable weight of unanswered questions while these accused MS-13 killers continued their lives as though they had not helped leave devastation in their wake. The charges announced today lay bare the brutality of these crimes: a 15-year-old boy allegedly lured into the woods in Brentwood and beaten to death with metal rods, and a Long Island man allegedly taken to Maryland and killed after falling out of favor with the gang. HSI New York, as a co-leader of the Homeland Security Task Force, remains steadfast in its mission to pursue violent transnational gangs, support our law enforcement partners, and help deliver long-overdue accountability for victims and their families,” stated HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas. “The FBI condemns the brutal violence carried out by MS 13, including two murders that have deeply shaken our community,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Working closely with our partners, we remain unwavering in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families. Protecting the people of New York is our top priority, and we will continue to take decisive, coordinated action to disrupt, dismantle, and hold accountable any group that threatens public safety. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of law enforcement and our partners at EDNY, this pair is now being held accountable for a series of crimes dating back a decade, proving that we do not relent in our pursuit of justice," stated SCPD Commissioner Catalina. “The killings carried out by these gang members were barbaric and senseless. The victims’ families have endured unimaginable loss, and we will continue working with our partners to dismantle criminal networks and prevent others from suffering the same pain and fear.” As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez participated in the murder of Garcia-Moran, a 15-year-old boy, who the defendants wrongly believed was a member of a rival gang. On February 19, 2016, the defendants lured the victim to a wooded area in Brentwood, behind 80 Emjay Boulevard, where they beat him to death with metal rods. On September 21, 2016, members of the FBI and the SCPD, who were looking for evidence in connection with another MS-13 victim whose body was recovered in the same area, located skeletal remains which were later identified as those of Garcia-Moran. Years later, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez, who continued to rise in rank in the Vegas clique, lured Lemus Interiano, a resident of Huntington, New York, to Maryland so that he could be killed. Lemus Interiano, a member of the Vegas clique, had fallen out of favor with the gang, and was targeted for death by not only the Vegas clique but also co-defendant Gervin Barrera-Perez, a member of the Huntington clique. On August 19, 2023, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez drove Lemus Interiano to Maryland, where he was shot and killed in a wooded area. In February 2025, law enforcement in Maryland, while searching for another body, recovered Lemus Interiano’s arm bone at Piscataway Stream Valley Park in Fort Washington, Maryland. A subsequent search and excavation led to the discovery of additional evidence, including more human remains, clothing, and a bullet. Between the end of 2023 and March 2025, Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez participated in the conspiracy to murder Carlos Lopez-Lopez, who was eventually stabbed to death and drowned after being attacked on the beach in Blue Point, New York. Lopez-Lopez, a former member of the MS-13, was targeted because the gang members believed that he was cooperating with law enforcement. Three co-defendants in this case were previously charged with having committed that murder. Finally, the Superseding Indictment charges Chavez-Garay and Diaz-Gamez with conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. These charges stem from the MS-13 cliques’ street-level sales of cocaine and marijuana on Long Island, the proceeds of which were used to help finance the MS-13’s criminal operations, including purchasing firearms, ammunition, and other weapons, and sending money to MS-13 leadership in the United States and Central America. The Superseding Indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization. The MS-13 is comprised primarily of immigrants from Central America, and it has leaders in El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and the United States, with thousands of members all over the world. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders, and assaults. Since 2010 alone, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 75 murders in the Eastern District of New York, and it has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of extensive collaboration with numerous law enforcement agencies, including HSI, FBI, and local and state partners. The charges in the Superseding Indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each of the defendants faces up to life in prison, or the possibility of the death penalty. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at eradicating transnational criminal organizations, combating violent crime, and restoring the rule of law. This case is also 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigation, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell and Paul G. Scotti are in charge of the prosecution. New Defendants : EDWIN CHAVEZ-GARAY (also known as “Spooky” and “Cruger”) Age: 25 Brentwood, New York JAIRO DIAZ-GAMEZ (also known as “Cameleon” and “Anonimo”) Age: 27 Bayshore, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-209 (S-2) (GRB) 25-cr-209_s-2_orellana-aleman_et_al.indictment.pdf 2026.08.03_s2_detention_letter_final.pdf


title: Rocky Mount Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in $3.9M Fraud Scheme

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Rocky Mount woman, Angela Dickens, 54, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns resulting a tax loss of approximately $3,900,000. Dickens faces a maximum penalty of 36 months in prison when sentenced in November 2026. She has agreed to pay restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). “What a shocking abuse of trust for a tax return preparer to file hundreds of fraudulent federal income tax returns. No longer will we tolerate the petty misery of the destruction of society by vicious selfishness. Let this sentence serve as a warning to others considering the same dirty deeds: We will find you and prosecute you. Cheaters. Never. Win,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. Dickens operated Empire Tax Service, later renamed K&J Tax Service, in North Carolina. From 2017 to 2023, Dickens and at least one co‑conspirator fraudulently filed hundreds of tax returns by inflating “Other 1099 Withholding” amounts. Their scheme inflated taxpayer refunds and allowed them to take excessive fees from those refunds. A tax return preparation business gathers clients’ financial information, organizes it, and files their federal and state tax returns accurately. It aims to guide clients through the tax process efficiently, lawfully, and with as little stress as possible. “Tax return preparers who try to defraud the tax system should be aware that IRS Criminal Investigation will expose these schemes and work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those responsible accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “Today's plea is a reminder to those who might consider preparing false tax returns that IRS-CI will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who attempt to defraud the United States tax system.” On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the plea. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations is investigating the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-126-M-1.


title: Maple Hill Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Distribution

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Eugene James, 48, to 10 years in federal prison. On January 29, 2026, James pleaded guilty to distribution of 5 grams or more of meth and fentanyl. “We will continue to focus on individuals who sell drugs that poison our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “He is old enough to know better already, but he has 10 years to think about being a productive member of society when he gets out of prison.” In 2024, federal and local authorities investigated a drug trafficking organization operating in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The group, which included James, distributed meth, cocaine, crack, and fentanyl across the counties of Pender, Onslow, and New Hanover. Between February and April 2024, the ATF, New Hanover Sheriff’s Office, Wilmington and Jacksonville Police Departments purchased fentanyl and meth from James using investigative methods at a home in Maple Hill. On May 6, 2025, federal and county authorities arrested Eugene at a home in Onslow County, where they found a small amount of narcotics and several firearms. James has several prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, discharging a firearm into occupied property, and conspiring to distribute and possess crack cocaine with intent to distribute, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. “This investigation is a testament to the dedication and commitment of law enforcement to ensuring the safety of our communities by removing dangerous narcotics from our streets and the offenders who bring them into our communities. It also highlights effectiveness of cooperation between Federal, State and Local partners,” said Jacksonville Police Department Chief, Ashley Weaver. This prosecution is part of Operation Counterpunch which 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 Wilmington comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, NCIS, US Coast Guard, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Craven County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, Wilmington Police Department, State Bureau of Investigations, and NC Department of Public Safety with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of N.C. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The ATF, DEA, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Pender County Sheriff’s Office, Wilmington Police Department, and Jacksonville Police Department investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00035-M-RN.


title: EDNC US Attorney’s Office Joins New Southeast Fraud Enforcement Partnership

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. - Ellis Boyle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, joined the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division in announcing sweeping fraud enforcement actions alongside a new, dedicated, federal and state anti-fraud task force in North Carolina and across the Southeast. Following a major strategic roundtable emphasizing the partnerships forged amongst federal and state prosecutors, regulators, and law enforcement agencies, DAG Colin McDonald, the National Fraud Czar heading the DOJ efforts in this battle, led a press conference in Columbia, S.C. In support, 18 U.S. Attorneys' Offices, including the EDNC, seven State Attorneys General, five federal law enforcement agencies, and over 50 state officials announced their ironclad efforts in exposing and prosecuting systemic fraud. Press Conference Link: https://youtu.be/RaJJlIlaIWU The DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division established this joint taskforce to aggressively track, investigate, and prosecute regional financial fraud stealing federal taxpayer dollars. The sweeping southeast regional initiative targets 17 distinct cases currently prosecuted across seven Southeastern states, highlighting more than $350 million in attempted theft perpetrated against American taxpayers. Prosecutors prioritize systemic public program abuse involving SNAP benefits, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, federal housing assistance, and tax fraud. Showing immediate results, federal prosecutors surged enforcement actions, charging crimes in cases that account for over $90 million in losses and indicting 12 named defendants since July 4 alone. "This office is fully COMMITTED to protecting federal funds intended for the communities, families, and small businesses of Eastern North Carolina," said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "By combining forces with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners and launching this new anti-fraud task force, we will ensure that those who attempt to line their pockets through deception face swift federal justice. If you steal from the American people: we are looking for you; we will find you; we will convict you; and you will hibernate behind cold steel bars. Cheaters. Never. Win." To illustrate recent crackdown efforts in the EDNC, Mr. Boyle described a June conviction where a Robeson County woman, who owned a North Carolina tax filing franchise, pleaded guilty to a massive Covid tax fraud scheme in federal court. Nejlai Mitchell, 48, admitted to preparing false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits and submitting false tax returns. The conspiracy resulted in the IRS paying out almost $14 MILLION in fraudulent tax refund claims. Mitchell faces a maximum term of eight years in prison and a $500,000 fine when a federal judge sentences her later this year. Seven other tax return preparers who worked for her have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the same multi-million-dollar fraud scheme $25M Pandemic-Relief Fraud Scheme .


title: St. Louis Felon Admits Repeatedly Being Caught with Firearms

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis on Tuesday admitted being caught three times with firearms after traffic stops. Darrion Boyd-Barnes, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On Sept. 22, 2022, he was stopped by St. Louis police in a vehicle with an expired temporary tag. After officers discovered that he had given them a false name and had an active arrest warrant, they arrested him and found a loaded Glock 29 10mm pistol. On April 16, 2025, Boyd-Barnes was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for having an improper license plate. St. Louis police officers again learned that Boyd-Barnes had an active arrest warrant and found a loaded Palmetto State Armory Dagger 9mm handgun. On Nov. 12, 2025, St. Louis police pulled Boyd-Barnes over in a Jeep after he ran three stop signs. When officers asked him to get out of the vehicle, he sped off, eventually stopping at his girlfriend’s house in St. Louis County. Multiple police agencies responded to the scene. Boyd-Barnes refused multiple times to leave the house and then escaped. Police found 29 firearms in the home, including AR-style pistols and rifles, a shotgun, multiple stolen pistols and five pistols that had been illegally converted into fully automatic weapons with a machinegun conversion device. Boyd-Barnes is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 160 Months in Prison for Sex with Missouri Teen

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Tuesday sentenced an Ohio man to 160 months in prison for engaging in sex acts with a Missouri minor. Andrew Raymond Crum, 33, of Toledo, originally met the girl on an online gaming platform when she was 14 years old, in 2021. Crum began driving to Missouri to have sex with the girl in February of 2024, when she was 16. He also exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with the victim via Snapchat, where he used the name “Sassy Man.” The FBI was alerted in October of 2024 about Crum’s plans to return to Missouri and located and contacted the victim and her mother. “Thanks to an anonymous tip to the FBI, we were able to stop Andrew Raymond Crum from continuing to sexually exploit a teenage victim,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Crum believed he would never be caught. He was wrong. Tips from the public are often the key to rescuing victims and identifying offenders. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those who prey on children. When they are convicted in federal court, there is no parole.” Crum pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in April to one count of coercion or enticement of a minor. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Man Currently Serving a State Prison Sentence Pleads Guilty to Threatening Several U.S. Senators and Former Vice President Kamala Harris

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Todd Curry, currently imprisoned at the Ouachita River Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty to mailing threatening communications to six U.S. Senators and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the guilty plea, which occurred today before United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky. On December 2, 2025, Curry, 55, who is currently incarcerated at the Arkansas Department of Corrections, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a 14-count Indictment charging him with seven counts of mailing threatening communications to a federal employee and seven counts of false information and hoaxes. On August 4, 2025, Curry pleaded guilty to seven counts of mailing threatening communications to a federal employee. Judge Rudofsky will sentence Curry at a later date after a presentence report is prepared by the United States Probation Office. Curry faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count for a total of 70 years. On October 7, 2022, Curry mailed seven letters from Little Rock to members of the United States Congress and the former Vice President in Washington, D.C. The letters contained specific threats to kill or cause bodily harm to those members of Congress and the former Vice President for their roles and official duties as employees of the federal government. The investigation revealed that in addition to the threats to kill the selected six members of Congress and the former Vice President, Curry made references in his letters to either anthrax or “rison” (ricin), which are both considered deadly poisons. After the letters were submitted for analysis, it was determined that none of the substances inside the letters contained anthrax, ricin, or any other toxic or poisonous substance. During the investigation, it was positively determined that the letters were written by Curry and some of the letters were signed by Curry. Curry has a significant criminal history dating back to 1990 that includes violent offenses and drug offenses: breaking or entering, criminal attempt, drugs, battery in the second degree, domestic battery third degree, robbery and theft of property. He is currently serving a state sentence of 10 years following a 2024 drug conviction for trafficking a controlled substance. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Capitol Police. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR